Buffers Alley Jubilee Teams -  The Buffers Alley men of 1991 and 1992 were honoured in Innovate Wexford Park yesterday during the Senior Hurling Final. Congrats to all.  Below is a report of those two great games that brought back glory to the parish of Monamolin and Kilmuckridge.

The Jubilee teams being honoured today are the Buffers Alley Co. Championship winning sides of 1991 and ’92. These two victories turned out to be the culmination of a golden era in the club’s history and a twenty five year period in which the club built up a reputation for itself as one of the leading hurling strongholds in the country.

The ‘91 campaign began on 1^st June in Gorey with a victory over Oulart-the Ballagh (3-14 to 2-9). With only three teams in the group, a draw with Faythe Harriers in Belfield on July 6^th was adequate to qualify for a quarter-final meeting with Co. Champions, Rathnure, in Wexford Park on August 18^th - an encounter that ended up being considerably less demanding than anyone could have anticipated. Apart from the predictable influence of players like Tom Dempsey, Paul Gahan and Seán Whelan, many unsung heroes made a huge contribution to the 4-20 to 2-5 victory. Led by captain, Colin Whelan, players like Paddy Donohoe, Matty Foley, Harry Lee, Eamonn Sinnott, John Gahan and Fintan O’Leary contributed enormously to that easier than expected outcome. Then, following a semi-final victory over Glynn-Barntown at Wexford Park on September 29^th (2-17 to 1-7) the stage was set for an epic final and a second meeting of the championship with Faythe Harriers, who had beaten Cloughbawn 1-12 to 1-7 in their semi-final.

With no time for resting in those days, the final (one that many had predicted from the time of Rathnure’s exit) was played just seven days later on October 6^th at Wexford Park. Although entering this final as clear favourites, the Alley had to draw on all their experience and craft to capture this eleventh title in their proud history. The hurling was indifferent and anything but pretty, but following good work by Séan Whelan and Matty Foley, the Alley retired at half-time with a slender 1-5 to 0-5 lead. Things improved somewhat in the second half when the half-back line of Paul Gahan, John Donohoe and Colin Whelan took complete control, and with Tom Dempsey and Eamonn Sinnott leading by example up front, the outcome was positively sealed in the closing minutes when John Gahan latched on to a breaking ball from none other than the wily Tony Doran, who had just been introduced as a substitute. Tremendous excitement followed as Colin Whelan accepted the Gain Cup from Co. Chairman, Joe O’Shaughnessy, much to the delight of the jubilant Alley supporters. Eamonn Sinnott was named ‘man of the match’ but he was given a good run for it by the ever dominant Seán Whelan who kept a constant supply line to the forwards throughout. 

A good win over Portlaoise in the first provincial outing that year was obliterated when we lost to an emerging Birr side in the Leinster semi-final at Nowlan Park. 

Onward then to Wexford Park one year later when Rathnure was given an early opportunity to make amends for the humiliating defeat of the ’91 quarter-final – and they almost did. On the 26^th September, in what journalist Brendan Furlong described as ‘a strange game, laced with powerful endeavour, passionate play, but lots of inelegant and sometimes clumsy hurling’, this game ended in a welter of excitement as Rathnure forced the Alley to call on all their defensive resources to hold out for a single point victory (1-15 to 2-11) and advance to a semi-final date with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown. Despite an eleventh minute penalty goal from Jimmy Holohan, Tom Dempsey (operating in sparkling form on the forty) hit six points before half-time to help the Alley retire with a 0-12 to 1-4 interval lead. A much improved Rathnure reduced the deficit to two points early in the second half and very little separated the teams for the remainder of the game. The challengers had their opportunities to force a replay in the final minutes but just couldn’t penetrate a solid Alley defence. Overall, Tom Dempsey was the winners’ outstanding player with nine points, but he received excellent support on the day from Paul Gahan, Colin Whelan, Seán Whelan and Paddy Donohoe.

Next up was the semi-final with an ever-improving Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in Wexford Park on October 11^th. A Ray Murphy goal just before the break kept Cushinstown in the game, and when Murphy goaled again on the resumption (to put his side in front) things look ominous for the champions. But the Alley’s experience and ability to turn their sparse opportunities into scores helped them get over the line. One minute from time, when the game was on the brink of producing the shock result of the year, goal poacher Eamonn Sinnott pounced behind the defence to kick what turned out to be the winning goal. Ger Cody had one last chance to avenge but his ‘twenty-one’ was cleared off the line for what turned out to be a fruitless ’65. Leaders on the day were Pat Kenny and Colin Whelan in defence with Seán Whelan and Tom Dempsey contributing most in the other sector. Having survived by the skin of their teeth, the stage was now set for the dream county final with Oulart-the Ballagh. 

Despite playing into a freshening breeze in Wexford Park on October 25^th, it was the Alley who got off to the better start in this final. Relying on Tom Dempsey for early scores they lead 0-3 to nil at the end of the first quarter. Oulart’s only score of the half was a Brendan O’Connor free after twenty minutes. Further Alley points from Matty Foley, Colin Whelan and a Paul Gahan ’65 sent the winners in at the break with a lead of 0-6 to 0-1.

Despite a completely re-arranged Oulart attack, the Alley defence continued to cope with ease. When further points from Dempsey (2) and Séamus O’Leary and Seán Whelan increased the lead to 0-10 to 0-1, the game was as good as over. Liam Dunne pointed a ’65 for what was only their second score of the game. But a series of fine saves from the young Séamus Kavanagh kept the Alley in a comfortable position, and when Brendan O’Connor finally scored a penalty on the stroke of time, it was no more than a consolation on an otherwise better forgotten day for his team. On a day when Oulart failed to score from play, the Alley (after a shaky enough championship campaign) went on to record a famous victory (1-11 to 1-5) with a fusion of skill, concentration, maturity and self-belief that many believed was way beyond their compass that year. Their insatiable thirst for victory exhibited itself especially in the displays of Colin Whelan (who held none other than Martin Storey scoreless), Pat Kenny, Séan Whelan and Séamus Kavanagh.  Captain Matty Foley received the Gain Cup on behalf of his gallant team mates and the ‘man of the match’ award went to a very deserving 19 year old Séamus Kavanagh.

The Leinster Club Championship campaign got off to a magnificent start with a Tom Dempsey inspired 3-10 to 1-9 victory over Clonad of Laois. Then, following a comprehensive 2-19 to 0-9 victory over the Meath champions (Trim), a Leinster final date in Croke Park with St. Rynagh’s of Offaly impended. Big things were expected from the Offaly side since they had easily disposed of Kilkenny champions, Glenmore, in their semi-final, and for a while it looked as if they would justify the favourite’s tag. However, the Alley gradually got to terms with the pace of the game, and with a combination of some magnificent saves from the ‘out of retirement’ Henry Butler (Seamus Kavanagh had broken his leg following the Co. Championship), two first half over-head flicked goals by John Gahan, and a superb display by Tom Dempsey, the Alley retired with an interval lead of 2-6 to 0-8. A whole-hearted second half effort resulted in a splendid victory over this Leinster bogey team on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-13. But then, unfortunately, on a cold and windy February day in Wexford Park (when things didn’t go as well for the goal-keeping hero of the Leinster final) we came up short to Sarsfields of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. This game was to signal the end of a golden era for a magnificent team and a glorious period in the history of the great Buffers Alley Club. They are worthy recipients of Jubilee honours here today.

For the record, the combined panels over the two years were: Séamus Kavanagh, Har Lee, Barry Murphy, Pat Kenny, John O’Leary, John Donohoe, Paul Gahan, Colin Whelan (Captain ’91), Seán Whelan, Matty Foley (Captain ’92), Eamonn Sinnott, Tom Dempsey, Paddy Donohoe, Fintan O’Leary, John Gahan, Séamus O’Leary, Martin Casey, Tony Doran, Mick Butler, Pat Lacey, Ben Martin, Murt Mangan, Pat Dempsey, Declan Sinnott, Matt Furlong, Marney Burke, Billy O’Leary and Des Murphy. Henry Butler made a comeback for the Leinster championship of ’92. The mentors for those two years were combinations of the following: Jim Butler & Colm Doran (Trainers) and Selectors Bill Doran, Fintan Farrell, Pierie Butler, Ben Martin and the late Tom Donohoe and Paddy Sinnott.

                                                                                                                                Fr. Jim Butler