Ballydaly's Gaelic Football Glory Days

I've heard that Ballydaly does not have a football team Which puts a cloud on Tommy Tucker's dream That they might win Duhallow for third time And give some bard another chance to rhyme. They won their first Duhallow title more than forty years ago Some time back in the fifties that I know Though of my dates I'm not too very clear I think 'twas fifty seven was the year. When Ballydaly had their first big win And their footballers were celebtated men And John Twomey wrote of Ballydaly Boys And west of Millstreet bonfires lit the skies. The Sullivans, the Buckleys, Jerome and Paddy Ring Of them the famous Mushera bard did sing, Tom Mulcahy and Tim Kiely at the back To Cullen forwards pressure would not crack. Jack Murphy and Con Kelleher were supreme Their goals took fight out of the Cullen team And Pat Joe Kelleher brought his skill to play And Andy Lynch at midfield won the day. Big Jerry Corkery played a true captain's part And sturdy Mick Horgan not lacking in heart And Pat and Eddy Murphy cheered in victory It's nice to recall such a memory. And of them all the Mushera bard did sing And of how Danny Regan called each player a king Such memories I retain from years gone by When I was young a Primary school going boy. But for Ballydaly a near two decades wait Before their fans again would celebrate I think it was in nineteen seventy five When Ballydaly once more came alive. Some of those fellows I remember well They scorned the word defeat and laughed at hell The Twomey brothers Denis, Tim and Dan Could hold their own with any man to man. Con Connors who was a teenager then Years later he mixed it with the best of men I watched him play for Millstreet in the green And for Cork in the red he too was seen. His brother Tim his passing caused much grief He died quite young his life was far too brief He did not even live to see his prime The poor lad was not granted so much time. As his two brothers had done years before The Ballydaly colours Ted Ring wore And Tadgh and Denis Murphy stood the test In the field of play they always gave their best. The Keeffes from Knocknalummin gave their all And the Leary brothers fought for every ball And D Dinneen that marvellous personality How could he ever slip the memory. Denny John Murphy his dad from Lisnaboy A hardy sort he gave it his best try And Frank Hickey could run and run all day And Kanturk's Mullane also lined out to play. Big John Murphy may not have been in that team But on his day the big man was supreme And of Dave, John and Christy Tarrant opponents used to say From toughest challenge they'd not back away. And Dan Joe Casey to his colours true And in his time a handy player too And the Moynihans and the McCarthys John and Joe Too played for Ballydaly years ago. So many players since Con and Bill Jack's day For Ballydaly took the field to play John Regan and the Sullivans Tom and Mick And Humphrey Reardon he was strong and quick. And though as a weight lifter he won all of his fame Big J.J. Fitz another I could name And there were more far too many to recall Who for Ballydaly played gaelic football And it puts a cloud on Tommy Tucker's dream If Ballydaly does not have a football team That they might win Duhallow for third time And give some bard another chance to rhyme.