1963 – Moneymore Reach Junior Final Wins for Tirgarvil and Moneymore

Two South Derry Junior football championship fixtures were decided on Sunday when Tirgarvil at home defeated Slaughtneil 4-7 to 1-6, while Moneymore beat Greenlough 1-10 to 1-1. At Moneymore Sports the locals qualified for the semi final, defeating a strong and competent looking Greenlough team. The semi-finals take place this Sunday and two really good games are anticipated. At Ballinasreen, Moneymore meet Tirgarvil. This should be a battle royal. Both sides are equally confident that this is their year for capturing the championship crown. They have quite impressive league record. Moneymore had a quite impressive victory last Sunday over Greenlough and on that basis are fancied to snatch a narrow victory. Neil Hurley will referee. In the other semi Magherafelt and Loup cross swords in Ballymaguigan. Hugh Mc Goldrick will referee.

Greenlough Protest against Moneymore

At a district board meeting held in Magherafelt, Greenlough protested against Moneymore for fielding late in the South Derry Junior Championship tie at Moneymore. It was sportsday at Moneymore and Greenlough delegates stated that they were there at 3.30 (time fixed for the match) and took the field at 3.35. Moneymore did not field till 3.55 and Greenlough claimed the match, according to rule, relating to late starts in County Championship fixtures. Moneymore won the game by 1-10 to 1-1. As the Greenlough protest was ruled out of order, the case was tried on the referee’s report. Moneymore delegate stated that all the Moneymore team members were present at the field as their sports day was taking place and some of them were acting as stewards. They could have turned out at 3.30 if the referee had been present. Those acting as stewards had their togs on underneath their cloths and the reason the players were not all out on the pitch was because schoolchildren events were taking place. The official referee did not turn up and a substitute referee after 3.40pm. As there were children’s races on the near end of the pitch the referee waited until they were concluded before he started the match. When he tossed up and started the match both teams were ready although from the time he arrived Greenlough players had been kicking in at the lower end of the pitch. Owing to the late arrival the, the referee could not say if both teams were on the field and ready to start at 3.30pm. Mr Hugh Corey was presiding at the meeting, said it was a very awkward case. There was no definite proof in that Moneymore were late in fielding or that they would not have commenced at 3.30pm, if the referee had been present. With their own sports being held it was very likely that Moneymore would be all present. He asked the referee W.J. Halferty, if in his honest opinion Moneymore could have taken the field at 3.45pm, if there had been no school races on when he entered the field and he had walked on to the pitch immediately. Mr Halferty replied that in his opinion they could have commenced.

Mr. Corey said the result would stand as a win for Moneymore as there was no proof that they were unable to field at 3.30 or 3.45pm., and when the referee started the game both teams were ready. Greenlough appealed to the Bounty Board on the following night. After a full discussion the County board upheld the position of the District Board. Junior Semi-final unfinished Moneymore and Tirgarvil met on Sunday in the semi-final of the South Derry Championship at Dean Mc Glinchey, Ballinascreen. The winners play Magherafelt who have already earned their place in the final. Due to an unfortunate intrusion of spectators a few minutes from the end, referee Frank Toner called the match off as he could not get the pitch cleared for the game to continue. At this stage Moneymore were leading by 2-6 to 2-4, and it had been a very good match. Tirgarvil got off to a very good start and were ahead at the interval by 2-1 to 1-0. Then began a Moneymore fight-back which saw them getting on terms and forging ahead 2-5 to 2-4. Moneymore added a point and looked set for victory when the incident occurred. Scorers for Moneymore were: B. Devlin (1-2), S. Teague (1-2), A Mc Williams (0-2), L Teague (0-1). Marksmen for Tirgarvil were R Eitherson, R Mc Cusker, P Crilly and J Mc Guckin. A special meeting of the district board will be held this week to decide the issue and there is a probability that the game will be replayed. If so, it will take place on Sunday next at probably the same venue... The final due to be played on Sunday, will have to be changed to Sunday, August 18th. Moneymore for Junior Final In the semi-final of the South Derry Junior Championship, Moneymore defeated old rivals Tirgarvil, by exactly the same score as their schoolboys had won just an hour earlier. It was a very close and exciting match and very sporting contested, writes an “Observer” reporter. Tirgarvil had the better of the matters in the first half and should have been ahead at the interval, but due to the wretched shooting, it was Moneymore who led 0-3 to 0-1. S.Teague and T.McWilliams went close in the opening minutes. S.Teague hit the side-netting with a kick from the sideling. Next L.Teague missed from a good position. At last B. Devlin pointed to open the scoring for Moneymore. R. McCusker was going through at the other end, but was tripped; P.Convery took the resultant 21-yard free but was hopelessly wide. Then J.McKee tipped over a second point for Moneymore. R.Eitherson was through for a goal which could have changed the trend of the game but he blasted past. Tirgarvil next forced a ‘50’ and were awarded a free but both proved fruitless. Moneymore broke away for A. McWilliams to increase their lead with a third point. At the other end P. Convery had a splendid chance to point but sent past. C. McCusker sent across a neat centre which was struck to the corner of the crossbar with the keeper out of position. It rebounded into play for J. Glendinning to clear – a lucky escape again for Moneymore. McCusker was upended at midfield and R. Eithersn took the 40- yard free but was

Back row – Jack Corey, Seamus Teague, Jim McKee, Tom Maguire, Tim McGurk, Colm McGuckin, Sean McIvor, Dan Devlin, Laurence Teague

Front row – Malachy Devlin, Sean Conway, Sean Teague, Brendan Devlin, Anthony McWilliams, Maurice Corey, Michael O’Neill, Malachy McIvor

yards wide. At last Tirgarvil drew blood when P. Crilly converted a free and at half time Moneymore led 0-3 to 0-1. Tirgarvil started off in a whirlwind fashion. Their forwards, who had squandered so many chances in the first half seemed at last to have got their sights adjusted. P. Crilly and L. Eitherson had points apiece to level matter – 0-3 each. Tirgarvil were on top for a spell but Moneymore broke away for L.Teague to restore their lead with a point. Then B. Devlin waltzed through for what looked a certain goal, but his shot struck the post and glanced past. A couple of minutes later Devlin had no better luck with a pointing effort; it glanced off the upright. Then came the turning point of the match B.Devlin went off on a solo dash passed out to winger A. McWilliams who crashed home a goal the best seen in the county grounds for some time. Moneymore forced a ‘50’ which J.Glendinning took; he had the distance but not the direction. Moneymore were now on top and Sean Teague pointed from a free. Then his brother Kevin had another point from play. B.Devlin sent in a low rasper which seemed destined for the net but the Tirgarvil ‘keeper saved at the foot of the post. Referee was Jim McGuigan, Maghera.

Magherafelt are junior Champions The South Derry Junior Championship Final produced quite a good game and as generally anticipated Magherafelt captured the title. Although the winners were mostly in command, still it was not as one sided as the scoreline suggests. Moneymore put up a good show and never gave up trying. The main difference between the two sides was that Magherafelt played more intelligently and combined better, while Moneymore were more individualistic and found the winners defence too tight. Moneymore defence found it difficult to cope with the wiles of “Nipper” Quinnand “Chuck” Higgins.

Outstanding for Moneymore were Sean and Laurence Teague, S Mc Callion, J Glendinning, Jackie Corey (until injured), Sean Conway, Tom Maguire and Tim Mc Gurk. Magherafelt got off to a quick start when, after two minutes C Higgins sent S Mc Kee through for a quick point. After a few more Magherafelt scores Moneymore broke away with Tom Maguire and Sean Teague in an inter passing movement but Maguire was pulled down in the square as he was going through for a goal. Sean Graham took the penalty award but shot straight at Gerry Graham in goal, who cleared well down field where Mickey Mc Swiggan made ground, passed to P Quinn who slickly transferred the ball to Chuck Higginsfor the latter to slam the ball to the net for a really good goal. Moneymore opened their account when Laurence Teague converted a free. Half time: Magherafelt 1-7: Moneymore 0-1 Sean Teague sent Sean Conway through but Gerry Graham made another good save. Moneymore forced a fruitless “50”. Then Laurence Teague was through with a grand chance but shot wide. E Gilmore added a goal and a point for Magherafelt. Jackie Corey Moneymore's sterling left back sustained a fractured shoulder and had to retire. He was replaced by schoolboy Malachy O Loane. The Moneymore keeper, Sean McIvor, made a good save from M Mc Swiggan. At the other end Laurence Teague added another point from play, keeping up the pressure then Sean Mc Callion goaled to leave the scoreline 2-9 to 1-3. Magherafelt struck back when J O Kane goaled. Moneymore forced two fifties but could force no score. They still fought on gamely but bad shooting spoilt matters. In the closing seconds E Gilmore got a lovely pass and, with the defence caught too far down the field, soloed in for a certain goal but the Moneymore keeper made a wonderful save with an out-stretched foot. Moneymore attacked and M Burke cleared a Sean Conway rasper off the goal line. Final Tally: Magherafelt 3-9 Moneymore 1-3. Referee was Jim Mc Guigan Maghera.

Moneymore team defeated by Magherafelt in Newbridge

Back row – Anthony McWilliams, Jim McKee, Malachy Devlin, Tim McGurk, Sean McIvor, Sean McCallion, Seamus Teague, Seamus Glendinning, Tom McGuire

Front row – Sean Conway, Kevin Teague, Brendan Devlin, Jack Corey, Sean Teague, Maurice Corey, Malachy O’Loane, Malachy McIvor, Laurence Teague