Three Cheers for the Black & Amber and for our gallant team
Whose brilliant football victory outstrips our wildest dream.
On the 30th of November the challenge they did meet
The widely-fancied Bandon team they well and truly beat.
Up at the Cork Athletic Grounds that chilly winter’s day
Our stalwart men assembled and made ready for the fray.
With manly step they took the field and threw the gauntlet down
Castlemagner versus Bandon for the Cork Junior Football crown.
Though every man a hero played to win that splendid game
The brothers four Fitzgerald surely head our roll of fame,
For when the match was over, many Bandonmen were sore
And vowed that their undoing was the Fitzs of Gortmore.
Now John Joe was our ‘Keeper and he kept a tidy goal
Behind the towering bulwark shield of youthful brother Noel.
Big brother Dick with famed left boot the Left Full berth secured
And Dinny out at Centre Back robust and most assured.
Right Full John Fitz of Subulter held his man well in place
And sent him home without a score which was a real disgrace.
The forceful Johnny Connell was supreme at Right Wing Back,
With iron nerve and lightening swerve to blunt each fast attack.
And fairhaired Danny Lenihan the Left Wing did command;
He cheered the anxious Castle fans with frees and sidelines grand.
At Centre Field big Paddy Smith reached high for sky-bound ball
And wrought with nimble Mattie Mack to win the bruising maul.
At Centre Forward ‘Small’ Mick Shea engaged the fine defence
And broke the white-clad fortress wall with speed and football sense.
Left winger Seamus Connell ducked and dummied like a hare
And conspired with Billy Barrett to attack the Bandon square.
Tim Archdeacon the right flanker picked up each little chance
Right Corner Barry Taylor led his man a merry dance.
At Full the great Dick Harnedy with all his matchless guile
Confounded the defenders as he turned on the style.
Now to recount the highlights of this famous football game,
We’ll look at how the drama went, the scores and how they came.
Castlemagner were the first to show, the chill breeze to their backs
And thrilled the big supporting crowd with skillful brisk attacks.
Their efforts were rewarded with a classy opening score
A point from Billy Barrett kicked from 30 yards or more.
Then Castle’s backline stumbled, the Bandon forwards goaled
And end to end and point for point the contest raged and rolled.
The second half and Castle’s men, quite bold and undismayed,
Defied the odds and rising breeze with surging raid on raid.
Then underneath a head-high ball the artful Taylor set,
He let the leather through his hands – and straight into the net!
The Bandon men came charging back, red war was in the air;
They battered at our strong defence and hit them foul and fair.
But hard and fast they held their ground, taxed, bloodied but unbowed.
And toe to toe the ebb and flow entralled the watching crowd.
Then slow the tide of battle eased and Bandon were subdued;
The Black & Amber sure and strong the golden crown pursued.
And hard they pressed and harried on – the game was not yet won.
‘Small Johnny’ flicked a clever point – and then the job was done.
At last the final whistle trilled above the boisterous roar;
The County title was consigned to Kathraghside once more.
Full well the Castle fans agreed and always would remember
The grandest sight in football is the men in Black & Amber.
That night at Eddie Donoghue’s the victory bowl was filled
And tilted by the merry throng and not a drop was spilled.
‘The Chair Man’ Jerry Carthy gave ‘Three Flowers’ and ‘Skibereen’.
Jerry Sullivan on the fiddle played ‘I’ll Take You Home Kathleen’.
And heady were the words of praise for that great football feat
Until the last glad straggler went on his homeward beat.
Now lighter-stepped we go each day about our school and work
For the men in Black and Amber are the champions of Cork.
30.11.1952: CASTLEMAGNER 1 -7 BANDON 1-5