The early success of Bandon doubtlessly encouraged the formation of other West Cork teams, Kinsale, Clonakilty (v Bandon Grammar School 1888) and Skibbereen (v St. Faughnan's College Rosscarbery, March 3rd, 1891). There is one intriguing report gleamed from the Cork Constitution, December 28th. 1887. This game was played on St. Stephen's Day 1887 between Shamrock F.C. (Bandon) and Nil Desperandurms Cork. The game was played under rugby rules. An excerpt informs us "the running was remarkably good and the collaring splendid". Daly, Blanchfield, Downing, Healy and Nolan played well for Bandon. 'Nils' of course were the famous Gaelic Football team and when Bandon G.A. A. club was formed, they adopted the name 'Shamrocks'. Could it be that the rugby club was their forerunner?

There is another earlier reference to Skibbereen playing St. Edmunds F.B.C. in Dunmanway in December 1882 but this appears to be a once off affair as no records of Skibbereen appear again until 1891.

Unfortunately, all club records relating to the period are lost and as the newspapers carried reports only of the major games we must rely on hearsay for accounts of rugby games from l 894 to the mid 1920's.

Bandon continued to play rugby during this time but on a local, non-competitive basis probably playing against the local Grammar School, Clonakilty and Skibbereen.

The Twenties

The first World War, the struggle for independence and the "Troubles" put a damper on all sporting activities for a decade. By the mid twenties the attention of the youth of the country was diverted to more peaceful pursuits and a great upsurge took place in all sports.

Jim Neville, Solicitor, set about re-organising the Rugby Club and he was helped by a number of bank officials. Harry Pope. a Banker and brother of the Garage Proprietor, Victoria Cross, Cork, is credited with arranging the first game. He attended the fixture meeting in Cork with Ned Cahill, a Rate Collector and honorary secretary of the club, who also provided the transport for the trip; a motorcycle.

Harry Pope recalls, "In our first game in 1925 there were two Harry Popes playing, myself at scrum half and Harry Pope, the timber merchant, North Main Street, played in the out half position. Kinsale was a devil of a pitch as it was situated on a height near the station and when the ball was kicked over the boundary fence it took ages to retrieve. Following the game in Kinsale we all gathered in Murphy's Hotel and between the lot of us we had very little money. However, we had tea and when we had finished Jerry Kelleher, a creamery manager, stood and made a speech thanking Kinsale for their hospitality in providing the meal. Kinsale had no choice but to pay.

Insurance.

On the return journey from Kinsale some of the lads travelling in the back of the lorry threw out their togs when passing through Innishannon forcing the driver to stop and they dashed straight into the pub and it was impossible to get them home." "An incident I'll always remember happened in the Mardyke. Sean Brennan broke his collar bone and as he held his shoulder all he could say was, "Dammit, why didn't I buy the Daily Mail this morning*'. You see when you bought the Daily Mail you signed a form in O'Farrells and you had insurance cover for the day. I bought it daily from then on and later I too broke my collar bone and I received £10 for my claim".

The team was composed of no fewer than five sets of brothers, J. J. and Phelan, John Mel and Ted Poland, Harry and George Seaman, Denis, Jim and Ted Nagle, Billy and Denis O'Neill.

"Both Ted Poland and I began our rugby playing days in the bogs. The club were sub-tenants of the G.A.A. club at first" recalls Tim Quill, Waterwe Street. "This arrangement didn't last very long and Ned Walsh, who played himself for a time, came to our rescue when he offered us the use of his field adjoining the Macroom road. The pitch in those days ran in a north-south direction". This Bandon side began playing competitive rugby in the 1926-27 season.

County Cup.

The County Cup was presented by the city Rugby Clubs in 1927 and it was confined to teams of junior status as no other competition existed for county teams. Bandon were unlucky to be drawn against Macroom in the first round as they had a heavier and more experienced side while Bandon were still at the teething stages of competitive rugby.

Their performance that day, however, belied their inexperience, for Macroom were fortunate to advance by a single try (3 pts) to nil. The Cork Examiner reporter praised "Hunt and Ryall in the forward line (who) were always prominent; among the backs the kicking and tackling of O'Neill were repeatedly applauded while the speedy D. J. O'Callaghan gave the Macrompians some anxious moments" Cork Examiner, March 22nd, 1927.

J. J. Hunt was a bank official and captained the Bandon team for the 1929-30 season. The O'Neill referred to was, of course, Billy O'Neill, Shop-keeper from Convent Hill, who contributed greatly to Bandon's later successes. He was equally talented as a full back or centre. Such was the regard in which he was held by rugby enthusiasts throughout the county that the newspaper reporter commenting on a Munster Trial game between Cork and Waterford in 1929, attributed Cork's defeat to the absence of O'Neill in the threequarters.

Gamesmanship.

The our-half, J. J. O'Callaghan, who also played with U.C.C. made the position his own throughout the period and, indeed, he was the first choice fly-half in the county trials that came into being later. Ted Poland recalls, "Callaghan had more football brains than any other around. He'd always find out who his opponent was, what his christian name was, had they a nickname on him and so on. During the game he'd be all the time saying "slip it to me, Mick" etc. In a game against Macroom he intercepted a pass on our goal line. Gerald Barry was the referee, who was against us too and if he had the whistle in his mouth he'd have blown it, but he was mesmerised when he saw Callaghan getting away from every one and he scored under the post to best Macroom even though they had the hell beaten out of us the same day. Mallow and Macroom met in the final and Mallow won by seven points to nil.

The following year Bandon met Macroom in the competition on March, 26th -in Bandon. The 'Cork Examiner' reporter describes the game. "The pitch was in a very heavy state and held several pools of water, and the leather being greasy, was difficult to handle. The visitors pack a stone each made good use of this advantage, the conditions favouring them. Following a dribbling movement, Love scored. On resuming. pla,, remained in mid field. The Bandon scrum-half Poland (Ted), was playing a splendid game, his tactics counteracting the weighty Macroom forwards and though he his back with plenty of ball they made little headway and kicked badly. On the other hand Macroom depended on the loose rush- and high punt". Macroom kept pressing Bandon and launched a high kick at (Paddy.) Murphy, the home full, but he "marked" on the line. Following his kick to touch. Kerins (M) received from the throw and sprang over to give Macroom a six point win.

This was the nearest this Bandon side had come to winning a trophy and, this narrow defeat, although disappointing, had a very desirable affect on the club for it provoked a resolve and determination that was to be *instrumental in establishing Bandon as one of the top county teams between the Wars.

MINOR CUP 1928

Bandon had entered the Minor Cup that year and defeated Sundays Well and Dolphin in the semi-final. Bandon, in fact, were the first county team to enter in the competition.

U.C.C. were their adversary in the final which was played in the Mardyke and for this momentous occasion the club hired a number of cars from Seamans. The front of the cars were garnished with crossed blue and white flags and the supporters sported colourful. home-made rosettes. The Bandon XV, led by team captain, Jim Neville, took to the field wearing a new set of blue and white striped jerseys. Both sides were very evenly matched and at fun time neither team had scored. It was agreed to play an extra 15 minutes a side and with minutes left to play in the second period Bandon were awarded a scrum near the students posts and the Bandon scrum half jinked over for the winning try.

The Bandon XV, Billy O'Neill, C. O'Connell, J. Nagle, P. Phelan, M. Murphy, J. Hunt, T. Poland, J. J. Phelan, J. Neville, D. ONeill, G. Cunningham, J. Hunt, G. Barry, T. Quill, S. Murphy.

Great revelry followed the victory and the festivities continued late into the night. Next day was "Fair Day" in Skibbereen and the Bandon dealers arrived at the fair in Mr. Seaman's car still emblazoned with the flags. This Bandon side had now come of age. They had the distinction of being the first County team to pluck the Minor Cup from the clutches of the major city clubs and now they set firm sights on greater horizons.