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Danesfort GAA,Founded in 1922
Due to the war of independence and other political activities, the 192...
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Danesfort GAA,Founded in 1922
Due to the war of independence and other political activities, the 1921 Championships were not played in Kilkenny. When they were resumed in 1922, a new team, Danesfort, entered the Championships for the first time ever. The newly founded club adopted black and amber as their official colours. It is probable that John F. Drennan of Conway Hall, who presented the first set of jerseys to the Kilkenny county team, would also have done likewise for his native club. Unfortunately little is known, as yet, of the founding of the club or its first set of officers
Danesfort played their first junior Championship match against Ballyragget in July of 1922. Ballyragget beat them but Danesfort logged abjection on the grounds that Ballyragget had illegal players and the substitute referee for the match was not eligible to referee the game because he was not a member of the County Board.
It was proposed and seconded that a replay be ordered and also proposed and seconded was the motion that Ballyragget be awarded the match. On the show of hands, 10 were in favour of a replay and 10 against. On the casting vote of the acting chairman, Mr. Joe Rice, Foulkstown, a replay was ordered.
The replay was fixed fir September 3rd at the Polo Grounds, Ardaloo. Danesfort made no mistakes this time. The Kilkenny People report tells us that “the game was vigorous with an inclination if roughness and was exciting to the final whistle.” The same report attributes Danesfort’s victory to “the stout defence of their rear division, which again and again played havoc with many well-planed attacks of the opposing forwards.” The final score was:
Danesfort 4 – 3, Ballyragget 1 – 0.
Danesfort were beaten in the next round and then knocked out. Incidentally the same year, Ballymac entered a team in the Junior Championship and were down against Tullaroan in the first round. Tullaroan beat them, but Ballymac lodged an objection which was subsequently ruled out of order by the County Board.
The Cuffesgrange Football Team
Whilst the new Danesfort club was still finding its feet in its infant days, 1923 saw the well known Cuffesgrange team reach the Northern Junior Football Final against a hotly favoured Conahy side. Again, running late, this game wasn’t played until March 16, 1924. The Kilkenny People tells us that the Cuffesgrange had a “useful seasoning of experience and youth which made for a successful combination.”
Cuffesgrange ran out Northern Champions on the score:
Cuffesgrange 2 – 1, Conahy 0 – 2
After such an enthusiastic win, expectations were high for the County Final which was fixed for St. James Park on April 20, 1924 against Cotterstown. Misfortune was to befall Cuffesgrange once more as Cotterstown were given a walk-over as yet another title evaded Cuffesgrange men.
Two years later, 1925, Sevenhouses had a good run in the Junior Football Championship and reached the Northern Final but were beaten by Ballyragget.
Danesfort Claim First Title
Though it was obvious in 1922 that the new Danesfort team lacked experience and cohesion, it did not take long to smooth the rough edges abs in 1925 Danesfort became a dominate force in the Junior Championship, eventually reaching the County Final of that year.
Danesfort began their “Winning Streak” by beating Owen Roses in the first round of the Championship. The match was played at Wellbroke. Next to fall prey to the strengths of Danesfort were O’Rahilly’s (city) in the second round.
St. James Park was the venue when Danesfort took on O’Loughlin’s in the third round on September 20, 1925, where once again Danesfort were victorious.
Danesfort next beat Sart to qualify for the Northern Final against Dicksboro. History was made on two accounts in this Northern Final. It was the first Northern hurling title won by a team from the parish of Danesfort, and secondly it was the biggest winning margin ever recorded in a Northern Final, Danesfort beating Dicksboro by an amazing 41 points to no score.
On March 21st, 1926 Danesfort lined up against Knockmoylan to contest the 1925 Championship Final. This was Danesfort’s first Junior County Final. Knockmoylan were the winners on this day beating Danesfort on a score line of:
Knockmoylan 5 -1, Danesfort 4 – 1.
Though Knockmoylan won, the matter still did not reach a conclusion. Danesfort lodged an objection against Knockmoylan on the grounds of illegal constitution of their team. When investigated, this was found to be true and Danesfort were awarded the title and medals.
As a result Danesfort who proceeded to the senior ranks, there being no intermediate championship in existence.
Two Years, Two Titles
The early thirties saw Danesfort create history when they were the first team in Kilkenny to win a Junior and Intermediate title back to back.
In the 1930 Junior Championship Danesfort met Dunmore in the Northern semi-final. Dunmore proved to be tough opposition and led at half-time the scores being:
Dunmore 3-1, Danesfort 1-0
The second half saw much improvement in Danesfort’s play and attacked with a lot of determination. Once they got in front they coasted home on the score line of:
Danesfort 6-4, Dunmore 3-1
In the Northern Final, Danesfort beat Galmoy in Nowlan Park on February 22, 1931. Danesfort beat Galmoy on the score line of:
Danesfort 5-7, Galmoy 5-4
The Junior Final was again played in Nowlan Park on March 8th 1931. this time the opposition was Crowraddie (Callan).
Unfortunately the game proved to be a disappointment in an encounter in which tempers flared and emotions ran high. Never-the-less Danesfort became County Champions on the final score of:
Danesfort 3-2, Crowraddie 2-3.
The Replay
Due to the scuffles that followed the game Crowraddie lodged an objection to the Leinster board in which resulted in a replay. The game was played on November the 29th, and again, for the second time of asking, Danesfort were victorious on a score line of:
Danesfort 6-2, Crowraddie 3-3
The following year, in the Intermediate Championship Danesfort again became Champions as they defeated Slieverue with the score:
Danesfort 4-6 Slieverue 4-1.
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