Although Clongorey no longer has a G.A.A. football team, it has won county titles in 1958 and 1978. Click on the links to read match day reports.
1978 Jack Higgins Cup
1958 Junior "B" Football Final
1978 Junior "B" Football Final
Clongorey 3-8 Cappagh 2-10
What a thriller this Junior B Final between two evenly matched teams turned out to be. And on reflection, the only disappointment of the well contested and always sporting game was that Cappagh didn’t at least get a second chance.
After a slow first quarter the north county side were five points down but battled back to be on level terms at the break. And their comeback stemmed from the brilliant scoring of their full forward Tommy Mulligan. Early on he looked off shooting form missing out on a couple of chances but when he did get his sights set he turned in a wonderful exhibition of how to score. In the second quarter, Mulligan scored five on the trot to bring his team back into the game. There was no lessening of the pace when the second half got underway.
First is was the turn of the Clongorey contingent to get to their feet when their ace scorer Lar Scott accepted a pass from Seamus Moore to slam one to the net. Five minutes later Cappagh had their moment of jubilation. Mulligan and Mick Convey set up a goal before Mulligan himself kicked straight off the ground and cracked home the leveller. From then to the end the game was a cracker, with every player on the field rising to the occasion. Five times the sides were level, each team having it’s greater moments. Fine scores with Mulligan, Cappagh and Scott, Clongorey, snapping up every chance.
The vital action of the game came at the 45th minute. Lar Scott had just levelled from a free for Clongorey when a tragic miscalculation on the part of the Cappagh keeper, who otherwise had a fine game, saw the ball break to Scott for a snap goal. Cappagh kept coming and Eamonn Costelloe cracked one past from forty yards out. Mulligan sent his tram a point in front but Declan Doyle levelled with five minutes left. Anyone could have taked the Joe Cronin Cup in that cliff hanging finish with hero of the hour Lar Scott for Clongorey giving his side the lead from a placed ball with two minutes to go.
Tops for the winners “Chicky” Mills, Jim Scott, Noel Heavey, the three Earlys and the Taaffes, Lar Scott score 2-3 , while for the losers Tommy Mulligan had personal tally of 1-7. He got great assistance from Mick Convey, Eamonn Costelloe, Paraic Casey, John Regan and Paul Fitzsimons.
Clongorey scorers: S Moore 1-1, L Scott 2-3, C Early 0-2, D Doyle 0-1, K Early 0-1
Cappagh scorers: T Mulligan 1-7, E Costelloe 1-3.
Clongorey: J Lowry, J Taaffe, T Maguire, C Mills, D Byrne, J Scott, M Taaffe, N Heavey, P Duffy, L Scott, D Doyle, K Early, S Moore, P.J. Early, C Early.
Cappagh: J Cullen, P Casey, S Lynch, S O’Mallney, J Regan, F Daly, P McGlynn, M Convey, A Grogan, P Fitzsimons, E Costelloe, E O’Malley, E Price, T Mulligan, S Downey.
Referee: T Howard, Kilcullen. Back to top>>
Article by Leinster Leader on 16th September, 1978.
1978 Jack Higgins Cup
Clongorey 4-4 St Laurences 2-3
When Clongorey won the Junior B Football Championship they were termed the fairytale side of the year. Their success story continued at Naas last Sunday when they scored the surprise of the season by beating Junior A Champions, St Laurence’s, in the final of the Jack Higgins Cup. Remarkable too that their parish neighbours won the same cup four years ago, having come through from the Junior B grade.
Few, outside Clongorey, expected this result and indeed in the pre-match discussion a fine display was the only thing expected from the B champions.
However, Clongorey went in this game quietly confident that they were capable of toppling the very warm favourites.
GREAT START
They got off to a flying start. They had two in the net with only minutes gone and were ten points up with just over twenty minutes gone. “The Saints” looked to be coming back when JJ Walshe cracked a penalty past Clongorey goalie John Loney and another green flag from Brendan McLoughlin cut the Clongorey lead drastically.
At half-time, Clongorey led by 3-3 to 2-2 and when Laurence’s dominated completely in the minutes after the interval, the leaders looked to have shot their bolt. But for all the pressure and all their chances, St Laurence’s could only manage a single point and when battling Clongorey hit back for their fourth goal, it was the end of the favourite’s challenge for the coveted cup.
In the final minutes Laurence’s failed from the penalty spot, when JJ Walshe’s shot hit the crossbar and the last goal from Bernard Higgins made little difference as Clongorey had it all wrapped up at that stage.
A wonderful team performance by the winners, considered by many lucky winners of the B series, but in this instance there was no luck attached to a historic victory for a team who have been enjoying a tremendous year.
The losers from whom so much was expected were a huge disappointment to their big following. They failed utterly to produce their best and after that early scoring spree from the winners, they were struggling all the way.
Seamus Moore was the top scorer and ace forward for Clongorey, while Noel heavey, the three Early brothers, P.J., Ken and Colin, the Donoghues and “Chicky” Mills contributed greatly to their win. For the losers, JJ Walshe, Peter Archibold, Jimmy Daye amd Mick Kirwan were the only ones to play up to their best form.
Referee: Patsy Broe, Naas. Back to top>>
Article by Leinster Leader on 7th October, 1978.
1958 Junior "B" Football Final
Clongorey 2-4
Kildoon 2-3
1978 Jack Higgins Cup
1958 Junior "B" Football Final
1978 Junior "B" Football Final
Clongorey 3-8 Cappagh 2-10
What a thriller this Junior B Final between two evenly matched teams turned out to be. And on reflection, the only disappointment of the well contested and always sporting game was that Cappagh didn’t at least get a second chance.
After a slow first quarter the north county side were five points down but battled back to be on level terms at the break. And their comeback stemmed from the brilliant scoring of their full forward Tommy Mulligan. Early on he looked off shooting form missing out on a couple of chances but when he did get his sights set he turned in a wonderful exhibition of how to score. In the second quarter, Mulligan scored five on the trot to bring his team back into the game. There was no lessening of the pace when the second half got underway.
First is was the turn of the Clongorey contingent to get to their feet when their ace scorer Lar Scott accepted a pass from Seamus Moore to slam one to the net. Five minutes later Cappagh had their moment of jubilation. Mulligan and Mick Convey set up a goal before Mulligan himself kicked straight off the ground and cracked home the leveller. From then to the end the game was a cracker, with every player on the field rising to the occasion. Five times the sides were level, each team having it’s greater moments. Fine scores with Mulligan, Cappagh and Scott, Clongorey, snapping up every chance.
The vital action of the game came at the 45th minute. Lar Scott had just levelled from a free for Clongorey when a tragic miscalculation on the part of the Cappagh keeper, who otherwise had a fine game, saw the ball break to Scott for a snap goal. Cappagh kept coming and Eamonn Costelloe cracked one past from forty yards out. Mulligan sent his tram a point in front but Declan Doyle levelled with five minutes left. Anyone could have taked the Joe Cronin Cup in that cliff hanging finish with hero of the hour Lar Scott for Clongorey giving his side the lead from a placed ball with two minutes to go.
Tops for the winners “Chicky” Mills, Jim Scott, Noel Heavey, the three Earlys and the Taaffes, Lar Scott score 2-3 , while for the losers Tommy Mulligan had personal tally of 1-7. He got great assistance from Mick Convey, Eamonn Costelloe, Paraic Casey, John Regan and Paul Fitzsimons.
Clongorey scorers: S Moore 1-1, L Scott 2-3, C Early 0-2, D Doyle 0-1, K Early 0-1
Cappagh scorers: T Mulligan 1-7, E Costelloe 1-3.
Clongorey: J Lowry, J Taaffe, T Maguire, C Mills, D Byrne, J Scott, M Taaffe, N Heavey, P Duffy, L Scott, D Doyle, K Early, S Moore, P.J. Early, C Early.
Cappagh: J Cullen, P Casey, S Lynch, S O’Mallney, J Regan, F Daly, P McGlynn, M Convey, A Grogan, P Fitzsimons, E Costelloe, E O’Malley, E Price, T Mulligan, S Downey.
Referee: T Howard, Kilcullen. Back to top>>
Article by Leinster Leader on 16th September, 1978.
1978 Jack Higgins Cup
Clongorey 4-4 St Laurences 2-3
When Clongorey won the Junior B Football Championship they were termed the fairytale side of the year. Their success story continued at Naas last Sunday when they scored the surprise of the season by beating Junior A Champions, St Laurence’s, in the final of the Jack Higgins Cup. Remarkable too that their parish neighbours won the same cup four years ago, having come through from the Junior B grade.
Few, outside Clongorey, expected this result and indeed in the pre-match discussion a fine display was the only thing expected from the B champions.
However, Clongorey went in this game quietly confident that they were capable of toppling the very warm favourites.
GREAT START
They got off to a flying start. They had two in the net with only minutes gone and were ten points up with just over twenty minutes gone. “The Saints” looked to be coming back when JJ Walshe cracked a penalty past Clongorey goalie John Loney and another green flag from Brendan McLoughlin cut the Clongorey lead drastically.
At half-time, Clongorey led by 3-3 to 2-2 and when Laurence’s dominated completely in the minutes after the interval, the leaders looked to have shot their bolt. But for all the pressure and all their chances, St Laurence’s could only manage a single point and when battling Clongorey hit back for their fourth goal, it was the end of the favourite’s challenge for the coveted cup.
In the final minutes Laurence’s failed from the penalty spot, when JJ Walshe’s shot hit the crossbar and the last goal from Bernard Higgins made little difference as Clongorey had it all wrapped up at that stage.
A wonderful team performance by the winners, considered by many lucky winners of the B series, but in this instance there was no luck attached to a historic victory for a team who have been enjoying a tremendous year.
The losers from whom so much was expected were a huge disappointment to their big following. They failed utterly to produce their best and after that early scoring spree from the winners, they were struggling all the way.
Seamus Moore was the top scorer and ace forward for Clongorey, while Noel heavey, the three Early brothers, P.J., Ken and Colin, the Donoghues and “Chicky” Mills contributed greatly to their win. For the losers, JJ Walshe, Peter Archibold, Jimmy Daye amd Mick Kirwan were the only ones to play up to their best form.
Referee: Patsy Broe, Naas. Back to top>>
Article by Leinster Leader on 7th October, 1978.
1958 Junior "B" Football Final
Clongorey 2-4
Kildoon 2-3
