Sport In Clogga
The golden hour of sport in Clogga occured in
the year 1946. It was the junior hurling (St. Kieran's Clogga) team who did us proud after only being affiliated the same year.
That year (1946) they won the southern junior hurling championship, after only being formed in 1945. But sadly
this memorable team were beaten in the final by Graigue. The score afterwards was Graige 8-5 St. Kieran's Clogga 3-0.
The glory of 1946 was turned to failure in 1947 as Clogga were defeated in the opening round. In 1948 the mighty Clogga
men merged with Mooncoin.
The team of 1946 consisted of:
E. Dunphy(Ballintarsney), Ramie Wall(Clogga), Mick Fitzgerald(Barabehy),
Dick Dunphy(Tubrid), T. Cody(Clogga), P. Dunphy(Ballyintarsney), Dick Corcoran, Jimmy Brien(Mooncoin),
R. Croke(Mooncoin), Davy Phelan(Kilcragin), Paddy Phlean(Kilcragin), Jim Comeford(Clogga), Paddy Walsh(Clogga),
John Barron, Dick Walsh(Clogga), E. Kelly(Mooncoin), Jimmy Deady(Carrigeen), Andy Kearns(Tubrid), R Hogan,
J. Vereker, W. Culleton.
St. Kieran's Clogga (1946)
Here Are Some Reports from the Time:
1946 CHAMPIONSHIP
Febuary 1946. "Clogga Meetings. From St. Kieran's, Clogga - Junior hurling team affiliated in the current years
Co. Championship for the first time in many years."
March 1946: "St. Kieran's hurling club Meeting: Officers elected: President-Mr. P. Mulqueen N.T.,
Chairperson- Mr. P. Walsh, Vice Chairperson- Mr. J. McDonald, Secetary- Mr Michael Comeford,
Treasurer- Mr. R Wall, Rep to county board- Mr. J McDonald."
March 1947:" St. Kierans hurling club had their A.G.M at club rooms Clogga. Officers elected for 1947 are:
May 1947: "Rural electrification has commenced in the Kilmacow/Mooncoin area."
April 29th 1946: "(Junior Hurling Championship round 1) At Glenmore, St. Kierans (Clogga) easily defeated Brandon
Rovers No. 1 of Graignamanagh. Referee: Ed. O'Connor(Graignakill)."
Clogga/Piltown Clash
October 27th 1946: "(Junior Hurling Championship round 4) At Mullinavat, St. Kierans played Thomastown.
Final score St. Kierans 5-4, Thomastown 2-2. Referee: Jack Phlean (CarrickShock)."
ST. KIERANS WIN SOUTH FINAL
FINAL-DISSAPOINTMENT
1947 CHAMPIONSHIP
July 13th 1947: "(Junior Hurling Championship Round 1) St. Kierans (Clogga) played
Glenmore at Mullinavat. Final score Glenmore 5-5 (3-1) St. Kierans 1-2 (0-2). This match was
postponed from March. St Kieran's, last years finalists , defeated in the opening round
caused suprise and bewilderment to many. They failed to get into the game at any stage."
MINOR HURLING IN CLOGGA
In the late 1920's and early 1930's Clogga went to through a sports revival in the form of minor hurling.
Cloggas minor hurling team were called the "Clogga Rovers". They played in the league and did
very well (getting to the Soutern County Final) considering they came from such a small area.
Here are some Reports from the Time:
1927 Minor Hurling
August at Thomastown. Minor hurling league, initial round. Clogga Rovers 4-2, Paulstown 2-1.
Paulstown were hot favourites because of their combination and clever play.
October 14th 1927 at Thomastown minor hurling League round 2. Clogga Rovers v Freshford.
October 28th 1927. Clogga Rovers objection to Freshford deferred. Birth Certificates
are to be produced.
December 9th 1927. Clogga Rovers awarded match v Freshford and now meet winnners of
Three Castles/Erins Own.
1928
January 1928. Clogga Minor Hurling Club -Card Drive/Members of Clogga band preparing
for outing.
Febuary 1928 at Clogga. Minor Hurling Challenge. Clogga defeat the Emeralds(Sallypark)
by three goals.
March 1928 at Thomastown. Minor Hurling League Southern Final(1927). Erins Own 6-4, Clogga 1-1.
WALSH BROTHERS OF CLOGGA
Jack played left-foward in the Leinster Junior Hurling Final of 1915.
He played Senior Inter-County thereafter and won the 1916 County Senior Hurling Championship
medals with Mooncoin. As stated, he played for Mooncoin v The rest of Kilkenny on 1920.
Then he moved to Dublin and Faughs with whom he won three County Senior Hurling Championships and
three Senior Hurling Leagues. He played in goal for Leinster H. in the 1924 Tailteann games. He
played in 1937 for his Club in the Junior grade. He died unexpectedly
in July 1958.
Pat played Senior hurling with Mooncoin between 1915 and 1920, winning the triple medal (1916-
1917-1918). He played on 1919 and again with Mooncoin v rest of Kilkenny in 1920, as a superbe back.
-Not too far behind his illustrious brother Jim "Builder".
ALL-IRELAND MEDAL WINNERS
In more recent times in Clogga's sporting history, we had two players who played in the
Kilkenny's minor team. Firstly there was Richard Walsh (Swithin) who in 1961 recieved a
winning All- Ireland minor hurling medal.
CLOGGA CRICKET TEAM
Not much is know about this aspect of Clogga's sporting history. But we do know that towards
the end of the 1800's and the beginning of 1900's, Clogga had a very prominent cricket team. The
majorty of the men of Clogga played on the team. They were well respected in the Kilkenny area.
"St. Kieran's have the services of Vereker(Mv), Corcoran(Cuss.), Deadys(Cor), Dunphys(Ballyintarsney)
Phelans(Kilcraggan), McGuire(Ardera), Walshs and Wall(Clogga), Hogan(Nicholastown), Dunphy and Kearns(Tubrid), Fitzgerald(Cashel),
Dungan and Jones (Cloncunny) and J. O' Brien and Eamon Kelly (captain) and from outside Barron(Dunkitt), and Culleton(Ashtown). St.
Kierans are billed to meet Brandon Rovers No.1(Graignamanagh) in the first round at Glenmore on the
28th of April."
Chairman- Pat Walsh, Vice Chairman- Raymond Wall, Hon. Secetary- Michael Comeford.
Commitee- Messrs Ed. Doyle, W. Walsh, J. Comerford, J. Foran, E. Kelly, J. Vereker, J. O' Brien. Team Captain- E. Kelly,
Vice Captain- J. Vereker."
October: 13th 1946: "(Junior Hurling Championship round 3) At Carrick-on-Suir St. Kierans played
Piltown. St. Kieran's 3-3 (1-2), St. Columbas 1-3 (1-0). St. Kierans took their chances very well while St. Columbas
were unsettled and erratic. The ground conditions at Davin park didnt help much. Eamon Kelly netted from way out
to leave the half-time score at St. Kierans (1-2) St. Columbas (1-0). A Sonny Kelly goal near the end sealed the issue.
ST. KIERANS: Eamon Kelly (captain), D. Dunphy(g), P. & E. Dunphy, Richard Hogan, J. Vereker, J. O' Brien, J. Corcoran, W.
Culleton, Richard Walsh, Sonny Kelly, Raymond Wall, M. Fitzgearld, M. Jones, John Barron. Sub:
John Deady for Dick Walsh who retired injured at half-time."
November 17th 1946: "(Junior Hurling South Final) At Wat. Gaelic field St. Kierans played
Slieverue Rovers. Final score St. Kierans 4-3 (2-2) Slieverue Rovers 3-1 (1-0).
St. Kierans had beaten Brandon Rovers No. 1, Bye in the 2nd round, St. Columbas, Piltown and then Thomastown
while Slieverue Rovers had accounted for Nore Rangers and then Carrickshock. The sothern final was fast,
close and at times brilliant with St. Kieran's gaining an advantage at the start and were ahead at half-time,
St K. 2-2 SR. 1-0. A hard fought second half was very even with both sides scoring 2-1. St. Kierans has
had to fight doggedly to stay in front. Full time score. St. Kierans 4-3, Slieverue Rovers 3-1.
ST. KIERANS: E. Kelly (captain), R. Dunphy(g), R. Hogan, Jimmy O' Brien, J. Vereker, J Corcoran,
P. & E. Dunphy, P. & R. Walsh, S. Barron, R. Kelly, J. Deady, W. Culleton and M. Fitzgerld."
Febuary 23rd 1947: "(County Junior Hurling Championship Final 1946) At Nolan Park Kilkenny
St. Kierans played Graigue. Graigue petitioned for a postponment because of the flu then sweeping
the country. St. Kierans thinking the advantage must lay with them refused. However, on a bleak,
wintry day at Nowlan park they found not only had they misread the offer, but also on the day, they
were no match for Graigue.
ST. KIERANS: E. Kelly (captain), R. Dunphy(g), R. Hogan, P. Walsh, J. Vereker, J Corcoran,
P. & E. Dunphy, P. & R. Walsh, S. Barron, R. Kelly, J. Deady, W. Culleton and M. Fitzgerld. P. Walsh (Clogga)
stood in for the flue-stricken Jimmy O' Brien."
Clogga: T. Reddy(captain), J. Comerford (g), W. & J. Kearns, J & T Doody, John and P. Howely,
W. & T. O' Shea, "Crab" Walsh, Bill Walsh, W. Quinn, J. Hennebry, N. Butler.
Freshford had failed to show up by starting time - 3.00 p.m.-At 3.15 p.m. the Freshford "minors"
arrived (unbelievably large and heavy for 18 years olds). After discussion and not to disappoint
the spectators, Clogga agreed to play. Not unexpectedly it was an uneven contest between the Freshford
fowards and the Clogga backs. T. Reddy(captain), Bill Dunphy, "Crab" Walsh and John Doody bore the weight
of the onslaught - Freshford winning by a big score. Clogga club has objected.
Erins Own, reputedly the fastest team in the county , had forecast no difficulty in beating Clogga,
who had had a hard course of training for the match. Erins Own will now meet the winners of Johnstown/
St. Stephans in the final.
Clogga Rovers: T. Reddy(captain), W. Dunphy, T. Kenny, E. Harney, J. Burns, J. Grace,
"Crab" Walsh, J. Comerford, J. & T. Doody, J. Dowely, Bill Walsh, Lar Hawe, J. Maguire, M. Shea,
W. Keane, T. & W. Shea, M. Keane, W. Quinn.
Mooncoin v Rest of Kilkenny (1920- including Dicksboro & Tullaroan) was the
last occasion on which any of the Clogga
Walsh brothers played for Mooncoin. They had already won the Triple Championship.
Medals issued for 1916, 1917, 1918. Pat retired from active play while Jim and Jack
moved to Dublin and played with Faughs Club and Dublin Co. thereafter.
Jim "Builder" had played for Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Hurling
Final v Wexford and then the All-Ireland. They lost to Tipperary in 1916.
His last apperance for Kilkenny was in the Leinster Final of 1919 when beaten
by Dublin. He played in five All-Ireland Finals with Dublin winning three- 192-,
1924, 1927 and losing 1921 and 1930. He played on three winning Leinster
Railway Cup Teams and was the only player to participate in three Tailteann
Games. He played fifteen years for Faughs. He won seven Leinster senior hurling
Medals and captained Dublin in 1930. He won five Dublin Senior hurling
championship and captained Faughs in 1925, 1926, 1928, 1932, and won six
Dublin Senior Hurling League Medals. He also played hand ball and shinty.
He was Chairman of Dublin Co. Board in 1929 and 1930. As a hurler, he was and
still remains one of the all-time greats of the game. He died in 1949.
In the 70's another Clogga man, Joe Wall won a minor All-Ireland medal in 1975 and also an All-Ireland under 21 medal in 1977(see below).
