Our Junior A hurlers have progressed to the final of the Junior Championship for the 5th time in the clubs history. The 1st was in 1910 and covered in an earlier article entitled Gymnastics OnThe Hill. Next up was a “Great Team” as the legendary Dermot Byrne described them in the 75th Anniversary Club Booklet.
Earlier that decade the club had been dealt a devastating blow when a number of prominent players transferred to Young Irelands sending Kevin’s back down the ranks. However, the club regrouped throughout the 30s and produced some talented underage players. The club also continued with their field trips to Letterkenny in Donegal where they played a Donegal selection and the local club. Dermot Byrne from Hamilton St was a prominent player during this period and some of the younger players who came through included the McGinleys, Somers and Brugha who played with the Dublin minors thoughout the early to mid 1930s. Finbarr Fagan and Jimmy Bradley and Maloney arrived later in the 1930s and the Dublin minors in 1938 who beatKilkenny and Laois to win the Leinster title. They also beat Antrim in the All-Ireland Semi-Final to earn a showdown with Cork who featured Christy Ring in their ranks. While they were eventually beaten by Cork 7-2 to 5-4, the experience was no doubt a positive one in terms of their hurling development. The team was also bolstered by some experienced players including Peader Carton (whose sons and grandsons represented the county in later years) and Sylvester “Vesty” Muldowney who returned to the club after his sabbatical with Young Irelands, which also included playing in a National League and Senior All-Ireland Final.
Kevins comeback started with the 1937 Saturday League which was the Dublin Junior Hurling League. Next up was the Corn Ceitin title when Kevin’s beat St Vincents in the 1938 tournament final in January 1939. Joe Hickey and Fergus McGinley midfield partnership was notable. The games turning point came when Gaffney doubled on a ball and sent it to the back of the Vincent’s net. That was the beginning of the end, and the factor that weighed heaviest against St Vincent’s was that once they entered the slippery slope they lacked the generalship of Muldowney. The Irish Press described the game as a “hard hour’s hurling that was little below senior standard. St Vincent’s led at the interval by 2-1 to 1-9, but when Kevin’s took up the running, their superiority was clear”. The final score at the Chapelizod venue was 6-2 to 2-1. Scorers for Kevin’s were S. Muldowney (3-0), J. Gaffney (1-1), E. Murphy (1-0) and J. Hickey (0-1).
Kevin’s progressed through the Junior championship and in August of 1939, Kevin’s met Commercials in the final in Parnell Park. Commercials started at a hurricane pace scoring two goals in the first ten minutes. Kevin’s soon equalized through Ned Murphy and Gaffney and added another goal from Bradley and two points from Gaffney and Hickey. A double sending off before the half time interval saw a Commericals man and Joe Hickey from Kevin’s sent to the line, with Kevin’s leading 3-2 to 2-2 at the interval. Kevin’s showed up the better team in the second half. With 1-1 from Gaffney, a goal from Byrne and two points from Carton, Kevin’s ran out 5-5 to 3-3 winners. As there was no Intermediate Championship that year the win had sent the club straight up to senior hurling ranks.
Another prominent name amongst the Kevin’s ranks was a teacher who hailed from Liscarroll in Cork by the name of Ned Murphy. Ned took up a teaching role in Donore Avenue and was an accomplished hurler. He joined the Kevin’s club in 1931 and became a very influential figure in both the club and in broader Dublin GAA circles. Ned held the position of club chairman during the 1930s, managed Kevin’s to a number of Minor Football Championships and was also appointed Minor Board Chairman. During this time he was also involved in the revival of the underage handball in the county. However, he is probably best known for his role in establishing a club called Ballyboden Saint Endas many years later, where their home ground is named after him.
On Sunday week our Junior A hurlers will be lining out against Ballyboden Saint Enda’s in an attempt to win the club 4th Junior Championship. It should prove to be a great game and well worth supporting!
