Christy O’Sullivan
Tracton GAA
On Wednesday March 3rd the whole parish of Tracton was plunged into sadness with the death of Albie Jagoe. Albie was very well respected in the community as a progressive member of the farming community and also as an outstanding sportsman.
Albie had a great passion for the GAA, especially hurling. Albie started his career with Tracton in the late 60s, early 70s and if ever Tracton came up against an opponent with a good forward it was automatically said ‘we’ll put Albie Jagoe on him’ and sure enough Albie would always hold him. Albie gave great service to Tracton in both hurling and football from the late 60’s up until 1989.
During those 20 years he held his place on the Carrigdhoun senior hurling team for 11 consecutive years, at a time when Carrigdhoun were a match for the best in Cork. Albie also wore the jersey of the rebel county and played a vital role in the Cork Junior hurling team of 1983, winning a Munster and All Ireland medal, playing an outstanding game in the All Ireland final against Galway.
Albie won every honour in the South East. He won his first South East hurling medal in 1979 when Tracton, coached by the late Canon Michael O’Brien, defeated Shamrocks after a 3 game marathon South East Final. Tracton went on to capture the County Junior hurling title after a lapse of 22 years and later that year came back to win the South East league. After this victory Tracton were elevated to Intermediate hurling, with Albie ever present on the Intermediate team. But in 1986 it looked like the breakthrough was coming.
On a dreadful wet Friday night in Ballinhassig, Tracton took on the champions of 1985 Éire Óg. The highlight of that victory was Albie’s great tussle with the great Mick Malone. Tracton took on Cloughduv in the semi final with high hopes but unfortunately misfortune struck early in the first half when Albie suffered severe concussion after an accidental collision with a Cloughduv player that forced him to leave the field. Up to this day a lot of Tracton supporters firmly believe that if Albie was able to stay on the field Tracton would have won the game and also the final, as Cloughduv went on to win the final easily.
Albie wasn’t fully recovered for the start of the 1987 season and didn’t play in the Intermediate championship, when Tracton were defeated in the first round. Albie was then available to play with the junior team, which was very strong as a number of players that played on the 1979 county winning team returned to Junior. Tracton took the South East championship with victories over Ballygarvan, Carrigaline and Kinsale, all of which were the first teams of their club. Tracton became the first club to win the South East Junior A championship with their second team, which gave Albie his second Junior A hurling championship South East medal.
Albie was also an accomplished footballer and played a major role at right corner back on the first Tracton team to win the South East Junior A football championship in 1983. Also during that period Albie won 3 Intermediate hurling league titles. When Albie retired from playing he got involved in team management and was a very valuable member of the management team in 1991 when Tracton captured the Intermediate hurling championship.
Albie was always willing to help the club in any way he could and if ever there was a championship game in Minane Bridge Albie was always available to sell the admission tickets and had a pleasant word for everybody that passed in the gate.
In the early 70’s Tracton had a very successful carnival committee, which used to run a carnival every July for 2 weeks. With barbecues, dances, hurling tournaments, superstar competitions and the big event of the carnivals, the Puck fair in Nohoval. All monies raised went towards the building of the first dressing rooms. Albie, with his brother Eddie, were a vital part of this very successful event each year.
Albie’s Roll Of Honour:
All Ireland Junior Hurling Championship: 1
Munster Junior Hurling Championship: 1
County Junior Hurling Championship: 1
South East Junior Hurling Championship: 2
South East Junior Football Championship: 1
County Intermediate Hurling League: 3
South East Junior Hurling League: 3
Sincere sympathies are expressed to his wife Helen, brothers Eddie and George and his extended family. Albie Jagoe, a true gentleman, a true sport man and may the sod in St. Patrick’s cemetery rest lightly on your gentle soul.