'Reeling in the years' - 1925 & our first JFC title

Post date: Jul 27, 2018 11:49:18 AM

(Edenderry was a hurling stronghold in the 1920's)

By David Farrell

Edenderry have won the junior football championship on four separate occasions but their maiden title came ninety three years ago, in 1925.

In those days, Edenderry was a predominately hurling orientated club and didn't have a senior football team. The junior footballer's campaign from 1925 was eventful to say the least and it began in Clonbullogue when they took on Ballinagar in the opening round on June 28th 1925. The reds beat Ballinagar and advanced to the next round to take on Clonbullogue in Daingean. The game didn't go Edenderry's way and they trailed 1-3 to nil at half time. Edenderry dominated the second half however but Clonbullogue scraped home with a 1-3 1-2 victory. Edenderry scored 2 goals and 1 point that were disallowed.

An objection was lodged by the Edenderry against two Clonbullogue brothers and Edenderry's case was upheld by the county board. A counter objection was lodged by Clonbullogue claiming that Edenderry had allowed Hockey and Rugby to be played at their grounds.

Jim Beatty produced a Solicitors letter at the meeting to prove that grounds were not the property of the GAA as they subleased it from the Trustees, as did other clubs in the town. A second objection was lodged claiming 'Edenderry players had left the pitch to engage in altercations with spectators'. As two players were already suspended for this the Chairman ruled it out and the objections failed. The reds advanced to the next round to take on Cloneygowan in Rhode.

A close first half had the sides level at the break 1-3 to 2-0. Half back Paddy McEntee was sent off for Edenderry and our goals came courtesy of P Molloy and M Nolan. The reds failed to score in the second half and were beaten 2-5 to 2-0 but again, Edenderry lodged an objection. In the week previous to the game, Cloneygowan had wad walked off the pitch during a tournament game vs Crumlin Independents. The game had turned vicious but walking off the pitch rendered them illegal and so the game was awarded to Edenderry.

The reds, who had now lost two games, were still in the championship and were heading for the North Offaly final. In defence of their actions, Cloneygowan had claimed they were chased off the pitch with hurlers and revolvers. In the North Offaly final Edenderry beat Croghan 1-3 1-0. The game was played in Ballyduff on March 28th 1926.

In the county final Edenderry faced off against Eglish, a small village between Fivealley and Birr. The reds held a 0-3 lead at half time with their points coming from Joe Cleary, Paddy McEntee and Joe O'Connell. Edenderry withstood a second half onslaught and captured their first ever title when Joe O'Connell slammed home the only goal of the game. The final score was 1-3 0-2.

Team:

T Farrell, T Wyer, P Molloy, J Smith, P McEntee, J O'Connell, M Nolan, E Cash, B Carroll, J Sullivan, T Hope, C Blong, C Pentony, P McCormack, G Brayton.

WHAT ELSE WAS HAPPENING IN 1925?

IN OTHER NEWS:

Local Poet John O'Brien passed away. He had been working as manager of PJ Delaney's (Regan's bar, present day Finbarr Cullen's pub)

TOURNAMENT FOOTBALL:

At a tournament in Rhode, Rochfortbridge footballers beat Edenderry 0-2 0-1. Rhode beat Kinnegad at the tournament in Edenderry in May that year.

EDENDERRY MAN ON OFFALY TEAM:

Ned Kearns scores the first point of the game but Offaly lose to Kildare in the opening round of the championship 2-4 0-4. He also played against Wicklow & Westmeath later that year.

GOLF CLUB IN CARRICK:

A golf club is started at Carrick with Tom Freyne and T Kerrigan as Honorary Secretaries. Fees were set at two guineas for men and one guinea for women.

HOT ROD RACING ON MAIN STREET:

On August 8th 1925 two women, Miss Maud Augusta Manners and Miss O'Rourke, were summoned before the courts by Supt Woods for recklessly driving their cars on the Main Street of Edenderry. The pair were accused of racing up the Carrick road and turning at the old Hibernian Bank and racing towards New Row corner. They stood accused of speeding at between 35-40 miles per hour. Mr W O'K White appeared for the defendant and argued that it was impossible to take the corner at Hibernian Bank at such speed. Miss Manners was driving a Morris. Both women admitted to engaging in a competition and Miss Manners was fined £3 and had her licence endorsed.

SERGT O'RIORDAN TRANSFERS STATION:

Sergt O'Riordan who had been in charge of the civic guard in Rhode for two years transferred to Clonbullogue. His departure was very much regretted by the people of Rhode whom held him in great esteem. Sergt O'Riordan was described as a prominent Gael and a fine hurler and had hurled with Edenderry since he moved to the district.

EDENDERRY V TULLAMORE HURLING:

Edenderry and Tullamore faced off in junior hurling with Tullamore emerging victorious 2-0 to 1-2. Sergt O'Riordan performed very well in the Edenderry goals while Ted O'Sullivan was excellent in the Tullamore goals. The game was described as "a grand clean one with no roughness at all". The game was refereed by Ned Dunne, Killeigh.

GINGER MORAN'S CAR EXPLODES:

On August 30th 1925, Ginger Moran's car exploded after running out of petrol as it travelled to Enfield with a group of young men. While refilling the car in Johnstownbridge the car was completely burned. Fortunately nobody was hurt but much sympathy was felt for Mr Moran for his loss as it was understood it was not covered by insurance.

A RESOLUTION FROM 1921 EXPUNGED FROM THE RECORDS:

At a meeting of the Town Councillors it was discussed that a resolution that was passed in 1921 by the Councillors be removed from the books. In 1921, the Councillors had written to the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin asking that they be allowed to attend mass without having to listen to Fr Paul Murphy give out to them about their behaviour and the War of Independence in general. They decided to remove this from the record as Fr Paul Murphy "was a great man".

TRUCE IN OFFALY:

The Cocker Spaniel dog 'Truce in Offaly' which was owned by local solicitor Mr W O'K White was purchased by the Maharajah and Maharaince Dheraj of Patiala, India who owned a very large kennel of Gun Dogs. The dog was an international champion having won competitions in Ireland, Scotland and England.

TOWN COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS:

'Civic Reform' were the big winners of the Town Commissioners elections in June 1925 with Dr J.J Kinsella romping home with 105 votes of the 52 required, more than the double the quota. Michael Delaney, Eugene O'Brien, Arthur Williams and J PH Patterson were the other Civic Reformers elected. Labour had J.F Gill and James Mangan elected while Independents Daniel Alesbury and John English made up the nine seats.