Friday 17 Nov 1967Junior B Football - League

Butlerstown, 15:00PM

Games involving Timoleague and Barryroe never fail to arouse passion. In recent years the clubs would have met one another in some great hurling games, but a certain fixture played in Butlerstown on Sunday, November 17th, 1967 has a reserved a place of its own in local GAA folklore.

The venue was a field owned by the late Cyril Dineen and the game attracted a large crowd for a league contest. Local bragging rights were at stake and Barryroe were keen to put one over their local rivals after being defeated in the Junior 2 final at Clonakilty almost a month before. Players and spectators who were directly involved on that afternoon, deducted that the atmosphere was charged to say the least. A report on the game states it was 'as disgraceful an exhibition of bad sportmanship as ever been witnessed on a playing pitch of any code'. It took seemingly over an hour and a half to complete the game and the referee Bill Harte of Rosscarbery had his hands full. The game is recalled more for what went on off the ball than on it. It should be noted also that playing fields at that time were not enclosed and animated spectators had easy access to players and officials.

During local derby games, players have been known to play on the edge, or under it depending on the circumstances, and as a rule of thumb, they generally give as good as they get and shake hands after the final whistle. At 4:50pm on that afternoon the season of goodwill had not yet kicked in. In truth while the players were concentrating on football, the same could not be said of some spectators. The pitch was invaded on several occasions and during some altercations, the Queensbury Rules were not strictly adhered to!

The referee and his officials were also accosted during the hour. A yound umpire, who incidentally played many a great match for Carbery and Cork afterwards, was challenged over a decision that he made; a hole or a gap in the side netting did not help his cause. The game itself was evenly contested and both sides scored 1-02 in the opening half. Barryroe led entering the closing ten minutes but a Timoleague goal edged them back in front. A late bombardment of the Timoleague goalmouth failed to yeild a Barryroe goal which would have won them the game. Final score Timoleague 2-04 Barryroe 2-02

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