Sliabh gCua................1-10
Tramore......................0-04

21st-March-1982
It may not have been the greatest of final; it may not have even been a good one. But that mattered little to all of Sliabh gCua at Fraher Field last Sunday when the club bridged a 42-year gap by capturing the delayed 1981 county junior football title with an emphatic 1-10 to 0-04 victory over Tramore.
From the moment full forward John "Rock" Fraher gave Sliabh gCua the lead with a blistering first minute goal one could sense that the Touraneena men were going to make amends for their defeats in the finals of the two previous years. Tramore, as is their very tradition, fought manfully and sportingly to the very end, but theirs was always an uphill battle, and at the end of the hour fairly reflects the Western champions mastery on the day.
And what an idea day it was for the final. The sun shine warmly and brightly. There was an excellent attendance and the occasion had all the makings of a county final day. Disappointingly, the game itself failed to measure up the expectations, but of course for the men from Touraneena there was the joy of victory, and a return of a title to the parish that last say its resting place their back in 1936.

Great start

It was the score that sent the Westerners on their winning way. Tommy Fleming did reply with a Tramore point a minute later, but two pointed frees by John Dalton increased Sliabh gCua's position - and this despite playing into the breeze.
Outstanding midfielder Johnny Grace twice neutralised further Sliabh gCua points by Tom Condon and Declan Fitzpatrick, and before the break Dalton and Sean Flavin (a splendid fisted effort from a Danny Morrissey free) exchanged points to leave the Westerners ideally poised for victory at the interval when they led 1-5 to 0-4.
Amazingly, Tramore were not to score again in this final. True they dominated the opening ten minutes on the resumption but several glaring misses killed off whatever lingering hopes they still entertained of taking the title.

Last quarter dominance

The final quarter, however, was all Sliabh gCua, and such was the extent of their dominance that their defenders were never again called upon to take the side out of trouble. Declan Fitzpatrick's 47th minute point was the first of the half, but before the end four more superbly kicked minors were the final nails in Tramore's coffin.
The first of them was picked off magnificently by Gerard Butler, who only minutes earlier had been introduced into their attack in place of Michael Hickey and the others come from a James Condon (another delightful effort), an unerring John Dalton, and Deckie Fitzpatrick - playing a real captain's part.
These were the scores that sealed Tramore's fate, and brought a long, long and other frustrating four decades-plus wait to an end.

Hero's all

I have already stated that the final, from a spectators point of view was a disappointing one, but for Sliabh gCua followers every member of their side will be hailed a hero.
Certainly, every Westerner gave this final his all, but in reporting the game with complete objectivity on has to single out the starring defensive roles of Ned Power, John Fitzpatrick, Michael Butler and Deckie Kiely, the towering displays of midfielders Tom Condon and James Butler, and the incisive running and score getting in attack of Declan Fitzpatrick and John Dalton and the lionhearted efforts of John Fraher and substitute Gerard Butler.

Tried all the way

To Tramore's eternal credit it has to be said they fought manfully all the way. To go a goal down in the very first minute was a setback from which they never really recovered, but even in defeat they still had tireless performers in Noel Cowman, Danny Morrissey, Gary Dalton and Pierce Flanagan in defence. Johnny Grace at midfield (where the retiral through injury of David Purcell was an undoubted blow) and Sean Flavin and Tommy Fleming in a rather weak attack.

Presentation

Amid scenes of great excitement County Board chairman John A. Murphy, presented the trophy to Sliabh gCua's captain, Declan Fitzpatrick. "The wait has been a long one, but it has been all worthwhile," a delighted Fitzpatrick said on receiving the cup.

Sliabh gCua's celebrations

The little village of Touraneena will long remember Monday night last when Sliabh gCua's county junior football final victory of the previous day was celebrated in truly fitting fashion.
The Dungarvan pipe band led the victory parade through the village where team captain Declan Fitzpatrick and his colleagues were given a tremendous reception. Officers of both the county and western boards were present, and really the unprecedented scenes of excitement illustrated just what the winning of this particular title meant to Sliabh gCua.
The wait of course was a long one - close on forty two years since they were last champions in the grade. That fact made the victory all the sweeter, and the celebrations all the more hectic on Monday night.
Well done - and congratulations - champions!

Sliabh gCua scorers: J. Fraher 1-0, J. Dalton 0-4, Declan Fitzpatrick 0-3, James Condon 0-1, Tom Condon 0-1, Gerard Butler 0-1.
Tramore scorers: Johnny Grace 0-2, Sean Flavin 0-1, Tommy Fleming 0-1.

The line out was:

Subs: Gerard Butler for Michael Hickey, Paddy Whelan for Pat Hearn, Declan White, Tom Power, Eamon Power, Finbarr Harrington.

Tramore: M. Sullivan, N. Cowman, P.J. Moroney, P. Flanagan, G. Dalton, D. Morrissey, M. Crowley, J. Grace, D. Purcell, G. Lenihan, M. Walsh, S. Flavin, T. Flavin, P. Kiely, T. Fleming. Subs: N. Burns for Purcell.

Referee: John Moore (Eire Og).

Back Row: Michael Quinlan (Selector), Fr. Sean Nugent, Declan White, Gerald Butler, Tom Condon, James Butler, Ned Power, Anthony Butler, John Fitzpatrick, Eamon Power, Roger McGrath, Michael Hickey, Tom Power, Paddy Whelan, Bob Keane (First Aid).
Front Row: Pierce Butler (Chairman), John Dalton, Pat Hearn, Mike Butler, Declan Fitzpatrick, James Condon, Declan Kiely, John Fraher, Mike Hearn, Finbarr Harrington.