Ennis Shield champions 1936-37
North City C.C., in only their second season, won the Ennis Shield, then the second division of the Leinster Leagues, in what seems to have been a surprise. The outstanding photo above shows the club celebrations. (See full size version.)
The team in rough board order was Cecil Murray, W. Breen, D. O’Rourke, B. O’Rourke, M. Maher, D. Malone, W. Sherringham, J. Barrett, and B. McMahon.
(Note that the handwritten caption is incorrect in giving the season as 1935-36.)
The photo belongs to Alan Murray, son of Cecil Murray, by far the youngest on the team, who played board 1 and is holding the shield. Alan sent it to John Delaney, who forwarded it to me. I am embarrassed to say that John’s email to me was on April 29, 2015, and it was not until my computer produced it on the anniversary in a “Your memories on this day” that I recalled it. Many thanks to Alan and John.
Cecil St. Eloi Murray (1917-2000) was later a founding member of Kevin Barry C.C., where he played on a later Ennis Shield-winning team in 1953-54. He was CIE champion in 1976, and competed in Irish correspondence championships, winning several sections. He played in one Irish championship, the 1938 event in Belfast, a 10-player all-play-all where he finished with 4/9.
He was the brother of Victor Murray, long-time member and former President of Elm Mount C.C., who died last August, aged 100.