Warwickshire Senior Hurling Champions 1965: St. Finbarr’s
Match Report (archive report courtesy of Ady Moore, St. Finbarr’s)
St. Finbarr’s equal record
St. Finbarr’s 5-06 v 6-01 Fr. Murphy’s
A record which has stood for 15 years in Warwickshire was equalled last week when St. Finbarr’s, of Coventry, completed a fine county title double by beating Fr. Murphy’s. The week previous St. Finbarr’s’ footballers had won the Warwickshire championship from holders John Mitchel’s, of Birmingham.
It is the first time since Shannon Rangers – a forerunner of St. Finbarr’s – performed the feat in 1950 that the double has been done in the same year. Many of the old Rangers’ team are still connected with St. Finbarr’s.
Sunday’s match proved that St. Finbarr’s are never beaten until the final whistle, because it was virtually full-time when they clinched the game with a well-taken goal from Pat Cullinane. Up to this point, Fr. Murphy’s had matched the home side all the way through a thrilling final and, indeed, in the early stages had St. Finbarr’s reeling with two goals and one point before their opponents had scored. However, like the champions they are, St. Finbarr’s hit back strongly and by the interval were trailing by a mere four points.
Midway through the second-half St. Finbarr’s took the lead and eventually moved into a four-point advantage. Fr. Murphy’s retaliated and to such an extent that they regained the lead. Then, when all seemed lost for the home team, Cullinane fired through a goal for St. Finbarr’s and once again they were champions.
Players of the match for the winners were McGrath, Dunne, Smith and T. Ryan.
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All-England/Britain Senior Hurling Champions 1965: St. Finbarr’s
Match Report (archive report courtesy of Ady Moore, St. Finbarr’s)
St. Finbarr’s land All-England title
St. Finbarr’s 3-12 v 1-06 Brian Boru’s (London)
St. Finbarr’s hurling team achieved their greatest triumph yesterday when they defeated Brian Boru’s from London to carry off the All-England club championship.
The match, played at the Holbrooks sports ground, attracted a large crowd and the home team ran out comfortable winners. The Coventry team played into a strong wind in the first-half, but were soon in the lead with points from T. Ryan and J. O’Brien.
Playing fast ground hurling, St. Finbarr’s had the Brian Boru’s defence under pressure. When the visitors did breakaway, their attacks were well held by Ryan, Smyth and Dineen. With the score 4-2 in favour of St. Finbarr’s after 20 minutes’ play, McCarthy, kicking a loose ball, registered the home side’s first goal but the visitors immediately hit back with a goal to make the half-time score: St. Finbarr’s 1-05, Brian Boru’s 1-04.
Early in the second-half the visitors drew level, but this was the signal for McGrath and Dunne to take control of midfield with the result that McGrath and Cullinane added further goals. The Coventry team continued to dominate the game and before the final whistle Crowe, O’Brien and Cullinane added further points. It was a good all-round team victory.
Scorers for St. Finbarr’s:
P McGrath 1-03
P. Cullinane 1-02
D. McCarthy 1-00
J O’Brien 0-03
T. Ryan 0-02
P. Dunne 0-01
C. Crowe 0-01
