2026 marks the centenary of the inaugural National Hurling and Football League finals.
Way back in 1926, Cork defeated Dublin 3-7 to 1-5 in the hurling decider at the Cork Athletic Grounds, while Laois beat Dublin 2-1 to 1-0 in the football contest at Barrett’s Park, New Ross (Wexford).
Holders Cork have 15 titles (1926, ‘30, ‘40, ‘41, ‘48, ‘53, ‘69, ‘70, ‘72, ‘74, ‘80, ‘81, ‘93, ‘98 and ‘05) and Laois two (1926 and ‘86) league titles to their respective credit.
This year marks the 96th year of competition.
For varying reasons, there was no league activity in 1927, ‘32, ‘42, ‘43, ‘44 and ‘45.
The starting XV for Cork 100 years ago was: John Coughlan; Mick Murphy, Seán Óg Murphy, captain, Edward ‘Marie’ O’Connell; Maurice Murphy, Jim Hurley, Matt Murphy; Eudie Coughlan, Jim O’Regan; Bill Higgins, Dinny Barry-Murphy, David Aherne; Tommy O’Brien, Paddy ‘Balty’ Aherne, Michael ‘Gah’ Aherne.
What’s most interesting to note is that right full forward O’Brien hailed from Herberstown in Limerick.
That he lined out with The Rebels was courtesy of gainful employment at the time with Ireland’s first Ford manufacturing car facility, which at its peak employed around 7,000 people, on the Marina.
Either side of O’Brien’s six-year spell on Leeside, which included county senior championship titles with St Finbarr’s in 1922, ‘23 and ‘26 (at the expense of holders and All-Ireland winners Blackrock), he lined out in his home county with several clubs, including 1912 Intermediate Champions Ballybricken, Caherline, Fedamore and Young Irelands, with whom he won senior county championships in 1928, ‘30 and ‘32.
Most likely to be the nearest living relation to a member of either winning league teams of a century ago is O’Brien’s daughter Betty Keaveney of Askeaton, and formerly of Donoughmore, both county Limerick.