2020 was to be the year that the City Division marked the centenary of the death of former Lord Mayor Tomas McCurtain with a special commemoration of the McCurtain Cup; a knockout competition for City Division Junior A hurling teams that the board has run since the mid 1950s. White’s Cross were drawn to play St Finbarrs in the first round but , like league competitions, it was cancelled due to Covid 19. This trophy has only been won once in the club’s history. This occurred in 1992 in our first year back in the junior A ranks after seven years of playing Junior B hurling only. Few outsiders would have predicted that White’s Cross would have won a Junior A trophy that year. The club were still plying their trade in the Junior B grade in league hurling which is not ideal preparation, on the face of it, for A grade championship or knockout competition; especially in an era prior to back-door or round-robin based championship structures. The panel was also very tight, number wise, and it might struggle if it was hit with number of injuries/enforced absences.
However, there were factors that gave the team a chance of success. Hurling was on a definite upward trajectory within the club with 1991 being the most successful year in the club’s history. Three City Division trophies were annexed and the team enjoyed a run to our first ever county final when an injury-hit side fell to Castlelyons by six points. Though tight number wise, there was an abundance of talent in the squad. Michael Murphy was a former county under 21 panelist and played senior club hurling. John Hickey (RIP), John Sullivan and John Crowley were club veterans with great hurling brains while there was an influx of skilful, talented younger hurlers such Martin Atkinson, Jerry Burke, Anthony Kelleher, Micky O’Callaghan, Philip Ryan and the Twomey brothers (Billy and Barry) that injected energy into the side. Crucially as one of those, then, younger stars, Anthony Kelleher, remarked “there was great spirit and comradery among that group of players and the team was better than the sum of it’s parts”.
While we were operating out of Junior 2 hurling league, this division did contain some decent, dogged, physical sides that were never easily beaten. Lough Rovers, Rathpeacon, Shandon Rovers and Ballinure were tough opposition for any team with all four of these sides competing in A grade championship in this era. We played each of them in the May/June leading up to our championship tie against Mayfield . They provided strong opposition, with even one defeat recorded against Shandon Rovers, ahead of the Mayfield game. This championship match was played in Na Piarsaigh grounds on a glorious July evening. Former player John Sullivan remembers this particular evening as possibly his best memory in a White’s Cross jersey that spanned a quarter century. Against one of the strongest sides in the division, a side not long regraded from the intermediate ranks and on a night that was perfect for hurling, White’s Cross played out of their skins and made a statement that they were a side capable of competing with and beating one of the best A grade hurling sides around. Their next match pitted the team against St Finbarrs and side a containing former intercounty hurlers such as John Meyler and Fergal O’Mahony as well as the current president of the Cork chamber of Commerce Bill O’Connell. Confidence was high following the Mayfield result but after a cracking game the side fell agonisingly short; losing by the narrowest margins on a 2-11 to 2-10 scoreline.
Still in July, though out of the championship, the season was far from over with plenty left to play for. The team was flying high in the league and there was also the MacCurtain Cup. The team got off to easiest possible start in this knockout competition as Bishopstown gave a walkover in the first round. From here on in though it was anything but easy. Next up were our championship conquerors, and overall runners up, St Finbarrs. One point separated the sides in the championship yet this game proved to be closer still with the sides locked together as the game ended in a 2-07 to 1-10 draw. Many may have felt that we had lost our chance but the spirit of the side shone through and the Barrs were overcome, at the third time of asking, by three points.
The semi-final opponents were Brian Dillons. Another tense, dramatic game ensued. White’s Cross managed to hold a narrow lead for most of the hour. Coming down the stretch, however, Dillons edged ahead and it seemed they would take the spoils. The Cross had other ideas. Billy Twomey pulled on a ball at edge of the small rectangle which ended up in the net for the crucial score that put his side back in the driving seat. John Cashman then sealed a two point win with the final score of the game.
So it was onto the final and Mayfield, the defending MacCurtain Cup champions, stood in in our way from landing the clubs first junior A hurling trophy in 28 years. Though we had beaten them in the championship, the City Board preview of the game had Mayfield installed as favourites. Mayfield, themselves, were, no doubt, determined to avenge that defeat and set the record straight as they may have perceived it.
White’s Cross dominated the opening exchanges but this dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard. Worse was to follow as a Martin Huggins penalty goal gave Mayfield a lead that they scarcely deserved. Their other dangerman, Kevin Hyland, could have changed the course of the game shortly after that as he bore down on goal. A superb save from our own captain Dominic Cahill denied him a goal at crucial time while they were in the ascendency. The save seemed to inspire the troops. From there on the twin threats of Huggins and Hyland were nullified by the outstanding Jerry Burke and John Hickey (RIP). Outside him the half-back line of Anthony Kelleher, Michael Murphy and Barry Twomey were immense and laid the foundation for the victory. Martin Atkinson, surprisingly not included in the starting 15, made a big impression when he came on. Atkinson (point) and Val Cashman (goal) got the key scores before half-time to put White’s Cross back into the lead.
Though leading at the break, there was still an amount of work to do in the second half. The game was low scoring and, much like the previous rounds, there was almost nothing to separate the teams. The work-rate of White’s Cross may have seen them through. This was epitomised by the likes of John O’ Sullivan in the forwards and the midfield duo of Micky O’Callaghan and Billy Twomey. Niall Cashman, who was colossal throughout, got the key score when he goaled in that half. John Crowley’s pointed frees and one from play were also key to see the side winning on a scoreline of 2-08 to 1-06.
Dominic Cahill captained the side and thanked the coach Finbarr Kiely for the win. Ironically Finbarr’s son Ken was full back on the defeated Mayfield side. White’s Cross were unfortunately not able to add the league title when they met Rathpeacon the following week. However, as the celebrations that followed showed, there was plenty of satisfaction gained from having won the A grade competition! The team, subs and extended panel from that final were as follows:
Team Dominic Cahill (Captain), Ted Sheehan, John Hickey (RIP) Jerry Burke, Anthony Kelleher, Michael Murphy, Barry Twomey, Billy Twomey, Micky O’Callaghan,
Niall Cashman, John Cashman, John O’Sullivan, Val Cashman, John Crowley, Colm Twohig. Subs used Richard Cashman, Martin Atkinson – Other members of the panel Philip Ryan, Pat Reid, Billy Kelleher, Willie O’Donovan, Pat Fitzgerald, Anthony Crowley (RIP) and Mick Morrissey
A huge thanks to Anthony Kelleher and Martin Atkinson for sharing their memories /memorabilia from the above time.