Kilkenny
legend
Martin White
celebrates his
100th Birthday
The Whistler
on the Ditch
- the Handpass
Henry Shevlin after scoring Kilkenny’s second goal against
Waterford in the 2009 All Ireland Semi-final Photo: SPORTSFILE
Issue 15 10th Aug 2009
Guinness
250
Celebrations
FEATURE
From the heart
Martin White
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 2
Martin White a Hurling Centurion
Kilkenny’s Martin White has seen every senior
Kilkenny All Ireland medal winner since their
first winin 1904 in the flesh. He also won 3
senior medals himself in 1932, 1933, and 1935.
In this interview for the Black and Amber DVD
he talks about his life and times in the Kilkenny
jersey.
Was there much hurling around
Tullaroan when you were growing up?
In every parish there was a recognised hurling
field. You had men hurling in one part of it and
boys in the other and boys at school would use
that field at lunch time as well. There was a field
belonging to my father - God be good to him - on
the old homeland. That field was always
recognised as the hurling field. All the hurlers used
to go there especially in the summer evenings. On
Sunday evenings there could be 40 men there and
teenagers. Then in another part of it you had all
the youngsters and they were hurling away and
then up in the other corner you had the handball
alley.
Where did the idea for a handball
alley come from?
It was built by local labour against the gable end
of of an old farmhouse. My father got a crowd of
lads together and they drew the sand, laid down
the floor and side walls. Where a rural area was
concerned it was fairly good you know. You could
hurl for a while and then you could go up and play
handball and vice-versa. Then there was another
crowd that played skittles alongside the ball alley.
Kilkenny’s first win in an All Ireland
Final was in 1904 you have seen all
those players in the flesh?
The Feis in Kilkenny was always a free day for
everybody and everybody went to the Feis because
FEATURE
From the heart
Martin White
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 3
President Mary McAleese with Martin White
there was Irish music, step dancing and always a
hurling match. A man named Mick Bolger a
teacher with the Christian Brothers and Ned
Purcell, - Ned wasn’t a Kilkennyman but he was a
great man in the Gaelic League - they were the two
men who got the idea that if they got the old team
that had won in 1904 and the team that won the
All Ireland in 1922 - played in 23 – to play in the
Feis in 1924 they would get a great crowd. Sim
Walton, Drug Walsh and all those lads trained
hard for that game. Now there were some of them
who were gone beyond training but they togged
out nevertheless. The place was packed out and
they had tin cans and so on making all the noise.
It was a really enjoyable day I don’t think the
captain from 1904 Ger Doheny played that day. I
know that Sim and Drug and the Doyles and Dick
Grace played with the old fellows. The new fellows
wanted him but the old fellows said that he had
KILKENNY-ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONS-1922
Back Row: Peter Dunne (Mascot-arms crossed), Bill Walton (Manager), Ballyfrunk Creamery (with cap), Jack
Rochford (Trainer), Mick Heffernan (with hat), players only, Tom Tierney, Bill Brennan, Ned Purcell (Official), Eddie Dunphy, Dick Grace, Matty Power, Bill Kenny, Mick Brennan (no jersey).
Middle Row: Paddy Parsons (with hat), Sean Gibbons, Martin Lalor, Jimmy Tobin, Paddy Donoghue, Wattie
Dunphy (Captain), Mark McDonald, Jack Holohan, Paddy Glendon, Miss Gorey, Tim Scott, Mick Dalton
Front Row: Martin Egan (With hat), Tommy Carroll, Dick Tobin, John Roberts, Pat Ayleward, Mickey Whelan.
Where was the game played?
committee. They had oodles of housing and if the
day was wet they could hold the competitions
inside. St James Park it was a pitch that was always
dry because it was sandy. Then when they moved
to Nolan Park, Dickboro took it over.
The Feis was held on the same grounds as the
hurling pitch. It all belonged to the show
Who were the great players on the
1922 team?
played 4 All Irelands with them, so they got their
way. But it was the Feis committee that won out on
the day.
FEATURE
From the heart
Martin White
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 4
They were in and they were sent home and then
they were brought in again which was a mistake.
Billy Barry and Wedger Brennan (Martin), they
were from they city. They should have let them
sleep in their own beds. Cork were the better team
but Kilkenny were a better team than they showed
on the day.
Do you remember many of the the
Cork team?
Sean Óg was captain and Ballyhayes as they used
to call him, Eudie Coughlan’s brother was in the
goal and Jim Hurley, Jim Regan, Dinny Barry
Murphy, Eudie Coughlan, Paddy Delea and “The
Hawker” Grady.
The30’s was a great decade for
Kilkenny, Martin!
Brian Coady and Tommy Walsh visit Martin White on his 100th birthday. Photo: Sportsfile
You must say that Dick Grace was number one.
He scored the goal that beat Tipperary. I think he
scored 2 goals that day from wing half back. There
was Watty Dunphy, Neddy Dunphy from
Mooncoin, John Roberts, Paddy Donoghue, Dexter
Ayleward (Pat), he played with Dublin afterwards,
Paddy Glendon, he was left corner back and Bill
Kelly. Bill was from Ballyragget, he played with
Dicksboro.
Kilkenny were beaten by Cork in 1926!
The Tipp team went off to America. They were
supposed to be home but they went off to
California or some place and the Munster
Championship was late. I know that Kilkenny were
brought in and they stayed in a hotel in Kilkenny
and trained during the day. It didn’t suit many of
the players. They were from a rural background.
The declaration rule in 1925 meant that players
could now play for their county of birth rather
than their county of residence. In that year Mattie
Power, Eddie Byrne, Tommy Leahy, they all played
with Dublin and I think Dan Dunne played with
them too because Dan was working in Dublin at
the time. They all declared for Kilkenny and
Martin Power he was in the army. There were a
couple of young fellows comming like Jimmy
Walsh. Jimmy didn’t play in 31 which was a
mistake – but I won’t say who made the mistake It wasn’t a hard run through Leinster because
Dublin were a bit denuded then because of the
players declaring. We played Wexford in the first
round down in New Ross and I remember Mattie
Power saying to Peter Reilly what kind are the
young fellows. “Don’t worry about the young
FEATURE
From the heart
Martin White
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 5
fellows” Pete said. Wexford wern’t good and I
remember Mattie saying get the first score after
half time. That was his motto every time and we
beat Wexford easily and came through Leinster.
Then you had Galway in the semifinal!
Yes we had Galway in the semi-final played on a
very wet day. We benefitted from the declaration
rule. Dublin had too many players all together and
it wasn’t fair. When the guards started, O’Duffy
was very keen on gaelic games and any fellow that
was any good if he made the size he got into the
guards. He brought the Clare fellows the Rourke’s,
“The Fowler” McInerney, Jack Gleeson they were
all in the guards and then the other man then in
charge of the army the Clare man he brought up a
whole lot of lads into the army. Martin Power was
one, Paddy Larkin and all those fellows weren’t
getting any matches at all until the declaration rule
came in. Galway had a good team in 1931 of course
Mick Gill was playing midfield and Mick Finn.
They were a great asset to Galway.
You met Cork in the final the year of
the 2 draws!
The first game – as hurling was at that time - was
a great game. It was recognised as an improvement
on previous years. A lot of skill had come into it.
The half back line of Dinny Barry Murphy, Jim
Regan and Tom Barry of Carrigtwohill, that line
was there the whole time. The half forward line of
Cork and Kilkenny parade before the 1931 All Ireland Final
Eudie Coughlan, Balty Aherne and Hawker Grady
had been there for a long time and they had a lot
of skill. People started to talk about the match and
those that wern’t there came the second day. I
don’t know if there was a bigger crowd the last day
because a lot of people hadn’t money. In the rural
areas the shopkeepers were a bit annoyed that all
the money was being spent going to the matches.
Where did you play yourself that year?
I was centre forward on Jim Regan. I wasn’t good
enought for him. Jim was recognised as the best
centrehalf at the time but I wouldn’t have minded
getting another chance on him. I might have
handled him differently.
You suffered a few injuries for the last
game!
Lory wasn’t playing. He suffered a few broken
ribs the second day. Dick Morrissey who could
have won a match on his own as he had a great
hurling brain, if he had been on the whole time
FEATURE
From the heart
Martin White
Kilkenny captain Jimmy Walsh with the McCarthy Cup after the
1932 All Ireland Final. Clare captain John Joe Doyle is on the left.
the first day we could have won it. If he had been
in the second day we could have won it. He got
hurt in the first game and never played again after
that. Paddy Larkin was out for the final too so we
lost 3 very important men. On the final day
Kilkenny were holding Cork pretty well and a ball
went down the left wing and 2 Kilkenny men went
for it and what ever happenend the ball passed
both of them and Paddy Delea got it and scored a
goal. There were 11 Blackrock players on the Cork
team including Paddy Delea. If Paddy was from
any other club he would have been taken off after
his displays the first 2 days which wasn’t his form.
We had a Billy Dalton who played left full back. He
felt he wouldn’t hold Paddy Delea so his clubmate
Dinny Treacy was brought in. But Delea beat us. I
am not saying it was Treacy’s fault. Billy Dalton
might have held him the third day but he might
not either.
Talk about the Kilkenny Clare final in
1932.
In the semi-final Galway were I think 14 points
ahead and they got another point after half time.
But Tull Considine started and he kept blowing
balls into the net like nobody’s business and Clare
won the match. Mick Gill “May the Lord have
Mercy on him he could never live down that
match and he used to say to me “Martin he said if
we had won that match we would have beaten you
fellows.” We met them in the final. After the 3
matches in 1931 Kilkenny were favourites.
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 6
Kilkenny didn’t class themselves as favourites
because they knew many of the Clare players. They
knew John Joe Doyle, Jack Gleeson, Tom Burnell
O’Rourke, Considine, Tommy Daly in goal. There
was Jim Houihan a half back that they ran a single
train carriage for down from Dublin to the
Munster first round game against Limerick in 1933
to Thurles.
We were going to mass in Gardiner Street and
Jim was coming up. Paddy Larkin said to me “Wait
until you here this now. He is going to say that
they are going to win. He never sees defeat.” We
were talking for a little while and Paddy said to
him “Jim are ye going to win today.” Jim said: “As
shure as so and so is pointing to the ground we
will beat ye.”
He was a great hurler. He played a match in the
morning at 11.30 with the Army Metro in the
Dublin Championship. They put on one wagon
and a train for himself and Christy O’Brien of
Clare.
Clare gave us a fright that day. We led them by 7
points at one stage but they came back and only
for Padge Byrne making a save from Tull
Considine. I know the goalie was there but his
chances of stopping weren’t as good. Tull had a
great left side. Padge came from nowhere. I got to
know Tull well afterwards. He always maintained
he got a push in the back.
Part 2 of Martin White’s interview will be in next
week’s issue.
You can watch Martin White’s interview on
YouTube (HURL0044)
OFF THE BALL
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 7
Guinness 250 Celebrations in Croke Park
Guinness offer an incredible opportunity to 250
fans ahead of the scramble for All Ireland tickets
2009 has been a truly remarkable year for
Guinness and the GAA. Both organisations are
celebrating significant milestones in their
respective arenas: Guinness celebrating 250 years
since Arthur Guinness first signed the lease on St
James’s Gate in 1759, and the GAA celebrating 125
years since the Association’s establishment in
Thurles in 1884.
To celebrate this incredible year, Guinness has
teamed up with the GAA and The Last Word on
Today FM to offer 250 lucky hurling fans the
chance to win an extraordinary prize for the GAA
Hurling All Ireland Senior Final on Sunday 6th
September.
In what can only be described as a truly unique
giveaway, 250 fans, 125 from each county playing
in the final, will be special guests of Guinness on
All Ireland Hurling Sunday. There will be 25
winners from each county, and each winner will be
invited to bring four friends along to the hurling
final, making it a grand total of five tickets per
winner!
To enter, fans simply need to prove how much
they know about their county hurling team! As the
advertising says, ‘A County Will Rise’ but what
Guinness wants to ascertain is just how much any
fan knows about their team - hurling supporters
are known to be passionate and unrelenting when
their county is chasing Liam McCarthy and this is
Pictured at the photocall are, from left, John Mullane, Waterford hurler, Stephen Lucey, Limerick hurler, Kenneth Morris, Kilkenny supporter and James Woodlock, Tipperary hurler. Photo: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
their chance to prove it!
Throw-in for this unique prize will be at 6pm on
Friday 7th August on The Last Word on Sport on
Today FM so be sure to tune in for that. For now,
all competition details are available on the
dedicated Guinness Hurling website,
www.guinness.com and on www.todayfm.com
Speaking about the competition, Barry
Fitzpatrick, Guinness Brand Manager, said, “When
we started out on the road to Croke Park earlier
this summer, Guinness wanted to celebrate all that
is great and unique about hurling, and its
supporters. What better way to celebrate, but to
bring 250 wholehearted and passionate fans to
GAA headquarters for the final.”
Hurling supporters are great at coming out in
huge numbers to support their counties so it’s
fitting that Guinness can offer them this great
opportunity as part of our 250 celebrations,” he
continued.
OFF THE BALL
On the big day, each winner will make their own
way to the Guinness Storehouse to prepare for the
match build up. Here they will watch exclusive
footage of their team’s path to the final, whilst
enjoying some pre-match hospitality. Everyone will
be transported from the Storehouse to Croke Park,
to arrive for the start of the minor match, in
sufficient time to savour the occasion that is GAA
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 8
Hurling All-Ireland Senior Final day.
All those entering the competition must be over
18 years of age and those attending with the
winner must also be over 18 years of age. Should
any winner arrive on the day with a person under
the age of 18, they will not be given a ticket for the
game. Proof of Age ID will be required.
Full competition details will be announced on
The Last Word on Sport on Today FM on Friday 7th
August.
The closing date for entries is midnight on Friday
28th August.
Winners will be selected by an independent
panel on Monday 31st August and announced on
Wednesday 2nd September.
OFF THE BALL
Some Rules of Hurling Explained
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 9
What exactly is
a handpass in
hurling?
From the GAA Official Guide - Part 2 (2008):
RULE 4 - TECHNICAL FOULS
4.2 To throw the ball.
PENALTY FOR ABOVE FOULS Free puck from where the foul occurred, except as
provided under Exceptions of Rule 2.2.
Important Terms and Definitions – Football and
Hurling
HANDPASS:
When in possession, the ball may be struck with
the open hand or fist - provided there is a definite
striking action, with the striking hand not being in
contact with ball before delivering the strike. In a
two-handed pass, the ball may be struck off a
holding hand by the other hand, or released and
struck. In a one handed pass, the ball shall be
released from the hand before being struck by the
same hand. The releasing of the ball, when used,
shall be considered an integral part of the
hand/fisted pass.
That’s it! So what exactly is a throw in Hurling?
Again the rulebook isn’t very clear if we use the
definition of a handpass above, which seems to be
clearly Football-specific only.
The first 2 goals in the 2009 Kilkenny Waterford
semi-final were made by handpasses.
Above: Henry Shevlin to Eddie Brennan.
Right: Kevin Moran to Shane Walsh.
In essence, Hurling referees have to apply a
Football rule as we don’t have one of our own. The
closest we get to a definition of a hurling handpass
is contained in the second last sentence of the
definition of the “Football and Hurling”
HANDPASS above: In a onehanded pass, the ball
shall be released from the hand before being struck
by the same hand.
So how many modern hurling handpasses
possess this quality? Strictly speaking, not many.
A good number – a majority? - of handpasses in
the inter-county game are throws/flicks, pure and
simple. How many times can the ball be clearly
seen to leave the hand of the passer before being
struck with the same hand, or in a small
proportion of instances, with the other hand? The
latter being a skill I only observe from a small
number of (mostly Kilkenny) hurlers in modern
times and is legal as long as the hurley does not
leave the player’s possession in the process.
Most handpasses are mere flicks, with no
“definite striking action” being observable by the
naked eye. Many modern players have probably
never being forced to handpass the ball properly in
their whole career. This is especially the case when
the flick is affected when the hand is positioned
above chest height or normal elbow elevation,
either above the shoulder or when on the ground
usually.
It takes a very strong referee to adjudicate the
handpass strictly, something that seems to be
outside the remit of almost all referees at the
moment.
A good handpass is a useful skill, something that
Joe Canning is as proficient an exponent of as
anyone else in the modern game. A flick isn’t and
devalues our game mightily!
OFF THE BALL
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 10
St.Mary’s Rasharkin Celebrate 100
years of Gaelic Games in the parish
S
aturday 18th July 1909 St. Olcan’s Rasharkin
played their first ever hurling match against
Tir na nÓg, Loughgiel at McLaughlin’s Corner. The visiting side won that day on a score line
3-7 to 2-3,. These two sides met again 100 years
later on Saturday 18th July 2009 at Dreen. This
time it was St.Mary’s Rasharkin versus Loughgiel
Shamrocks and 100 years later it was the same result, Loughgiel winning on a scoreline 3-15 to 1-13.
This was a very unique occasion for our club and
was attended by some very special guests,
Uachtaran Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Christy
Cooney accompanied by his wife Ann was present
to witness this great milestone and unveil a plague
commemorating the first ever Rasharkin team.
County Chairman John Mc Sparran and our club
Vice President Canon Murphy also took part in
proceedings.
This was the new GAA president’s first visit to an
Antrim Club and his second visit to an Ulster Club
since taking office. He arrived at Dreen shortly
after 4.00pm where he was welcomed at the
entrance gates by Club Chairman Brian O’Neill and
a guard of honour featuring players, supporters,
managers, committee members etc. Christy and
Alan Milton then had a two hour questions and
answers session with a cross section of club and
Christy Cooney with Club Chairman Brian O’Neill
OFF THE BALL
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 11
Club Chairman Brian O’Neill welcomes Christy
Cooney at the gates of Dreen
parish groups in the club rooms.
After attending evening mass in Rasharkin he
returned to Dreen for the Centenary re-match. One
of the founding members of St.Olcan’s Rasharkin
was a 22 year old man called Anthony McMullan
from Tamlaght, two of his six sons Vincent and
Dermot made the trip up from the south to
participate in this occasion. Vincent from Dublin
accompanied by daughter Annette through the ball
in at the start of the game and Dermot from
Kilkenny accompanied by daughter Sarah
presented the club with a perpetual cup in
memory of their father.
Amhran na bhFiann was beautifully sung by
Therese Tunney accompanied by Patrick Tunney,
Clare Kelly and Meghan Rafferty at the start of the
match.Loughgiel got off to flying start with two
goals inside the first eight minutes from Brendan
McGarry; Rasharkin fought hard and with scores
Referee Francis Traynor with two captains Rasharkin’s Michael Hasson and Loughgiel’s Odhran McFadden
from Duirmuid Quinn, Thomas Doherty, Eamon
Kelly, Brendan McMullan and Decky McKay left
the half time score 2-8 to 0-5.
Turlough McGarry, Declan Gillan, Ronan
McFadden and Brendan McCarry showed great
skills in the second half for Loughgiel. After four
minutes Rasharkin’s Duirmuid Quinn flicked
home a good goal and with further points from
Thomas Doherty, Decky McKay and Thomas
McMullan the gap was down to five points mid
way through the half. Paudie McFadden put the
game beyond Rasharkin with a brilliant goal after
eighteen minutes.
This was a good competitive match played in
good spirit thanks to both teams who entertained
the large attendance. Thanks also to referee Francis
Traynor, linesmen, Gusty Crawford and Cormac
Hasson
OFF THE BALL
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 12
Christy Cooney unveils the plaque listing the first
ever team to play games in the parish of Rasharkin
St. Mary’s Rasharkin Hurling Panel
Although an event such as this took a lot of effort
from various people throughout the club certain
individuals deserve special mention for their
contribution to this celebration; Anthony
McMullan through his research for the Club Book
found the vital evidence of the first ever Gaelic
activity in the parish in the Irish News in 1909 and
it was he who was the driving force behind this
occasion, Michael J Hasson was instrumental in
organising the arrival of Christy Cooney, Mary
McMullan played her part in sourcing and
facilitating Anthony McMullan’s family along with
producing the commemorative programmes, Terry
Hasson who once again proved himself as the ever
reliable - man on the mic.
St.Mary’s Rasharkin would like to take this
opportunity to sincerely thank all those who
helped organise, clean up the facilities at Dreen
and those who participated in this special event
which will undoubtedly go do as a momentous
day in the history of our club.
Words and Photos: Paul Hasson
Loughgiel Shamrocks Hurling Panel
OFF THE BALL
Shane Walsh, Waterford, shoots to score his side's first goal. in the
2009 All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final,
Kilkenny v Waterford, Croke Park, Dublin. Photo: SPORTSFILE
ISSUE 15 Aug 10th 2009 13
Read the reports of the weekend games and watch hurling
highlights and interviews every week on
www.hurlingworld.com