Carlow Hurling Highlights

CARLOW'S FIRST HURLING GAMES 

What is likely to have been the first ever club hurling game in County Carlow took place on Sunday, May 11, 1902. The contestants in that historic game were Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh and the Bagenalstown Volunteers. Under the heading 'Hurling Contest' The Nationalist of May 17th had this to say:- 

"A four figure crowd attended the hurling contest in Tullow. A very interesting match took place between Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh and Bagenalstown Volunteers and considering the home that the home team have scarcely a couple of months practicing they played with an amount of self-possession that would do credit to veteran wielders of the cam†n. 

For some time play was kept in the centre of the field, but with a determined effort the Tullow players broke through the visitors combination and rushed a goal. The visitors made a plucky attempt to equalise matters but were unsuccessful and the home forwards got the ball well under way, and by a well directed stroke a second goal was scored. The Volunteers however seemed not inclined to let the laurels slip without a struggle, and before the whistle was sounded they managed to notch off two points to their credit. 

Final Score:- Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh ........... 2-0 

Bagenalstown Volunteers ......... 0-2 

"Messrs Roche, Maher, Byrne, Carroll, Dawson and Kelly did good work for the home team while the visitors were well sustained by Messrs McDonald, Cahill and Ward. 

The greatest order prevailed during the game which was closely watched by those present as it is the first time a match of this kind took place in the locality". 

Later that month the same two clubs met in a return hurling match at the Bagenalstown Gaelic Tournament. The Nationalist reported: 

"The return hurling match between Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh and Bagenalstown Volunteers created considerable interest for the spectators, and was well contested, the Tullow men displaying very scientific combination, and were declared victors by 7 points to 1 point. Bagenalstown, in spite of 'hard luck', played a sturdy game and it is hoped that for the future they will succeed in placing a more creditable score to their credit". 

So, Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh could claim to be the first, if unofficial, Carlow hurling champions. 

CARLOW'S HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 

THE EARLY YEARS 

The first Carlow Hurling Championship draw on record is that for 1903 and read: 

Carlow Shamrocks v. Tullow Son of the Shamrocks 

Bagenalstown Volunteers v. Tullow Faugh-a-Ballagh 

Unfortunately there is precious little in the archives to suggest that the Championship actually took place except that the meeting of the two Shamrocks teams was fixed for Tullow on May 9th. The gate receipts from the Carlow County. Championship games of 1903 were to be donated to a fund to erect a memorial in Tullow to Fr. John Murphy. Followers were asked to support this worthy cause by paying the 3d admission. 

In 1904 there was no hurling in the county, in 1905 Carlow Town was the only hurling club affiliated while the following year, though both Carlow Town and Bagenalstown had clubs, no hurling competition took place. It would appear Carlow Town were the lone club again in 1907. 

In January 1908 the draw for the Carlow Hurling Championship resulted: 

Bagenalstown v. Carlow-Graigue 

Carlow v. Tullow 

Carlow-Graigue beat Bagenalstown, 7-3 to 0-4 in a replay, having objected to Bagenalstown after the original game. Tullow outscored Carlow, 3-4 to 1-3. The final was fixed for Clonegal, in Mr. J. O'Donoghue's field, on July 18 with Paddy Coyne to referee. 

While no account of the final appears in the "Nationalist" it appears likely that Carlow-Graigue won it, as many old records credit the Graigue men with the Carlow hurling titles of 1906, 1907 and 1908. However, it must be said, that research to date has unearthed that fact that no hurling championship took place in either 1906 or 1907. 

A hurling championship was begun in 1909 but the Carlow County Board Minutes Book for that year tells us that it was decided to 'abandon' the competition. Carlow-Graigue had qualified for the final on an objection to Carlow while Bagenalstown and Tullow were due to meet in the other semi-final. 

From 1910 to 1913 hurling was non-existent in Carlow. 1914 saw the arrival of St. Mullins on the Carlow hurling scene. The men from the deep South beat Bagenalstown in a replayed semi-final but it was well into 1915 before the '14 final was played, Tullow being the opposition. The match, played in Old Leighlin, was of a controversial nature and "by consent" was replayed in Ballon on August 29th. On this occasion Tullow won on a 4-2 to 1-0 scoreline. Mr. James Murphy, County. Secretary, acted as referee. 

Tullow probably won the 1915 Championship, the final being played against Bagenalstown in 1916, but this is subject to further research. The 1916 County Final, played in the June of 1917, made the national press, being commented upon in the famed "Freeman's Journal". Bagenalstown beat Graigue but it was the roughness of the game which excited commented in the "Journal". The "Nationalist", however, refuted the allegations, stating "the game was a hard, fast one, being stubbornly contested throughout". 

During the years 1918 and 1919 three hurling clubs were affiliated or claimed to be in existence but no hurling competition was played. In 1920 Carlow Town and Bagenalstown clashed in the final, the former having overcome Old Leighlin (on the field or by walk-over is not known). Little is known about the final either but some old records credit Carlow Town with that year's championship. Carlow Town definitely won the Championship the following year, with Bagenalstown not fielding a team in Tinryland for the final on October 16. No draw was made in 1922, three teams affiliated in 1923 but no record of games being played can be found, while 1924, 1925 and 1926 were also 'hurling free' in Carlow. 

75 YEARS OF CARLOW ‘PREMIER' HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS 

1927-2001 

Since 1927, with the exception of the 'foot and mouth' year of 1941, a 'Premier' Carlow Hurling Championship has been completed. 

The 1927 Championship was contested on a double round league basis by Carlow Town, Bagenalstown and St. Mullins, who played each other both home and away. The top two teams on points, Carlow Town and Bagenalstown, contested the final on March 11, 1928 in Leighlinbridge with the men from the County Capital winning by 2-3 to 1-4. From 1928 to 1933 the Championship was played on a knock-out basis and in 1930 and 1931, Paulstown, from neighbouring Kilkenny, 'crossed border lines' to compete in Carlow. Indeed the Kilkenny club contested the final in 1930 while in 1931 the County Final, between Bagenalstown and St. Mullins, was played in Paulstown, the only Carlow Hurling final to be played outside the county boundary. 

1927 Carlow Town 2-3 Bagenalstown 1-4 

1928 Bagenalstown 4-3 Ballymurphy 0-1 

1929 Bagenalstown W.O. Ballymurphy Scr. 

1930 Bagenalstown 3-1 Paulstown 0-1 

1931 Bagenalstown 2-7 St. Mullins 2-1 

1932 St. Mullins 3-3 Carlow Town 0-0 

1933 Cooleyhune 4-2 Bagenalstown 1-2 

From 1934 to 1945 the Carlow Championship, apart from 1938, was played on a single league basis with the top team on points declared champions. During those dozen years of league-championship, Erins Own, founded in 1934, won eight titles 

1934 Erins Own 

1935 Erins Own (beat Drumphea in play-off) 

1936 Erins Own 

1937 Carlow Town (W.O. from Erins Own in play-off) 

1938 Carlow Town (beat Drummond by four points)* 

1939 Erins Own 

1940 Erins Own 

1941 No Championship due to 'foot and mouth'. ** 

1942 Carlow Town 

1943 Erins Own 

1944 Erins Own 

1945 Erins Own 

¥ The league was not played and O'Derrig Cup doubled as championship. 

¥¥ The 'foot and mouth epidemic of 1941 forced the cancellation of championship. 

From 1946 to 1959 the Carlow J.H.C. was played on a knock-out basis. During those 14 campaign's, St. Mullins won nine titles, including a magnificent six-in-a-row. 

11 of those finals were played in Dr. Cullen Park, with the finals of 1950, 1951 and 1952 having a McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, setting. The 1952 final between St. Mullins and Borris was the last occasion a Carlow 'Premier' hurling title was decided outside of the 'County Grounds'. 

1946 Borris 2-1 Leighlinbridge 1-0 

1947 Hacketstown 2-4 St. Mullins 2-2 

1948 Cournellan 3-3 St. Mullins 2-2 

1949 St. Mullins 8-1 Leighlinbridge 1-0 

1950 St. Mullins 2-7 Erins Own 2-5 

1951 St. Mullins 5-11 Leighlinbridge 3-3 

1952 St. Mullins 2-5 Borris 2-2 

1953 St. Mullins 3-1 Tinnehinch 1-0 

1954 St. Mullins 5-6 Hacketstown 1-2 

1955 Cournellan 5-4 Hacketstown 3-2 

1956 Leighlinbridge 1-8 Tullow 0-2 

1957 St. Mullins1-8 Tullow 3-0 

1958 St. Mullins 6-4 Tullow 0-5 

1959 St. Mullins 4-1 Carlow Town 2-1 

Carlow's premier hurling championship was first awarded senior status in 1960, as the county team had won promotion to Division 1 of the N.H.L. following back-to-back Division 2 title wins. 

In the inaugural year of 1960 the 'old junior cup' was presented to the winners while Carlow Town's Ned Long in 1961 became the first player to accept to-day's Cup. 

The first draw in a Final occurred in 1965, St. Mullins beating Carlow Town in the replay. Since then finals have been drawn in 1978, 1991 and 1993 and 1999, all involving Naomh Eoin and St. Mullins with the '78 decider taking four games, plus one period of extra-time. Myshall eventually emerged victors in all but '99. 

From 1960 to 1982, with the exception of 1974, the S.H.C. was played on a knock-out basis. In 1974 a loser-group system was experimented with, the four teams beaten in the first round playing off for semi-final berth. 

The present league-style championship, with the top four teams contesting the semi-finals, was introduced in 1983 and is now in it's 19th year. 

St. Mullins became the first team to win the Championship having lost a game when winning in 1983. 

All the S.H.C. finals since 1960 have been in Dr. Cullen Park. In 1970 Erins Own were awarded the title when St. Mullins refused to field on the appointed date. 

1960 St. Mullins 3-8 Leighlinbridge 2-1 

1961 Carlow Town 5-15 St. Mullins 4-1 

1962 St. Mullins 7-13 Erins Own 4-9 

1963 Carlow Town 9-9 St. Mullins 4-10 

1964 Erins Own 3-11 Cournellan 0-3 

1965 St. Mullins 0-12 Carlow Town 1-9 

Replay St. Mullins 2-13 Carlow Town 2-4 

1966 St. Mullins 4-15 Tullow 0-8 

1967 Erins Own 5-4 St. Mullins 2-8 

1968 St. Mullins 3-9 Erins Own 3-6 

1969 St. Fintan's 5-6 Erins Own 2-4 

1970 Erins Own W.O. St. Mullins Scr. 

1971 St. Fintan's 1-12 Borris 2-3 

1972 Palatine 4-9 Ballinkillen 0-14 

1973 Ballinkillen 5-5 Naomh Eoin 2-9 

1974 Naomh Eoin 2-16 Ballinkillen 3-5 

1975 Naomh Eoin 3-12 St. Fintan's 2-12 

1976 Naomh Eoin 1-16 Ballinkillen 0-10 

1977 Carlow Town 2-7 St. Fintan's 1-7 

1978 Naomh Eoin 0-16 St. Mullins 2-10 

Replay Naomh Eoin 1-16 St. Mullins 3-10 

1st Replay Naomh Eoin 0-21 St. Mullins 4-9 (E.T.) 

2nd Replay Naomh Eoin 1-8 St. Mullins 1-6 

1979 Carlow Town 0-13 Ballinkillen 0-11 

1980 Carlow Town 2-10 Ballymurphy 1-8 

1981 Naomh Eoin 2-13 Ballymurphy 2-8 

1982 Naomh Eoin 0-15 St. Mullins 1-5 

1983 St. Mullins 2-8 Ballymurphy 0-6 

1984 St. Mullins 5-9 Ballymurphy 3-9 

1985 Naomh Eoin 3-18 St. Mullins 3-6 

1986 Naomh Eoin 5-12 St. Fintan's 2-7 

1987 Naomh Eoin 2-17 St. Mullins 2-10 

1988 Carlow Town 3-10 Naomh Eoin 1-9 

1989 St. Mullins 4-9 Naomh Eoin 2-10 

1990 Naomh Eoin 2-10 St. Mullins 1-11 

1991 Naomh Eoin 2-7 St. Mullins 3-4 

Replay Naomh Eoin 1-14 St. Mullins 1-8 

1992 Naomh Eoin 1-9 St. Mullins 1-8 

1993 Naomh Eoin 3-9 St. Mullins 1-15 

Replay Naomh Eoin 3-12 St. Mullins 1-13 

1994 Naomh Eoin 3-6 Parnells 0-11 

1995 Naomh Eoin 1-15 Carlow Town 1-10 

1996 Naomh Br'd 1-16 St. Mullins 2-6 

1997 St. Mullins 2-15 Naomh Eoin 1-9 

1998 Naomh Eoin 1-14 Carlow Town 0-10 

1999 Naomh Eoin 3-11 St. Mullins 4-8 

Replay St. Mullins 4-13 St. Mullins 1-7 

2000 St. Mullins 2-10 Naomh Eoin 2-2 

2001 Ballinkillen 2-10, Mount Leinster Rangers 0-4 

2002 St Mullins Naomh Eoin

2003 Naomh Eoin Mt Leinster Rangers

2004 Naomh Bríd Ballinkillen

2005 Naomh Eoin Mt Leinster Rangers

2006 Mt Leinster Rangers St Mullins

2007 Mt Leinster Rangers 1-10 St Mullins 1-8

2008 Naomh Bríd 3-9 Mt Leinster Rangers 2-11

2009 Mt Leinster Rangers 1-13 Erins Own 1-11