1963 – Moneymore Schoolboys are Champions

Moneymore 1-6 Bellaghy 0-3

Moneymore Schoolboys have the honour of being the first South Derry Champions of 1963.

At the County Grounds in Magherafelt on Sunday, the Moneymore lads won the Schools Final defeating Bellaghy by 1-6 to 0-3.

The champs are the toast of Moneymore town this week, writes an Observer reporter, and are worthy Moneymore Team with Billy O’Loane and Patsy Breen South Derry Champions.

It was generally anticipated that Moneymore would won but the Bellaghy boys gave them a rattling good run for their money.

Bellaghy fought every inch of the way, but were just not good enough.

Moneymore built up an early lead and were ahead by 1-5 to 0-2 at the interval. From then on Bellaghy were as good, if not better than their opponents, scoring two points to Moneymore's one point in this half, but could never get on terms.

J. Doherty opened the scoring for Bellaghy with a point but Moneymore were soon in front when in a quick raid C. Mc Guckin cracked home a good goal. Bellaghy exerted pressure but their shooting was erratic. Moneymore went further ahead when Malachy O Loane converted a free, and shortly afterwards he obliged again with a 21 yard free.

Bellaghy defenders were inclined to be panicky and another free saw O Loane drop a high ball in to Chris Mc Guckin who returned to O Loane for his third point. Before half time Anthony Mc Williams sent over two really fine points from 30 yards range to leave Moneymore in the lead 1-5 to 0-1.

In the second half it was a close contest. Moneymore managed to add a further point from an M O Loane conversion, while Bellaghy scored two, but could not further reduce the leeway. Moneymore finished very worthy champions.

Referee Oliver Gallagher, Lavey.

Moneymore Schoolboys in County Final

Moneymore 4-1 Derry Pearses 2-6

Quite a crowd of Moneymore supporters travelled to Celtic Park to cheer on the Moneymore Schoolboys in their semi final of the County Derry Schools Championship against City Champions Pearses. They had certainly something to cheer about as it was the closest and the best match of the day, with Moneymore snatching a narrow victory with a last- minute goal, winning 4-1 to 2-6.

It was a real ding dong struggle between two grand teams and the crowd enjoyed every minute of it.

Pearses had the advantage of a breeze behind them and dominated matters during the opening quarter to lead 0-3 to nil.

Moneymore came more into the game and Malachy O Loane opened their account with a point. Pearses still looked dangerous but Moneymore started a neat movement which culminated in Peter Mc Nally slipping through the defence and cracking home a goal to give his side the lead. Moneymore Captain Malachy O’Loane

However Pearses struck back to goal and added a further point to lead at the interval by 1-4 to 1-1.

Moneymore with the breeze as an ally forced a “50”. Anthony Mc Williams got in a rasper only to see the City keeper make a fine save. Pearses made it 1-5 and then 1-6 to 1-1, and Moneymore fans were in the 'dumps' as they saw the title slipping away. Pearses nearly goaled again but the Moneymore keeper Seamus Kynes made a timely save.

Then Moneymore were awarded a 40-yard free, which Dessie Mc Guckin sent dropping to the square and to the delight of the Moneymore contingent it sailed in under the bar over all out stretched hands and finally in the back of the net,. Only two points now separated the sides 1-6 to 2-1. Keeping up the pressure, Moneymore punted a long one into the goalmouth. The Pearses full-back made a good catch but then dropped the ball and Brian Marshall caught it on the bounce and slammed it to the net.

Now Moneymore amidst great excitement had taken the lead 3-1 to 1-6. They launched attack after attack but shooting by Mc Nally, Mc Williams and O Loane was off the target. Dessie Mc Guckin had the ball in the net but a forward was in the square so the score was disallowed.

Then disaster struck as Pearses launched an attack and regained the lead with a goal, 2-6 to 3-1, with time almost up.

But Moneymore weren’t finished yet. They streaked off into the offensive, D Mc Guckin who was outstanding out around midfield, dropped in a high shot which the goalie blocked but could not hold.

The ball was scrambled over the line and pulled back again. The umpire's flag went up for a goal and the South Derry Champions now led 4-1 to 2-6. Anthony Mc Williams shot over the bar but with the ball in flight the whistle sounded to end the game.

Moneymore Schoolboys had qualified for their first County Final. It was tough luck on Pearses, who played a gallant sporting game.

B Mc Fadden Refereed.

Moneymore – Seamus Kynes, Maurice Corey, Kevin Teague, Oliver Marshall, Malachy Mc Ivor, Laurence Mc Kee, Brian Taggart, Peter Mc Nally, Dessie Mc Guckin, Anthony Mc Williams, Malachy O Loane, P Kelly, Brian Marshall, Patrick O Brien and Seamus O Loane.

Moneymore Schoolboy Champions 1963 Back Row – Patrick O’Brien, P Madden, P McNally, Maurice Corey, Brian Marshall, Michael O’Neill, Kevin Teague, Kevin McGuckin, Anthony McWilliams, Dessie McGuckin, Seamus Kyne, Laurence Teague.

Front Row – Sean Gormley, Philip McIvor, Raymond O’Loane, Seamus O’Loane, Brian Marshall, Brian Taggart, Oliver Marshall, Malachy O’Loane, Malachy McIvor, John Corey, Christopher McGuckin, Benny Devlin.

1963 SUNDAY 4TH NOVEMBER

IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR MONEYMORE THEIR FIRST EVER COUNTY TITLE

The final of the Derry Schoolboys Football Championship, played at Dungiven on Sunday between Dugiven and Moneymore was acclaimed by the large crowd by the large crowd of spectators as rare and exceptional entertainment.

The wonderful exposition of the Gaelic code and the creditable display of sportsmanship served up by these young aspirants to future glory on the playing fields of Derry undoubtedly put in the shade and perhaps to shame their older counterparts appearing in the minor final which followed.

The standard of play throughout am epic struggle for supremacy was in the high grade and as expected in schoolboy football, the boys of dwarfish stature on both teams often were the masters of their relatively giant-sized opponents.

The Moneymore boys coming with a strong vocal support and hot favourites as a result of their grand showing in the lead-up games, fully justified their reputation of giant

killers and although taking some time to settle down- due mainly to the serious loss of their ace defender Laurence Mc Kee, injured after seven minutes – ran out worthy winners on the score 3-9 to Dungivens 1-2.

The first half, when Dungiven had the assistance of a fair breeze, proved a contest of varying fortunes with Moneymore enjoying sixty percent advantage. A strong Dungiven defence in which B Heron, B Mc Closkey and J Leonard were outstanding, displayed sparkling brillance, ably assisted by H O Neill, L Mc Gonagle and J O Neill. JJ Mc Closkey, catching the Moneymore defence out of position, opened the scoring with a goal for Dungiven.

Moneymore hit back and literally bombarded the Dungiven goal. Prominent were S O Loane, B Taggart, D Mc Guckian and M O Loane.

In defending their lines the Dungiven defence conceded a succession of frees. Three points were scored by M O Loane who was in exceptional shooting form. His deadly accurate markmanship surely paved the way for a Moneymore victory. In the centre of the field for Moneymore, P Mc Nally was a towering pillar of strength and his lengthy deliverances were a constant worry to the opposing defence. In the 15th minute one of those raking shots was collected by M O Loane and eventually reached the Dungiven net per A Mc Williams, S O Loane and B Taggart.

The Dungiven forwards were slow to take advantage of an early shaky Moneymore defence and apart from J Mc Closkey seldom impressed.. They had a grand opening when the Moneymore goalie dropped the ball but M Mc Ivor had all the time he needed to clear off the goal line. Dungiven only score, apart from their early goal was a point by J O Kane.

Just before the interval the Dungiven goal had a narrow escape when S O Loane connected with a low shot to turn it in for what the umpires thought to be a goal, but the umpires declared it 'no goal' and so the score at the half-way stage remained at 1-3 to 1-1 in favour of Moneymore.

On the change over, Moneymore, playing with the breeze were on the receiving end for five minutes and the defence in which K Teague played brilliantly, were under pressure.

Moneymore then took control and aided by strong fielding by A Mc Williams, P Mc Nally and M O Loane a succession of scores came. A lob by A Mc Williams was collected by S O Loane who rounded a defender and with an overhead flick notched a neat point. The visitors went further ahead when another Mc Williams lob to the square was bundled to the net by D McGuckin and P Madden. Dungiven never gave up trying and M Corey playing solidly at left-half for Moneymore, was seen to advantage in breaking up several efforts by the Dungiven right wing to break through. In the final ten minutes Moneymore wnet further ahead with scores from M O Loane, (0-2) A McWilliams (0-2) P Madden (1-0) and D McGuckian (0-1).

Dungivens only reply in this half was a point from J O Kane. Moneymore had eight wides and forced three fifties. A Mc Williams who was an inspired player after a quiet first half hit the crossbar with a rasper.

This was a never to be forgotten game for these Moneymore boys who were the first to bring laurels to the Planter Village in the history of GAA in the village.

Presenting the trophy and medals to the winning team, Mr Thomas Mellon, Derry County Chairman, congratulated both teams on their sterling and sportsmanship

display. He said that he was especially proud that Moneymore coming as they did from a less favoured locality than so many other teams, were the new champions of Derry for 1963. He hoped that their win that day would be an incentive to them to uphold the splendid tradition of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Historic Occasion

At a pleasant little function in St Patricks Primary School on Sunday night, the members of the schools boys team which had won the county football final a few hours previously, were entertained to tea and presented with the cup and medals they had won by Rev S Shields CC Granaghan, President of the South Derry GAA Schools Committee.

In introducing Fr Shields, Very Rev B Donnelly, PP., said this was a truly historic occasion for the GAA in the district. Besides being a signal honour for the local boys to be the first to win county honours for their locality, he felt that it pointed to a break-through at last of our people who had remained silent for 700 years.

He rejoiced with the boys who had brought fame to Moneymore not only as an Irishman but also as their Parish Priest., as he made no secret of the tremendous assistance so generously and so eagerly proffered by members of the local GAA club yearly in running the Carnival for Parochial funds and many other activities.

He appreciated very much Fr Shields fine gesture in coming to make the presentation. His presence was all the more worthy of him in view of the many commitments Fr Shields had on his hands at this time. In a homely address Fr Shields told how honoured and delighted he was to be associated with the Moneymore Schoolboys in their hour of rejoicing on an occasion which would live in their memories for the rest of their lives. Although not a native of Moneymore he came there that night not as a stranger, because at one time when the GAA Club in Desertmartin was going through lean times he and several other Desertmartin men had played for the Moneymore Club.

He felt proud of the local boys for their wonderful display against Dungiven and as a GAA man himself he hoped that they would follow the Gaelic Code and prove themselves worthy and active members of the Association. Finally he said he, too, had found wherever he went he could always rely on members of the GAA for able and practical assistance in parish work.

Mr Patsy Breen P.T., the person to whom the largest share of the credit goes for the initiation of the boys team in the first instance and their prodigious progress along the difficult road to victory, had so many nice things to say about so many others behind the scenes who had given him in-valuable assistance through the year in both training the team and bringing them through the series of games at home and away. He paid special tribute to Billy O Loane, who had not spared himself in time, energy or expense in his efforts on behalf the lads.

Regarding the boys themselves, he said they had won through not so much because of their football ability as on account of their team spirit and enthusiasm and above all the great sense of discipline, a most important factor in all organised effort.

Fr Shields presented medals to the following players: S Kynes, M McIvor, K Teague, O Marshall, M ONeill, L McKee, M Corey, J Corey, M OLoane, B Marshall, P Mc Nally, A McWilliams, S O Loane, D Mc Guckin, B Taggart, P Kelly, C Mc Guckin, P McIvor, P OBrien, B Devlin, B Marshall and R OLoane.

The function was attended by the parents of the boys and many members of the local

GAA Club and well-wishers.j Tea was served by the ladies committee to whom a vote of thanks was passed by Mr Breen for their assistance that night and on many different occasions throughout the year.

Moneymore Convention 1963

Speaking at the Annual Convention of Henry Joy Mc Crackens GFC Moneymore, Mr T McGurk Chairman said that although the club had not gained any honours in any of the football competitions the lads had shown keen interest and, with the number of players available, had done well in both league and championship. With a steady improvement in a good number of young players he had hopes for the team in the coming year.

Mr McGurk congratulated the schoolboys on winning the Schools Championship.

Mr H. Conway said that due to the decidedly questionable decision of the District Board in allowing Magherafelt Intermediate side to take part in the Junior Championship, Moneymore, having reached the final with Magherafelt, he contended were virtual District Champions.

Mr Conway said that if the Junior Championship was to serve the purpose for which it was originally intended it would have to be reserved for strictly junior teams and teams of Intermediate grade should be required to take part in the Senior Championship. The present arrangement was ridiculous and utterly unfair to junior clubs.

Mr E Martin treasurer announced that expenditure was considerably up on last year due to travelling costs, said nevertheless there was a small profit on the years workings.

Mr B Guidera presiding at the election of the new committee for 1964, appealed to club members for renewed effort on behalf of the Association and particularly the players for exemplary display of self control and harmony on the field of play which had been lacking of late.

The following officials were elected : President, Very Rev P Donnelly PP; Chairman, T Mc Gurk;Vice-Chairman, F Moran; Secretary, W Magee; Assistant Secretary, L Mc Ivor; Treasurer, E Martin; Committee – W Mulholland, H Moran, S Teague, J Corey. Captain S Teague; Vice Captain, J Corey.

1964-67

In the years of 1964-67 the Henry Joys continued to play football. In 1967 a three day carnival was to be arranged the then Chairman Patsy Scullion advertised the event in the Daily Mirror but due to a lack of interest the carnival failed to take place. This led the folding of the club for a number of years.

Moneymore Team 1964 Back row: Leonard Duffy, Tom McWilliams, Kevin Mulholland, Jack Corey, Brendan O’Neill, Sean McIvor Front row: Malachy McIvor, Maurice Corey, Anthony McWilliams, Laurence Teague, Kevin Teague, Laurence McKee, Sean Conway, Sean Teague