The minnows from the North-East who shook up Galway club hurling

IN early Autumn of 1956, Anthony ‘Tony’ O’Gorman was cycling into Ballinasloe when he happened upon his Fohenagh team-mate Tim Sweeney coming in the opposite direction. The two hurlers paused for a chat.

‘You know, I think we will go senior next year,’ said Sweeney, an artist of the game who had enough of Junior hurling and the barbarous nature of it. Muscles and limbs were, perhaps, still sore after Fohenagh’s Junior semi-final against Tynagh, which was abandoned after a free-for-all.

Fohenagh led by seven points at the time, but, with the contest descending into chaos, the Gardaí were forced to intervene and break up the violence which left five men hospitalised at Portiuncula.

In the case of one man, who failed to regain consciousness for some time, the doctors feared the worst; in another case, in which a man received nine stitches, the medics believed he was lucky to be alive; while yet another man arrived with his ear hanging off.

As a result of violent conduct, Fohenagh and Tynagh were expelled from the competition and the matter was investigated by Galway East Board GAA, the County Board and the guards in Kiltormer, where the match was held.

‘Ah Tim, we’d never be good enough,’ retorted O’Gorman, although he understood the older player’s desire to leave the Junior ranks behind. As Fohenagh’s best player, Sweeney was always a target.

The two men chatted a little while longer before going on their way. Over the ensuing months, the fall-out from the Junior tie rumbled on. Hard decisions were taken and lengthy suspensions were handed out by Galway East Board GAA to four of the players involved.

In the midst of all this, Fohenagh also made a decision. They would go senior – not just to compete, but to challenge.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.