Business League: Cork Examiner team made all the headlines in 1991

Cork Examiner began the '90s as the best team around, going on to equal the achievements of the great Postal Workers squad of the '80s in winning the acclaimed treble of league, cup and shield.

Built on a rock solid defence and a dependable goalkeeper in Denis McCarthy, the midfield possessed a power house in Dave Higgins, who complemented the silken skill of Paul Howley, prolific centre-forward Don Bevan and pacey wingers Sean Murphy and Noel O’Sullivan.

Founded in 1949, Examiner reached four cup finals in the '80s, winning two and losing two. 

By the start of the '90s, there was a renewed determination about the club as the management duo of Dave Ahern and John Merritt, under the watchful eyes of the experienced backroom staff of Frank Linehan and Jim Kelleher, set about transforming the team into championship material. In came the tigerish Dave Higgins in the centre of midfield alongside the elegant Paul Howley. 

STEEL

Jim Courtney added steel to the back-four, while current Echo columnist Noel O’Sullivan joined Don Bevan and Sean Murphy to form a potent front-line.

The season kicked-off on September 9, 1990 with a 6-0 win in the shield over GSI and following a draw with AIB and wins over Aer Lingus, Co. Council and Youghal Yarns in the semi-final, the club’s big test awaited in the final against the star studded Postal Workers at Pfizer Park on Sunday, December 2, Pfizer Park. 

Despite scoring twice through Andy Maher and John McGrath, Postal couldn’t prevent the first trophy of the season going to Academy Street as a brace by Bevan along with goals by Peter O’Callaghan and O’Sullivan sealed a memorable success.

The league campaign began on November 11, with a high-scoring 5-3 home win over Irish Steel before the visit of Roches Stores to Midleton a week later produced another goal feast, the opposition inflicting Examiner’s first defeat in domestic competition by the odd goal in nine. After a 2-1win over CIE Athletic the New Year began with a tricky assignment away to Aer Lingus. 

Goals from Murphy and Bevan settled the nerves. Jim Nodwell and Bevan were on target in the all-important win over second-placed Postal Workers at Midleton on February 3 and three weeks later, the gap at the top was cut to two points with a hard-earned two-nil win over Bank of Ireland at Pfizer Park, the consistent Bevan and Murphy among the goals again.

A crucial point was extracted from the visit to Newcastle on St Patrick’s Day, where CIE Athletic could only muster a 3-3 draw, a result which virtually ended their championship aspirations. Postal gained revenge for the two previous defeats to win 3-2 at Midleton on April 21, but consecutive wins over Bank of Ireland (5-1), Pfizers (2-0) and one-time leaders Youghal Yarns (2-0) put the club firmly in control with further wins over Roches Stores (5-0), Irish Steel (7-0) and finally Garda (4-0), wrapping up the title at the Regional Park in splendid style.

The assault on the AIB Cup began with a comfortable 5-1 over Penn Chemicals at Midleton on January 27. Apple Computers were beaten by the same score in round two. The match of the quarter-finals was the 3-3 draw with Centra at Killeady. 

RELIEF

There was much relief in the Academy Street workplace with the narrow 1-0 replay win a week later. OLH Utd. were no match in the semi-final despite bringing the best out of Denis McCarthy in the first 15 minutes, as goals by Bevan (2), Murphy and O’Callaghan to Brian Henry’s 25th minute screamer for Our Lady’s, put Examiner back in the final for the fifth time in ten years.

The final itself on May 5 at Turner’s Cross against Roches Stores was comfortably won 3-0 with the second and third goal coming in the last 15 minutes. 

An iconic moment in the 83rd minute will be forever remembered as ‘man-of-the-match Jim Nodwell came out of defence to receive Michael O’Mahony’s pass and lob the ball over the head of the outstanding Liam O’Callaghan, the moment Examiner’s team of '91 became headline makers.