Dolphin RFC

PRO Ger Hodkinson

Sidney Mahony

16^th July marks the 100^th Birthday of possibly the oldest living holder of a Munster Senior Cup medal. Sidney Mahony has been involved with Dolphin since the 1920s winning a Munster Junior Cup medal in 1926 and a Senior Cup medal in 1931.

Still very active, he still gets out on a daily basis, until the season before last he used to attend all Dolphins home AIB League games.

Sidney remembers each of his cup wins vividly, the 1925/26 Junior victory was over Star (Limerick), Star finishing the game with just 11 players after three players were sent off (including a clergyman) while another broke a collar bone in a tackle on Sidney.

The Senior Cup victory over Garryowen at the Mardyke was not without a twist either. A crowd of 12,000 witnessed an unusual event, a Garryowen player kicked ahead, with Sidney being the first to cover back but as he did so a spectator leapt off the sideline and obstructed him. The ball rolled into the in goal area, Sidney chased back and dived on the ball along with a Garryowen player, the referee gave Sidney the benefit of the doubt and awarded a 25 yard drop out.

A good all rounder, also a keen hockey player, a Munster Junior Interprovincial, he played in an Irish Senior Cup final with Harlequins.

He also served as Secretary of the Cork Operatic Society, taking the stage at the Opera House with a number of his Dolphin club mates, Pearse OLeary, James N Healy, Cecil Rezin, Bill Twomey and Donie OSullivan.

He stayed involved with Dolphin until the late 1950s when he moved to Bahamas where he remained for 30 years. He was a Founder Member and President of Freeport RFC for 6 years. His younger brother Noel died shortly after Christmas last year in his 93^rd year, also a Munster Senior Cup medal winner with Dolphin, captained Ireland six times at Cricket and was President of the Irish Cricket Union in 1979.