Danno’s hopes for new heroes

One of the many prized possessions in the well-known O’Brien’s hostelry in the centre of Charleville town is a photo of the local minor hurling team that won North Cork honours in 1945, pipped in the county final by Glen Rovers.

Dominating that photo in the centre of the back row is the massive figure of John ‘Danno’ Mahony, a powerful man even at 17, built in the likeness of the world heavyweight wrestling champion from Ballydehob, after whom he was nicknamed. To Danno’s right is the more slight figure of Mossie O’Brien, original owner of O’Brien’s pub. That year Charleville would also win the North Cork junior title, Danno again playing a major role.

Last year, 2011, Charleville again had an outstanding minor side, but they would go on to win countyhonours; as in 1945 the junior team would also win the North Cork title but they too added the Cork county title, then went on to win out in Munster and tomorrow in Croke Park, take on St Patrick’s of Ballyragget in Kilkenny in theAll-Ireland Club junior hurling final. As with Danno Mahony, central to both of those teams, minor and junior, is another young dynamo, James O’Brien, grandson of Mossie.