CLUB OF THE WEEK Shannon Rangers with Sean O hAonghusa

That the Shannon Rangers G A A  Club was founded for the 1940 County Championship; previous to that it was all together as North Kerry during the 30s. Relationships weren’t going according to plan at that particular time with team selections being an issue; and even though they reached the County Final of 1938 it was decided a new club would be founded and called Shannon Rangers. Johnny Walsh, Ballylongford holder of 5 senior All Ireland medals and a few more individuals were the organisers; 5 senior County Championships were recorded; 1942, 1945, 1964, 1972, 1977 with plenty more success that included 3 All Ireland seven-a-side titles coming to the Shannonside. However all these victories were cherished and celebrated in style but certainly it was the 1964 final that stands out in ones memory as having defeated a fancied East Kerry side in the County Final they went on to represent Kerry and become the inaugural club champions of Munster. They may well have gone on to win the All Ireland that year but the competition didn’t go beyond the Provence. It all began at the quarter final stage of the 1964 County Senior Football Championship with victory over Castleisland by 1-11 to 1-9; late points by Ballyduffs Tony Barrett and Teddy O Sullivan pulled the Shannonsiders over the line; next up was a clash with firm favourites South Kerry who had the mighty Mick O Connell and Mick O Dwyer in their ranks for a place in the County Final; however Shannon Rangers handed them a six point beating having been trailing at the break by three points. The areal duel between Mick O Connell and Ballydonoghues Jerdie O Connor at midfield on that day is still spoken about but it must be said that the Ballydonoghue man completely dominated for the second half and laid the foundations for a splendid 1-16 to 2-7 victory. Actually admission to that game cost 6d. So after 19 years since their last title Shannon Rangers were back seeking title number 3 and with East Kerry the opposition it was always going to be a tough nut to crack as both teams had plenty quality players to call on. Played at Austin Stack Park, Tralee on September the 6th, in a  game that sweltered with excitement and tinged with breath-taking phases of football the  Shannonsiders won on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-5 as the East Kerrymen failed to score in the second half as well as missing a penalty. Mike Lyne and Teddy o Sullivan exchanged goals with Dan McAuliffe adding two late points to secure the win and accepting the Bishop Moynihan Cup from Chairman of the County Board, Dr. Jim Brosnan. Shannon Rangers lined out as follows; Alan Kennelly, Ballylongford, Mickie McElligott, Ballydonoghue, Paud O Donoghue, Ballylongford, Mike Joe Quinlan, Ballyduff, John Mulvihill, Clounmacon, John McCarthy Ballylongford, Michael Mulvihill, Ballydonoghue, Jerdie O Connor, (do), Michael Enright, Ballylongford, Bryan McCarthy, Ballylongford, Teddy O Sullivan, Ballyduff, Tony Barrett, (do)Eamon O Donoghue, Ballylongford, Dan McAuliffe, (Capt) Duagh, Mick Walsh, Ballylongford. Now into unknown territory and the inaugural Munster Club Championship that was not completed until late July 1965; O Rahilly Park, Ballylongford saw Ballysteen of Limerick bite the dust on a scoreline of 5-9 to 0-4; feature of that game was 18 year old Brian McCarthy (who later went on the the All Ireland Minor football Final with Derry defeating Kerry in the final) finding the net on four occasions, the semi final was played on June 17th in Fermoy, County Cork against a physically powerful Kilrossanty team from the Deise County; 2-11 to 0-5. Now on to the Munster Final. With Pairc na Gael Limerick the venue on July 27th with Shannon Rangers facing the might of the Clare champions Cooraclare and when Referee,G Fitzgerald blew the full time whistle it was the North Kerry side who prevailed ; 2-7 to 0-4. Brian McCarthy and Tony Barrett got the goals with Jerdie O Connor, Paud O Donoghue, Alan Kennelly, John McCarthy, John Mulvihill and Billy Doran singled out for special mention. Shannon Rangers were trained by the great Johnny Walsh, Ballylongford, and his fellow selectors; Billy O Sullivan, Clounmacon, Timmy Carr, Ballydonoghue, Jack Walsh, Ballybunion, Tom Fitzgerald, Ballyduff. Apart from the players already mentioned the following were also involved in either County Championship or the Munster campaign.; Eamon O Sullivan, Anthony Hennessy, Tony O Sullivan, Mattie Murphy, (all Ballyduff), Buddy O Connor and Paddy Collins, Ballydonoghue, Robert Stack, Pa Walsh and Mike McMahon, Ballybunion, Christy O Sullivan, Finuge, Teddy Sweeney, St. Senans, Patsy McNamara, Duagh..