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Post date: Jul 12, 2018 11:56:27 AM
(The 1951 senior football champions - Edenderry's 2nd title)
By David Farrell
On the weekend of July 21st/22nd Edenderry's senior footballers take on Durrow in round 4 of the 2018 senior football championship. The sides have met very sporadically over the last number of years with most meetings confined to the Offaly football league.
However, these sides have met before and on the biggest of occasion, county final day 1952. The reds were reigning champions from 1951 when John Blong, father of Greg Blong (Dowling cup winner in 1995) and grandfather of Gary Blong (Dowling Cup winner in 2015), had led Edenderry to just their second ever senior county title with a 0-12 1-8 win over Cloghan.
During the 1951 campaign Edenderry overcame Durrow in a hotly contested semi final which many regarded as one of the best club games to ever take place in O'Connor Park, Tullamore. The game was played in July 1951 and Durrow were the reigning Intermediate champions from 1950. They had beaten St Mary's in the 1951 first round and took on Edenderry in the semi final.
The game was described as a classic in which Durrow enjoyed the best of the opening half until an opportunistic block down from Alo Brady resulted in a goal for Edenderry. Consternation ensued towards the end of the game when Durrow were awarded a penalty which was saved by the Jimmy McGuinness only for the Durrow player to score the rebound. However, the goal was disallowed and a free awarded to Durrow. The ball was sent wide and Edenderry advanced to the county final where they went on to capture their second ever senior title. Durrow lodged an objection which was eventually withdrawn but it did delay the county final for a few weeks. Club Chairman Kevin O'Kennedy strongly protested at the postponement at a county board meeting stating "We had buses hired, deposits paid on them and players ready".
(A young Michael Nolan was a minor & senior winner in 1951)
The joint awards night for the 1951 minor & senior winning teams was held in the 'Eden Ballroom' and the famous 'Nine McCusker brothers' from Co. Armagh provided delightful Irish music on the occasion. A young priest by the name of Fr Jack McWey presented the medals to both teams in which Christy Carroll, Michael Nolan and Mick Brady collected both minor and senior medals and over 700 people attended the event. Of the 48 players from both teams that received medals there were 26 brothers representing 11 families. Sean, (senior) Noel, Eamonn and Michael Connell (minors) received medals along with the three Brady brothers, the three Groome brothers and the three McGuinness brothers. Frank Byrne, who played at full forward qualified as a solicitor shortly after the 1951 final.
(The medal presentation in the Eden Ballroom)
Durrow had the chance to avenge their 1951 semi final defeat when they took on Edenderry in the 1952 county final. Edenderry had comfortably overcome Tullamore in the first round of the championship in Daingean with a young Mick Brady the star of the show ably assisted by his brother Alo who also put in a fine performance when switched to midfield. Edenderry had Noel Connell sent off in the eighteenth minute and Archie McLoughlin moved from attack to defence to help out his team. Mick Brady converted a penalty just after half time to give the reds a 2-6 0-2 lead.
(Alo Brady, Peter Brady and the late Mick Brady pictured ahead of 2011 county final)
Alo Brady subdued Tullamore's Alo Kelly while Sean Foran, who was closely marked throughout, gave a splendid display as Michael Nolan was ranked among Edenderry's best forwards. In the semi final v St Mary's (Geashill parish), Edenderry ran out 0-14 0-7 winners with a young Michael Nolan and Archie McLoughlin giving excellent displays. The scorers on that day were A McLoughlin (0-8), C Carroll & F Byrne (0-2 each), Mick Brady & Michael Nolan (0-1).
The final was played on August 17th 1952 and Edenderry entered the final as firm favourites to take 'Two in a row' but Durrow ran out 3-4 1-4. To this day a 'Two in a row' still eludes the reds despite the strong sides of the 1950's and 1990's both of whom won multiple championships. Durrow were fired up after the 1951 semi final defeat and they took the game to Edenderry for the first half leading at the interval 1-2 0-1. Christy Carroll (Father of Gerry Carroll (1985 winner) and grandfather of current senior footballer (2011+2015 winner) Keith McGuinness) scoring Edenderry's only point. John Blong had been injured coming into the game and didn't start but he was introduced at half time and scored a point ten minutes after the restart. However, Durrow scored two goals in as many minutes and despite a late goal from Sean Connell and two more points from John Blong, Durrow upset the odds and won the game by six points. The game was refereed by Mr M Feeney the Chairman of Rathangan, Kildare.
(Edenderry's 50's team)
On September 22nd 1952 Edenderry lodged an objection at the county board meeting in Kilcormac based on Colm Dalys involvement with Durrow on the day of the county final. The Edenderry delegate and Chairman Kevin O'Kennedy pointed out that Daly had already lined out for Westmeath juniors on April 6th that year without declaring his intention to help out his native county. Daly had been transferred to Durrow. Mr T Galvin (Kilcormac) suggested the game be replayed but Durrow were unwilling to replay the game while Edenderry were unwilling to take the title without replaying the game so their objection was withdrawn.
(Members of the 1951 senior team: Alo Brady, Tom O'Neill, Jody Corcoran, Mick Brady, Michael Nolan, Liam Moran, Sean Connell, Sean Foran, Noel Connell pictured outside the club shop in 2011 )
IN OTHER NEWS:
What else was happening in 1952?
The GAA AGM was held on 30/6/1952 in the town hall and the committee was as follows:
Chairman - Kevin O'Kennedy
Secretary & Treasurer - Clarence Grey
Vice Chairman & assistant treasurer - Frank Byrne
Life President - James Daly
Vice President - Fr McWey & George O'Connell
Committee members - John Blong, Sean Foran, Mick Brady, Jack Glennon, Willie Coyne, Sean Keating, Paddy Carroll
(Chairman Kevin O'Kennedy (back row, 3rd from right) pictured with many of our greatest gaels)
BALLYCUMBER MEDAL TOURNAMENT
On October 19th 1952 Durrow and Edenderry faced off once again in the 'Ballycumber Medal Tournament' and once again the men from Durrow came out on top to confirm the superiority for that year. Durrow held a comfortable 1-5 0-1 lead at half time but the reds came back into the game with the battle between Michael Nolan and Ted O'Brien one of the many highlights of the day. Sean Connell excelled at midfield while Jimmy McGuinness in the Edenderry goals was 'Tip Top' according to the Leinster Leader report at the time. Durrow won the game 2-8 0-9.
The SINGAPORE REDS:
Mr Alan Williams, a member of the R.A.F in Singapore had started a Gaelic football team and wrote home to his parents of Green Cottage, Edenderry stating the game was catching on' like wildfire'.
CINEMA
At the local Savoy cinema in Edenderry the following films were playing:
THE FESTIVAL
The annual festival was held from April 27th until May 12th. The Grand pageantry parade with band opened the ceremony at 3pm on April 27th with seven-a-aside football, Tug of War, Ring board tournament and pillow fights on a pole with a special cash prize on offer. A 4000sq ft marquee floor was laid on for dance lovers with music from the likes of Ralph Silvester, The Cecillan Sextet and the Famous McCusker Brothers who had played at the GAA awards night.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
On the boxing scene the Brereton brothers were making headlines as they racked up trophy after trophy. Young Joe Brereton, who was nicknamed 'Killer' was the All-Ireland schoolboys champion after he went toe to toe with the Munster champion D Dunne (Cork) in the Dublin stadium and brought the house to its feet as he 'slugged' his opponent into complete helplessness. He won by technical knockout.
WATER IN THE DERRIES NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
A bottle of water produced by Mr J Flanagan was smelled by members of the town commissioners at their monthly meeting, Mr Flanagan asserting that the Derries supply was unfit for human consumption.
Mr J Gowran after inspecting the bottle remarked 'there's eating and drinking in that bottle".
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