THERE’S a lot of talk in GAA circles at present about dual players and dual clubs, football and hurling.

While the new split season has made it even more difficult to play both games at club level, clubs like St Finbarr’s, Newcestown, Aghabullogue, Carrigaline, Ballincollig, etc. have shown it can be done successfully.

What is rarer still is winning titles in both codes in the same season. Looking back on the 100-year history of the Carbery division, it has been achieved on only 12 occasions – winning the Carbery junior A football and hurling championships in the same season. Kilbrittain did it at the very beginning in 1926 and Bandon not only repeated the feat in 1929 but went on to win both county titles as well. That unique achievement has never been repeated since and probably never will in the future.

The double wasn’t done again until 1958, by Dohenys, and they created their own piece of history by retaining both titles in 1959. Bandon won the double in 1960 and relative newcomers, Newcestown, followed in 1967. It was Bandon’s turn again in 1971 and they were back in 1975 and another piece of history as it was their second hurling team that lifted the ‘Flyer Nyhan’ Cup. Clonakilty won the double in 1977, their second football team winning the football. Newcestown were on the double trail in 1988, Bandon followed suit in 1989 and Newcestown again lifted both titles in 1990. Amazingly, no club has succeeded in winning the junior A double since 1990.

Here, we shine the light on Bandon’s double in 1975, 50 years ago, unique because it was their second hurling team.

Powered by players like the towering Brendan Gallagher at full back, John Houlihane, Gerard Lyons, the Duggan brothers, Danny and Anthony, John Murphy and ace forward Liam Ryan, they had good wins over Ballinascarthy (3-11 to 3-5), Ballineen (4-9 to 2-12) and hot favourites Kilbrittain (3-13 to 2-10) in the semi-final. Surprise opponents in the final in Ballineen on September 6th were Dohenys, who hadn’t won the title since 1963.

Played on a Saturday night in front of a small attendance, the final was a big let-down. Dohenys were in training for the county senior football final and had little hurling done. As a result, they proved no match for the Bandon men, and a 6-8 to 1-6 victory secured the first leg of the double. The hero of that final was Garda Liam Ryan who found the net four times during the hour.

The Bandon team included Barry Connolly, Gerard Lyons, Brendan Gallagher, John Houlihane, Brian Cullen (captain), Danny Duggan, Seán Crean, Pat O’Donovan, Anthony Duggan, Kieran O’Driscoll, Frank Crowley, John Murphy, Gerard O’Mahony, Jim Slattery, Liam Ryan. Sub, Dan Crowley. Séamus O’Donovan, Andrew Kelly and John McNamara also played in the championship.

In charge of the hurling team were Seán Hayes, Mick Nola, Jackie Walsh and Don Desmond, present rúnaí of the Carbery Board.

On the football front, Bandon were also on the march in the junior A championship. The team consisted mostly of senior hurlers and only Gerard Lyons, at corner back on both teams, played on the successful junior hurling team. Stars of the junior football side as they forged a path through West Cork and the county were Noel Crowley, Robert Wilmot, Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Desmond and Jimmy Gabriel.

On the way to the Carbery final, Bandon had wins over Clonakilty and Castlehaven. Opponents in the final were Carbery Rangers on September 14th in windy Clonakilty. Despite a slow start, Bandon led by a goal at half-time, 1-6 to 0-6, courtesy of a Jimmy O’Mahony goal. They had to face the wind in the second half but a saved penalty by Bandon goalkeeper Darragh Taffe seemed to knock the fight out of Rangers, and Bandon eased to a 1-12 to 0-6 victory.

The Bandon team included Darragh Taffe, Gerad Lyons, Liam Kelly, Frank Long, Tom O’Mahony, Noel Crowley, Noel McNamara, Robert Wilmot (captain), Chrisy Daly, Eric Philpott, Jimmy Gabriel, Donal Crowley, Jim Fitzgerald, Jim O’Mahony, Gerad Long. Sub, Padraig Crowley. Others to play championship were Michael Murphy,

The football management team consisted of Denis O’Donovan, Paddy Kehoe and Joe Spillane.

Memories of those great days in 1975 will be revived and revisited when the successful junior teams hold a reunion on Saturday night, December 20th. All players invited. Contact club secretary for details.