Ballycumber GAA Club.

Best of luck to our senior footballers who will play neighbours Tubber in the County Semi Final of the Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior B Football Championship in Bord na Mona O’Connor Park on Saturday next at 3pm. All support is much appreciated.

Dinner Dance.

Tickets are on sale for the Dinner Dance in the Bridge House Hotel on Friday 19th October to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of winning the Offaly Senior Football Championship in 1968.

Contact Anne Creevy or Vinny Minnock or any committee member.

 

History of Club.

 

Continuing our look back at the events which shaped our Club.

 

Ballycumber competed in the Senior Football Championship in 1936 and played Edenderry in the first round, but a number of things went against them, most notably inexperience, and they lost heavily. Con Lehane was selected on the Offaly Senior Team who defeated Dublin in the Leinster Championship in Mullingar on the 14th May by 0—8 to 1—3.                                                         Ballycumber returned to Junior ranks the following year.

The Juvenile title was retained in 1937 and the Junior Final was contested again in 1939 when North Portarlington was successful. The match was played in O’Connor Park, Tullamore and was described as an uninteresting game by the Midland Tribune reporter who filed this report.

The North Portarlingtom representatives had an early goal lead by P.Byrne. A shot by F.Currams went wide, but J. Lowry getting possession sent over for a point, North Portarlington were kept on the defensive for some minutes, but getting an opening, they rushed through for a goal which could not be denied, J. Kelly pointed for Ballycumber and half time showed North Portarlington leading by 3---2 to 0---2. When play resumed they were soon fighting for a score and were rewarded with a point and R. Everett repeated with another minor.S.Quinn led a Ballycumber attack and a point resulted. Some lively interchanges improved the play and Ballycumber advanced their position by two points with Lowry and Quinn figuring to advantage. North Portarlington had the best of matters towards the end and the final figures were, North Portarlington 4gls 5pts. Ballycumber 6pts.

Ballycumber; P. King, J. Lowry, J. Horan, T. Quinn, J. Kelly, J. Lowry, M. Corcoran, P. Lehane, W. Kelly, T. Guinan, F. Currams, J. Clancy, P. Daly, E. Larkin, S. Quinn.

Nth. Port; S. J. and  T. Byrne, W. and D. Dunne, J. Callaghan, M, Callaghan, F. Dempsey,  R. Everett, M. Greer, P. Geoghegan,  P. Murray, P. Tynan, J. Owens, A, Dunne.

Referee; Mr. T. O’Keefffe [ Clara].

Not to be outdone by the exploits of the men on the field, the Ladies were even more successful. Ballycumber Camogie team in the 1930’s accumulated a total of six county championship titles with Beenie Daly and Nan Quinn to the fore.

In 1940 Junior Football Championship Ballycumber overcame Durrow  by 2---9 to 1—3 and qualified to meet Wheery in the County Final. The match report in the Midland Tribune, states that Ballycumber were the speedier and craftier side. P.Flynn opened the scoring with a point for Durrow and W.Kelly replied. Continuing the attack, the same player goaled and two points followed from C.Lehane. A second great effort for a goal by the same player was saved by P.Mealiffe. The figures at the interval were Ballycumber 1---4 Durrow 2points. Soon after resuming D.Brien [Durrow] retired injured and was replaced by Quinn .The Lehane brothers Pat and Sean combined for a point for Ballycumber and with play going to the other end J. Clancy had to save from J. Pender. Art. Lowry broke a sharp Durrow attack and P. Daly gave Ballycumber a comfortable lead with a goal scored in a melee. P Flynn pointed for Durrow and points for Ballycumber by W. Kelly and P. Lehane followed. The big lead was reduced by a J. Pender goal for Durrow and the scoring was finished with points from S.Lehane and S. Quinn.

Team. Ballycumber. J. Clancy, J. Lowry, A. Lowry, T. Quinn, J. Kelly, Joe Lowry, M. Corcoran, P. Lehane, T. Daly, W. Kelly, S.Lehane, E. Larkin, P. Dunne, S. Quinn, C. Lehane, P. Daly, T. Guinan,

Durrow. J. Connaughton, P Mealiffe, T. Mealiffe, P. Ravenhill, M. Hogan, C. Gavan, D. Brien, M. Flynn, T. Ravenhill, J. Gavigan, D. Gavigan, E. Mealiffe, S. Connaughton, J. Pender, P. Flynn.

Ballycumber  lined out against Wheery [Ferbane] with a very depleted team. Frank Currams was unable to obtain leave from the army and Tommy Quinn was in ill- health and unable to play. The match was lost by just a few points and many of the players had taken part in their third County Junior Final and their fourth final in all, if the Juvenile final is included.

In 1942 Ballycumber beat Clara 3—4 to 3—3 in Rahan with scores from E. Larkin, P. Lehane, J. Clancy, W. Kelly, T. Buckley and Chris Delaney [the Laois and Leinster player from the famous Stradbally clan, who was a Garda stationed in the Village] and surprisingly lost to Tullamore in the semi final in October 1942 in what was described as a splendid game of football played with style. The sides were level at half time and finished Tullamore 1—6 Ballycumber 0---7.

Team. Ballycumber. C. Delaney, J. Kelly, J. Daly, F. Gilligan, D. Corcoran, W. Kelly, P. Lehane, T. Buckley, P. Dunne, E. Larkin, P. Murray, J. Clancy, P. O’Reilly, F. Currams, J. Lowry

In 1943 Ballycumber overcame Daingean and lost the North Offaly final to St. Marys No 1 team.

In 1945 a Junior Hurling team was organised, mainly through the efforts of A.Fitzgerald and after a replay they overcame Durrow on a scoreline of 3—1 to 2---0.The match was described as though and there were a few casualties because  of the closeness of the encounters. Ballycumber asserted themselves quickly and looked like scoring early on but were denied by the post. A clean rasping shot from midfield by Frank Currams [ father of dual All Ireland player Liam] was put in the goal by Joe Daly. Johnny Horan scored a goal soon after half time and J. Gardiner secured the third goal.

Team. A. Fitzgerald,[captain] J. Daly, J. Rellis, J. Horan, M. Guinan, J. Guinan, E. Lowry, F. Currams, P. Kennedy, P. Clancy, B. Duignam, John Horan, J. Gardiner, B. Fenlon, M. Salmon.

 

Ballycumber Dance Class.

 

Learn how to Jive, Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot and Line dance. Classes every Monday night from 8pm in Ballycumber Community Centre.  Beginners class 8 - 9, Improvers from 9 - 10 and dancing for all from 10 - 11pm.  Great exercise and good fun, no partners required.

  

Garrycastle Tournament.

St Manchan Gaels under 12 team qualified for the Plate Final by overcoming Caulry by 3—8 to 2—9 in this prestigious tournament.

  

Lotto.

The numbers drawn this week were 4,15,22,28. No jackpot winner, no match three winners. Next week’s draw will be held in Flynn’s of Grogan on Monday night at 10 o’clock for a jackpot of 8900euros.

Play lotto on line at https://www.locallotto.ie/localhome.asp?LL_ID=415 until 8pm on Monday or buy tickets from local shops, pubs and from usual lotto sellers.

 

Sympathy.

Sincere sympathy to the Dunne family Moorock on the death of Josie last week.

 

 

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