Garrykennedy affiliated in the North Tipperary junior championship in the 1930s and were beaten by Newport by 3-0 to 1-1 at Silvermines on May 20. The winners led by 2-0 to nil at halftime. In the course of the report on this match the paper’s ‘Newport Correspondent’ complimented the referee on his decision not to allow a Garrykennedy player to go off during the game. The report stated: ‘At this stage a Garrykennedy player got injured and as a substitute was about to be put in, the referee held that the player was well able to continue playing, and would not admit a substitute. Garrykennedy insisted in playing a substitute and the referee said there was no other course open to him but to award the match to Newport. This he did.’
The following week there is a spirited letter to the Nenagh Guardian from J. Collins of the Portroe club. In the course of it he questions the ‘Newport Correspondent’ if the referee had any medical qualifications to decide whether the Garrykennedy player was shamming or not! He believes it was a very serious charge by the referee to accuse the young man of shamming without being able to substantiate the charge. He commends the high character of the player in question. He concludes in this fashion: ‘The Garrykennedy boys are new to the game yet; they harbour no shammers in their ranks. Your Newport Correspondent is also in error as regards the score; he gives it as Newport 3-0 Garrykennedy 1-1. It should be: Newport 2-0 Garrykennedy 1-1.’
Excerpt taken from the forthcoming history of the Portroe GAA Club.
