Heroes of Forty Four

This poem by David Brennan celebrates Carlow becoming the Leinster Senior Football Champions in 1944, after 50 years of striving, and now celebrating their 60th anniversary.

Our thanks to Paul Kavanagh for lending the large photo from the bar.
For the technically minded this was scanned in four sections, joined
together in Photoshop and then adjusted for brightness and contrast.

J. Quinlan
J. Lawler, J. Archibold, P. Farrell
P. Whelan Capt, B. O'Rourke, E. Joyce
L. Kelly, J. Morris
J. Moore, M. Byrne, W. Hosey
P. Sullivan, J. Doyle, J. Rea
Subs.
A. Murphy, J. Darcy, J. Corcoran, J. Brady,
C. Meagher, M. Doyle
J. Brennan, M. Hughes

The Heroes of Forty Four

Come friends and comrades gather round
For this story to be told
About the Carlow heroes
Of nineteen forty four

Their names we shall remember
With so much pride and joy
When they won the Leinster title
In that famous town Athy

They played the mighty Dublin
Who had players of such high class
But they couldn’t match the Carlow men
Who were accurate with every pass

In goal we had Pim Quinlan
Who was quick and very brave
He broke the hearts of Dublin
With many a brilliant save

The full back line was Johnny Lawlor
Who fought for every ball
With Paddy Farrell and Jim Archbold
They built a solid wall

The half back line played so brilliantly
With Ted Joyce and Brian O Rourke
And the mighty Peenie Whelan
Was the captain of the force

Luke Kelly and Jim Morris
At midfield they reined supreme
Their high catching and long kicking
Was the best you’ve ever seen

Mickey Byrne at centre forward
The Dubs were marking tight
With Willie Hosey on the left
And Buller Moore was on the right

John Doyle was at full forward
From Tinryland club he came
And he was the highest score
In that Leinster final game

The corner forwards were magnificent
We were sure to win the day
With the fast moving Paddy Sullivan
And the brilliant Jimma Rea

The subs we shall remember
They never let us down
With the legend Andy Murphy
They helped to lift the crown

Chris Maher Johnny Darcy
John Brady Mickey Hughes
Seamus Murphy Seamus Corcoran
And Juggers Brennan from the Blues

All these men are heroes
And we hope we have some more
When we win the Leinster title
Like they did in Forty Four.

by David Brennan, Ballon

---

PS dated 9/10/04

We now have a colour copy of the photo by kind permission of Mary Elizabeth Lawler, Sragh, whose husband Johnny played on the team.

also a copy of the menu for the Dinner Dance

and the poem written on the back

The Carlow Fifteen

Air "Master Mcgrath"

In the year of Forty Four, towards the end of July,
The great Leinster final was played at Athy.
The game of fine football was listed between
The lads from the Liffey and the Carlow fifteen.

I'll never forget till the day that I die
The crowds that went travellin' that day to Athy
They pedalled an walked it, excitement was keen,
An' proud -the supporters of the Carlow fifteen.

There were horses an' ponies an' 'jennies an' traps,
For the miles of the journey not givin' two raps,
There were donkeys came trotting down every boreen,
With their ears to attention for the Carlow Fifteen.

O'er the mountains of Leinster the cheers rose and fell
As Carlow played strongly and Dublin right well.
When the short whistle sounded the time sheet was seen
To be down in the figures for the Carlow Fifteen.

As the winds held their breath and the great climax came
'Twas whispered and spoken that Dublin had game
But they didn't come to think of the scoring machine,
The foreward division of the Carlow Fifteen.

When change in the last half did minutes unroll !
The boys from the Barrow were swarming the goal
'Twas "Blue" in an odd spot but red, gold and green
Were the colours that rallied the Carlow Fifteen.

Now we'll plait them a crown each, a gay floral wreath
Made from scallions and onions and good sugar beet
'Twill bring smiles to the features of dark Rosaleen,
To "decco" the boys of the Carlow Fifteen.

When the years creep upon me and wrinkled and grey
Twixt the time that I gossip and times that I pray,
I can pause by the fireside and puff my dudeen,
An' go back to Athy with the Carlow Fifteen.

Hely

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