Mitchelstown V Glanworth Falls to the Virus

Mitchelstown and Glanworth were due to met in the Cork County Intermediate football championship this coming Sat April 11th in Mallow, one of numerous games which has fallen to the Corona virus. These teams last met in intermediate football championship in 1976 in what has been described as a thriller by many a spectator. At the A.G.M held in December 1975 it was agreed that Mitchelstown would apply to the County Board to upgrade to intermediate grade for 1976. This was duly granted and with Liam Power at the helm the opening round was against Glanmire  finished in a draw. Mitchelstown made no mistake in the replay running out convincing winners. Great rivals Glanworth were the opponents in round two in a match fixed for June18th.  To this day many a spectator wonder how Mitchelstown could kick so many wides and went under to the eventual county champions on a score of 0-10 to 1-06. The team were Ned Lewis. J J Lynch, Mick Lewis, Ollie Cussen, Austin O Brien, Jack Barry, Billy Baker, Myles O Malley, Gerry Vaughan, Tom Mullins, Michael Mullins, Denis Nolan, Dave Russell, Tom Molan, Ger Mulcahy.

The u21 team retained the championship with victories over Kilworth ,Kildorrery, and Grange before a comprehensive victory over Mallow in the final. Ballydesmond proved too strong in the opening round of the county.

U16s Excel

Mitchelstown u16 footballers won there third North Cork title in a row. They came up against a strong Macroom team in the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh. This preceded the County intermediate final which saw neighbours Glanworth earlier victors over town edge out Ballyvourney. Mitchelstown played with a strong wind in the opening half and turned at the short whistle in attears on a score of 2-04 to 1-01. Few if any gave the Blackthorn men a chance but playing like men possessed and two goals from the left leg of Pa Nolan saw town advance to the county final. 

Castlelyons was once again the venue for the County Final with again Nemo Rangers providing the opposition. In what can only be described as one of the worst weather days I can remember with gale force winds and driving rain. Nemo Rangers won the toss and played with the elements. Some heroic defending by the me4n in red and black confined their opponents to 2-06 to 0-00 at half time. Mitchelstown began the second half playing with the elements and the same enthusiasm they showed in the semi final against Macroom they gradually whittled down the Nemo lead to a mere two points with the clock heading for sixty minutes we were awarded a fourteen-yard free dead straight in front of goal. Martin Dorney stepped up and billowed the roof of the net to leave Mitchelstown the first ever club outside of the city to win the u16 County title on a score of 3-04 to 2-06. The team were Michael Griffin, Tom Lonergan, Joe Lee, Tom O Brien, Gerry O Gorman, Danny Keohane, Norman Linehan, Ken Molan,  Martin Dorney Pa Nolan, Michael Noonan, Pat Murphy, David Ahern, Tom Keane, Sean Geary.

1976 Intermediate Football Team

Back Row: Billy Finn, Tom Molan, Ger Vaughan, Tommy Healy, Myles O’Malley, John O’Doherty, Ollie Cussen, Ned Lewis, Billy Baker, Jack Barry, Mickey Mullins, Ger Mulcahy, Paddy Barrett.

Front Row: Tom Mullins, Austin O’Brien, Danny O’Brien, John Coleman, Mick Lewis, Dave Russell, J.J. Lynch, Denis Nolan, Paul Mullins, Kevin Dwane, Donal Cotter

1976 Under 16 County Champions

Back Row:  Jimmy Skinner, Tom O’ Mahony, Justin Houlihan, Michael Griffin, Tom O’Brien, Dave Aherne, Pa Nolan, Martin Dorney, Pat Aherne, Eddie Wiley, Jim Burke, Tommy Healy, Liam Skinner, Tom Keane, Joe Lee

Front Row: Mark Hussey, Gerry O’Gorman, Brendan Cotter, Danny Keohane, Tom Lonergan, Michael Noonan, Eddie Sheehan, Norman Lenihan, Ken Molan (Capt.), Ger Shinnick, Seanie Geary, Pat Murphy