Tougher times when Rebels faced red letter days
Named at full-back, Canty will have his hands full with opposing forwards, but unlike one of his predecessors, at least he won’t have a threatening letter from his own county board in his gearbag. As Europe emerged from World War II, the Cork footballers were on the trail of a third All-Ireland football title.
When they emerged from Munster that year they overcame Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final while missing one key player.
Full-back PA Murphy, universally known as Weeshie, suffered a bereavement after the Munster final when his brother Fr Con, a missionary in Nigeria, died suddenly, and understandably the Bere Island man didn’t line out in the semi-final.
Cork officials weren’t happy with his non-appearance and were swift to make their dissatisfaction known.
On August 13, Murphy was sent a letter by JJ Walsh of the Cork County Board which makes for astonishing reading, even allowing for a somewhat less sensitive period.
“We were extremely disappointed that you were not with us yesterday,” wrote Walsh. “We won, but if Galway had been more fortunate in scoring the result would have been otherwise. In fact Galway may have won.”
The county board man then shovelled on the guilt, threatening Murphy with the possibility of being blamed on Leeside for generations to come. “If you don’t play in the final I see little hope,” added Walsh. “You will always be blamed by Corkmen for having lost a supreme chance.
“Jim Hurley (selector) is very disappointed and I would suggest that you should drop him a line at once, saying that you are prepared to travel for the final.”
As a coup de grace, Walsh showed a touch of the Don Corleones with his sign-off: “Corkmen expect you to do your duty to the county. Don’t let us down.”
The story has a happy ending: Murphy returned to the team and ruled the square in the final as Cork beat Cavan 2-5 to 0-7.
Murphy played on into the fifties, though he never won another All-Ireland medal with Cork. When he died suddenly before the 1973 All-Ireland football final, his passing helped to inspire the Cork footballers to another All-Ireland win, 28 years after he’d anchored the defence for their previous title.
The family connection with the Cork teams continues with his son, Dr Con, who has been the medical officer for the Cork senior hurlers and footballers since the mid-1970s.
Incidentally, Weeshie’s contribution to Cork didn’t end with his playing days. He later served with distinction as a well-respected administrator in Cork, eventually becoming chairman of the Cork County Board and when he died he was Munster Councilchairman.
However, it’s understood he never sent any player a letter which ended with the words: Don’t let us down.
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