1886 - THE FACTORY TOWN WADES IN
Cornwall's initial year in the league was a modest success. In a
triple round robin, twelve games total, they enjoyed six victories but
each one came against the bottom two clubs. They were no match for
M.A.A.A. or Toronto. They managed only one goal in three games against
each squad.
The Shamrock season opened with three losses. They then surprised the
defending champions by beating them 3-2 in 81 minutes. It was a fluke
win as the irish struggled to a 3-9 record.
M.A.A.A. and Toronto were the only pennant contenders. They battled
from June to the beginning of October. Toronto gained the early edge
thanks to the Shamrocks upset win. On July 3rd they increased their
lead by beating the Triple A's 3-2. Ross Eckhardt won two games and
set up the third. The victory overshadowed the previous week's
performance when Ontarios tied Toronto. That small slip would loom
large by season's end. At the time Ontarios had only one win and they
would proceed to lose their final nine games.
The Toronto game was the Winged Wheels last loss of the year. Two
weeks later Billy Aird would play his first match of the season. His
return sparked an eight game winning streak taking M.A.A.A. to 10-2.
Down the stretch he twice shutout Toronto. On August 28th, in 63
minutes, as W.Hodgson scored two and on September 25th, in 55 minutes,
as Tom Paton also counted a brace. The latter was the Queen City
club's last contest. At 9-2-1 they had to hope Montreal would falter
in their final two games. A week later they nearly did. Shamrocks
battled M.A.A.A. for over 80 minutes before losing 3-2. Paton's
hattrick saved the day. The final match was not so dramatic. The
Triple A's took three straight from Ontarios in under 15 minutes.
