Back Row.. Rev. 3. Meany C. C. (Hon. President), L. Carroll, R. McEvoy, M. Tyrrell, J. Morrissey, P. Blanchfield, 3. Dowling, P. Walsh, W. Ayres,,7. Fahy, W. Leahy (Hon. Secretary). Middle Row: M. Phelan, P. Bergin, T Dunne, P. Larkin (Captain), P. Dwyer, M. Holland, R. Fennelly. Front Row: M. Larkin, M. Hanley. |
Hurling history was made at Nowlan Park on December 8, 1935, when James Stephens won their first senior hurling
title, beating Carrickshock by 3-5 to 2-5 after a battle royal which held a crowd of 1,500 spellbound for the hour. It was for more reasons than one that
this was an historic day for The Village. They had three testing games against Tullaroan before eventually qualifying for the final. Carrickshock came into
the final with quite a degree of confidence having beaten Mooncoin and Dicksboro to qualify.Peter Blanchfield for The Village at left full was the
cleverest defender on view and tried and trusted county defender Paddy Larkin had a spectacular game at full-back. Showing a vast improvement on all their
previous performances the James Stephens' forwards were in brilliant form, each man pulling his weight to the full and Mick Larkin was the key man in
this sector, combining brilliantly with Billy Ayres and Tom Dunne in the full-line. Ritchie Fennelly, Mick Leahy and Lar Carroll were outstanding in
the half-line. The James Stephens' half-back line of Philly O'Dwyer, Mick Tyrrell and Mick Hanly were very sound with J. Dowling proving his worth in The Village goal.
Dick McEvoy and Jimmy Morrissey, coming up against the formidable opposition of Jimmy Walsh and John Farrell, did remarkably well at midfield and even though Carrickshock might have had a slight pull in this sector McEvoy and Morrissey contributed
their share to the historic triumph.
For Carrickshock, M. Phelan was very sound in goal and Bob Aylward, Billy Dalton and Geoff O'Shea manned the full-back line in
style. Jimmy Kelly, jack Phelan and Tom Dalton on the half-back line put up a very resolute stand against the slick Village forwards. Jimmy Walsh and
John Farrell gave Carrickshock a slight advantage at centrefield while manning the attack were Frank Minogue, John Dalton, Georgic, Dermody, while
in the full-line Jack Fitzpatrick, Tom Walsh and J.Dermodytried hard to unsettle the sound village defence.
Carrickshock were leading by 1-3 to 0-0 when jack Phelan sustained a leg injury and had to retire. He was replaced by Paddy Hoiden.
Tom Dunne, who replaced Paddy ('Nully') Walsh in the third game against Tullaroan, retained his place.
Tom Daiton opened the scoring with a Carrickshock point and Jimmy Walsh, taking a pass from Frank Minogue, added another
point. John Farrell, with one of his typically lengthy drives, sent over the bar from midfield. At the end of the first quarter Jim Dermody, after a good
centre by Jack Fitzpatrick, shot to the net to leave the southern side 1-3 to 0-0 ahead. A centre by Hanly was taken by Ayres, who placed Mick Larkin
for a great goal - the Village's opening score. Bill Ayres narrowed the gap with a point. At this stage a dramatic turn of events turned the game
around. A slow ball from Mick Larkin surprisingly rolled into the net, having completely deceived the Carrickshock goalie. Jimmy Walsh pointed for
Carrickshock from a difficult angle to leave the half-time scores: Jame Stephens 2-1, Carrickshock 1-4.
The first score of the second half was a Carrickshock point by Jimmy Walsh. A rather easy goal by Tom Dunne put the
city side two points ahead (3-1 to 1-5). Georgic Dermody, receiving from Tom Dalton, missed the net with a sizzling shot and James Stephens came back to improve their position with a point by Mick Larkin. The Village full-forward
had another point from a fine ground shot. Bill Ayres added a point to the James Stephens’ tally and followed with another point from a goalmouth
melee. Carrickshock had a goal from another melee in the Stephens' goalmouth. Despite getting good scope from john Farrell, the Village defence
held out gallantly against severe pressure.The game certainly lived up to expectations with the issue in doubt to the end. Peter O'Reilly (Dicksboro) refereed.
James Stephens: J. Dowling, P. Bergin, P. Larkin (capt.), P. Blanchfield, P. O'Dwyer, M. Tyrrell, M. Hanley, D. McEvoy,
J. Morrissey, R. Fennelly, M. Leahy, L. Carroll, T. Dunne, M. Larkin, W.
Ayres. Sub: P. Walsh.