Silverbridge Harps GAC

1942 saw the reformation of Football after a lapse of 3 years. The team started in the Mid 30's, came to an end in 1938 after losing to Killeavy in the Junior Championship. Most of that team had retired, others joined neighbouring Clubs. Mick and Pat Reel went to Culloville, Tommy Garvey, Micky Crilly and Dermot Grant to Mullaghbawn and Owen Keenan to Newtown. The Committee responsible for restarting in 1942 were Jem Kelly, Paddy Finnegan, Pearse McGeough, Jem Murphy, John McCann, Hugh Murphy, Barney Campbell and Paddy Murphy (Anshiney), and Brian Donaghy. This team took part in a number of friendly and a fair amount of practice sessions.

Cross Rangers, after losing 2 successive County Senior Finals to Newtown in 1940 and 1941 dropped out of football in 1942, so when Silverbridge entered a team in the South Armagh Junior League it was decided to sign 4 Cross Players, Joe Fitzpatrick, Tom Brady, Owen Kearney, and Pete Hanratty. The first game was against old rivals Mullaghbawn in O’Hanlon’s Field, where a big crowd turned up, but they didn't see much, as a big pre-match argument took place, with Tom McNamee, Cross, stating that Cross were restarting and wanted the transferred players back, he got his way too, as the game finished up as a friendly with Mullaghbawn winning. Football in South Armagh wasn't too well organised in those war time years, and relied mostly on friendly’s, and unfinished Leagues. Players who made up the teams during these years were Paddy and Owen Murphy, Pete, Henry, and Pat Murphy, Mick, Pat, Jimmy, Mickey and Peter Reel, Gerry Hughes, Terry Murphy, Mickey Mallie, Jimmy Farrell, Mickey Crilly, Peter Joe Kelly, Jim McCone and Tommy Lavelle.

1945 saw a break-through, with a fairly well organised League and Championship Silverbridge getting through to the South Armagh Junior Final losing to Cross. During these years an amalgamation of Junior Clubs, were allowed to take part in the Senior Championship, Silverbridge were allocated Whitecross and Mullaghbawn players. This team made history by reaching the 1945 Senior Final for the one and only time, being defeated by Armagh Harps by 2 points, 7 points to 5, at the Athletic Ground, Armagh. Six bus loads of supporters left Silverbridge for Armagh that day, and three buses-from Mullaghbawn. The fact that buses were not available during the war years for hiring, added to the novelty when the restrictions were lifted in 1945,

 

1946, '47 were uneventful, having a bad run in both League and Championship at Junior Level, though a Culloville / Silverbridge combination gave Cross a tough run in the Senior Semi-Final, in a bruising battle at Killeavy, Rangers winning by a goal and went on to win the County Championship in 1947.

1948 saw the resignation of the entire Committee which put the Club in a bit of a crisis. Five of the players got together and formed a new Committee, putting one pound each into the kitty, and with £5 available entered the South Armagh Junior League. The 5 men were Pat Murphy (Secretary), Peter Reel, Peter Joe Kelly, Peter Kelly (Red), and Peter Keeley and with a number of young players available like Mickey Hanratty, Vincy Reel, Gerry McCreesh, Gene Hughes, Jim Boyle and Jimmy Reel, they went on to win the South Armagh Junior League and good run in the Championship.

1949 and '50 saw the team improve although making an early exit from the Championship, they were League runners-up both years.

1951 saw another crisis within the Club, Pat Murphy who was the Sheet anchor of the team during the late 40's decided to join the Rangers, and rumours that further transfers were pending, and the Club was dropping out, two members of the original Committee Pete Keeley and Peter (Red) Kelly R.I.P. remained, and determined to keep things going reorganised the team Paddy Reynolds was appointed Secretary, and- a number of young players like Patsy Kieran, Tom Lynch, Joe Reel, Steve Reel, and Patsy Murphy replaced the missing links and after a bad league run qualified for the South Armagh Junior Final against Culloville, after beating Dorsey, Mullaghbawn and Carrickcruppen in the earlier rounds, Culloville' fielding a strong team won the Final 3 - 3 to 1 -5 and went on to win the County Championship. The Silverbridge team against Culloville that day was Tommy McCann, Jimmy Reel, P.J. Kelly, Mickey Hanratty, Patsy Murphy, Red Kelly, Vincy Reel, Peter Reel, Peter Reel, Patsy Kierns, Steve Reel, Tom Lynch, Peter Keeley, Jim Boyle, Gene Hughes, Subs: Hugh Reel and Joe Reel.

1952 surprisingly saw Silverbridge drop out of football, with up on 15 players being transferred to neighbouring Clubs Dorsey, Mullaghbawn and Crossmaglen. With no Club or Field, Garvey's Field at Pete McGahon's Cross, was the meeting place, and saw some of the best attended practises, during the summer of 1952.

The dropping out in '52 proved a blessing in disguise, as the decision to reenter in 1953 met with plenty of enthusiasm. A new Committee was formed in Tom Golloghy's Barn, Peter (Red) Kelly, elected Chairman; Paddy Reynolds, Secretary; Peter Keeley, Treasurer; Vincy Reel and Joe Reel, making up the executive. Several new faces appeared, most notable being Tommy Traynor, Tommy Magill, and Davy Finnegan. all three in their early teens. A good League run got the team off to a promising start and we were drawn against Moybane in the Championship. Moybane had the assistance of Gene Morgan and Kevin O'Callaghan who left Cross that year, but the young Silverbridge team made light of the task and went ahead to win by 8 points. Carrickcruppen were later to defeat Silverbridge in the Semi-final after a hectic game. 'Cruppin went on to win the South Final but ran foul of the Famous Ban Rule, Tom Lynch being the victim, and were eliminated. A team had to be nominated and Silverbridge came out of the hat, to play Madden in the County Final, but didn't fare too well, being well beaten at Keady. The 1953 side was: Tom McCann, Hugh Reel, Patsy Murphy, P. J. Kelly, Joe Reel, Jimmy Reel, Vincy Reel, Peter Reel, Peter Kelly, Davy Finnegan, Peter Keeley, Tommy Traynor, Steve Reel, Pat Traynor, Tommy Magill.

 

Silverbridge 1954 Team 

 

1954 saw Patsy Murphy, Tom McCann and Hugh Reel emigrate, a trend which continued during the fifties with Tommy Traynor, Tom Magill, Brendan McNamee, Gerry McCudden and Mick McKeown R.I.P., all moving away. So with emigration taking its toll, it was a hard struggle to keep in business.

1959 was the first break-through for a few years, with young players like Jim McAvoy, Brian Connolly, John and Tom Walsh, Owen Donaghy and Paddy 'Carroll. They defeated Dromintee, Whitecross and St. Patricks to win the South, beat Armagh Harps in the County Semi-Final and Ballyhegan in the County Final. This Junior Championship win, was our first County Title. The 1959 Team was Owen Donaghy, Brendan Conlon, Patsy Murphy, Mickey Traynor, Brian Connolly, Jim McAvoy, Pat Traynor, Tommy Traynor (Captain), John Walsh, John Smith, Steve Reel, Mick Bailey, Eugene Smith, Tom Walsh, Paddy Carroll, Matt Rice for P. Carroll. Peter Hearty injured in a League game wasn't able to field. Tony Kierns gone back to England. The winning of the Junior Championship meant Senior Football in the sixties. With the Leagues being revises Cross, 'Cruppin, Killeavy, Silverbridge, Whitecross, and Mullaghbawn made up the South Section. This was quite successful, some good games took place, this set up continued up until 1962.

 

 

Back: J. McAvoy, P.Keeley, P Traynor, B Connolly, S Reel, M Traynor, M Bailey, P Hearty, G Hughes

Front: T Walsh, J Walsh, M Rice, T Traynor, P Carroll, O Donaghy, B Conlon, B Murphy 

 

1963 saw the formation of Mid-South Intermediate League with 10 teams. This competition was won by Silverbridge in both 1964 and 1965 in which they also won the Traynor, McAvinsky and O'Hare Cups. Silverbridge took part in the Senior Championships in '60, '61, '62, and '63 with limited success, a heavy defeat by Carrickcruppen in '63 saw them opt for the newly formed Intermediate Championship in '64, a competition they eventually won in 1972, after being beaten in a couple of finals during the '60s.

The All County League, which still stands, was formed in 1966. Silverbridge were selected to play in Division 1. Although having victory over Clan Eireann, Wolfe Tones, 'Cruppin, Collegeland, and Mullaghbawn twice, were relegated, it was a controversial decision. Clan Eireann throwing 2 points to Collegeland, who were a point behind Silverbridge. Clan Eireann didn't field, so Collegeland got the points leaving them safe. Silverbridge and Mullaghbawn going down.

 

Back:  J Campbell, M Hamill, J McKeown, S Hearty, T Walsh, B Connolly, D Lavelle, P McAvoy

Front: O Donaghy, P Tennyson, E Smith, J Smith (Captain), Mick Bailey, M Traynor, L Traynor, B Murphy

 

1964 Team 

Back: S Reel, L Traynor, B Connolly, S Hearty, M Bailey, T Walsh, O Donaghy, J McKeown, D Lavelle

Front: J Smith, M Hamill, P Daly, T McGill, E Smith, M Traynor, J Campbell 

 

So 1967 was the start of a long run in Division 2 that was to end in 1978 with promotion to Division 1. In fact, we spent 1972 in Division 3, but came back in to Division 2 in 1973. 1967 we reached the Intermediate Final and lost to Pearse Og. It also saw Mick Bailey's last year in football, Mick one of the best to wear the Blue and Gold died from Tetanus following an accident at work. He played his last game a couple of weeks earlier against Armagh Harps. A Football fanatic in every sense of the word. His death was a tremendous loss to the Club, at both playing and administrating level.

 

 

1967 was also Brian Connolly's last year after being a regular for 8 or 9 years. He 'called it a day' while still in his prime. The 1967team Owen Donaghy, Larry Connolly, Brian Murphy, Gene Smith, John Smith, John McKeown, Pat Murphy, Brian Connolly, Jim McAvoy, Brian Traynor, Tommy Traynor, Martin Murphy, Patsy McAvoy, Sean Hearty, Paddy Tennyson.

1968 and '69 didn't produce any outstanding results although taking part in the various competitions. Martin Murphy, Eamon McCann and Mickey Griffin were all members of the County Minor squad that reached the 1968 All-Ireland Semi-Final against Sligo at Croke Park. Watching football fairly closely over the last 4 decades, I would reckon the following 15 as the best I have seen in the Silverbridge Colours. Although they would be hard pressed by several other players with equally strong claims, however, one has to settle for something, and here it is: Eugene Murphy, Jim McAvoy, Weeshie Murphy, Eugene Smith, Joe Murphy, Brian Connolly, John .McKeown, Tommy Traynor, Pat Murphy (mechanic). Martin Murphy, Peter Reel, Jimmy Campbell, Patsy Kieran, Sean Hearty, Mick Bailey.