VALLEY ROVERS

Interview with Stalwart of Valley Rovers - Denis O'Riordan

• May 24,2021

Name: Denis O’Riordan

How many years have you been a member of Valley Rovers GAA Club?

Approximately 50 years.

You are currently a Vice-President of the club, what other positions have you held in the club over the years?

South East Board Delegate for 12 years, an officer for 10 of those 12 years.

Co. Board Delegate for 32 years.

Treasurer for approx. 14 years when all the revenue starting the year was from membership fees and church gate collection.

Helped to start the Club Lotto, was chairman of the Lotto Committee for 22 years, helped to run it every Sunday night, sold tickets weekly.

Co-ordinate gate staff and carpark staff for Co. Championship games for years.

Co-ordinated the Co. Board draw for approx. 15 years.

What occupation have you had in working life? Did this occupation integrate well with your involvement with the club?

Worked for South Western Services, based in Bandon for 47 years.

Yes it integrated well with club involvement.

What is your favourite Valley Rovers Hurling moment ever?

Beating Newcestown in the Co. Junior Hurling final in Bandon in 1988.

What is your favourite Valley Rovers football moment ever?

The drawn Junior football Co. Final vs. Kilshannig in 1985.

We didn’t win or lose but it was some game, real football where every man had to win his own ball, going forward all the time, no sideways or backways, no short kick outs. I am glad to have lived in that era to see real football played. I find it hard to watch what is on offer at the moment. 

I was thinking for a number of years what rule change would improve it, I felt there was no point in talking to the club or Cork Co. Board on it. I had to speak to the top.

At a function in April 2019 the then President was there, I watched for my chance and approached him and asked him could I have a word. He said go on: “I said Gaelic Football is dying in front of our eyes and some would say its dead”. He said I couldn’t agree with you at all, I was losing at this stage but I drove on anyway, I said one rule change could improve it, he asked what. I said no back passing in the half of the field that the team is defending. He said no way, it couldn’t be policed by refs.

I asked why not as in Rugby if a player throws a ball forward the ref whistles immediately. I said people won’t keep paying money to watch this stuff and it has started with a few years including your own county of Dublin until they reach the All-Ireland Semi-Final and Final and there is no neutral following going to club games.

I also said I know of two Ex Cork players, one has 2 All Ireland medals in 1989 and 1990, the other a very good player who played in the All-Ireland final in 1967, both wouldn’t look in over the gate now or even on TV, they told me themselves and said it’s a different game from what they played. I also said we have seen players getting man of the match without ever kicking a ball and that can’t be right in a game called football. He just dismissed me as if I wasn’t there. A lot of people reading this probably would say he was right but at least I got a bit of satisfaction in telling him.

Have you always lived in the parish of Knockavilla/Innishannon or did you move here? If you moved here where did you come from?

I moved from The Gearagh in Macroom when I was 11 years of age.

If you could change the result of one game in the history of Valley Rovers what game would it be?

The 1966 Junior Hurling Co. Final.

That team of great players deserved to win a County when fitness wasn’t half of what it is today but better hurling, whipping in the air, on the ground and marking a man, no rucks, scrums, processes, systems or game plans, again every man would have to win his own ball.

Who do you think is the best Footballer Valley Rovers ever produced?

Facthna Crowley, a great full back in the 80s, again when it was real football.

Who do you think is the best hurler Valley Rovers ever has produced?

Brendan O’Sullivan, some man to win his own ball and make good use of it in a time when there was no handpassing, short puck outs, and hurling was more physical.

What is your earliest memory of Valley Rovers?

Saw a tough Junior hurling game Valleys vs. Ballinhassig in Farm Lane Kinsale in 1957.

When comparing Valley Rovers today to Valley Rovers of your era, what are the main differences and changes?

Underage numbers and fitness levels.

What is your funniest/strangest moment ever with Valley Rovers?

At a championship J.F. game in Ballygarvan a Valley Rovers player passed the ball to a colleague who did not get it, a man standing next to me shouted ‘Ah you passed it to nothing’.

What is your favourite sporting moment of all time in any sport?

Cork winning the double in 1990 and Valley Rovers being represented in it.

Have you any advice for the young players of Valley Rovers today?

They wouldn’t be interested in my advice!