THE SHAMROCKS, an old Carlow town club, bristling with outstanding
footballers, romped into senior ranks with a smashing 0-16 to 1-6
victory over St Andrew's in the 1949 Carlow JFC final, a game played
in Dr. Cullen Park in the Spring of 1950.
"Speed gave the Shamrocks their greatest claim to superiority"
stated the Nationalist report. Jimma Rea was in rare form; he
sparked every other move and was always content to 'part' with the
ball at the right moment. John 'Buller' Moore was resourceful
and energetic and he seemed certain of numerous scores when the 'Mountie'
tactics of 'always get your man' was applied by the backs"!
The merit of this ploy was non-existent when the Shamrocks had a
place kicker like Ned Doogue. He notched nine points off well judged
frees. Doogue played a great game at centre-field and added a brace of
points from play to bring his total to an electric eleven (0-11).
Maurice Doogue was a powerful pivot He held danger-man Dooley well
in 'check', Seamus Grant and Dinny Hyland, later to rise to fame as an
All-Ireland pole-vault champion, completed a dominant half-back line.
The Cahill brothers, who worked on the Railway, played against each
other in that '49 final, John in the Shamrock's full-back line, Paddy
at the opposite end of the field for the Bagenalstown men.
The Shamrocks lost narrowly to Palatine (1-8 to 0-9) in the opening
round of the 1950 SFC, their last championship fixture as in early
1951 the club agreed to amalgamate with O'Hanrahan's (beaten 1-11 to
0-1 by Leighlinbridge in the 1950 SFC) and this proved an immediate
hit with the new O'Hanrahan's, with seven of the Shamrocks
forty-niners, winning the 1951 Carlow SFC title.
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- By Leo McGough
