THE MUNSTER SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP

The keen rivalry that was brewing between Munster clubs was finally allowed to manifest itself in Competition when L. Forbes Maguire and W. L. Stokes initiated the Munster Senior Challenge Cup. The "Limerick Chronicle" of January I 12th 1886 describes the event.

"Messrs. L. Forbes Maguire of Cork and W. L. Stokes of this city, two well-known and enthusiastic players, determined that, before retiring finally from active connection with the game, they would establish this cup, the want of which had so long been felt by the rugby clubs of Munster, and their efforts have been crowned with success.

The various clubs and individuals to whom these gentlemen applied for subscriptions responded most heartily and liberally, and the result was that in less than three months after the start of the project, a cup was provided worth £65. The cup, which was made specially to order, besides being a valuable piece, is a beautiful exhibition of the silversmiths art and skill. It was procured through Messrs. Breton from the well-known house of Messrs. Martin Hall and Co., of Sheffield, is sterling silver throughout, weighing 88 ounces and standing 21 inches in height. In the centre, on one side, is a faithfully chased representation of a football match in course of progress, and, on the other, are engraved the Munster Arms with the name of the cup and date.

The Teams.

Eight clubs took part in the championship in its inaugural year 1886. Garryowen defeated Ormond and Limerick County, who had accounted for Queens College, on their way to the final. Clanwilliam ousted Tralee in their first round game and Bandon defeated Cork County in the first tie and played a draw in Cork against Clanwilliam in the second round. Bandon travelled to the Garryowen grounds for the replay. This game was a tough-fought encounter." Severe scrimmaging took place and slowly the ball was worked up to the Clanwilliam twenty-five where Manning and Carroll made some hand dashes but their efforts proved unavailing owing to the good collaring of Morrissey (Clanwilliam)." Bandon eventually won the tussle and met Garryowen in the final on Tuesday 13th April in Cork Park, where Fords and Dunlops are now situated.

The report on the game is worth including in this publication as it brings home to the reader how little the atmosphere of a rugby final has changed in a century.

Extract from the Cork Examiner

Wednesday Morning,

April 7th, 1886,

Bandon. v Garryowen.

Yesterday in the presence of a large crowd of spectators and on a heavy ground, the final tie for the Munster Football Championship Cup was played between the above clubs at the Park. A strong N. West wind prevailed throughout the game and great difficulty though the attendance was very great, no one except the stewards came inside the rope. The weather, which at first appeared threatening, settled down fine and the ground was in good condition.

 

At 3 o'clock sharp Sullivan (G), kicked off and the ball was immediately sent back by CaInan (B). Sullivan again gaining possession made a short run, being collared by Levis (B). After some scrimmaging Good (B) rushed the ball until it went into touch not far from the Garryowen lines. Play was for some time confined between the half-way and the Limerick '25' when some hard scrimmaging took place. The Garryowen forwards now rushed the ball beyond the Bandon '25' but relief was brought by Brennan (B) who carried the ball into neutral ground. A long punt by Sullivan (G), which was replied to by Calnan, again left the play at the Limerick '25'. A free kick was claimed by Garryowen on account of off-side play by Bandon which brought the play into neutral ground. A clever piece of passing here took play into Bandon territory where scrimmaging ensued. Garryowen claimed a 'free' which was well followed up by the forwards who confined the play close to the Bandon lines until relief was brought by Levis by some good passing. The advantage was, however, neutralised by Sullivan (G) who carried the ball again within the Bandon '25'. Bandon here got a 'free' which was kicked by Manning. sending the ball into touch half ways. Manning soon after got possession but his run was checked by Pierce (G) and the ball was scrimmaged half-way. The Bandon forwards now pressed forward very fiercely and brought the play close to the Limerick lines, Good and Levis doing some good work. After some severe scrimmaging Levis, amidst much excitement, got in and gained a try which, however. he failed to convert into a goal. Sullivan (G) kicked off, Reeves and Beaumont following up brought the ball to the Bandon '25'. Reeves shortly after made a splendid run which nearly resulted in a try but, when within a few yards of the Bandon lines he was stopped by Hawkes. At half time Levis (B) kicked off with a short kick, the Bandon forwards following up vigourously.

Calnan took the ball up to the Limerick lines. but Sullivan got possession, and by a plucky run took it as far as the Bandon '25' thereby relieving his side. A bad ball passed by Garryowen quarter enabled Manning to rush the ball very near the Garryowen lines where scrimmaging ensued. and Bandon all but got in, but the referee brought the ball to the fiveyards, where more scrimmaging took place. The leather was eventually forced back to the Garryowen '25' and soon after to half way. The Limerick men here played up with great vigour and resulted in Bandon touching down for the first time in self-defence. Sullivan (G) gained a free, which resulted in Bandon again touching down in defence. Both sides now pressed very hard and Pierce made a few ineffectual rushes. Some scrimmaging took place at the Bandon '25' until Good brought the ball again into Limerick territory. Levis obtained a free kick and punted the ball into touch near the centre. Some more scrimmaging ensued in neutral ground, and shortly after time was called, the match resulted in a well earned victory for Bandon by one try to nil. Both teams throughout played an excellent game.

The Bandon team were: - Full back, Hawkes, Halves, Heuston. Calnan, Manning, Quarters: Levis, Brennan, forwards: Brennan, Cunningham. O'Regan, Bartley, McSweeney, Richardson, Ollive, Good, Calnan.

The Garryowen team were: - Full back, Sullivan, halves: Quinare, McCarthy and Pierce. Quarters: Reeves and Tarpey, Forwards: Beaumont, Westropp, Martin, Heartney, DeCourcey, Prendergast, Coleman, McAuley, Ewart.

Of the Bandon backs Levis, as usual, played an excellent game; Clanan, Manning and Hawkes also showed good play. Of forwards Brennan, Good and CaInan played very well. For Garryowen, Sullivan, Pierce and Reeves did good work. Amongst the forwards, Beaumont, Coleman, Westrop and Ewart played a good game.

There were five R.I.C. members on the team - J. Bartley, T. Cunningham, M. Brennan, P. Richardson and W. Manning. Good was a doctor in Bandon; R. Hewston a distillery clerk; R. Cleary a Bank clerk-, F. Hawkes a shop-keeper; J. Swiney a merchant; J. O'Regan was a harness maker. Mr. Unkles managed the Manor Mills.

J. J. CaInan was a great grandfather of the Calnan family proprietors of Crowley CaInans Drapery shop in South Main St. and Con Ollive was employed in the West Cork Bottling Company. He was known as Tug Boat Ollive and his feats of strength are legendary. Following this famous victory there was great celebration and some of the them did not arrive home for a week. There is a story. difficult to authenticate, that one of the team was so overcome by the lavish praise bestowed on the team, and possibly also due to the level of inebriation he had reached, that he absconded and was never again seen in Bandon.

"Mossy Landers was a most distinguished player in his day and an Irish International" remembers Cecil O'Driscoll formerly of St. Patricks Quay and now manager, Bank of Ireland, Kilkenny. "In his latter days, he became a fascinating rugby Correspondent for the Cork Examiner and on a train journey to Dublin around that time, he told me that as a child he was down at the Bandon Railway Station with a huge crowd of people to meet the train bringing home the victorious team with the Cup in 1886. Much too small to see what was going on; to see the train steaming in, which was always a thrill anyway, and the players emerging with the Cup, a man called Fulham, a blacksmith I think, took him up and held him over his head and the sight was still fresh in his memory as he told me about it. It is not unreasonable to speculate that the occasion sparked off his ambition to excel as a Rugby Player, as he certainly did."

Cork Rowdies.

The following year Bandon, by way of preparation for the Senior Cup campaign, played Cork F.C. and won by a goal and a try. The match report the next day in the "Constitution" carried the following postscript: - "At the termination of the game a disgraceful scene ensued when the Cork rowdies showed their unmanly disposition "There are one or two members of the R.I.C. in Bandon's team, and right good men too" who "roused the ire of some of the fellows who have reason to dislike the police" Cork Con stitution March 2nd 1887.

Bandon: Pope, CaInan, Sheehan and Houston, Levis (C), Daly, Brennan, Richardson, Lawless, Bartley, Cunningham, Ollive, Good, Canniffe, Tanner.

On March 10th 1887 Bandon met College in their cup tic. College won e3qil%! despite the disputed try incident mentioned earlier.

Bandon. E. Pope, J. Calnan, P. Lawless, Waugh, F. Levis, J. Daly, R. Swanton (Capt.) , W. Brennan, J. Richardson, Bartley, O'Regan, Ollive, N. O'Tolle, J. Crowley. College went on to win the cup that year.

On Thursday 23rd March 1888 Bandon were defeated by Cork F. C. Bandon lined out as follows: - Full back Wauth, Halves: G. Levis, W. Sullivan, B. Scott; Quarters: J. Daly, J. G. Levis, Forwards: O'Regan, Ollive, Blanchfield, Tanner, Crowley, Hickey, Long, Downey. When Cork F.C. lined out against Queens in their cup tie, their side included Bandonians G. Levis, J. G. Levis, Auliffe and O'Regan.

Garryowen Again.

In 1890 Bandon were unlucky to draw Garryowen in the first round of the senior cup as they were the reigning champions having won the cup the previous year for the first time. There was considerable interest generated by the game as it was the first meeting of sides since the '86 final and it drew a large attendance to the Limerick grounds. Garryowen trounced their visitors by three goals five tries to nil. This heralded the emergence of one of the most successful Munster Cup sides who went on to win eight successive Munster Cup titles.

Bandon continued in Senior Cup competition until 1893 when they were defeated by Queens College.

Bandon F.B. Sherlock, Brien, Belcher, Pim, Daly, Levis, Tanner, Donovan, Waugh, Wheeler, Johnston, Jones, Sargent Hosford and Good.

Bob Sherlock was a crown solicitor- Hosford was manager of Allmans distillery, Waugh, was Davey Waugh's, grandfather, Fox's Street, and Belsher was a dispensary doctor. His habit of drinking an anti-digestion mixture proved fatal some years later when he swallowed sulphuric acid having mistook it for his usual mixture. The Blanchfields mentioned was a member of the family who were proprietors of the Munster Arms Hotel at one time. William Beare was Bobby's (Connolly Street), grandfather.

This signalled the demise of the great Bandon side that had captured the first Munster Senior Cup. Bandon opted out of the Senior challenge cup and now played friendlies as no other competition was organised for adult teams. There was, however, an under 21 competition which began in 1887. The first game between Ballintemple F.C. and Green Rovers F.C. (Kinsale) was played in Bandon and referred by R. Brennan, Bandon

The FOOTBALL TEAM OF BANDON

With compliments, best wishes Cecil O'Driscoll, a song saluting the 1886 Senior Cup Winners uncovered by Cecil O'Driscoll.