Dohenys are in the county senior football championship final on Sunday week next at Pairc Ui Caoimh where they will bridge a 31 gap in endeavouring to win a title that has eluded them for 109 years. With the electric atmosphere in the town, the excitement growing by the hour, the numbers of youngsters proudly wearing their green and white jerseys increasing by the day and many green and white flags fluttering from windows nostalgia takes me back to the ‘good old days’ to ’97, that is 1897, when along with my team-mates we marched triumphantly through the playing fields of Cork and Munster on to the faraway battlefield of Jones’ Road, a world removed from the rustic stronghold in the heart of West Cork which sent us forth.
What a different world it was then when men were men, who worked hard, drank hard, played hard and fought hard. On reflection some of our current players would have fitted well into that company!. And yes women were women who knew where their place was in life, at home tied to the kitchen sink ( in those days they had to make do with a dish with the water ,drawn from the nearby well, heating on the open fire or range.) Their only concern was to look after the children, between 6 and 12 of them, in two up and two down houses, have the dinner on the table when her hero came home from work and have his Sunday shoes well polished for 12 o’ clock mass. What a contrast to family life today where houses get bigger and families get smaller (3 is considered a big family), where daddy is rarely seen as he spends the day making his first million in property speculation and the evening on the golf course making contacts, where mammy runs her own business during the day and is on the social circuit at night, where granny minds the children and where the the only time the family eats a meal together is on Christmas Day.
However I digress. In those ‘good old days’ the Dohenys club was the
rallying
point in the town just as it is today. We were proud that we were the first club in West Cork to affiliate with the Cork County Board in 1886. By 1897 we had put together a fairly promising team which was determined to make up for the disappointment of the previous year when both ourselves and Cloyne had been ruled out of the championship after a ‘minor scuffle ‘had disrupted our game. !897 saw Florence J. Crowley at the helm of the club as president with Pake O’ Donovan as Secretary and Denis o’ Donovan being Eddie Moloney’s forerunner as treasurer. Dan Rick O’ Donovan , whose grandson Michael runs the Shamrock Bar, was picked as captain.
Football was different in those days with teams consisting of 17 players. Our jerseys were white with M.Doheny F.C. emblazoned across our chests. Many of them were home made as money was in short supply and we could not afford to buy jerseys. I wore long trousers when playing and my boots were those that I wore at work. The only manager we were familiar with was the local manager in the Munster and Leinster Bank in the East Green, a man we had little dealings with. The physio was unheard of. If we had an injury one of our team-mates gave us a rub before the game wth poitin as a lubricant. If it didn’t work we downed the rest of the bottle and you were guaranteed that you would feel no pain during the game. Dohenys played a tough brand of football and could more than look after themselves as well when it came to fisticuffs. They had to because other teams were just as tough and it was survival of the fittest. Indeed Dohenys carried a proud reputation with them and where ever they went they were preceeded by the cry ‘ close your doors and lock up your daughters the mad Dohenys are coming..
1897
A huge crowd turned out for our opening game against Cloyne expecting fireworks again. None materialised as Dohenys won convincingly. In the next round we played Killeagh but the game ended prematurely when the latter disputed a decision of the referee and walked off the field. We were awarded the game. In the next round Canovee provided the opposition in a game which had a controversial outcome. Dohenys led by 0-4 to 0-0 at halftime but failed to score in the second half as the Mid-Cork men kicked 5 pointsto win. Dohenys subsequently objected to Canovee and were awarded the game Up to this day when I meet Canovee people they claim that we robbed them of a county title.Eddie Moloney was a brave man to take up a teaching job in the heart of that hostile enemy territory but perhaps he will be able to heal the rift that has existed for many years. And so it was on to play Aghada in the semi-final and just as happened recently we had a comfortable win, 2-6 to 1-3, over them. Thus we were in our first ever County final.
Kanturk provided the opposition at Cork Park on Sunday October 3rd. A huge crowd travelled from Dunmanway. We had the luxury of travelling by train but all modes of transport were used by others including long cars, pony and trap, bicycles and there were even those who headed off on Saturday morning walking. The biggest crowd ever , 10,000 people, attended the game. With the pitch not properly fenced off there were frequent encroachments and the game whish started at 5 minutes to 2 did not end until 10 to 4. When the final whistle blew the sides were level with Dohenys having1-1 to Kanturk’s 0-4.. The replay was just as close with Dohenys being just ahead, 0-5 to 0-4, at the end. The ‘mad Dohenys were County champions and how we celebrated. Tar barrels blazed when we arrived back in that Doheny town. 100’, of people turned out to welcome us home. We had won for ourselves a proud place in the history of the Doheny club. The club would experience difficult times in the years
following but ‘the old Dohenys’, as we came to be known, had put down a marker , had established a tradition that successive generations could aspire to and which would guarantee that the club might be down at times but it would never be out.
The men who did the club proud and whose names have gone down in local history included the following who played a part in the final;
Danny Rick O’ Donovan, captain,a consistent scorer in the forwards.
Florence J. Crowley, an outstanding goalie who conceded only 5 goals in a dozen seasons. Missed the replay as he was in England on business.
Pad Joe Crowley, usually played as a forward but moved into goal for the replay.
Tim lordan, unbeatable at right fullback.
Danny Hayes, one of the veterans, teak tough at fullback.
Jim Fuller, completed a solid fullback line.
Pad Lordan, as good a wingback as the club has ever produced.
Danny Crowley-Meara, one of the veterans of the team , a fearless halfback.
Connie Coughlan, at halfback was rarely beaten,
Jimmy Crowley-Meara, a midfielder who was a handful to mark.
John O Kelly Lynch, the only non native on the team, played in the forwards and was also a renowned atlhete.
Tim Coughlan, a speedy forward who was the last man to kick the ball in the final
Tom White, came on for Florence in the replay
Thomas Crowley, a stocky powerful forward who played on the left wing.
Denis Bernard ,a regular scorer on the right wing.
Dan Desmond, a forward of great ability.
Jerry Desmond, a corner forward who caused problems for the best of backs.
Con Flynn, he had the unenviable task of marking the opposing goalie.
Others to play in earlier rounds were T.Collins, T. O’ Sullivan, P.Crowley, T. Lynch, J,O’Donovan, T. Hourihan, P O’ Donovan, E. Crowley, J. Mc Carthy. And then of course there was myself. Played no more than 15 minutes in 5 games . but was more than happy to be just involved. Never missed a match, never missed training. I’m sure you can identify many similar players down through the years. We were the unsung heroes who were always there to keep the show on the road
The county final did not bring the campaign to an end. Munster and all-Ireland beckoned. But that’s a story for another day . For the moment we celebrated as only Dohenys know how to celebate. But we could still have learned a trick or two from the present crop who have perfected the art. Many of us did not get back to Dunmanway until Tuesday, arriving on the 1.30 p.m. train from Cork and not being able to remember where we had spent the previous two nights. We headed for Dan Rick’s Shamrock Bar where the celebrations were still going strong. And that was to be my downfall, the start of my misfortune, the beginning of my purgatory as I shall explain.
Tuesday was market day in Dunmaway, the busiest day in the week. Country people came in from all around to sell their produce and to buy their needs from the travelling traders. Business done Dan Ricks was a popular watering hole before heading home. The place was jointed when we arrived and it was near impossible to get a drink. To ease my thirst I sneaked a slug from a glass of stout on a table, so desperate was I. What a mistake. The drink belonged to the Black Widow from Coolmountain who was known far and wide for her black magic and witchcraft. She turned on me with a vengeance, called down all the demons on top of me and placed a curse on me that I would never rest until Dohenys brought the County cup back to Dunmanway again. Little did I realise then that she had condemned me to a life of waiting as Dohenys quest for the Holy Grail of football went on and on and on to no avail.
1903
But in 1898 it looked as if the county was again bound for Dunmanway and that the Black Widow’s curse on me would be short lived. Controversy again surrounded our campaign. In the opening round our game against Aghada was transferred to the African Missions Grounds in Wilton as Cork Park was unplayable. However, our opponents refused to play as they would miss their train home! Dohenys got the game.We again travelled to Cork for the second round against Inchigeela but the mid-Cork men failed to show up.In the next round Dohenys faced Clonakilty in Bandon but the game ended after 25 minutes when Dohenys were leading by 1-4 to 0-1.The referee ordered a Clon player to the line and the team refused to play without him. On December 5th Dohenys took on Fermoy in Cork in the County final. I had established myself on the team and was looking forward to winning a county medal on the field of play. The team’s fiery temperament, however, again raised its ugly head. When leading by 2 points to one Dohenys had a player ordered off. The team refused to play without him and demanded that Fermoy should also play without a player. Fermoy were willing but the referee refused and awarded the game to Fermoy. Thus went my chance of a medal and of course the return of the county cup to Dunmanway.
The turn of the century saw little football activity in West Cork due to poor organisation. However, the formation of a West Cork Committee saw a West Cork championship being organised in 1903. Dohenys defeated Schull and Kinsale to qualify for a quarter-final meeting with Bandon. Bandon, however, were thrown out by the West Cork Committee because they refused to play in Ballineen. Dohenys went to on play and defeat Skibbereen in the final. The County Board, however, reinstated Bandon with Dohenys having to play them, which they won, and then had to play Skibbereen again, and won again! We went on to play Lees in the County final who were going for their third title in a row. Our team had changed greatly with many of the ’97 team having hung up their boots. Only Pad Lordan, Connie Coughlan, Dan Crowley, Jimmy Crowley, Danny O’ Donovan and of course myself, playing at fullforward and marking the goalie, remained. Lees were too crafty and too experienced for us and won comfortably. My hopes of a county medal and getting rid of the Black Widow curse were, however, kept alive for a little while longer as the rules experts( you’ll always have them around) in the club decided to object as the pitch was too small. The County Board upheld the objection and ordered a replay. Before the replay commenced, however, both captains had to sign an agreement that the pitch was regulation size! Although Dohenys put up a much better display this time round the result remained the same. No County senior cup for Dunmanway. My quest would have to go on. As we marched off the field in ‘the Bogs’ in Bandon on that cold,miserable February evening in 1904 little did I realise that it would be another 71 years before my beloved Dohenys would appear in a senior football final
Those 71 years were not all lean ones for the club.Most of them were spent playing in lower grades, in intermediate and junior. The club won the junior football county in 1935 when they defeated St. Annes in the final but this was not enough to release me from my quest.Yes, they were back in senior grade in 1939 when the Board abolished the intermediate grade and Dohenys decided to step up. Although they played some great games against Bantry, Beara and Clonakilty they were never serious contenders for the county. My memory of that era is now rather faint but I recollect a youngster by the name of Eamonn Young making his debut in 1939 against Bantry and I’m sure he is now the only surviving member of that team.
The mid 1950’s brought an upturn in the club’s fortunes and many West Cork titles were won, culminating in a Denis Lyons led side defeating Grange in the County junior football final in 1966. The progress continued with Brendan O’ Rourke leading his intermediate side to a county victory in 1972 with a win over Glanworth. There was something unusual about young O’ Rourke receiving the cup but my memory is beginning to let me down. Thus Dohenys were back in senior ranks in 1973 and my spirits rose as this young team looked as if they were capable of releasing me from my long crusade and allow me at last to join my old team mates from ’97 who had long gone to join their maker.The world I was now in was a different one from the ‘good old days’and how I longed for release. Yes, we were definitely on the right road as Dohenys defeated Muskerry in the opening round in 1974. Millstreet were then defeated after a replay which brought Dohenys to a semi-final meeting with Carbery. A star-studded Carbery ended Dohenys hopes, and mine for another year.
1975
1975 was a year which brought us so near and yet so far from the much sought-after title.Imokilly, Muskery and Bishopstown all fell by the wayside as Dohenys qualified for their fourth senior football final. Nemo Rangers provided the opposition in a final which was played in the Mardyke as the Athletic Grounds was being rebuilt. The story, however, did not have a happy ending as the city side proved too strong. My journey was not over, my quest would have to go on..
The years after 1975 saw a gradual decline in the fortunes of the club as retirements, economic depression, unemployment and emigration decimated our playing resources. We dropped down to intermediate in 1984 and then back to junior in 1988, a year which saw us hit rock bottom when we were defeated by .Ballinascarthy in the opening round of the championshup. The 1990’s, however brought renewed hope as a new generation o footballers began to emerge. Our climb back up began with a West Cork final win in 1992, followed by a county junior football title the following year when Carrigtwohil were defeated. In 1995 Kilmurry were beaten in the county intermediate final which brought Dohenys back into senior ranks and ou r hopes and spirits began to rise. Would they do the job and release me from my prison. In the years that followed Dohenys competed well but always came up short. After some frustrating years of under-performing the messiah, Jerry o’ Mahony took over the training of the team in 2005 and was joined as selectors by Pat Mc Carthy, Tom Ross, Raymond Lyons and Mark Farr. With a noticeable improvement in discipline, fitness and commitment the team reached the semi-final where they were unlucky to loose to Muskerry by a point. Was it again goingto be a false dawn.?
2006
In 2006 the team showed that their form of the previous year was not a flash in the pan. An opening round victory over local rivals, Castlehaven. was a great boost for morale. U.C.C failed to lower their colours in the next round. In the quarter final they faced Bantry in Aughaville and they had to come back from the dead to earn a draw. They made no mistake in the replay, winning comfortably. It was then back to Pairc Ui Caoimh, the scene of their demise the previous year, for a semi-final clash with favourites Aghada. An outstanding first half display carried them through for a well-deserved victory. Dohenys were back in a senior football final for the first time in 31 years. Dare I hope that they will bring back the title that we held so many years ago, that at last my quest for the Holy Grail of Cork football will come to an end, that I can lay down my burden and go to meet my long-gone comrades, ‘ the mad Dohenys’, who will celebrate the victory in style. And they will be joined by countless Dohenys, like Joe Linehan, Jim Downing, Timmy Hurley, Edda Young, Ned Young, John Dullea, Willie Grainger, Willie Farr, Kevin O Donovan, Johnson, Robert Buttimur, Connie Whelton,Dick O’ Neill, Eric Bernard, Dee O Mahony and many others too numerous to mention, who have helped to keep alive the spirit and tradition which brought Dohenys to another county final. Yes, I feel it my bones that my time is coming , that we will bring Andy Scannell back to Dunmanway and that finally I will cast off the curse of the Black Widow of Cool Mountain!!
.