Dr. Cullen Park, May 18, 1941
Carlow 3-4
v Laois 3-1
Despite heavy morning rain 8,000 thronged the county grounds to
witness a thrilling hours football and a famous Carlow victory.
The Carlow Pipers Band led the parade with a rousing rendition of
‘Follow me up to Carlow’ and the home county responded by sprinting to a
2-2 to 1-1 interval lead, Wille Hosey and Jimma Rea providing the Carlow
‘majors’, Harkins goaling for Laois
Carlow’s third goal came early in the second-half with Hosey fielding
and sending to Ned Butler who placed Micky Byrne for the best score of
the game.
Laois rallied with goals from Harkins and Delaney but Carlow held out
with Hosey, after a pass from Butler, lofting over the last score of the
tie.
Kelly and Morris had a decided pull over Haughney and Murphy at
mid-field, while Quinlan, Donohue, Moran, the indefatigable Butler and
Byrne’s limitless energy were other reasons for Carlow’s success, their
first ever SFC victory over Laois, either before or after the ‘Battle of
Rathoe’.
CARLOW: J. Quinlan; J. Lawler, L. Moran, J. Archbold; P. Whelan, T.
Donohue, C. Nolan; J. Morris, L. Kelly; N. Butler, M. Byrne, W. Hosey;
T. Walker, J. Doyle, J. Rea.
LAOIS: M. Guidera; T. Walsh, M. Delaney, D. Walsh; J. Slator, M.
Beares, J. McDonald; T. Murphy, M. Haughney; D. Connolly, W. Delaney, W.
Murphy; S. Harkins, C. Delaney, D. Douglas.
The Famous ‘Forty-One Marathon
Dr. Cullen Park, June 8, 1941
Quinlan Brilliance!
Carlow 3-10 v Wexford 4-7
John ‘Pim’ Quinlan was brilliant between the Carlow posts while
‘Drakes’ Walker’s goal was a real beauty in this exciting tussle which
saw Wexford lead 2-3 to 1-3 at the break.
Benny Underwood was the Wexford star scoring two second-half goals.
Carlow led by four points with time running out before Underwood struck
for the second of his goals and this was quickly followed by a point
from Jim Murphy. The final whistle sounded on the kick-out. Draw!
Readers may find the admission prices of interest on that Sunday 60
years ago. “Dul Isteach’ was 1/-, with the side-line 1?- extra.
The licensed premises in Carlow town had a special football exemption
to facilitate visitors!, remaining open from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5.30
p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
A fully licensed Dance, organised by the O’Hanrahan’s G.F.C., took
place in the Town Hall that night, with music from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. by
E. O’Connor Ceili Band. Admission 1/6 and 1/-.
Wexford Park, June 22, 1941
Carlow Go Eight Up Then
Carlow 2-7 v
Wexford 2-7
“Anyone that could creep, walk or ride a bike broke through the gaps
in the Blackstairs” to see this one according to ‘Ogled out in Old
Leighlin’ in the ‘Carlow Nationalist’. It was a 47 mile journey for many
of the Carlow followers.
They witnessed a dour, but keenly contested game in which fielding
and combination was outstanding. Carlow led at half-time by 1-5 to 0-3.
Jimma Rea having punched the goal. On resumption a fast move led to
another cw goal from Rea - eight up!
Then Wexford woke up. Points were exchanged before Benny Underwood
and Jim Murphy reduced the Wexford deficit to just one point with two
fine goals. Murphy, as in the first game, floated over the leveller from
a free. The home county forced two late ‘50’s which the Carlow backs
cleared. Draw!
Croke Park, July 20, 1941
Rea to the Rescue!
Carlow 1-12 v
Wexford 3-6
(after extra-time)
That great Carlow forward Jimma Rea came to his county’s rescue in
this thriller at Croke Park, on a day they suffered a big loss by the
departure of star player, Tom ‘Drake’s Walker, during the first half.
Picture the scene ... Carlow, who had led 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval,
were caught for the third time when W. Howlin levelled with a pointed
free. Carlow 1-9, Wexford 2-6, Draw!
A Benny Underwood goal just before the end of the first period of
extra-time - the only score of the fifteen minutes - looked to put
Wexford in a strong position.
But Carlow’s staying power, “a tribute to Jack Dundon’s expert
training”, proved decisive. Rea kicked a good point, then followed with
another after good approach work by Micky Byrne. Carlow mounted a
glorious attack, John Doyle was fouled close in but effected a pass to
Rea who levels! Another Draw!!!
The Nationalist informed us that “with the shortage of fuel the
bicycle was back to it’s own” while “the running commentary by Michael
O’Hehir was thorougly enjoyable. We learn from the ‘Muinebheag Notes’
that “The Wexford and Carlow marathon has certainly brought football
interest in the county to real fever pitch. This was clearly shown
during the hours of 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday when the streets of the
town and all roads in the neighbourhood were completely deserted by the
male element and in every room where there was a wireless set the air of
expectations was at times so marked that you could hear the proverbial
pin drop”.
Croke Park, July 27, 1941
Convincing Carlow Victory
Carlow 2-8 v Wexford 0-3
A tropical sun shone down on G.A.A. headquarters for this historic
fourth Championship meeting of Carlow and Wexford. It took 270 minutes
to separate these South Eastern neighbours but in the end it was the men
in red, yellow and green who ran out convincing winners.
Carlow were ahead 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time, with John Doyle having
registered all four points. John ‘Buller’ Moore was side-lined just
before the short whistle while referee J. Malone of Kildare also gave E.
Walsh of Wexford his marching orders.
On resumption Jimma Rea cracked home a great goal after good work by
Luke Kelly and John Doyle. The match clinching, marathon clinching goal
came following a typically flowing Carlow passing movement. Micky Byrne,
Ned Butler, Doyle and ‘Drakes’ Walker were all involved with Byrne
planting the leather in the Wexford net. Game over!
The team on the final day of an unprecedented marathon were: CARLOW:
J. Quinlan; J. Darcy, J. Lawler, J. Archbold; P. Whelan, T. Donohue, L.
Moran; L. Kelly, J. Morris; J. Moore, M. Byrne, J. Rea; T. Walker, J.
Doyle, N. Butler.
WEXFORD: P. Lynch; J. Furlong, P. Maguire, M. Morris; J. Goodison, T.
Redmond, J. O’Connor; W. Walsh, W. Kielty; W. Howlin, J. Foley, T.
Somers; B. Underwood, L. Furlong, P. Roche. Subs: B. Corish, J. Nolan.
- © 2001 -Ireland Genealogy Projects,
IGP TM
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