Tales From the Sea Side
No.6
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While there are those who will tell you that the modern GAA is as competitive as ever, anyone old enough to remember the fiercely contested Street Leagues of the 50s and 60s will surely tell you otherwise.
Initially intended to enhance community spirit, such was the intensity of the yearly championship and of the fanatical rivalries that developed that the opposite was to be the case.
It all started in the Spring of 1955, when local GAA stalwart Pat 'the Whale' Finnegan proposed a hurling league be set up, made up entirely of Tramore sides, to compete for a trophy he himself would provide. The motion was passed and in June of that year six sides, Riverstown, Town Centre, Sweetbrier/Moonlaun, Pickardstown, Kennedy Park and Country began their quests for what in time would represent something of a Holy Grail for all townsfolk, 'The Pat 'the Whale' Finnegan Perpetual Shield'.
The tone was set in that inaugural year, with passions frequently running out of control, most notably during a fiercely fought semi-final between Country and Town Centre.
Bull-Whipped
Roared on by their fiercely passionate supporters, Country would eventually emerge victorious despite playing most of the game with only 14 men after corner forward, Thomas 'Bingo' Brady, was sent to the line for attempting to saw the leg off his marker Seanie Mullaly.
The intensity of the competition was not to subside, with local communities fighting tooth-and-nail for the right to hold aloft 'The Pat 'the Whale' Finnegan Perpetual Shield'.
Absolute dedication was expected from all, with any aberration likely to invoke the harshest of reprimands. The case of Sweetbriar/Moonlaun Wing-Back Peadair 'the ladder' Morrisey providing a prime example, he being chained to a lamppost and bull-whipped by furious neighbours after missing a crucial 45 against Kennedy Park.
Other notable encounters include the infamous 1961 final between Riverstown and local rivals Kennedy Park.
The game was particularly ferocious even by the standards of the time, with Riverstown Corner-Back Brendan 'not at all' Nolan playing the entire second-half without his head after sustaining an early injury.
The game was decided in the closing moments, Riverstown Corner-Forward 'Wavey' Davie Donnolly dancing his way through the pools of blood that by now littered the large parallelogram to smash home what would prove to be the winning goal.
Launching hand-grenades
Unfortunately, however, the game was remembered less for the players exploits on the field of play than for its aftermath. Infuriated by the performance of referee Bosco 'brains' Brannagan, the Kennedy Park followers, players and mentors rounded on the hapless official before tying him to the back of a tractor and dragging him naked through the town.
Indeed so incensed were the Kennedy Park contingent, that for a brief period they cut off all diplomatic links with both Riverstown and Westown, where Brannagan lived.
The violence and passion would reach something of a peak in 1963, when the league went on despite a referees strike.
With no rules to hold them back, the players took the law into their own hands. In one game that year between Pickadstown and Church Road/Priest Road, the Pickardstown players took to the field of play armed not with hurleys but with machine guns.
Determined to fight fire with fire, the Church Road/Priest Road panel dug a trench at their edge of their own 45 and began launching hand-grenades at their opponents.
"Stomach churning savagery"
By the end of the 70 minutes nine players lay dead, the Street League panel awarding the game to the men from Church Road/Priests Road by 0-1 to 0-0, by virtue of one of the hand grenades having been struck beautifully over the bar.
By 1969, the passions aroused by the competition were such that the authorities declared it illegal, fearing that all out civil war could ensue if something was not done.
However this was not to be the absolute end for the street leagues, as they continue to be contested at a schools level. Wanton acts of stomach churning savagery may no longer be a feature, but the passion and commitment remain as high as ever.
He may no longer be amongst us, but you sense Pat 'The Whale' would approve.