Tinryland players and selector on 1944 Carlow winning team
Peenie Whelan
Peenie was captain of the Carlow team on 30th July 1944 when Carlow won its one and only Leinster senior title in Athy. Peenie holds a unique record as he was captain of his club Tinryland, captain of his county Carlow and captain of his province Leinster that all won titles in the 1944 era. Peenie who started out as a forward will be remembered as a speedy attacking half back of style and vision. His sons Peter and Pat who represent him today have brought along the 3 medals he won that year
Willie Hosey
Willie Hosey from the Tinryland club who was left half forward on the 1944 Carlow team created a unique record in the annals of the GAA winning a total of 13 SFC medals in 3 counties and 2 provinces.
Willie was an all- round sportsman who excelled in football, tennis, athletics, boxing, golf, badminton, raquets and table tennis
Despite only tipping 9 stone on the weighing scales he was a lethal forward who was a vital player in both the successful Leinster campaign and in the All Ireland semi-final where Carlow narrowly lost to Kerry.
Willie also had the distinction of lining out for Wexford when his work took him to the model county
Paddy Sullivan
Army man Paddy who operated at right corner forward in 1944 made history in the opening round against Kildare when he cycled 37 miles from his New Ross army base to Dr Cullen Park before scoring one of the vital goals that knocked Kildare out of the Leinster championship in front of 9000 spectators. He continued to figure prominently right through the championship and he captained his club Tinryland when they won the 1949 Carlow title. Paddy won 5 Carlow senior football medals between 1944 and 1950.
John Doyle
John Doyle from Tinryland was the established free taker of the team scoring in all of the 1944 matches. His free taking expertise was a result of long hours spent perfecting that art. John was described as the brains of the whole forward division in the Nationalist preview to the 1944 All Ireland semi- final with Kerry. John went on to be a top- class referee and Leinster council delegate for Carlow. He once scored 3-2 in the 1939 Co final against Kilbride and he won in total 10 Carlow senior football medals between 1934 and 1950.
Andy Murphy
Andy Murphy from Ballyloo, Tinryland who was one of Carlow’s greatest ever players was only gone 18 when he was part of the Carlow squad in 1944. He went on to win 3 successive Railway cups with Leinster as a half back in the 1950’s having been capped for the province for 5 years in succession. Andy also won 6 Carlow senior championships with Tinryland and he was related to the legendary Tommy Murphy the boy wonder of Graiguecullen and Laois fame.
Andy possessed 3 great qualities namely natural ability, honest endeavour and sportsmanship.
Michael “Ding Dong” Hughes
Mick “Ding Dong” Hughes was another Tinryland player on the 1944 panel. He once scored 7 points in the 1944 drawn Co final with Ballymurphy which took 3 games to decide the destination of the title that year. Mick emigrated to Australia shortly after winning a senior championship with Tinryland in 1946 and he did not receive his medal until 1978 which was 32 years later. On a visit home he was presented with his medal by his great friend Tom Doyle and the legendary Peenie Whelan. Mick is represented by legendary Tinryland player David “TUT” Byrne here today
Fr Patrick Donegan
Fr Donegan who was a native of Offaly served as a curate in Tinryland from 1942 to 1952. He quickly immersed himself in Gaa affairs in both Tinryland and Carlow and he was a selector on the 1944 Carlow team. Fr Donegen was a great motivator and his influence on the successful teams of the 1940’s contributed to a large extent to that success. Fr Donegan acted as an officer of Carlow Co Board also and his departure from Tinryland and Carlow in the early 1950’s left a void in GAA in the county. Fr Donegan is represented by Ned Deane whose father Jim was a personal friend Of the Offaly born Tinryland curate
