By Liam Burke
Danny O’Connell managed the Kilkenny senior hurlers to eleven All-Ireland victories, beginning with the 1904 championship and continuing right up to, and including 1939. His very successful record stood the test of time until 2015 when the great Brian Cody also managed Kilkenny to eleven All-Ireland victories. The above Kilkenny managers stand apart from all the others, with Fr Tom Maher in third place having seven All-Ireland successes. It can now be said that Danny O’Connell played a major part in laying the foundation for Kilkennys wonderful success on the hurling fields over the years.
Danny was born in Blackmill Street in Kilkenny City in 1875. His father, a native of Ballingarry in County Tipperary owned a licensed premises in what is now Campions public house, and his mother was from Dublin. From an early age Danny took a great interest in Gaelic Games, and was soon to become involved in every aspect of GAA activity, from being a founder member of Erin’s Own Club in Kilkenny City, to refereeing both hurling and football games on a regular basis.
Danny’s son, Danny junior, a retired veterinarian who lives in Bagenalstown, is still hale and hearty, told me a few years ago that the Erins Own club later morphed into what became known as the Dicksboro club.
Danny was elected the Secretary of the Kilkenny County GAA board in 1902 at the age of 27, and he held this position until 1913. When the County Board appointed Danny as the Manager of the Kilkenny team for the 1904 championship, he had a big task on his hands as the Noresiders had been defeated in no less than five All-Ireland finals up to then. The All-Ireland final of the previous year, 1903, is significant, but not remembered with pride in Kilkenny, as Cork had a very easy win in Dungarvan on a scoreline of 8-9 to 0-8. Little did Kilkenny supporters realise at the time that the county would be All-Ireland champions for the very first time in 1904, following the Cork heavy defeat the previous year, but that was it, and since then ,as you know, we have been senior hurling champions for another 35 times.
Dominated
Under the skilful leadership of Danny O’Connell, Kilkenny went on to dominate the hurling scene for the next decade or so, winning the All-Ireland finals of 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912 and 1913 competently beating teams from Cork on four occasions, and Tipperary three times.
Dispute
Kilkenny might also have won the 1908 All-Ireland but for a dispute. It had been decided that provincial teams would be picked, and the winners would be presented with the Railway Shield, and as the Leinster team had been represented by 15 Kilkenny players, and the fact that they had won the competition, they felt that they should be allowed to keep the Shield.
However, the Leinster Council did not agree, so Kilkenny were ruled out of the Championship, as they refused to play against Dublin in the Leinster Final.
Tom Ryall in his book Kilkenny the GAA Story 1884- 1984 wrote that Kilkenny had been beaten by Wexford in the first round of the Leinster Championship but they objected to a Wexford player who had been sent off during a football match which had been played before the hurling match. Kilkenny wanted a replay, but Wexford were thrown out of the Championship. Kilkenny was eventually given custody of the Shield, and it can be seen in Nowlan park.
Despite his wonderful success with Kilkenny, business commitments forced Mr O’Connell to step down as County Secretary and hurling manager following the 1913 All Ireland victory. He did however, stay closely associated with the GAA in Kilkenny at club level, both as a referee and administrator. Tom Ryall also wrote that “Danny returned in 1932, and completed another year as County Secretary. He also served as a trustee of the County Board from 1906 to 1913 and later in 1919, and again from 1932 to 1937. Danny was also an outstanding man on financial affairs, and helped in no small way to ensure that the County Board was financially solvent during those particular years. He was also appointed Chairman of the Kilkenny Camogie board which was formed in 1932.”
After Danny O’Connell stepped down as the Kilkenny manager, the Noresiders did not win another All-Ireland until the 1922 final (delayed until 1923 because of the Civil war) when they beat Tipperary with a last minute goal. Paddy ‘Icy’ Lanigan, a former All-Ireland winning hurler and Mick Dalton were in charge of the Kilkenny team during that particular year. Kilkenny also contested the All-Ireland final of 1926, when they were beaten by Cork who also emerged victorious in 1931 following two replays.
It has to be said that Cork ‘butchered’ Kilkenny in 1931 when many players were badly injured during the course of the three finals. Dick Morrissey’s back was broken and he never played hurling again, while Lory Meagher suffered three broken ribs. Paddy Larkin, and Martin White were also badly injured. Kilkenny played with a very under strength team the third day.
Back Again
Danny returned as manager the following year with Kilkenny beating Clare in the 1932 final. This began another very successful run by Kilkenny who came out on top to win the All-Ireland finals of 1933 and 1935, with Danny at the helm. They also won the 1939 final, which was significant because it was won with many new players, including six from the great All-Ireland Minor winning team of 1935. Many of the great players from the early years of that decade had retired. O’Connell’s skill and determination was proven by driving this team to victory and he retired following that great success.
Danny’s retirement was lamented by many and it was said that maybe if he had stayed on for another year Kilkenny might have beaten Limerick the following year in the 1940 final. It was claimed that his secret as manager was his ability to motivate team members and to make changes quickly on the field of play. He also had the ability to spot the makings of a good hurler at under age level and when they matured, every player was treated as fair as possible.
Legend
Danny O’Connell is a legend in Kilkenny’s hurling history, and the fact that his memory is not commemorated by either a cup, or a ground, or indeed a local championship should have been put right long before now. Danny’s son, Danny junior, still lives in Bagenalstown, and one daughter Kitty was married to Jim Rice who was the first Chairman of O’Loughlins, and he was also a trustee of the Country Board for a long number of years.
Danny was also a breeder of Greyhounds for a time, and he helped to form the Seven Houses coursing club in 1922. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Ballyragget Coursing club. He ran a very successful licence premises in High Street, and was uncle of Jimmy O’Connell the Kilkenny goalkeeper during the very successful thirties. Danny died in 1960.
Thanks: The Kilkenny Observer wish to thank the following for their help with photos for this article: ‘The Stripy Men: Kilkenny Hurling History’, jbs photos Kilkenny, Joe Rice of Ballyrafton and Jenkinstown, a grandson of Danny O’Connell.
