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As Bill himself stated, "it was usual each morning to climb to the top of Knockpatrick, a high pinnacle a few miles from Foynes. We often reached the top breathless and exhausted. So you can imagine our chagrin, intensified by the apparent delight of the other members, who were ordered to rest there while the heavy weighted trio of Denny Lanigan, Jack Keane and myself descended half way again and reclimbed the hill once more. The replay was on 18th August, and we appeared on the field perfectly trained, we needed it as Tipperary were just as fit, and a most exciting game was the outcome, from which we emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins 3-0 to 2-2."
In the Munster final Clare succumbed to the might of Limerick, as did Galway in the penultimate stage of the championship. The scene was now set for the All Ireland final, but due to an outbreak of a viral flu in the Model County, Wexford was unable to field a team. Limerick was offered a walk over which they declined. So the match was refixed for 26th January 1919. On the day Limerick were easy victors, the score being 9-5 to 1-3, after ale game the cup was presented to Bill Hough by Ald Jim Nolan then President of the association. This was to be the last time a Limerick man would be the recipient of the old All Ireland trophy. This victory signalled the end of a lean period for hurling in the county and bridged twenty-one years without an All Ireland victory even though they had qualified for 1911 final. This game was fixed for Cork's Athletic Grounds but was called off on the day of the game due to the pitch being waterlogged. The game was refixed for Thurles, but Limerick refused to play anywhere but Cork, and after many appeals and objections Kilkenny were awarded the game. The only occasion a walk over was given in an All Ireland final.
For his club Bill played at centre field and at centre back and for the county side. In the early days he lined out at centre field and at corner back, In the years 1915 to 1926 when he stepped down from the inter county hurling arena he filled his favourite position of centre back. In 1929 he made a return from retirement to play at full back against Waterford in the Munster hurling championship. This was to be his last inter county experience but fate did not intervene and allow him out on a winning note, as Waterford were victorious.
Like the true Gael that he was, he did not confine his activities to the hurling and football fields but also took part in athletic events. In an article he said himself, "l took part in a few event but never won anything except a few crossroads events, where I won the 440yds on a few occasions." Cadbery of the Cork Examiner once wrote of his abilities thus "He is not built for speed but when hurling he had the knack of being always in the right place at the right time". When fit Bill weighed in at 13st 6 lbs.
After retiring from the playing fields he dedicated his time to refereeing games and here again he had a long and distinguished career. It pinnacled when he was in charge of an All Ireland semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway. He also took charge of several Munster championship games as well as numerous National League football and hurling encounters. One of his memories of this period was while refereeing a game in Thurles he had the dreaded experience of his watch stopping and as he said himself in an article. "I got a reliable wrist watch from Jack Keane. Luckily, l timed with a watch one of my umpires had, nearing the end of the first half, I noticed that the watch had stopped. I was in a dilemma, at the first break in play I went up to the umpire to get the correct time. Spectators were wondering and probably still are, I suppose, at my strange action on that occasion."
The administration side of affairs attracted Bill Hough long before he retired from active service on the playing fields. His experience as national teacher and Principal of Monagea N.S and his captaincy of the teams he played with gave him a solid background for administration. From 1924 to 1928 he served as vice chairman of the West Limerick board and in 1936 he was elected Treasurer of the Munster council a post he was to hold with distinction for the next twenty-six years. During this period not once was this position contested and only after pleading with the delegates to allow him to resign, did they concede to his request. As a tribute to his services of this council they presented him with a trip to the United States.
During his playing career he collected two All Ireland senior hurling medals, three Munster medals, two county championship medals, Feis Mumhan and numerous Tournament medals. He still holds the distinction of being the only West Limerick man to lead a Limerick team to All Ireland senior hurling championship glory.
Even though he had many proud occasions on the playing fields and in his many years of administration, probably one of his proudest moments was on a night in early 1974, when he was guest of honour at a special function in Newcastle West, he presented the Monagea junior hurling A side with their trophies, on their winning of the west Limerick championship for the first time ever.
On this evening in May on the one-hundredth anniversary of the year of his birth, I think that he would be very proud of the achievements of the small club, of which his father was a founding member and he himself a life long supporter and mentor. Although he his no longer with us, his memory still lives strong in the minds of the Gaels of Monagea and Limerick.
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