Down Memory Lane in Athenry

Source: The Tuam Herald, Saturday, September 13, 1997

THE town of Athenry is proud of its hurlers, currently the All-Ireland club champions -though the county crown has since passed to Sarsfields – but it should also be acknowledged that there is a fine Gaelic football tradition in Athenry.

Almost fifty years ago, Athenry footballers won both the county minor and junior titles and only for the unavailability of players who were students at the local Agricultural College, a senior team would have been affiliated in 1949, and who knows what they might have achieved at the highest level?

The Ag. students, based in what is now the Teagasc Centre and once known as The Farmyard, contributed a lot to Athenry football, and street leagues were also very beneficial, but success came at a price, causing the club to go £150 into the red. However, the debt was wiped out by well supported fund-raising activities.

Traditionally, the club had worn Black and Amber jerseys, but a switch was made to Maroon numbered jerseys for the 1949 junior championship.

It is hoped to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1948 achievements with a Mass early in the New Year, for all members of the teams, living and deceased.

Our picture, courtesy of Mr. J. F. Kearns, of Clarke Street, Athenry, is of the 1948 county minor champions.

Back row, left to right: Jim Kearns, Jim Stanley, C.S.S.R.,  Agricultural College, Athenry; Noel Cunniffe, Athenry and U.S.A.; Paddy O’Regan, Athenry and Dublin; Pascal O’Neill, Athenry and Dublin; Mickey Kelly, Ag. College and Co. Offaly; Frank O’Neill, Athenry.Front row: Frank Kilkelly, Athenry and Dublin; Frank Milmoe, Athenry and U.K .; Sean Dempsey, Athenry; Paddy Higgins, Athenry and U.S.A. (Texas); Frank Hession (R.I.P.), Athenry; Brendan Courtney (R.I.P.), Athenry; Cathal Heavey, Ag. College and Athlone, and Mickey Connors (R.I.P.), Athenry. Two other players were William Jordan (R.I.P.) and Frank Rabbitte.

The team which won the 1948 county junior final was: Stephen Jordan; Jim Kearns, Martin Feeney, Padraic Connors; Des Dempsey, Padraic O’Riordan (Ag. College), Bobby Gardiner; Eugene Clancy, Willie Kenny; Ml. King, Mick Purcell, D. Kissane (Ag. College and Kerry); Vincent O’Dowda, Séamus Barrett, MI. Hession. Score: Athenry 3-7,Ballinasloe 2-0; final played at Menlough.

In the semi-final at Tuam, the result was: Athenry 3-4, Cleggan 0-3. The Athenry players who helped defeat Cleggan but didn’t play in the final were Jack Nash (Ag. College and Limerick), now deceased; Jimmy Curran (Ag. College and Claremorris), and Eugene Kissane (Ag. College and Kerry).

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