Hurling 1950's Style

[DownFanatic]

Taken from Down Recorder

KILCLIEF - Before Mr. Long. R.M., at Ardglass Court on Tuesday Seamus Gallagher, Dunmore Street, Belfast, lorry driver, and married with one child, was prosecuted for disorderliness and assaulting Constable Connor on Sunday, July 17th, at Kilclief.
The occasion was an important hurling final, a needle match, between County Down and County Antrim seniors. Down were in the lead; feeling ran high and turmoil started. Constable Connor went on to the field to remonstrate and Gallagher, who had previously laid upon a fellow's head, took a swipe with his hurley at the constable, and threatened to split him in half.
Constable Connor described the crowd as one of the biggest he had ever seen at Kilclief. At first he was busy directing traffic. After the interval, when rough play developed, he moved into the field. One of the Down side was hit with a hurley stick. Then the defendant, the Antrim full-back, waving his stick, struck one of the invading spectators on the face. Witness reasoned with him, whereupon ,he said he would cut me in two, and would have done so only he was restrained. Things became so bad that the match was abandoned.
Cross-examined Constable Connor stated: 'I would agree that the spectators were largely to blame. A number of them were about to attack Gallagher, who struck a man on the line. After that he was trying to keep the hostile crowd away with his stick.'
The referee, Harry Sheehan, said one player was set upon by a spectator. When Gallagher struck Breen, of Down, across the head, there was a rush on to the field. He saw attempts made at Gallagher. Cross-examined: What about the threat to cut Constable Connor in half? At that time the crowd behind the constable were coming to attack. I heard Gallagher say, 'I'm not here to give my name; I'm only here to look after myself.'
The R.M. imposed a fine of 40 shillings for assault, and adjourned the summons for disorderliness for twelve months to see how Gallagher behaved in the interval. It was in the heat of excitement that he acted as he did, and because of his previous good character he was getting off lightly. There was no excuse for threatening the constable.

[Rossfan]

It could be Laois in the noughties except for the Constable bit

[milltown row]

a galls man refereeing 

Harry Sheehan

[Hurler on the Bitch]

Funny you should mention this.. I saw a picture taken in 1904 outside the boarded off city hall in Belfast (still under construction).. on the hoardings was a massive poster saying "Grand Hurling Challenge - Antrim vs Down - Shaun's Field (now McCrory Park) .. special trams leaving every two minutes from Donegall Square" shows you that you cannot beat a good rivalry (also.. must have been plenty of interest across both sides of the divide.....)

[Hurler on the Bitch]

The Gallaghers from the Johnnies were the most feared set of brothers in the history of Antrim (Belfast) GAA.. "HIT ONE, HIT THEM ALL!" My da still has nightmares...

[Donagh]

Constable Connor went on to the field to remonstrate.

Then he deserved to be chopped.

[Kevin]

I thought this was an article describing what takes place in Wicklow to this very day!

[spectator]

Mention of Cammaus & a few good good yarns at this link too ... 

http://www.iol.ie/~galwill/gaaphil.htm

[Guillem2]

He also played flute in the Glasstown Pipe Band

[orangeman]

I asked around about this. Apparently when the Antrim bus was returning home, the RUC stopped it, in search of Seamie Gallagher. A wig was put on Seanie's head.

And they still recognised him !   

[Hurler on the Bitch]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8qv7L5z_gRc&feature=related

This is hurling 1950s style for sure.. perhaps it was the sticks, or the pitch, or the whatever... but I feel that the guys today have better skills...