A few weeks ago we carried a report on Pearses only Senior Football Championship success and the article attracted a lot of interest. Today we go back to 20 years prior to that when Eire Og collected their one and only title in 1948.
On their way to that famous victory Eire Og defeated Ardoyne and then Dunloy in the quarter-final before overcoming the challenge of O’Connell’s in the semi-final to set up a meeting with St. John’s in the ‘48’ final.
Semi Final Report – 17th June 1948 Eire Og 1-7 v O’Connell’s 1-3
WEAK O’CONNELLS GO DOWN TO EIRE OG
Without Geo. Watterson, Sean Gibson and Paddy O’Hara, O’Connell’s were outclassed by Eire Og in the first half of the Antrim Senior Football Semi-final at Corrigan Park last night. County players Harry O’Neill, Kevin Armstrong and Harry McPartland heroically, but vainly tried to stem the tide that produced a goal from Jimmy Morgan and points by P.Morgan, B.O’Kane, M.Morgan, K.Lennon, H.Greenwood and J.Morgan. J.McGuigan made several smart saves in the O’Connell goal, and Eire Og’s lead of 1-6 to nil at the interval understates their predominance.
Harry McPartland moved up to centre-half for O’Connell’s in the second half, and the play became more even, though Eire Og were the first to score – a point per M.Morgan – at the three-quarter stage. Jack Wilson came on for O’Connell’s who took definite command for the first time in the match. O’Neill and Armstrong had now someone to play to, and Wilson gave his side hope by palming through a goal. Malone fisted out a grand shot by O’Neill, but Devine retrieved to point. O’Connells had four successive fifties without result. Devine added another point for O’Connells. Eire Og’s defence was panicky at this period, though George Rowe and Kieran Lennon defended well. Devine got O’Connells last point in an exciting finish that saw the champions fight desperately, but vainly, to save the tie.
Final – 9th August 1948 Eire Og 2-2 v St Johns 1-4
EIRE OG SURPRISE ST JOHNS
Eire Og caused a surprise at Corrigan Park yesterday when they defeated St John’s in the Antrim Senior Football Championship final.
The match throughout ruled keen, but there was little, if any, spectacular football, due to the tenacious tackling, though the winners shaped far and away the fitter, faster and more cohesive team.
The winners were well served in defence by Pat Morgan (goalie), Sean McKeown, Jimmy Rowe and Tom Rice, Peter O’Hara and Felix O’Kane, Brian O’Kane, Jim Morgan. Harry Greenwood, Matt Morgan, Liam O’Neill and John Johnston, Fogarty and John Coll played spiritedly.
St John’s attack at no period revealed their erstwhile incisive and accurate combination. Despite all the ingenuity and skill of Joe McCallin and his brother Andy, together with the pertinacity of Billy Feeney and Bob Cunningham their team disappointed from a forward standpoint in particular.
In the first half St John’s led by one goal (F.Campbell) and two points (F.Bonnett, T.Best) to one goal (Fogarty) and one point (Jim Morgan) by Eire Og.
During the second half Eire Og added one goal (Johnston) and a point (Morgan), St John’s replying with two points (Bennett, Joe McCallin).
The 1948 Eire Og Senior Football Squad
Pat Morgan, Jimmy Rowe, Sean McKeown, Tommy Rice, Ciaran Lennon, Peter O’Hara, Felix O’Kane, Jimmy Morgan, Brian O’Kane, Harry Greenwood, Matt Morgan, William O’Neill, Jackie Johnston, John Fogarty, Jackie Coll, Ted Gilligan, Dr. Tony Smith, Dermot Denvir, Gerry Bradley
Honourable mention to honorary club president Matt Morgan RIP