Memories of GAA club tournaments in Kilkenny

Before the introduction of the Kilkenny league and championship format in the mid 1970s and the all-county leagues, GAA clubs had only the knock-out championships to look forward to each season.

After that the only outlet for clubs was to organise tournaments.

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A way to raise much needed funds for clubs, the most prominent tournaments of the era were held in Dunhill (Waterford), Bunclody and Ferns (Wexford), Durrow (Laois), Windgap and Bennettsbridge and as far away as Dungiven, Co Derry.

With James Stephens a rising force in the late 1960s, the club was invited to participate in many of these tournaments. The prize for winning teams varied between watches, suit lengths, shop vouchers, medals or plaques.

The tournaments coincided with a rise in the fortunes of the James Stephens club, both on the field of play and at an administrative level.

Under the leadership of chairman Bill Cody, secretary Liam Tyrrell, Fr Liam Barron, treasurer Billy Leahy, PRO Val Malone and Sean ‘Georgie’ Leahy the foundations for the re-energised club were already laid with under-age county title wins at under-16, minor and under-21 grades before going on to bridge a 32-year gap when claiming a third Kilkenny senior hurling title when beating The Fenians in the 1969 final.

The development initiatives included the purchase of The Asylum Lane Grounds (now Larchfield) from Kilkenny Corporation in September 1970 for £2,336 (€2,966) the purchase of prefab buildings from De la Salle Brothers for £1,550 (€1,970) and the purchase of the basketball and handball alleys at a cost of £1,000 (€1,270).

While these figures are small in the context of today’s values it is worth noting that the average weekly wage at that time was £8 per week (€10.50).

Along with house to house fundraising which raised £1,146 (€1,456) the club opted to organise a club tournament.

The high profile tournament, sponsored by cigarette manufacturer PJ Carroll & Co - it wouldn’t happen today - ran for several years and attracted entries from the top clubs such as Rathnure and Buffers Alley (Wexford), Blackrock (Cork), Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) and Kilkenny’s Bennettsbridge, Windgap and Mooncoin.

The status of the tournament was further enhanced by securing the services of All-Ireland finals referee, the renowned Tipperary middleman, John Moloney for many of the hotly contested fixtures.

Leading Kilkenny referee Gus Hennessy also officiated in important games.

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As the club championship knock-out system operated in most counties the top players of that generation including All-Ireland medal winners and All-Stars lined out for their clubs to keep their competitive skills fine tuned.

Among the stars players who lined out with their clubs were the Quigley brothers Martin and John (Rathnure), Colm and Tony Doran (Buffers Alley), John Horgan, Ray Cummins (Blackrock), Paddy Moran, Pat Lawlor, Noel Skehan (Bennettsbridge), Pat and Ger Henderson (The Fenians) as well as Phil ‘Fan’ Larkin, Brian Cody, Joe Hennessy, Eamon Morrissey, Liam ‘Chunky’ O’Brien, Tom McCormack and Mick Crotty and many more.

It should also be noted that many of these tournaments were run in conjunction with local festivals.

Often the post-match celebrations in the local parish halls or clubrooms fostered an enduring connection between clubs, as in the case of James Stephens with Rathnure (Wexford) and the famous Cork clubs, Glen Rovers and Blackrock.

The tournaments faded away in the mid 1970s, but the memories linger on.