Keyran William John Cahill (5 December 1910 – 7 March 1966) was a sportsman who played Australian rules football for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and represented Tasmania at first-class cricket.
Family The son of Keyran Nelson Cahill (1876-1924),Deaths: Cahill, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Thursday, 14 August 1924), p.1. and Emma Amelia Cahill (1877-1953), née Cornish, later Mrs. Linden Jones,Marriage: Cahill—Cornish, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Tuesday, 9 April 1907), p.1.Deaths: Jones, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Wednesday, 4 March 1953), p.28. Keyran William John Cahill was born at Hobart, Tasmania on 5 December 1910.Births: Cahill, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Tuesday, 6 December 1910), p.1.His Service Record (p.54) contains a statutory declaration, dated 23 March 1942, declaring that although his official "registered" name at birth was Keyran William Cahill, he had always been known as Keyran William John Cahill, and that he desired to be known by that name.
He married Floris Ada Illingworth (1911-1995), at Windermere, Tasmania on 19 October 1939.Married at Windemere, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Saturday, 28 October 1939), p.10.
Cricket He made four first-class appearances with Tasmania in the 1931–32 season. One of those was against the touring South African team and he took the only wicket of his career when he dismissed all-rounder Quintin McMillan.
"An ambidextrous bowler", "equally proficient with either arm",Ambidextrous Athlete For Melbourne, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 10 March 1937), p.9. he was still playing top-level competition cricket in the 1953/54 season, at the age of 43.Veteran 'A' Grade Cricketer at 43, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Thursday, 24 December 1953), p.21."It's as Easy as This" says Bill, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Thursday, 14 January 1954), p.20.
Football Launceston (NTFA) Cahill, a half back, won the Tasman Shields Trophy while at Northern Tasmanian Football Association club Launceston twice: in 1933 and 1936.
Essendon (VFL) Having finally fulfilled his "residential qualification",Clearances Granted: Cahill and R. Watts to Play in Victoria, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Tuesday, 18 May 1937), p.11. Cahill was cleared from Tasmania to Essendon on 23 June 1937.Should Appear for Permits, The Argus, (Thursday, 24 June 1937), p.12.
He made his debut against Carlton, at Windy Hill, on 26 June 1937,Teams Chosen for Tomorrow: Essendon v. Carlton, The Argus, (Friday, 25 June 1937), p.16.Blues' Escape: Extended by Essendon, The Age, (Monday, 28 June 1937), p.16. and The Argus reported that "The form of Cahill, the Tasmanian, was most pleasing. He showed ability in defence".Carlton Scrambles Home, The Argus, (Monday, 28 June 1937), p.4.
Selected at centre half-back against Footscray, at Windy Hill, on 10 July 1937, he seriously injured his shoulder during the match;He was one of nine Essendon players injured during the match (Nine Essendon Men Injured, The Argus, (Wednesday, 14 July 1937), p.18); five of whom, including Cahill, were so injured that they were unable to play in the next match (Eight Essendon Changes, The Argus, (Friday, 16 July 1937), p.13). however, because the 19th man, Leo Maynes, had already replaced the concussed George Coward, there was no replacement for Cahill, and he had to remain on the field. "CAHILL'S COURAGEApart from his football ability, Bill Cahill, the Tasmanian centre half-back, who made his first appearance with Essendon two weeks ago, also has an unlimited supply of courage. In the first quarter against Footscray he received a solid blow to the shoulder and unable to raise his left arm, he had to be shifted to a back pocket. Even then he could be of little assistance, but because the 19th man had been called upon he stuck out to the bitter end. Examination yesterday showed he had a small bone broken in his shoulder." – The Herald, 14 July 1937.Cahill's Courage, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 14 July 1937), p26.
The shoulder injury meant that he was unable to play in the last six games of the 1937 season; yet, although he had only been able to play in three matches, The Argus selected Cahill at centre half-back in its team of 1937's first-year players.Football Season's Many Good Recruits, The Argus, (Tuesday, 7 September 1937), p.14. Best First-Year Players (1937)BacksBernie Treweek(Fitzroy)Reg Henderson(Richmond)Lawrence Morgan(Fitzroy)H/BacksGordon Waters(Hawthorn)Bill Cahill(Essendon)Eddie Morcom(North Melbourne)Centre LineTed Buckley(Melbourne)George Bates(Richmond)Jack Kelly(St Kilda)H/ForwardsCol Williamson(St Kilda)Ray Watts(Essendon)Don Dilks(Footscray)ForwardsLou Sleeth(Richmond)Sel Murray(North Melbourne)Charlie Pierce(Hawthorn)Rucks/RoverReg Garvin(St Kilda)Sandy Patterson(South Melbourne)Des Fothergill(Collingwood)Second RuckLawrence MorganCol WilliamsonLou Sleeth
Launceston (NTFA) He returned to Launceston in 1939 where he was appointed captain-coach.K.W. Cahill as Coach: Launceston Club's Appointment, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Wednesday, 8 March 1939), p.8. Overall, he played for Launceston in seven premiership teams in eight seasons.Launceston Club's Review, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Monday, 21 April 1941), p.8.
Old Launcestonians (TAFL) In 1946, he was appointed coach of Old Launcestonians Football Club in the (Launceston-based) Tasmanian Amateur Football League.W. Cahill To Coach Amateur Club, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Friday, 29 March 1946), p.4.
Military service He served in the RAAF during the Second World War.Nominal Roll.Service Record.
See also List of Tasmanian representative cricketers
Notes
References Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. World War Two Nominal Roll: Leading Aircraftman Keyran William John Cahill (31622), Department of Veterans' Affairs. Identity Photograph: Keyran William John Cahill (31622), National Archives of Australia. World War Two Service Record: Leading Aircraftman Keyran William John Cahill (31622), National Archives of Australia.
External links
CricketArchive: William Cahill