History_1926_First_League

In 1925, the Club gained much-needed strength when joined by F.E. Buxton, O. Sweeney, J.M. Sweeney and W.C. Pemberton. As a result, 1926 was a memorable season. The Senior League was won for the first time. A feature of the team’s play was a very high standard of fielding. This side, which many people came to see field, did not gain their success easily. Clontarf opened the season against Dublin University and batting first were all-out for 70, G.N. Kelly in 13 overs taking 9 wickets for 25 runs. Dublin University were 32 for 2 when E.N. Seymour came on. Seven wickets fell at 34, Dublin University being all out for 36. Seymour’s remarkable analysis was: 7•3: 6: 1:7. E.N. Seymour deservedly went on to head the Leinster bowling averages with 34 wickets at a cost of 7•47 each.

An extract from The Irish Times of 20 December 1926 is of considerable interest:
Clontarf Ground to be Remodelled
‘Rugby followers will be pleased to learn that the threatened extinction of Clontarf Club, owing to proposed building and road-making extensions on the Vernon Estate will not take place. The Club will lose its present senior pitch but will be provided with a better one at the back of the pavilion.’

In the same year as the Senior League was won, the first recorded burglary of the Club took place. Unfortunately for those who thought that this was an omen, it was only a coincidence, for if the Senior League honours had followed us the same way as our burglars, we would have had a long string of success. Three men, aged 33, 27 and 18 and all described as labourers, were subsequently charged before Mr Collins of the Northern District Court with the theft of “white flannels, tennis shoes, cricket boots and overcoats…, besides a bottle of whiskey and two and a half dozen of stout and Bass, and cigarettes to the value of £13.” Two of the three admitted getting drunk in the pavilion, something that had never happened previously and has not happened since.

After their success of 1926, Clontarf were runners-up in the Senior League of 1927 under the captaincy of F.E. Buxton, the wicket-keeper. In May he scored 105 not out against Phoenix in the Park, performing the unusual feat of carrying his bat through the innings. At the close of this season the club toured County Kerry as guests of J.G. Oulton. After the initial success of 1926 the 1st XI were runners-up in 1928, under the captaincy of A.R. White, while in the year after, under W.C. Pemberton, they occupied 3rd place in the final League table. But following these successes, weaknesses in batting again manifested themselves. In 1928, our seconds again won the Intermediate Cup and were runners-up in the Intermediate League, under the captaincy of A.J.G. White.

Marchant Cup Winner

The 1930 captain, E.N. Seymour, headed the Leinster batting averages and became the first Clontarf player to win the Marchant Cup. His highest score, 116, was made against Dublin University in College Park. Early in the 1930s G.J. Morgan’s name appears for the first time. He was to grace many rugby and cricket grounds, and gained international honours in both games. George Morgan had a dry wit, and having watched, from his vantage point in the slips, a famous Pembroke warrior play at and miss every ball of the first over he received is said to have remarked, ‘Hey – there’s a terrible sound off that bat.’

At the end of this year the first ever club dance was held in the pavilion. It was not sponsored by the club’s committees, but permission was given by them to A.A. O’Donnell to organise the function if he thought it feasible. With the help of an energetic dance committee and by covering the appalling floor with what was known as a dance carpet, the venture was a success, the receipts being £23 17s. 6d. At about this time the Cricket Club, who had been the original tenants of the ground at £20 per year, agreed to a new lease, becoming joint tenants with the Football Club at £100 per year. This was a considerable increase and further dances helped to pay the increased rent. It was the practice to augment the Club’s income, mainly derived from subscriptions, by occasional prize draws. The bar clientele was small both in numbers and thirst. Profits amounted to about £40 per annum!

Introduction of Senior Cup

During the 1932 season, when the side was under the captaincy of G.A. Tyndall, G.J. Morgan gave an indication of what was to come (he was the one really consistent bat in the ‘30s), scoring a magnificent 104 against Civil Service. He captained the side in 1933, ‘34 and ’36. In 1935 the skipper was Bob Smith, that master of the late-cut, later to be one of Leinster’s leading umpires. It was in this season that the Senior Cup Competition was first introduced: Pembroke put their names on the first trophy. For Clontarf, T.J. Dunne headed the bowling averages, taking 70 wickets at the cost of 10•4 runs each.

Further Improvements

In 1935, the Cricket Club laid a new floor in the pavilion to facilitate the running of dances and in 1936 the pavilion was again extended, increasing the kitchen and bar accommodation, and lengthening the main room at the north end. This work was done by J.W. Hill at a cost of £150.

This year the 1st XI established a record which we will never want to see broken, being all out for 12 against Phoenix at Castle Avenue. In the return match, however – this shows the inconsistency of the side – they beat Phoenix and completely spoiled the Park club’s League prospects. The captaincy next passed to J.D. Guinan, but the side was again dogged by weak batting, only Guinan and Morgan showing any consistency.

An interesting feature recorded in 1938 – N.C. Mahony played for Leinster v. Ulster in July while the same player played for Munster against Leinster in August. The feat of playing for and against the same province in the same year is surely without parallel. This brings us to one of the great difficulties experienced by the Clontarf Club during these years, for while Noel Mahony was available up to the end of the school term, he returned to Cork for the summer vacation, and Clontarf’s batting was robbed of the one man who could, and did for many years, act as sheet anchor.

In 1939 the side was led by that great cricketer, who would travel anywhere to play at any time, J.W. Hill. John Hill was simply one of the most effective bowlers that ever played for Clontarf. One cannot help noticing the number of times that he has taken seven or more wickets. He recorded many eights, and any bowler who could consistently do this must rank very high in the Club’s honours list. He bowled a bouncy off-break with a high action and nagging consistency. The best batting display was again produced by G.J. Morgan who in August 1939 scored 105 not-out against Merrion.

It was during this season that R. Furley was first selected for Leinster. He played against Munster at Rathmines, taking two wickets for 12 in the second innings.

In 1935, the Cricket Club laid a new floor in the pavilion to facilitate the running of dances and in 1936 the pavilion was again extended, increasing the kitchen and bar accommodation, and lengthening the main room at the north end. This work was done by J.W. Hill at a cost of £150.

This year the 1st XI established a record which we will never want to see broken, being all out for 12 against Phoenix at Castle Avenue. In the return match, however – this shows the inconsistency of the side – they beat Phoenix and completely spoiled the Park club’s League prospects. The captaincy next passed to J.D. Guinan, but the side was again dogged by weak batting, only Guinan and Morgan showing any consistency.

An interesting feature recorded in 1938 – N.C. Mahony played for Leinster v. Ulster in July while the same player played for Munster against Leinster in August. The feat of playing for and against the same province in the same year is surely without parallel. This brings us to one of the great difficulties experienced by the Clontarf Club during these years, for while Noel Mahony was available up to the end of the school term, he returned to Cork for the summer vacation, and Clontarf’s batting was robbed of the one man who could, and did for many years, act as sheet anchor.

In 1939 the side was led by that great cricketer, who would travel anywhere to play at any time, J.W. Hill. John Hill was simply one of the most effective bowlers that ever played for Clontarf. One cannot help noticing the number of times that he has taken seven or more wickets. He recorded many eights, and any bowler who could consistently do this must rank very high in the Club’s honours list. He bowled a bouncy off-break with a high action and nagging consistency. The best batting display was again produced by G.J. Morgan who in August 1939 scored 105 not-out against Merrion.

It was during this season that R. Furley was first selected for Leinster. He played against Munster at Rathmines, taking two wickets for 12 in the second innings.