|
|
 |
You are > Home > Beauty of the GAA
|
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Beauty of the GAA
“There won’t be a cow milked in Clare for at least a week” beamed RTÉ commentator and Banner native Marty Morrissey as the Kingdom was rocked to its foundations.
Under John Maughan, Clare tore the form book to shreds and Colm Clancy’s second-half goal helped them to a 2-10 to 1-12 success. It was Clare’s first provincial title in 75 years and proved to be Jack O’Shea’s last game for Kerry.
Players like Tom Morrissey, Francis McInerney, Padraig Conway and Martin Flynn became household names as Clare survived a nervous start to eventually get the better of their illustrious opponents.
Clare went on to suffer a 3-14 to 2-12 defeat to Dublin in the All-Ireland semifinal but the result didn’t take away from one of the greatest shocks the GAA world has ever seen.
1994 LEITRIM v Mayo
The sight of Declan Darcy and Tom Gannon (Leitrim captain in 1927) jointly lifting the Nestor Cup will be never forgotten among Leitrim folk. The fact that Leitrim had only won their second provincial title was a shock. Yet they defeated ‘the big three’ in Connacht in 2004.
The momentum commenced with a narrow one-point win over their bogey team Roscommon, a county they hadn’t beaten in 27 years. Declan Darcy’s expertly-struck ‘45 five minutes from time sealed the win.
Darcy was once again to the fore as his late point rescued Leitrim against Galway. The replay in Tuam was delicately poised before wing-forward Padraig Kenny pounced on the stroke of full-time for a 0-11 to 0-10 victory.
Disaster struck for Leitrim after only 18 seconds of the Connacht final against Mayo when they conceded a goal but ‘Little Leitrim’ responded manfully and the 0-12 to 2-4 success didn’t flatter John O’Mahony’s men.
1997 OFFALY v Meath
The sight of Roy Malone in full flight, puncturing holes at will through a beleaguered Meath defence, tore the 1997 form book to shreds as the Faithful County nailed down their first provincial crown since 1982.
Offaly had spent the winter and spring toiling away in Division Four and they were given little chance against defending Leinster and All-Ireland champions Meath.
A trio of tough games against Kildare, contests that announced the arrival of Dermot Earley on to the national stage, left Meath without Darren Fay and Mark O’Reilly for the final due to suspension.
Offaly’s inside forward line took full advantage as Malone, flanked by Peter Brady and Vinny Claffey, scored 3-9 between them.
Manager Tommy Lyons couldn’t believe his luck as his side triumphed by 3-17 to 1-15. Malone’s second goal, his side’s third, was truly memorable as he took off from the 45-metre line before calmly firing the ball past Meath goalkeeper Brendan Reilly.
Offaly had overcome Longford, Westmeath (after a replay), Wicklow and Louth to reach the final.
2004 WESTMEATH v Laois
What a year for Westmeath football as the county won its first Leinster senior football championship after seeing off Laois in a replay.
The nucleus of the team came from the county’s successful All-Ireland U-21 side of 1999. When Paidi O Se was parachuted in from Kerry to manage the side in 2004, there was much ceremony and pomp about this appointment but few could have imagined the impact the Kerryman would have on the team from the midlands.
The campaign began with a narrow 0-11 to 0-10 success against neighbours Offaly before a massive shock unfolded in the semi-final as the Dubs were sent packing, 0-14 to 0-12, in a Croke Park thriller.
With momentum now firmly behind them, Westmeath didn’t freeze on the big occasion.
Far from it, they drew 0-13 apiece with defending champions Laois before winning the replay 0-12 to 0-10.
Some of the points scored by Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon were just a joy to behold.
Gary Connaughton didn’t concede a goal throughout the Leinster campaign but the All-Stars went to Dolan and John Keane.
2007 SLIGO v Galway
When Galway defeated defending champions Mayo by seven points in the opening round of the Connacht championship, they were the warmest of favourites to go on and claim the provincial crown.
Sligo enjoyed a stroll in the park against New York before a late rally, which yielded seven unanswered points, saw the Yeats men get the better of Roscommon who imploded in the final quarter of their semi-final.
Still, few saw Sligo troubling Galway in the Connacht final but what subsequently transpired offered a huge boost to the GAA in the north-west.
Eamonn O’Hara’s wonder-goal in the opening half set the tone, one of the best goals ever seen in Dr. Hyde Park.
Galway had chances but their game was riddled with complacency as Tommy Breheny’s men claimed the Nestor Cup for the first time since 1975.
As Sligo fans poured on to Hyde Park, Sunday, July 8th, 2007 was indelibly scorched into Yeats County folklore.
They had lived the dream and their progression in the qualifiers in previous seasons had been finally backed up with some substantial silverware.
Main News Page |
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
Facebook
Twitter
