County Win

County Champions 1996

Argideen Rangers were crowned county junior hurling champions in 1996. It is hard to believe that that eventful afternoon was some 25 years ago. The momentous occasion will be suitable remembered by the club with a get together of the victorious panel together with the officers of ’96 and the present day officials of Argideen Rangers at Monk’s Lane on Saturday night November 27^th next. Sadly, two giant personalities from that never to be forgotten campaign, coach Canon Michael O’Brien and selector Michael Foley have gone to their eternal reward. Ar dheis De go raibh said. No doubt many a story will be spun on the night as members reflect back to that great successful hurling journey through the summer and autumn of that year with The Canon and Michael no doubt keeping a watching brief from above.

The Path to Victory

The 1996 season began with the AGM being held at The Canon Fleming Hall in January. The officers elected were: President: Jackie Deasy; Vice-Presidents: V. Rev. Fr. James Coombes PP; Michael Staunton; Charlie Dineen. Chairman: Joe Crowley; Vice-Chairman; Peter Fleming: Secretary; Declan Walsh; Assistant Secretary: Donie O’Callaghan; Treasurer: Denis O’Mahony; PRO Edward Mc Sweeney. Sadly, great club stalwarts Jackie, Fr. Coombes, Michael, Charlie and Joe are no longer with us, Ar dheis lamh De go raibh said.

Barry Harte was appointed manager of the hurling team with responsibility to appoint his own selectors. His managerial team consisted of The Canon as coach with Michael Foley, Liam Barry and Edward Mc Sweeney as selectors. No stone was to be left unturned as the team was on a mission to atone for the heart-breaking defeat by Bandon in The West-Cork final the previous year at Barryroe.

During the year a number of club players had representative success with Cork. Bill Harte won a Fitzgibbon Cup with UCC – not bad going for a “fresher”!Rising young star Michael O’Callaghan won an All-Ireland Vocational Schools Hurling title with Cork when they defeated a fancied Galway team in the final. Club captain, Tony Crowley added a Munster Junior Hurling title to his collection when Cork beat Tipperary at Cashel in the final.

The team began their hurling season with an opening league 2-17 to 2-4 win over Kilbrittain. They followed that with a 1-9 to 0-7 victory over Clonakilty. They were quickly brought back to reality when Barryroe scored a late goal to snatch the league points at Timoleague with a 1-9 to 0-11 win. They got back on the horse again when accounting for Ballinascarthy with a 1-17 to 1-7 league win. Next up were Bandon who had inflicted a shattering defeat on Argideen the previous season in the championship final at Barryroe. Bandon were also on top in this league fixture at Bandon wining 2-12 to 2-10. So as one can see, league form was mixed as the team approached a first round championship game with Kilbrittain at Barryroe at the end of June.