1948 - Leinster Cup Winners

 

1948

UCD win Leinster Senior Cup

 

The 1947/48 season was a special year for UCD RFC in that, under the captaincy of Gerry O’Reilly, they won the Leinster Senior Cup for the third time in its history. It was particularly sweet because UCD beat Trinity (4 – 0) in the final. This brief article recalls that historic triumph – sixty years later.

In early 1948, Ireland still had not recovered from the War years and the domestic news concerned itself with, for example the increase of the tea ration from 1½ to 2 ounces and whether the sugar ration could also be increased. At that time, the Irish Times cost 2 pennies, many jobs were advertised at a salary of £3 per week and a detached 3-bedroom modern bungalow in Stillorgan was being sold for £2,850. On the world stage, the Berlin blockade, and consequent air lift, dominated the headlines as did the British decision to pull out of Palestine on 15th May.

For the academic year 1947/48 UCD had 3,173 registered students of which 373 (12%) were female. The Faculty of Arts (with Philosophy and Celtic Studies) had just over 1,000 students, followed by Medicine with over 800, whereas Law had about 50. The move from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield was being actively discussed since “the choice of a large site upon the edge of the city…offered very great advantages”.

On the rugby front, by all accounts, the Leinster Senior Cup of 1948 could have been won by a number of participating clubs. It should be noted that Old Belvedere dominated the Cup during the 1940s – winning it seven time in succession from 1940 – 1946, and being beaten by Wanderers in the 1947 final. On three of these occasions they had beaten UCD in the final (1943, 1944 and 1946). For season 1947/48, former Newbridge school pupil, Gerry O’Reilly was elected UCD captain and results running up to the cup campaign were mixed. For example, the English club, Sale (on their first visit to Dublin) beat UCD (17 – 13) at Lansdowne Road; the colours match was played at Belfield in February but lost (3 – 6) against Queen’s University, for whom notable Irish internationals Jackie Kyle and Bill McKay played. (Another notable Queen’s international, scrum-half, Strathdee, was selected but cried off injured). A friendly was played against Trinity shortly afterwards and won (9 – 8).

The first round of the cup drew the cup holders, Wanderers against UCD. As usual in those days, matches were played at Lansdowne Road. UCD were tipped to advance but many were surprised by UCD’s large margin of victory (22 – 8). The Irish Times reported that UCD had “far more speed, penetration and cleverness behind the scrum”. Victory was ensured by hooker Mick Dargan who had an “inspired day with his place kicking, putting the ball over the bar four times”.

The quarter final saw old rivals UCD and Old Belvedere play each other. On the basis of their first round win against Lansdowne, it was considered that Old Belvedere, with Ireland’s captain, Karl Mullen as hooker, would regain the cup. UCD had other ideas and were worthy victors (3 – 0). The Irish Times acknowledged that Belvedere were “remarkably lucky to escape with no bigger score than a try (3 – 0) to nil against them, for the UCD forwards were superior in every phase of the play, and the backs showed far more penetration and combination” and only three times in the second half did Belvedere penetrate into the UCD half. On the other hand, UCD hooker, Dargan, “twice dropped the ball with a gap as wide as a house in the defence”. A tight semi-final was won against Old Wesley (9 – 3) when, in wet conditions, the stamina of the UCD forwards enabled them to get in top in the last quarter of the game.

UCD would now play their 12th senior cup final (in twenty nine seasons as a senior club). Their opponents were Trinity. The two colleges had played each other in previous cup campaigns but had not met in the final since 1926 – then won by Trinity. The match broke all attendance records for a match between two Dublin sides and the advertisement for the final encouraged patrons to “come early to avoid congestion”. (The entrance fee was 1 shilling with reductions for schoolboys and schoolgirls).

However, in terms of skilful rugby the “match was a big disappointment; for the teams were too keen and too much on edge, with the result that the tackling and defensive covering mastered back divisions, which lacked real pace, but the closeness of the score made it exciting, and trinity put in a most wholehearted finish, which only just failed to snatch victory from defeat”. UCD were clearly the better side and deserved to win. The only score was a drop-goal from the UCD outhalf, J. D. Hackett, and “was a picture (for) he received the ball from a line out near the 25 and, although travelling fast, placed the ball high between the posts from thirty yards out”. The UCD team that day was: T. O’Toole, G. O’Reilly (Capt), B. Mullen, J. Connell, J. Blayney, J. D. Hackett, T. Cullen, J. Molony, M. Dargan, T. Callen, S. McAuliffe, C. Coughlan, R. Feddis, W. Linehan, and R. Ball. Much of the credit for this victory must go to captain, Gerry O’Reilly. The UCD student journal (National Student) subsequently noted: “The great spirit of the team and the feeling of friendship among the players which prevailed, was a tribute to a most popular and successful captain. He did all in his power to get the very best side together and the fact that he succeeded so well...marked him out as an outstanding leader”.

The 25th Annual UCD RFC Dinner was held on 1st May, with the defeated Trinity team as guests. They dined on Sole a la Soubise, Beef and Limerick ham, Fruit Tart with Custard and Ice cream. It is said that the camaderie and other interest generated by the unique cup final in 1948 was the catalyst in the annual colours match being started between the two universities a few years later.

Many of that UCD team played the following season and, against beat Trinity in the Cup, this time in the first round (6 – 5). However, the team lost to Lansdowne in a replayed semi final (3 – 5). The following year, UCD reached the Cup final but were again beaten by Lansdowne (the holders).

It is remarkable to note that, in addition to captain Gerry O’Reilly, four of that cup-winning team also captained UCD RFC – Jack Molony, Will Linehan, Tom Cullen and Tim O’Toole. Four of that team gained Irish caps – J. Blayney, Tom Cullen, Mick Dargan and Jack Molony, and 11 players were capped for Leinster, either playing for UCD or other clubs – O’Toole, Blayney, Mullen, O’Reilly, Hackett, Cullen, Molony, Dargan, McAuliffe, Ball and Linehan. Prop forward, Tom Callen, was subsequently capped for Connacht. Truly, they were a great team; a fine collection of gentlemen and rugby ambassadors.

 

Peter Clarke and Terence Coveney