The following piece was written by Seán Ó Tuama
SHAMROCK SENIOR HURLERS WIN THE LEAGUE TITLE AND BEAMISH SHIELD IN 1923
Recently the final of the Cork Senior Hurling League took place in Pairc Ui Rinn between Blackrock and Sarsfields from Glanmire. Sars took the title in style for 2023 with the late Teddy McCarthy’s nephew, Donncadha minding goal. 100 years ago Cloughduv and Shamrocks crossed camáns in Turner’s Cross Pitch to vie for the title and the Beamish Shield plus a cheque for £15.
Senior Hurling 1923.
There were 14 Teams in the Senior ranks in 1923. Shamrocks had been promoted having won the Intermediate championship in 1915. They competed in the Senior Final of 1916 against Midleton
and lost by one point. They were up among the best in those days with a team of skilled and very committed players. In 1922 three Shamrock players played on the Cork Senior Team, Jim Russell
and the Kelleher brothers Frank and Dan. The team were affectionately known as “The Sporting Shamrocks”.
League final at Turner’s Cross Pitch
The Turner’s Cross pitch, now the Soccer Grounds, had been secured by The Redmonds Club and a lot of renovations and improvements were carried out beforeit was officially opened on July 29 th 1923. Redmonds were one of the leading Senior Clubs in those days. A tournament was organised by the Club to raise funds to cover the costs. A very valuable
Silver Cup, The Morsecock Cup, was presented by the Palmer family of Ringaskiddy for the Tournament. Palmers, were located on Palmers Island, now the Ferry Terminal and Deep Water
Jetty. They had wide interests in all aspects of shipping and were agents for The White Star Liners.
The cup got its name from one of their popular Boats, The Morsecock. The cup was of sterling silver and made by Wm. Egans of Patrick Street well known Jewellers and Silver Smiths. The
Shamrock team and supporters travelled by train from Raffeen to the City. The League final was played on September 16th with Cloughduv from mid Cork providing the opposition. The game was
very keenly contested with both defences keeping tight reins on the forwards. Shamrocks scored first with a great goal from Ned Frizelle. It was level at half-time but another goal from Frizelle in the second half put the team on the road to victory. The final score was 2-2 to 1-1. Shamrocks had a worthy Captain in Mick Kenny who accepted the Beamish Shield on behalf of the team. This large Shield made from Irish Oak was decorated with sterling silver. It was presented to The Cork County Board some years earlier by a member of The Beamish family, the well known Brewers, for Senior Hurling League Competitions. A bonus for the winning team was a cheque for £15.
Homecoming
The team and supporters travelled home to Raffeen Station by train and a large excited crowd awaited them to welcome their heroes on their historic victory, a first
Senior Title for the Club. The local Fife and Drum band ( National Foresters) were lined up to lead the victory parade. The Sister of the Captain, Julia Kenny, took the
shield and held it high and led the parade via Shanbally and onto Ringaskiddy. Every house along the way was empty with their occupants on the roadside to greet
and congratulate the victors. The parade went right through Ringaskiddy village passing Palmer’s Island on the left, The day was won and the spoils were theirs.
The victorious and historic team was: Mick Kenny (Captain), Dan Kelleher, Frank Kelleher, Leo Brady, Ned Frizelle, Johnny Tobin, Mickie Cotter, Joe Meighan, Bernie O’Flynn N.T., Frank Johnson, Jim Hayes, Dan Cusack, Jim Dyer, Tom Moore and Georgie Andrews.
Frank Kelleher won an All Ireland Senior Hurling medal with Cork in 1919 when the County wore the red jersey for the first time. Mickie Cotter played at full back on the Cork Senior Hurling Team that played against Tipperary in Michilin in Belgium in 1914 in the European Pan Celtic Festival. Leo Brady went on to win an All Ireland Junior Hurling medal with Cork in 1925. Dan Kelleher and Frank Kelleher won Munster Senior Hurling Medals with Cork in 1922. Ned Frizelle won a Munster Junior Hurling medal with Cork in 1916. Bernie O’Flynn also went on to play with Cork and became Principal of Shanbally N.S. Team Captain Mick Kenny and Dan Cusack immigrated to America and continued playing hurling in New York.
The team received a beautiful set of hall marked silver medals with gold centres depicting a round tower and greyhound. Many of the players wives and mothers wore the medals as brooches later.
Back row, l to r: Abie Brennan (mentor), Johnny Tobin, Mickie Cotter, Tom Moore, George Andrews, Patrick Kelleher (mentor).
Middle, l to r: Patrick Kelleher, Leo Brady, Frank Johnson, Jim Hayes, Dan Cusack, Jim Dyer
Front, l to r: Dan Kelleher, Bernie O’Flynn, Mick Kenny (capt), Noel Frizelle, Joe Meighan
