 A prominent player of the 1940s was William (Bill) O'Donnell, winner of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship with Tipperary in 1937, when the final was played in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney as Croke Park was temporarily out of commission while the old Cusack Stand was under construction.O'Donnell was a native of Golden and in his early playing days competed with the Golden Fontenoys before transferring his allegiance to Éire Óg on his appointment as Principal Teacher in Annacarty National School.He was also a referee of note in the 1940s and took charge of many important engagements in the inter-county arena, especially in Munster.