Larry Tompkins

Originally hailing from county Kildare, Larry Tompkins managed an amazing haul of county Junior B, Junior A and Intermediate titles in successive seasons with his native Eadestown. He went on to play minor, under 21 and senior football for Kildare, before relocating to New York in the mid 1980s where he would play for the Donegal club. It briefly looked like Tompkins’ intercounty career was over when a widely derided decision by the Kildare county board to stop paying for his return flights home, rendered him unable to represent his native county. A number of opportunistic and persistent Castlehaven natives based in New York managed to persuade their teammate to line out for the Union Hall club for the 1987 championship. 

Cork manager, Billy Morgan had played against Tompkins in New York, and wasted no time in drafting his old adversary into the Cork panel. The impact made for his adopted club and county was nothing short of astounding. Over the ensuing years, he won two County Championships and three Munster Club Championships in Castlehaven colours. As a key component in Cork football’s golden era he won six Munster Football Championships, one National League Title, three All Star Awards and two All Ireland titles. He was also named at Centre Forward in the Cork Team of the Millennium. Larry Tompkins was widely credited with being a driving force in Billy Morgan’s mission to change the culture and internal mindset of the Cork Senior Football team. His gruelling lunchtime runs in the Vernon Mount dirt bike course are the subject of many local yarns. Tompkins’s career longevity, freakish ability to recover quickly from injury and willingness to play through the pain barrier are oft discussed. He managed to play inter-county football until the age of 33, despite experiencing two cruciate knee ligament injuries and severe hamstring injuries earlier in his career.

Immediately after the conclusion of his playing career in 1996, Larry Tompkins succeeded Billy Morgan as Bainisteoir of the Cork Senior Football Team. After several of his teammates from the Morgan era followed him into retirement, the early years of Tompkins’ tenure served as a rebuilding phase for Cork. Over the coming years, he successfully introduced a series of exciting young players such as Anthony Lynch, Eoin Sexton, Sean Og O Hailpin, Nicholas Murphy, Micheal Ó Croinin, Phillip Clifford, Graham Canty, John Miskella, Alan Quirke, Fionan Murray and Brendan Jer O’Sullivan into the Cork senior setup. Despite early championship exists in 1997 and 1998, 1999 represented a high point for Tompkins’ Cork side with a Munster Championship victory and an All Ireland final appearance against Meath. Another Munster Championship victory followed in 2002. Although Tompkins departed his role at the conclusion of the 2003 season it is worth noting that seven years later many of the players that he introduced to the intercounty game were still key men for Conor Counihan’s 2010 All Ireland winning side.

John Caulfield

After John Caulfield’s arrival in 1985, few would have envisaged the impact that West Cork’s newest resident would have on soccer in Cork. Born in New York, raised in Roscommon and introduced to the League of Ireland in an Athlone Town shirt, John Caulfield came to Ballineen and Enniskean to work as a manager in Soundstore. After a season playing in the Munster Senior League, he made the move to Cork City FC in 1986. After netting the club’s first ever hat trick, John Caulfield would go on to enjoy a stellar 15-year League of Ireland career and he eventually retired as the club’s all-time leading goal scorer in 2001. Over the course of his time with the club, Caulfield won one League of Ireland title, one FAI Cup, three League Cups, and eleven Munster Senior Cups. A tough, quick and clinical striker, the fact that he managed to top the League of Ireland goal scoring charts on two occasions in an era of Big Centre forwards and long ball football is a testament to his undoubted quality.

Upon the conclusion of his League of Ireland career, he obtained a management position with Munster Senior League sleeping giant Avondale United. He quickly transformed a struggling first division side into a star-studded outfit that dominated the local and national amateur football scene like no team before or since. He followed this up with a highly productive spell in charge of UCC. In November 2013, John Caulfield was appointed as manager of Cork City FC. The appointment had an air of inevitability to it, and he departed the amateur game as arguably the most successful manager that the Munster Senior League has ever seen. The main objective and expectation of Cork City prior to his arrival was Premier Division survival. Over the course of his five-and-a-half year tenure John Caulfield’s Cork City never finished a season below second place in the Premier Division. He won one League of Ireland Premier Division title, two FAI Cups and three President’s cups. An admirable haul by any standards and a feat unmatched on Leeside since the Cork Athletic and Cork United sides of the 1940’s and 1950’s! Although his robust and direct style of football meant that he had no shortage of detractors on Leeside, John Caulfield was a spectacular success. He left Cork City by mutual consent in May 2019, and many still view his departure as a turning point in the decline of the club which today sits in lower half of the first division table.

Although it is easy to wax lyrical about his contribution to League of Ireland soccer in Cork, this piece would not be complete without highlighting John Caulfield’s contribution to sport in West Cork. It is widely known that he is incredibly generous with his time when it comes to assisting with the coaching of local teams, aiding the fundraising efforts of local clubs and assisting with coaching West Cork Interleague teams. In Ballineen and Enniskean, he has represented the St Mary’s footballers with distinction. He has also played senior divisional football with Carbery, and represented the Cork junior team at inter-county level.

Despite the illustrious nature of the shortlist, it will come as no surprise to any follower of Cork football that the winner of our poll to determine West Cork’s greatest ever sportsperson was the mercurial Declan Barron. He won with just under 45 per cent of the vote, with honourable mentions going to his 1973 All Ireland winning team mate Kevin Jer O’Sullivan and Skibbereen based rowing heroes Gary and Paul O’Donovan.

The Bantry Blues clubman first broke into the Cork senior football team in 1971, arriving on to the scene with two All Ireland minor medals, and two All Ireland U21 medals to his name. Unsurprisingly, he quickly became a key player within the group and alternated between the midfield and centre forward positions for much of the following decade. The undoubted high point of his intercounty career occurred quite early on for Barron, when he played a pivotal role in helping Cork to secure the 1973 All Ireland title. He was joined on the panel by his Bantry Blues club mate Donal Hunt. Barron would go on to showcase his versatility and adaptability on the grandest stage in Gaelic Football. Following an injury to Millstreet’s John Coleman, Barron seamlessly transitioned to the role of centre back (a position that he had not played at since his underage days with Bantry Blues). He delivered a typically impeccable performance in unfamiliar territory, and his aerial dominance in the last quarter saw Cork through against a plucky Galway outfit. The remainder of Declan Barron’s inter county career would coincide with a frustrating period for Cork’s football faithful as Mick O’Dwyer’s Kerry and Heffo’s Army (Dublin) would assert their dominance at intercounty level and stifle Cork’s hopes of an another All Ireland win. Although, O’Dwyer’s Kerry would win eight successive Munster Championships from 1975 to 1982, their 1976 final in Páirc Úi Chaoimh left Cork wondering what might have been. The rebels were left incredulous after a perfect, fisted goal from Declan Barron in the closing seconds was disallowed. This occurred after Declan’s team mate, Brian Murphy had earlier been incorrectly adjudged to have caught the ball behind the goal line earlier in the half. There would be mild consolation for Barron and his teammates in 1980, when they defeated Kerry to win the National Football League title. His second half performance when switched to midfield is said to be amongst his best ever in a Cork jersey. Unfortunately, there would be no further success for Barron in Cork colours thereafter, and he departed the intercounty scene in 1982.

At club level, Declan Barron was an integral part of Bantry Blues’ rapid ascension from Junior to Senior ranks in the 1970s. Bantry’s rivalry with the great Bandon team of the late 1960s and early 1970s saw both teams dominate the Carbery division. In 1972, they faced off in a tense divisional semi final in Skibbereen (having both won two titles a piece in the previous four years). With his team trailing by two points, Barron found the net in dramatic fashion with a last minute 21 yard free kick. This proved to be a pivotal moment in their season and Bantry went on to win the county junior title that year. The Blues subsequently secured the county intermediate title in 1975 by defeating their West Cork neighbours Naomh Abán. Barron’s Bantry quickly acclimatised to the rigours of competing at senior level. Unfortunately, despite reaching a senior county semi final in 1976 and a senior county final in 1981, success in the senior grade would prove to be elusive for Barron in Bantry colours. However, being a key member of the Carbery divisional team that secured the 1971 senior title saw Declan Barron complete a rare feat in securing county championship honours at junior, intermediate and senior level.

Declan Barron is widely regarded as the greatest ever fielder of a football to don Cork colours at any level. Fielding is a difficult skill to execute, and this is highlighted by the dearth of natural fielders of the ball in the modern game and the ensuing rule changes that have been brought in to address the decline of one of football’s core skills. Standing at an even six feet tall, he certainly would have given away a few inches to many of his contemporaries in the half back, midfield and half forward lines of the 1970’s. However, Declan Barron made soaring high to pluck balls out of the sky look easy. His tough, no nonsense style won him a host of admirers all over the country. The sheer esteem in which he is held is cemented by his inclusion in both the Cork Football Team Of The Century (at Centre Forward) and the Cork Football Team Of The Millenium (at midfield). On a national level, he received two All Star awards (both in the centre forward position) in 1974 and 1978 during a period in which big names from iconic Kerry and Dublin teams dominated the Gaelic Football landscape. In an area dominated by one sport, Declan Barron’s exploits with the big ball see him rightly regarded as a living legend in West Cork.

It is fair to say that over recent months, the content of this column has clearly shown that West Cork has been a breeding ground for many great sportspeople. The fact that the achievements of Olympians, internationals, and All Ireland winners can almost be forgotten over the course of a century is a testament to the sheer volume of sporting excellence that the area contributes to Ireland’s sporting landscape. When reviewing the considerable and wide ranging pantheon of sporting giants that have called West Cork home, one question does loom. Who is the greatest West Cork Sportsperson/s? I quickly came to the conclusion that this is a question that I am unable to answer myself, and one that I felt compelled to ask a wider audience.

Therefore, we are asking all of our readers to vote for the greatest West Cork Sportsperson of all time. You can register your vote online at 
www.westcorkpeople.ie/vote/

As always, opinion is subjective. If your choice does not feature on our shortlist, you are free to enter a name manually on the link above.

1. Kevin Jer O’Sullivan

A Glengarriff native who excelled in Adrigole colours over a 23-year club career, Kevin Jer also represented Beara and Cork with distinction. A supremely talented attacking half back, he was a central figure in Cork’s 1973 All Ireland win over Galway. In addition to this, his seven-year inter-county career yielded three Munster Championships, while he also won two Railway Cup Medals as an interprovincial player. Despite a controversial All Star omission in 1971, Kevin Jer won two All Star awards in 1972, and 1973. He also took the right half back berth on Cork’s Football Team Of The Century in 1984.

2. Declan Barron

Declan Barron was another member of Cork’s class of 73, having progressed to senior ranks with two All-Ireland minor and two All-Ireland U21 medals in his possession. Equally effective when deployed at centre forward or midfield, Barron’s eleven-year inter-county career yielded an impressive haul of three Munster Championships, two All Star awards and a League title. At club level, he won Junior and Intermediate county titles with Bantry Blues and a Senior title while playing Divisional football with Carbery. He was also selected on the Cork football teams of the Century and Millennium.

3. Graham Canty

Another Bantry behemoth, Graham Canty burst on to the inter-county scene in 2000. An awesome competitor, he operated with tremendous effectiveness at full back, centre back and midfield over a thirteen-year inter-county career. His time in the red jersey saw Canty win five Munster Championships, three All Star awards, and two League titles. He also captained Cork in their 2010 All Ireland victory over Down. At club level, Canty was part of Bantry’s 1998 Cork Senior Football Championship winning team, and he also represented Ireland in three International Rules series (2001, 2004 & 2008).

4. Nollaig Cleary

A hard working, technically-gifted half forward, Nollaig Cleary is a native of Castlehaven but played her club football for Gabriel Rangers. She was a member of their All Ireland Junior title winning team of 2003. Her inter-county career extended from 2004-2015 and she is rightly, widely regarded as one of Cork’s greatest ever players. This is re-inforced by a jaw-dropping medal collection, which includes ten Munster titles, nine All Ireland titles, eight National League titles, and three All Star Awards.

5. Niall Cahalane

Almost universally known as the toughest man to ever pull on the famous red jersey, Niall Cahalane was a tiger-ish individual, best deployed at wing or corner back. Although remarkable for his tough streak and his longevity (14 years on the Cork senior panel, and 25 years on the Castlehaven senior panel), Cahalane was consistently best in class when it came to football intelligence and technical ability. He won seven Munster Championships, two All Ireland titles, two All Star awards, and one League title. With Castlehaven, Cahalane won two County U21 Championships, three Senior County Championships, and three Munster Senior Club Championships.

6. Tadhgo Crowley

A Clonakilty club man, who was a driving force in helping the club to win seven Senior County Championship titles between 1939 and 1947, Tadhgo Crowley also manned the centre back berth for Cork from 1943 to 1949. He won three Munster Championships in Cork colours and captained the rebels to All Ireland success in 1945. Renowned for his football intelligence, bravery and fielding ability, Tadhgo Crowley was deservedly posthumously named at Centre Back in both the Cork teams of the Century and Millennium.

7. Jim and Eamonn Young

Sons of 1911 All Ireland winner Jack Young, Jim and Eamonn Young followed in their father’s footsteps by also representing Doheny’s (amongst others) over the course of highly productive club careers. Jim, the older of the pair, represented Cork in both hurling and football. Although football success eluded him, he was an integral part of the great Cork team that picked up five All Ireland Hurling Championships between 1941 and 1946. Eamonn, represented the Cork footballers from 1942 to 1953, lining out at midfield in the 1945 All Ireland final win over Cavan. Eamonn was selected on both the Cork football team of the Century and the Cork football team of the Millennium, whilst Jim was selected on the Cork hurling team of the century.

8. Conor Hourihane

Conor Hourihane is a skillful, attack-minded central midfielder who currently plays with Swansea City (on loan from Aston Villa). Having come up through the ranks at Bandon AFC, he signed for Sunderland’s Youth Team in 2007. He has also played for Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle, and Barnsley (where he was club captain) throughout his career, as well as winning 24 caps for the Republic of Ireland National Team. Prior to departing for Swansea City on loan, Hourihane was a central figure in the Aston Villa team that secured promotion to the Premier League in the 2018/19 season. He went on to make thirty-one Premier League appearances for the club.

9. Gary and Paul O’Donovan

The Skibbereen brothers burst on to the international rowing scene in 2016, winning a gold medal in the lightweight double sculls at the European Championships in Brandenburg. This was quickly followed by a silver medal in the same event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The brothers subsequently won silver medals in the European Championships in 2017 and 2018, and took gold in the 2018 World Championship. In 2019, Paul was paired with Fintan McCarthy and took gold in the Lightweight Double Scull event in the 2019 World Championships. He also previously secured World Championship Gold medals in the 2016 and 2017 Lightweight Single Sculls events.

10. Wayne Lordan

Wayne Lordan is a prominent Irish jockey from Crossbarry. He rode his first winner in 1998, and has experienced success in multiple racing groups. His win on Sole Power, at the 2010 Nunthorpe Stakes in York was the longest priced winner in a British Group 1 race for 35 years. Since 2017, he has been riding for Aidan O’Brien. In 2017, he won the 1000 Guineas, and the Matron Stakes in O’Brien’s colours. To date, he has fourteen major wins to his name in Ireland, the UK and the US.

Like many of those born in West Cork in the 19th and 20th centuries, John Lordan emigrated to the United States once he reached adulthood. He settled in Boston, Massachusetts and resided in the Cambridge area. Cambridge was something of a fertile breeding for distance runners at this time. Lordan was the first ever student of fellow Cambridge resident and nationally renowned coach, Frank ‘Tad’ Gormley. Gormley was an extremely interesting character in his own right. He started his sporting career as a professional boxer, but quickly realised that his coaching ability far exceeded his in ring capabilities. Gormley would go on to have an illustrious college coaching career in both track and field, and basketball. He was elected to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Hall of Fame. City Park stadium in New Orleans was also renamed Tad Gormley stadium in his honour in 1957. While starting out as a coach, Gormley coached Timothy Ford of the Hampshire Athletic club to victory in the 1906 Boston marathon. However, his earliest sporting achievement occurred in 1903 when his first protege John C. Lordan, secured a momentous victory in the Boston Marathon.

Despite the negative headlines brought about by the tragic events of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, the Boston Marathon is better known as being the world’s oldest annual marathon. Given Massachusetts’ significant Irish immigrant population, it is unsurprising that the marathon has traditionally attracted a lot of interest from Irish athletes since its inception in 1897. Before his victory in 1903, John Lordan competed in the 1901 and 1902 events, finishing fifth and third respectively.  Despite this, his victory still came as something of a surprise to many commentators. The pre-race favourites included a slew of future Olympians such as Sammy Mellor Jr (the 1902 Boston Marathon Champion), Michael Spring (who would go on to win the 1904 Boston Marathon), and Jack Caffrey (the 1900 and 1901 Boston Marathon Champion). Lordan struggled with illness in the run up to the event and was allegedly advised against competing by a doctor on the day of the race. This fact, coupled with a less than ideal training regime (Lordan could only train in the evenings after a long shift at the Pump Manufacturing Company of East Cambridge), meant that his victory was rightly lauded as a remarkable achievement.

Following his victory, John Lordan was selected to compete in the 1904 Olympic Games in Saint Louis and was amongst the favourites to take gold in the marathon. He represented a rather sizable United States Olympic team, and would go on to participate in a race regarded by many as being one of the most bizarre in Olympic history. Although the 1904 Olympic Games proved to be an anti-climactic affair for Lordan, his forced withdrawal after less than 10 miles would prove to be decidedly less newsworthy than the fates that befell some of his competitors in the field. The first participant to cross the finish line was an American called Fred Lorz. However, he was later duly disqualified after it transpired that he had only reached his destination with the assistance of a motorcar. Another American, William Garcia was discovered lying on the track with severe internal injuries, said to be caused by breathing in clouds of dust kicked up by the cars on hand to transport the race officials. Of the 32 participants that started the race, only a mere 14 athletes managed to complete it. The eventual winner was Thomas Hicks, a friend and neighbour of Lordan’s from the Cambridge area. His victory was considered to be quite controversial. With only 10 miles remaining, Hicks’ support team had to intervene to prevent him from dropping out of the race due to exhaustion. In coming to his aid, they gave him several doses of strychnine mixed with brandy in order to see him through to the end of the race. Strychnine would later be classified as a banned substance. In the end, the strychnine and brandy cocktail was not sufficient, and his support team had to help him across the finish line. Alarmingly, it was said that Hicks lost eight pounds over the course of the race.

John Lordan continued to compete as a long distance runner in the United States until 1910, and remained in the Boston area for the rest of his life. His improbable Boston Marathon victory, against seemingly insurmountable odds ensures that he is rightly regarded amongst the very finest distance runners in Irish athletic history.

George Cornelius ‘Con’ O’Kelly was born in Gloun, near Dunmanway in 1886. Like many young men from Dunmanway and its surrounding areas at the time, Con O’Kelly was forced to venture abroad to gain employment. He settled into a thriving Irish immigrant community in Kingston Upon Hull, England. Con lodged with the Larvin family in the Old Town area, and later went on to marry their daughter Sabina. O’Kelly joined the Kingston Upon Hull City Police in 1902 and became PC249. He settled in to a role with the local fire department, which at the time functioned as an arm of the local police force. Whilst settling in on Humberside, Con’s colleagues introduced him to wrestling via his local club, the Hull Amateur Wrestling Club. 

Con O’Kelly’s natural wrestling ability was quickly noticed by the club instructors and he was promptly entered in to a series of local competitions. He stood at an imposing six foot three inches in height, and weighed in at 220 pounds. Contemporary descriptions indicate that O’Kelly’s ample frame was reinforced with a plentiful supply of lean muscle. He was immediately successful, and after a short period of intensive training, Con put his name down to take on the Northern Counties champion in Liverpool. Although still a relative novice in terms of experience, he defeated his opponent within three minutes, establishing himself as a contender within Britain’s wrestling community. This win was followed up with three successive wins against experienced, high ranking opponents. In 1907, the Hull Amateur Wrestling Club took the decision to enter Con into the British Amateur Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, and he rewarded their faith by delivering the club’s first national title.

As the British Amateur Wrestling Heavyweight champion, Con O’Kelly was rewarded with a place on the British Olympic team for the 1908 Olympic Games in London. However, his preparation for the games was severely disrupted in dramatic fashion by a work place injury, incurred when a wall collapsed on him as he was fighting a fire at Soulsby’s sawmill in Hull in March, 1908. Thankfully, O’Kelly recovered quickly from a badly bruised back and shoulder and many facial lacerations and managed to regain his fitness before the commencement of the games. Con defeated the American Lee Talbot, and Englishman Harry Foskett before facing fellow Munster man, Edmond Barrett. Barrett hailed from Ballyduff, near Listowel in County Kerry. He was something of a sporting all-rounder, and also competed in the shot, javelin, discus, and tug of war competitions in the 1908 Olympic programme and achieved a gold medal in the latter. He also famously helped London to a 1-5 to 0-4 victory over Cork in the 1901 All Ireland Hurling Final. Although defeated by O’Kelly, he went on to claim the bronze medal, and would compete on the British Olympic wrestling team again in the 1912 games in Stockholm. His victory over Barrett meant that Con faced Jacob Gunderson of Norway in the final. Although 11 years O’Kelly’s senior, it was reported that he had a major physical advantage over the Corkman. An experienced matman, Gunderson was the Scandinavian and United States champion. It took Con all of 13 minutes to pin the Norwegian in the first bout, before he eased to victory in the decisive second bout and became the first Irishman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling. 

Con received his gold medal from Queen Alexandra, who also presented him with a green oak leaf badge in recognition of his great feat. After the conclusion of the games, he returned to his adopted city of Hull amidst a great deal of fanfare. He was greeted by the Chief of Police Major Malcolm, the Chief of Worship Street Fire Station, and a cheering crowd of over 12,000 people. He was chaired aloft by several of his fire station colleagues, and placed upon a patriotically decorated, horse drawn fire engine, on which he toured the city. Con continued to wrestle sporadically after his Olympic victory. This included a professional bout where he squared up against Galway native Pat Connolly in Grand Central Palace, New York in 1909, which made headlines for all of the wrong reasons. The match degenerated in to a fistfight, and ended in a double disqualification for both men. The New York Times report on the bout from November 23, 1909 was particularly damning. It stated that ‘It was conceded to be the worst wrestling bout that has been held in this city, and the Irishmen, of whom there were many in the house, hissed from the beginning, and finally were loud in their declarations that neither of the contestants was an Irishman’. Clearly unperturbed by his New York experience, Con would emigrate to the United States after retiring from active competition in the early 1920s. He later spent some time on the family farm in Gloun, before returning to Kingston Upon Hull where he died in 1947. Sporting excellence clearly ran in the family, as O’Kelly’s son, George Cornelius ‘Con’ O’Kelly Junior would represent Britain as a heavyweight boxer at the 1924 Olympics. A medal would elude O’Kelly Junior, who later became a priest and passed away in 1968 in Stockport.

The fact that we have won a mere nine Olympic gold medals since the foundation of the state proves that an Olympic gold medal is a rare feat for an Irish athlete. Although his medal was won whilst representing Great Britain, this observer feels that such a technicality should have no bearing on our willingness to tell the story of Con O’Kelly of Gloun. He is rightly regarded as an Irish Olympic hero! 

I recently happened upon a number of references to two now defunct Gaelic Football clubs based in Cork City called Nils and Lees. Although no longer in existence, both teams were dominant forces on the club scene from the late 1800s until the 1950s with a total of 18 senior titles between them. (Lees are in second place in the Cork Senior Football Championship roll of honour with 12 titles despite folding in the late 1950s) The fact that the majority of their players were West Cork men living and working in the city served to greatly pique my interest. Today, when driving through any town or townland in West Cork it becomes immediately apparent that Gaelic Football dominates our sporting landscape. Whilst many (myself included) view West Cork as the spiritual home of Gaelic Football in the county, I felt compelled to prove that West Cork’s contribution to football goes beyond delivering 18 county titles to the city division!

West Cork men have been central figures in six out of Cork’s seven All Ireland Senior Football victories. The only exception was the 1890 All Ireland Final win which occurred when the county champions (Midleton) represented Cork. In 1911, Cork’s 6-6 to 1-2 annihilation of Antrim featured a significant Macroom contingent in corner back John Lynch, midfielder Sean Lehane, and forwards Bill Lehane, John O’Neill, and Con Kelleher. They were ably assisted by Mick Mehigan from Clonakilty and Clondrohid’s Jack O’Driscoll. Although Adrigole’s Murt O’Shea and Dunmanway’s Jack Young were playing with Cork City outfits Lees and Nils respectively, they added to a rather sizable West Cork presence on the team.

Cork had to wait until 1945 before getting their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup for the third time. By this time, Jack Young’s son Eamonn had left his native Doheny’s and played his club football with the Army side in Cork City. This move did his intercounty prospects no harm, and he starred at midfield in a 2-5 to 0-7 win over a Cavan team that would end the decade winning three championships in a row. Legendary Clonakilty centre back Tadhgo Murphy captained the rebels, and he was joined by club mates Fachtna O’Donovan and Humphrey O’Neill. Goalkeeper Moll O’Driscoll and substitute Jim Ahern rounded off a sizable Clonakilty contingent. Although a Lees player, Bere Island native and Veterinary Surgeon, Patrick ‘Weeshie’ Murphy marshalled the defence from the full back position. It is also worth noting that influential wing back, Paddy Cronin who played his club football with Fermoy, was a native of Ballingeary.

In 1973, a talented Cork team finally made the break and defeated a Liam Sammon led Galway side by 3-17 to 2-13. Adrigole’s Kevin Jer O’Sullivan, and Declan Barron of Bantry Blues were pivotal figures in this win. Over the course of their storied intercounty careers, both men won two All Star’s apiece, and were named in Cork’s Gaelic Football Team Of The Century. Clonakilty’s Dave McCarthy excelled in the left half forward berth, whilst Bantry’s Donal Hunt and Naomh Abán’s Mick Scannell made substitute appearances on the day.

In 1989 and 1990, Cork managed to win two championships in a row.  The first victory saw Cork defeat Mayo by 0-17 to 1-11, and the second saw Cork overcome their long time rivals Meath on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-9. Castlehaven’s Niall Cahalane, Larry Tompkins, and John Cleary were among Cork’s key men at this time. As were  Ballingeary’s John O’Driscoll, and O’Donovan Rossa pairing Tony Davis and Mick McCarthy RIP (rightly lauded for his big impact from the bench in the 89 final, and starting at corner forward in the 1990 final). Although Paddy Hayes played his club football with St. Finbarrs, it is worth noting that he originally hailed from Skibbereen. Paddy started the 1989 final, and made a substitute appearance in the 1990 final, as did a young Mark O’Connor from Bantry.

It will be eleven years this year since Cork last secured the Sam Maguire trophy. In 2010, a talented Cork side managed to secure championship silverware, having lost finals in 2007 and 2009. Alan Quirke from Valley Rovers was a rock between the sticks for this Cork team while Noel O’Leary (Cill na Martra), Alan O’Connor (St. Columns), and Graham Canty (Bantry Blues) further cemented their legendary status within Cork football circles with a series of stellar performances throughout the campaign. John Hayes from Carbery Rangers saw action from the bench in the final, and he was joined on the panel by Anthony Lynch (Naomh Abán), Kevin McMahon (Carbery Rangers), Fiachra Lynch (Valley Rovers) and Fintan Gould (Macroom). 

In the ladies game, legendary players such as Nollaig Cleary (Gabriel Rangers), Orla Finn (Kinsale) and Emma Spillane (Bantry Blues) have five All Stars and multiple All Irelands between them. Twenty of Cork’s 74 ladies football clubs are located in West Cork. There are a few further key points that illustrate the sheer importance of West Cork’s contribution to Cork football. Twenty-nine per cent of all active clubs in Cork are located in West Cork despite the fact that hurling is not overly prevalent in the area. The Cork Senior Football Championship has been brought back to West Cork on 41 occasions over the last 134 years. 27 of Cork’s 69 Football All Stars hail from West Cork. Intercounty greats such as Con O’Sullivan (Urhan), Kevin Kehily (Newcestown), John Evans (O’Donovan Rossa), Kevin O’Dwyer (O’Donovan Rossa), Ciaran O’Sullivan (Urhan), and Phillip Clifford (Bantry) all managed to win All Stars without getting their hands on a coveted Celtic Cross. It is also worth noting that eight members of Cork’s Gaelic Football Team Of The Millenium, and six members of Cork’s Gaelic Football Team Of The Century hail from West Cork. Cork players have been included in the Irish Compromise Rules panel on 36 occasions over the last 25 years; 15 of these players have hailed from West Cork (including Graham Canty who was Player Of The Series in 2008). 

I think the assertion that West Cork is the homestead of football in our county is well founded. The remarkable nature of West Cork’s contribution to Cork football’s greatest days is heightened when you consider the impact of a largely sparse or seasonal population. Additional challenges such as historically high levels of emigration, poor infrastructure and a disproportionately high concentration of smaller clubs and local rivalries has made the continued success of West Cork football all the more impressive. 

The vast majority of renowned historians and casual observers will rightly contend that the year 1922 was an eventful one. The assassination of Michael Collins in Béal na Bláth was the latest in a series of high profile but historically important incidents to take place in the West Cork area during the War of Independence and Civil War era. However, it is interesting to note that an ever-diminishing number of Cork soccer enthusiasts will view 1922 as the year in which the original darling of Cork soccer was born.

Before John Caulfield and Conor Hourihane, ‘Big’ Seanie McCarthy came into the world in January 1922, just outside the town of Dunmanway. By all accounts, Sean was lean and did not quite reach six feet in height. However, his teammates at Cork United in the early 1940s attached the ‘Big’ moniker to differentiate him from a smaller teammate who also happened to be called Sean McCarthy. Like many Dunmanway lads during the war years, Sean had to relocate to an urban setting to find work. Fortunately, he did not have to go too far. He settled in Cork and took to playing soccer in his spare time. He represented a plethora of youth and junior sides around Cork in the late 1930s with distinction. 

Having gained a reputation as being the most talented centre forward on Cork’s local soccer scene, Sean joined Cork United just prior to the commencement of the 1940/41 season. He found the net on his debut, in a very creditable 1-1 draw with a strong Shamrock Rovers side in Milltown. He would score a further thirteen league and cup goals as Cork United became the first non-Dublin side to secure a League and Cup double. The following season, McCarthy helped himself to 19 goals as Cork United retained their league crown, but failed to overcome a resolute Dundalk in the FAI Cup Final. A third league title followed in 1943, with McCarthy’s 16 league goals ensuring that he led the league scoring charts for the first time in his career. Sean’s status as the greatest League of Ireland centre forward of his era was seemingly confirmed when he finished as the leagues top scorer in each of the following two seasons. In doing so, he became the first player to top the League of Ireland goalscoring charts in three successive seasons. Incidentally, Cork United also managed to secure league silverware in 1945 placing them at the top of Cork’s domestic football roll of honour. 

‘Big’ Seanie McCarthy subsequently made a high profile move to high-flying Belfast Celtic in 1945. He amassed an incredible 56 goals in his first season up North. As well as winning a Gold Cup medal, Sean was capped by Northern Ireland’s Irish League. The widespread uncertainty around international eligibility (which was rife in the 1940s) also meant that McCarthy received a full Northern Ireland cap in a victory International against England. After a phenomenal season in Belfast, Sean expressed a desire to return to Cork. With Paddy O’Leary established at centre forward, Sean reinvented himself as an inside right. He arrived just in time to contribute seven goals as Cork United secured the FAI Cup. He also subsequently topped the league of Ireland goalscoring charts in the 1947/8 season for the fourth time in his career. 

The unfortunate demise of Cork United in 1948 saw a temporary cessation of League of Ireland football in Cork. Like many other proud Cork men, ‘Big’ Seanie McCarthy took up a position at the Ford factory in Dagenham, and commenced playing non league football for Dartford FC. He finished as the Southern League’s top scorer with 21 goals, and his displays earned him a move to Bristol City. However, his one year stay at Bristol saw him struggle to establish himself in the first team, and he returned to Cork to sign for Evergreen United in 1950. His personal tally of 15 goals during the 1950/51 season helped Evergreen United to a fifth place finish in their maiden League of Ireland season. An appearance in 1952s all Cork FAI Cup final against Cork Athletic followed, but McCarthy finished on the losing side. As is the way with aging footballers, ‘Big’ Seanie McCarthy slowly drifted down the pecking order until he retired from professional football in 1956.

Upon retiring, Sean McCarthy relocated to London where he was to remain permanently. It is said that he attributed his success in the game to skill, football intelligence and a killer instinct when it came to finishing. Throughout his time in the league of Ireland, McCarthy is lauded for both the quality and quantity of his goal scoring exploits. It is said that he would almost certainly have received a full Republic of Ireland cap, were it not for the small matter of World War II.

In evaluating the successes and pitfalls of West Cork’s sporting story, hurling is not a discipline that usually springs to mind when discussing past greats and events. In recent times the valiant efforts of Kilbrittain’s Ross Cashman, Bandon’s Michael Cahalane, and Doheny’s Darren Sweetnam (rightly lamented as a huge loss to Cork hurling), have done a lot to put West Cork hurling on the map. On the West Cork side of the South East (Carrigdhoun) division, Valley Rovers also deserve an honourable mention for consistently producing intercounty hurlers throughout their storied history. Kevin Canty, Con Cottrell, Chris O’Leary, Eamonn Collins, Brendan O’Sullivan, and Con Murphy served both Valley Rovers and Cork with distinction. However, there are a rapidly dwindling number of observers who can recall the key contributions of a proud West Cork man to the Cork’s golden era of hurling.

Dr. Jim Young was born in Dunmanway in 1915. Part of a Gaelic football dynasty, Jim’s father, Jack Young, and his brother Eamonn Young represented Dohenys of Dunmanway and the Cork senior footballers. Both Jack and Eamonn won All Ireland Football medals with Cork, and many regard the latter as one of the greatest players to wear the fabled red shirt. Amazingly, despite having a two year inter county career, Jack played at midfield in the victorious 1911 football decider against Antrim. Eamonn experienced success in the same position during the 1945 final win over an all-conquering Cavan side. Jim also played his club football for Doheny’s and represented the Cork footballers at senior level. Although he lined out at full forward for Cork from 1939 until 1943, football silverware eluded him. However, he was able to console himself by playing a pivotal role in capturing the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship on five occasions between 1941 and 1946! However, it is unlikely that this success would have been allowed to go to his head. Of their late father, Jim’s brother Eamonn would later state “I was lucky to play in one All Ireland and to win it, and I think he was more pleased about the one football All Ireland – and Jim will hate me for saying this – than the five hurling All Ireland”.

Having moved from Dunmanway to Cork City to commence his studies in Medicine at University College Cork, a young Jim Young turned his hand to hurling with Glen Rovers in 1938. Although a Cork minor player in 1932 and 1933, he excelled in the company of star players, such as the immortal Christy Ring and future Taoiseach and member of the ‘Hurling Team of the Millenium’, Jack Lynch. The fact that Young managed to quickly break into a team that was in the hunt for a fifth successive championship is a major testament to his ability. While operating in the service of Glen Rovers, Young himself won a whopping eight Cork County Senior Hurling Championship titles over an eleven year period. 

Young’s assimilation into Cork’s most successful club hurling half back line of all time, coincided with his emergence on to the Cork senior hurling panel in 1938. Strangely, it can be argued that the most famous of his eight All Ireland final appearances ended in defeat in 1939. Jim Young played in hellish conditions in a half back line that also contained Johnny Quirke and Willie Campbell. The aptly named Thunder and Lightning Final, saw Kilkenny pip Cork by the narrowest of margins on a scoreline of 2-7 to 3-3. However, victory in the 1940 final would start an incredible run of five All Ireland championship successes in six seasons. Young would also represent Munster, featuring in five Railway Cup victories in a row between 1942 and 1946. He served The Rebels with distinction in a variety of positions across the half back and half forward lines over the coming seasons, before retiring from all forms of hurling after a Munster Championship Quarter Final defeat to Tipperary in 1949.

In retirement, Dr. Jim Young continued to practice medicine in Cork City, and maintained a keen interest in other sports. He became a Munster squash champion, and was appointed as a non-playing captain of the Irish Davis Cup tennis team in 1967. He also served as the President of the Irish Rifle Association for a number of years. Despite being a blow in from West Cork, Jim’s commitment to his adopted club was all encompassing. He served as chairman in 1948, while still an inter-county player. He also endeared himself to subsequent generations of club members by frequenting the Glen field, and taking an active interest in club affairs until his death in 1992.

Dr. Jim Young was a key figure in the most successful club and intercounty teams in Cork’s hurling history. Through his exploits, West Cork can lay claim to making a pivotal contribution to an era of unparalleled success that shaped the future of hurling in Cork.