Football Pedigree - the Top 10

clash-of-da-ash wrote:I'd say in order for a county to be seen to have footballing pedigree they should win AI in at least 2 decades and win at least 2 AI with 2 completely different teams with no player on both AI wins.

I think 9 of my original 10 qualify under that criteria Clash ....... only Tyrone don't ...

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

mossbags wrote:
Thats a fair point. Of course their may have been reasons for this, particularly in the six counties perhaps that the likes of me and you might be fairly oblivios to here Jayo.

Personally I'd still have Down well ahead of Cavan and probably in my top five.
Cavan may well have been trail blazers for 40odd years or whatever but that was an awful long time ago. Didn't you scratch Wexford for that very reason.

Ah I scratched Wexford (and Tipp too I think) for shortivity - opposite of longevity perhaps?

The Six Counties question is interesting - and one for Boc, NSG, TC et al more than me. Two points here though - with regard to the '3' counties how come Monaghan and Donegal did nothing in all the time Cavan were thriving? And no offence RMD (he knows this anyway) but it is astounding to me (anyway) that Donegal only won Ulster for the first time in ........ 1972!!!!

Secondly when Down came to the fore in the 60s why did it take so long for others to follow - fully accepting the horrendous political situation.

Is it over-reaching to suggest that the improved political climate in the six counties inspired a confidence that was in full evidence in the 90s ans 00s when their footballers played in Croke Park? Perhaps confidence might be the wrong word but their was certainly more panache and clearly a more definitive Ulster 'style'(for better or worse), not to mention more success,a lot more of that, that had not been as pronounced in previous decades. No surprise that it was Down who inspired this as they were the one of the six counties who had the 'pedigree'.

Yep Moss - I would love some obs here from our Ulster lads. It is definite that the move towards peace in the mid 80s on coincided with the emergence of Ulster football - was it a factor. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by the GAA community during the 'Troubles' in terms of training, playing etc.

I suppose the question is - in your opinion - what factors caused the re-emergence of Ulster football in the early 90s?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Yep Moss - I would love some obs here from our Ulster lads. It is definite that the move towards peace in the mid 80s on coincided with the emergence of Ulster football - was it a factor. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by the GAA community during the 'Troubles' in terms of training, playing etc.

I suppose the question is - in your opinion - what factors caused the re-emergence of Ulster football in the early 90s?

What about emigration in the West ..Why was the 00s so bad for Leinster simple because theirs was always better teams around..So jayo what next ulster team will be dominant..

The way i see it is Tyrone came across a bunch of good footballers...They could wait 20 years to have such a team again if they're lucky.

An old man said to me if you win 2 all irelands every 20 years your doing well-Who am i to argue with that

Would Val Daly have won an All-Ireland with Galway if he was giving more time..

I think Antrim are really getting their act together mullins - and already have one All Ireland final to look forward too. I also think that Tyrone have a superb underage structure - and I know Westmeath and Laois had too - but Tyrone seem to bring a lot more through than is the norm.

mullins wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Yep Moss - I would love some obs here from our Ulster lads. It is definite that the move towards peace in the mid 80s on coincided with the emergence of Ulster football - was it a factor. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by the GAA community during the 'Troubles' in terms of training, playing etc.

I suppose the question is - in your opinion - what factors caused the re-emergence of Ulster football in the early 90s?

What about emigration in the West ..Why was the 00s so bad for Leinster simple because theirs was always better teams around..So jayo what next ulster team will be dominant..

The way i see it is Tyrone came across a bunch of good footballers...They could wait 20 years to have such a team again if they're lucky.

An old man said to me if you win 2 all irelands every 20 years your doing well-Who am i to argue with that

I think the general point here Mullins man is trying to identify what factors led to the emergence of Ulster football as we know it today and in paricular what effect, if any, did the political process have on the game of football in the province in terms of how it emerged from its low ebb of the previous decades to the summits of the last two decades.
Put it this way, if it was just one or two counties who'd made the breakthrough, fair enough that can happen but seeing four of the 'six counties' and not forgetting Donegal, win All-Irelands in the space of 11 years 92-03(and most for the first time), might all suggest that Ulster football itself has been one of the chief beneficeries of the peace process.
Then again me and Jayo might be completely talking through our holes.
again

Jayo Cluxton wrote:I think Antrim are really getting their act together mullins - and already have one All Ireland final to look forward too. I also think that Tyrone have a superb underage structure - and I know Westmeath and Laois had too - but Tyrone seem to bring a lot more through than is the norm.

Jc underage won't come through all the time-Its just luck one of the best teams i've seen over the last 20 years was Galway 98 -01 i dont think they won anything at underage..I know they beat Dublin to reach an All-Ireland minor in 94 which they lost i think..

mossbags wrote:

mullins wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Yep Moss - I would love some obs here from our Ulster lads. It is definite that the move towards peace in the mid 80s on coincided with the emergence of Ulster football - was it a factor. We are all aware of the difficulties faced by the GAA community during the 'Troubles' in terms of training, playing etc.

I suppose the question is - in your opinion - what factors caused the re-emergence of Ulster football in the early 90s?

What about emigration in the West ..Why was the 00s so bad for Leinster simple because theirs was always better teams around..So jayo what next ulster team will be dominant..

The way i see it is Tyrone came across a bunch of good footballers...They could wait 20 years to have such a team again if they're lucky.

An old man said to me if you win 2 all irelands every 20 years your doing well-Who am i to argue with that

I think the general point here Mullins man is trying to identify what factors led to the emergence of Ulster football as we know it today and in paricular what effect, if any, did the political process have on the game of football in the province in terms of how it emerged from its low ebb of the previous decades to the summits of the last two decades.
Put it this way, if it was just one or two counties who'd made the breakthrough, fair enough that can happen but seeing four of the 'six counties' and not forgetting Donegal, win All-Irelands in the space of 11 years 92-03(and most for the first time), might all suggest that Ulster football itself has been one of the chief beneficeries of the peace process.
Then again me and Jayo might be completely talking through our holes.
again

Point taken-But i don't buy in to that....If your right then Ulster will dominate for years to come

mullins wrote:Would Val Daly have won an All-Ireland with Galway if he was giving more time..

Who knows Mullins man, who knows. Val goes down as one of them greats who never got to tango with Sam Maguire. Every county has its fair share of such players.(Except Kerry ).

mossbags wrote:

mullins wrote:Would Val Daly have won an All-Ireland with Galway if he was giving more time..

Who knows Mullins man, who knows. Val goes down as one of them greats who never got to tango with Sam Maguire. Every county has its fair share of such players.(Except Kerry ).

As a manager

mossbags wrote:

ardsanspeir wrote:I would say most competitive decade was the 60's. Down, Meath, Dublin, Galway and Kerry won. No, it's not as many winners as the 90's but all the same you had consistently strong teams winning multiple provincial titles and all challenging for All Ireland Honours. You had the Mighty Down and Galway teams, the emergence of a very strong Kerry team including O'Connell, Murphy and Dwyer and then both the Leinster kingpins.

Personally, I think Down should be 2 stops higher up the list with Cork also above Meath and Cavan.

Otherwise very accurate.

Good post, I would be broadly in agreement. The old heads who know about stuff tend to go on a lot about the Down team of the 60s and it was clearly a great era for football with a lot of great sides from the more traditional counties coming together at roughly around the same time. You could say that Down more than Cavan set the template for the Ulster teams to come.

It was of course Down who set the template, but they like the rest were a result of the 1944 education act.

This allowed many catholics to progress to grammar school and university in the six counties, people who had been excluded before. {Playing McRory and Hogan Cup, and then Sigerson brought on a lot of counties.

Until 1956 only Cavan, Antrim, Monaghan and then Armagh with a miserly 3 titles or so, had won ULSTER.

Tyrone broke through in 1956/57, followed immediately by Derry in 58 and Down in 59. Prior to that the only six county team to have won Ulster during the "Stormont" regime was Antrim.

You can trace the history of the Civil Rights movement to the 1944 education act as well.

mullins wrote:Would Val Daly have won an All-Ireland with Galway if he was giving more time..

Val Daley used to star for Mount Bellew, but the real star was James McCorley, who played for my club in Antrim Town, and also Cargin (Toomebridge).

There is a photo of a championship winning team from the 1980s in a pub in Mountbellew where I used to play a bit of music.

So we know that Tyrone, Down, Derry and Armagh benefitted froom the 1944 education act and surpassed the big two of Cavan and Antrim, and Antrim were very much a minor factor in that big two, but still the only team from the six counties.

The troubles were an obvious set back, with emmigration, lack of training, being involved, and a number of other factors.

The reemergence in 1990s could possibly be traced to the growth of Jordanstown Poly, as it became UUJ and a major Sigerson force, which also revived Queen's.

UUJ in 1986/87 featured DJ Kane and Barry Breen from Down, Dermott McNicholl and Enda Gormley from Derry, and also Ger Houlihan of Armagh.

Queen's responded in 1990 and 93 with an "all star" line up in 93 featuring James Mccartan, Tohill, McGeeney, Paul Brewster, Cathal O'Rourke, Paul McGrane, Paddy McGuinness and from 1990 Fergal Logan.

In 1989 St Mary's teachers training college Belfast won Sigerson featuring Brendan Tiernay, Pascal Canavan, Jarleth Burns, and Seamus Downey.

An awful lot of all Ireland winners there, and many had won colleges with St Colman's and St Pat's Maghera.

So a lot of success in the six counties can be traced to the education establishments.

As for Antrim, they are that smart that they hurl instead of playing bog ball.

its a difficult question to answer JC and to be honest i dont have an answer - though Patrique has probably already answered it for you anyway.

What i will add is that Northern/Ulster teams would have looked on an All Ireland semi final or final appearance as a day out as opposed to actually believing they were going to win so the mindset and the mental toughness were all wrong. I remember 86 when we beat Galway when we didnt expect to win but we did the final was all about the occasion more so than going down with a belief that we could win. The whole build up to the final was more like a 3 week carnival than anything and i think the over the top celebrations which took place then did little to help the players - but back then the though was we might never get hear again. I remember the day before the final my own village was thronged with people waiting to see the players off it was truly amazing but ultimately non beneficial.

It is also worth pointing out that the calibre of coaches/managers has improved drastically - guys who were prepared to think outside the box to find someway of beating our southern opponents the likes of Pete McGrath Coleman and Harte were all not afraid to do things their way and were more than prepared to leave no stone unturned to get to where they wanted to be. The resolve and mental toughness of Ulster teams was a big thing - no longer were we going to allow ourselves to be seen as whipping boys.

The wife's uncle, Barney Carr, trained/managed the Down 1960/61 team, always referred to as "the great Down team".

he is also Ross Carr's uncle and still hale and hearty and living. When I was "courtin" the wife we used to babysit for Jarleth Carey who played mid-field on the team, so I have spent many an evening talking about that team.

They were accused of spoiling tactics, fouling people at the start of a movement, breaking up the rhythm and too far away from the posts for a score. they were also accused of breaking the ball in mid field, and being the death of high fielding.

Their half forward line however is arguably the best ever in Sean O'neill, Tub Mccartan and Paddy Docherty.

I remember getting all of their autographs, I was about 8, but even then I hated Down. The first inter county game I saw was the 1961 lagan Cup final between a Jim McKeever inspired Derry and down. I was 7. Unknown to me Down were all Ireland champs, but as Derry got on top the red and black brigade left the ground in swarms. Traitors I thought.

However they were a really good side, gave Kerry two terrible hammerings at the time, and introduced a new style to the game.

They were considered to be better than the Galway three in a row who followed them.

I loved Paddy Doc, who worked as a brickie with my da, but all round they were a very good side.

That Down team is spoken of with great reverence by the peolpe whose opinions I'd respect most when it comes to football. There is no doubt in my mind listening to such opinions that this team were the forerunners for Ulster football and by extension, football itself as it is played in the modern age. Clearly they were not as good as the Galway team that followed but they probably weren't too far off. In any case that is generally agreed to have been a golden age for the game and the great Down team were at the fore, indeed their imprint on the game is still seen to this day. Mick O Dwyer might still not be happy about it and Jayo might still not agree but Downs rightful place in the top half of the pedigree list is blatantly obvious to everyone else.

The Cavan 1947-52 team however might well be the best side Ulster ever produced.

That side somehow threw away a three in a row, before coming back to win again in 1952.

They beat the best Mayo team ever, the best Antrim team ever, and arguably the best Meath team ever. That Meath team was led by Peter McDermott, who helped out with the Down 1960/61 team, not commonly known, just to link everything together.

That Cavan side had John Joe, Mick Higgins, Deignan, Duke, Tighe and Sherlock.

Three all Ireland's in 6 years, without a back door is some going.

And mention of a back door is a problem as it complicates comparison. How would Derry 1991-96 have done with a back door, or Tyrone 2003-08 without one?

Impossible to tell.

But Cavan 1947-52 were great.

Hard to credit they haven't made a final since.

patrique wrote:.

They were accused (And rightly so) of spoiling tactics, fouling people at the start of a movement, breaking up the rhythm and too far away from the posts for a score. they were also accused of breaking the ball in mid field, and being the death of high fielding. I agree totally.

Their half forward line however is arguably the best ever in Sean O'neill, Tub Mccartan and Paddy Docherty. Good call.

However they were a really good side, gave Kerry two terrible hammerings at the time,(?) and introduced a new style to the game. They certainly did that...many slow learners in Ulster...

They were considered to be better than the Galway three in a row who followed them. The pity is, they were'nt fit to lace their boots

I loved Paddy Doc, who worked as a brickie with my da, but all round they were a very good side. Negative,dour and arrogant IMO.

50 years on and this cant goes on.. They won 2 finals, much like Ui Fháile 10 years later, yet they are "revered" as the fore-runners of Ulster football and a great team. ...They might be seen as 30 years ahead of their time, paid coaching, physios, tracksuits, all the modern gimmicry, but they were a much un-loved team, possessed of lots of "hardy bucks" with, albeit one or two very good players, (both forwards- Doherty and O'Neill)..
In no way comparable to their successors, Galway 63/66, who had quality in every line bar midfield..Geraghty, Colleran, Tierney, Newell, Dunne, Matty Mac, Leyden, Keenan and latterly, Duggan and Sammon...
G'off outa that....Prose 10/10....GAA Reality 3/10.....................

I found the Galway team of 1963-66 boring.

whatsisname scoring from frees, left, right and centre.

But I might agree with your assessment of Down.

patrique wrote:I found the Galway team of 1963-66 boring.

whatsisname scoring from frees, left, right and centre.

But I might agree with your assessment of Down.

What you might fail to recognise therin Paddy, is that, their fluency in possession created a lot of disarray in opposing defences, notably Meath.. 'Twas hardly Cyril Dunne's fault (him being a son of Tull Dunne's) that he wasted a handy free..
That you could describe a forward line composed of Dunne, Matty Mac and Leyden with inside Tyrell, Cleary and the "Redman" from Dunmore, John Keenan as boring, mystifies even me....
The young bucks here wouldn't know of these lads, but backed up by Geraghty in goal (no let-in in 3) Colleran, Tierney and JB in the f/b line, The future TD Donnellan, in the middle Meade (tough nut) and Newell (classy player) ...fine, true exponents of the game..
While in their time, Mick Garrett and Mick Reynolds and latterly(66) Patéén Donnelllan, weren't world beaters, they more than held their own......Down or Galway in the 60's?????..Galway by a mile,,

I'd say they were fierce boring alright. Cyrill was running the clubhouse bar in Ballinasloe
for a good while. His old man John was the kinkpin when St Grellans football was the greatest in the land. Hoping for a similar result against Kerry on Sunday.


Donnellan and Dunne the Stars: All Six Forwards Scintillated — It's Galway's Cup — Superlative Football Shatters Myth of Kerry Football Final Invincibility
The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, October 3, 1964
Introduction

Thunderous roars from 40,000 Galway throats hung in the air over the huge arena of Croke Park on Sunday afternoon in salutation of the young players who had confounded the critics with a superlative display of precision football which won their county its fifth all Ireland title.
A brilliant success this, accomplished against all the odds and over a supposedly mighty Kerry side, it was supremely satisfying and shattered for all time the long standing myth of Kerry's invincibility in the All—Ireland series, for this was the second Galway success over Kerry in two years.
But nothing that had passed can give Galway folk such complete satisfaction. Their favourites routed the Munster champions with an exhibition of avant—garde football which underscored the scribes and Kerry's ridiculous obsession that mediocrity plus tradition can win All—Ireland titles in the 1960s.

Galway were brilliant. They were a team of
consummate skill. A team whose craft and experience belies their
players' age and in whose dash, daring and durability possessed
everything that Kerry lacked.
Now and for months to come when the game will be played verbally and
performances rated, hardly a player on the gloriously victorious Galway side will be beyond exaltation by delirious supporters.
While this is understandable in the immediate aftermath of seething
excitement it will still hold good in a dispassionately cold appraisal
of the game.
For Galway were even more brilliant
collectively than individually and this was the cornerstone of the
sweeping victory over a leaderless, rudderless and lost Kingdom side
which started sluggishly, stall repeatedly and whose ultimate answer
was in obstructionist tactics.

These measures served only to indicate the degree to which the Kerrymen were utterly outclassed and outsped by the Galway lads who seemed like fifteen Maroon—and—White clad Mercury's—with winged heels.
For Cyril Dunne, Seamus Leydon, Sean Cleary, Christy Tyrrell and John Keenan flitted about the Kerry goal like moths about a light—but with deadly efficiency—watched over by "General" Matty McDonagh
who made openings with extreme ease. Darting, dummying, jinking,
passing, inter—passing and then almost scoring goals, they whammed,
flicked, lofted or punched the leather over the bar in a bewildering
spate of spectacular points.
Yes truly, the attack won this game. A mercurial, highly polished
division, they brought cohesion to a fine art and used it to shred a Kerry defence and then blind it with high powered, almost professional skill.

Defence Roasted

Never has a Kerry defence been given such a roasting and they laboured against the fleetness of their opponents from the start. Never has Croke Park seen such a fantastic, brilliant forward display on All—Ireland day.
From the moment Sean Cleary collected the ball from the throw—in and lofted it into the goalmouth until the final whistle. Kerry were insipid, uninspired and distressed.
Indeed, the entire Kerry side were
miserable representatives of a once proud — now humbled—county and
their paucity of talent was graphically captured by a downhearted
supporter behind the Press bench. He muttered "God be with the good old
Kerry teams".
But regardless of how much one may have marvelled and raved at the performance of the Galway boys it takes two teams to make a match and in boxing parlance this was
No Contest.

The Stars
The young Ballinasloe player, who is son of team trainer, John Dunne, had a marvellous game on the right wing and with right back and captain, John Donnellan, were the stars of the Galway side.

John Donnellan.
Dunne completely outplayed much vaunted for D. O'Connor who suffered the ultimate football humiliation of being called to the side—line after about twenty—seven minutes of the first half. The same could have been the fate of ten other Kerry players, and it seemed invidious to victimise O'Connor, and one of the main reasons for this was the powerhouse play of Donnellan.
John was an inspirational figure at right half back where at first he mastered Mick O'Connell in tow different positions — left half and then centre back but then resorted to the No. 5 spot with unbridled brilliance.
These two must take most of the individual honours but Donnellan's magnificence had tragic undertones for he was at his most brilliant in the second half at a time when his father, the famous Mick, collapsed and died while watching the game from the Hogan Stand.
In defence as well as in attack Galway reigned supreme and so mastered the Kerry forwards that only Pat Griffin, Mick O'Connell and Mick O'Dwyer (from a free) managed to get into the scorer's list. None of the full forward line — Frank O'Leary, Tom Long or John Joe Barrett scored—itself an outstanding tribute to the tenacious play of Bosco McDermott, Noel Tierney and Enda Colleran.

The half line in turn made the work of the rearguard almost negligible but both O'Leary and Long were scarcely visible throughout the hour such was the dominance of Tierney and company. Donnellan and Sean Meade were rampant in the half back line and this in turn negatived what could have been a dangerous turn of events at centerfield.

This sector once the powerhouse of the side functioned on only one
cylinder for most of the match, and things could never be said to have
been rosy there and the play for long periods. He was rarely in
possession during the first half and his play lacked snap and
concentration which is essential for success here. He did improve
considerably later in the game but his partner Mick Reynolds had until then carried the burden of responsibility single—handed.

Reynolds Part

Indeed Reynolds played a major part in Galway's win and this player who last year was largely overshadowed by Garrett has come into his own in the 1964 campaign and stamped himself as a midfielder of distinction.

Mick Reynolds.
Galway supporters can thank the prowess of Reynolds that Mick Fleming was so subdued that the lanky Tuam man could take time out to try curb Mick O'Connell who improved immensely when moved there after twenty—three minutes. The Valentia Islander played his best football in the final for many years but his play lacked complete endeavour.

Nevertheless he was the best of the Kerrymen and had his ability been
matched by his team mates the issue could have been much closer.
I say much closer because I'm convinced that on their form on Sunday the side was without peer and as the game progressed the Galway men were merely toying with a Kerry side which threatened as much as the rattle of a skeleton's bones.

Superlatives pale when conjured up to pen the efforts and accomplishments of the Galway side which was better dressed and better drilled.

Exuded Confidence
From goalie Johnny Geraghty, resplendent in a new distinctive white shirt, to red haired corner forward John Keenan, the side exuded confidence allied to cold, deadly design.
A scintillating sextet screamed about the Munstermen's goal in search of scores and as they tore through the Kerry defence they left it in tattered disarray. In the end the defence presented as much opposition as would a curtain of beads.

Kerry, in fact, were lucky to have finished a mere five points in arrears, for the margin was in no way indicative of Galway's superiority in craft and ability over the hour.
If this dominance was to be fairly presented a final tally of three further goals would not have flattered them.
Their forwards brilliance had to be seen to be believed and the
apparently nonchalant manner in which they linked up with devastating
precision and speed had the bigger Kerrymen reeling helplessly.
Kerry were rattled and as the huge Galway
following thrilled to the sallies of their men the Kingdom supporters
watched with dread in their hearts as the chasm in class between the
sides became more apparent.
Through the field Galway were superior
in speed, fitness, purpose and determination and from an early stage
were obviously heading for their fifth title.

Find of Year
At no stage did Kerry really challenge them. Kerry trailed from the thirtieth second of the game to the end — the nearest they came was within two points — and every Kerry score was immediately answered by a much better Galway minor.

In goalie Johnny Geraghty — surely the "find" of the year—Galway had a "keeper of the highest calibre. With a wonderful "eye", fine
anticipation and acrobatic agility, he affected a number of top class
clearances.

Johnny Geraghty
His "tour de force" was a fourth minute save from point blank range from a John Joe Barrett
shot which he punched over for a 50. Ten minutes from the end he
punched out two very dangerous centres in quick succession to the
applause of the 76,500 attendance.

Enda Colleran was his usual sound self. He was as good as he needed to be to master the opposition, Barrett. He came through with two storming clearances during the first half and covered splendidly throughout.
Bosco McDermott did very well in the left corner and underlined Kerry's faux pas in choosing Frank O'Leary to fill the place of Tony Barrett.

Lightning Thrusts
Martin Newell ran into an in—form Pat Griffin, the best Kerry forward, and though apparently not as fit as last season was a fine link man in defence and attack.

Cyril Dunne's lightning thrusts under the Hogan Stand in the second half drew huge Galway roars and his astute low punts to Tyrrell and Cleary kept the Kerry backs in a state of perplexion.

Cyril Dunne
Dunne, the top scorer with nine points — this strongly challenges Kilkenny's Eddie Keher's final tally of fourteen points in 1963 — must be rated the star of the attack. He was superb in all facets of play.
The role of bustling centre forward was played to perfection by Matty McDonagh who outplayed Seamus Murphy in the first half and Paud O'Donoghue in the second. Matty repeatedly steamrolled his way through before sending one of his more nimble colleagues away for a score.

Left half forward Seamus Leydon was the real thorn in the Kerry defensive side and his speed off the mark often left Denis O'Sullivan foundering in his wake. Leydon hit some delightful points and had a hand in most of Galway's scores.

Seamus Leydon

Wrecked Havoc
Christy Tyrrell in his first final was another who wrecked havoc on the Kerry defenders. Fitting in beautifully with Cleary, Leydon and Dunne he seemed possessed of extra sensory anticipation of his colleagues' moves. So too was Sean Cleary, the lean full forward, whose roaming tactics and lightning bursts through the centre caused Niall Sheehy endless bother.

Sean Cleary
One of the lightest pivots in the game Cleary
would seem to herald the end of the traditional full forward whose
requirements were brawn and durability rather than skill and speed.
He repeatedly outmanoeuvred the powerful Sheehy but naturally paid the penalty in close exchanges where tactics were designed to slow him.
Dunmore man John Keenan
too played his part admirably though not as spectacularly as the
others. He nevertheless worked very hard and was also pitted against Mick Morris one of Kerry's best defenders.
It must be admitted that Sheehy too was a tireless trier as was wing half Denis O'Sullivan.

O'Connell had a new lease of life at centerfield but Mick Fleming was never in the game against Mick Reynolds. In the forward line hardly any other that Pat Griffin are worthy of mention.

The Teams
Galway: John Geraghty, Enda Colleran, Noel Tierney, Bosco McDermott, John Donnellan (Captain), Sean Meade, Martin Newell, Mick Garrett, Mick Reynolds, Cyril Dunne, Matty McDonagh, Seamus Leydon, Christy Tyrrell, Sean Cleary, John Keenan.

Kerry: Johnny Culloty, Mick Morris, Niall Sheehy, Paud O'Donoghue, Denis O'Sullivan, Seamus Murphy, Jer D. O'Connor, Mick Fleming, Donie O'Sullivan, Pat Griffin, Mick O'Dwyer, Mick O'Connell, Frank O'Leary, Tom Long, John Joe Barrett.

Subs: J. McCarthy (for O'Connor), B. O'Callaghan (for O'Leary), Kevin Coffey (for McCarthy).

Referee: Jimmy Hatton (Wicklow)

Galway in Front From Dunne's Point
Galway captain John Donnellan won the toss and Galway defended the Canal 'goal' with a slight breeze blowing in their favour. There was no sun.

From the throw—in by President Alf Murray, Sean Cleary was away down the centre but his long kick dropped into the waiting arms of Mick Morris.

Meade sent back to Christy Tyrrell who shot hard at Culloty but was fouled and Cyril Dunne made no mistake from thirty five yards after barely thirty seconds had elapsed.

Culloty Sound
Culloty saved another drive by Cleary and in a Kerry attack Tierney was tripped when saving. Play moved up field and Leydon was fouled. Reynolds sent well in and Cyril Dunne secured and kicked his second point after six minutes.

Kerry's first score cam a minute later when Pat Griffin was placed by Mick Fleming. The Munstermen pressed hard and Donnellan and Tierney were much too strong and in a fast break the first wide of the game came from Cleary after twelve minutes.

Hit Upright
Tierney saved brilliantly in the air and sent Galway attacking with a long drive. Keenan put Leydon in possession and Kerry were lucky when the Dunmore man's drive struck the upright and went wide.

Mick O'Connell who was completely out of it against Donnellan was moved to centre forward but Donnellan and Meade changed placed to curb any threat.

O'Connell however eluded both Meade and Donnellan and latched on to a loose ball on the forty yard mark and kicked Kerry's second point in the sixteenth minute.

Boxed Point
Back came Galway and John Keenan took a pass from McDonagh for a point and in the twentieth minute Dunne boxed over Galway's sixth point from Cleary's pass.

Donie O'Sullivan and Mick O'Connell changed places and Kerry's first wide came in the twenty sixth minute. A minute later Cyril Dunne, kicked, a magnificent point from fully fifty yards. Jer D. O'Connor was replaced by John McCarthy and from a free O'Connell closed the first half scoring with a point in the twenty—ninth minute.

Half Time
Half—time score: Galway 0—7 : Kerry 0—3

Kerry restarted with Paud O'Donoghue at centre back and Seamus Murphy in the No 4 spot. The sun, until the interval hidden behind clouds, came through brilliantly and troubled the Galway defence.

Pat Griffin opened the scoring in the half
with a well taken point in the second minute and almost immediately
Geraghty made his brilliant save from Barrett at the expense of a '50'.

O'Connell shot a point from a free after six minutes but Dunne answered this with a similar score. After Griffin was wide for Kerry, Matty McDonagh burst through from Cleary's pass and boxed over a point in the tenth minute.

Tyrrell Flashes
Christy Tyrrell flashed into the game — this time to score a lovely point to put Galway five points clear after thirteen minutes. Mick O'Connell narrowed the margin with a free at the end of the third quarter. Two fast Galway points answered this. First Cyril Dunne from a free after seventeen minutes and a minute later Sean Cleary fastened on to Tyrrell's pass for another minor.

Now seven points behind Kerry made switches all over the place: Long and O'Dwyer switched; Griffin and Fleming switched, and O'Donoghue and Murphy switched.

Brilliant Saves
Geraghty made two brilliant punched saves in rapid succession but O'Connell pointed in the twenty—fifth minute. Back came Galway and Seamus Leydon lofted the ball over his shoulder for a grand point to finish one of the best moves of the game.

Kevin Coffey came on for Kerry just after Mick O'Connell had pointed a Kerry free in the twenty seventh minute to leave his side trailing by 14 points to 9.

With Galway just ninety seconds away from their coveted award O'Connell broke through and kicked a delightful point but Kerry were wide in a raid a minute later.

Back came Galway and Mick Garrett soloed downfield through several tackles before passing to Seamus Leydon, who went through for a great point, the last of the game.

Final Score: Galway 0—15; Kerry 0—10.

Six Stars of a Great Win — Finish Was Relief for Kerry Folk
With a bewildering display of copybook football, Galway
blasted tradition and superstition sky—high on Sunday. Playing in their
thirteenth final in all they made it lucky thirteen by taking the title
for the fifth time and in the process showed that tradition and Kerry's great football record worried them not one whit.

From a Kerry point of view this was a
harrowing hour. Supporters of the green and gold saw their favourites
over—run, out thought and outplayed in the finer phases of the game to
such a degree in fact, that for many the final whistle was a welcome
relief.

To me, at any rate, this was first and foremost a triumph for
TEAM—WORK. Here were fifteen young men blending their respective
talents into one concerted effort. Fore and aft they had solidity and
nowhere was a weak link to be found.

Mighty Midfielders
Galway's mighty midfielders, Mick Garrett and Mick Reynolds, must rate high on the honours list. They it was who undermined Kerry's chances from the outset with a riteless, Trojan—like display of lofty catching and shrewdly directed kicking. Mick Fleming and Donie O'Sullivan could never cope with them.

Even the eventual arrival of Mick O'Connell on the midfield spot failed to stem a tidal flow that was very definitely going Galway's way. O'Connell did on occasions, prove himself Garrett's master but the Kerry man's effort were too spasmodic to shatter Galway's control hereabouts.

What a glorious day it was for Galway's forwards! They revealed speed, ball control, positional sense and accuracy that can have left little to be desired of them. Cyril Dunne was the chief tormenter on the right wing, being much too fast for Jer D. O'Connor, McCarthy and Coffey in turn. And, though he met a top—drawer defender in Denis O'Sullivan, left—winger Seamus Leydon, presented another formidable striking force to the Kerry posts.

Mattie McDonagh on the 'forty' also emerged
with flying colours. He only contributed one point in actual scoring,
but his overall contribution to success was immeasurable.

Rampant Forwards
The fact that Galway's half—forward line were continuously so rampant, unprecedented pressure was exerted on the Kerry full back line of Mick Morris, Niall Sheehy and Paud O'Donoghue. This trio battled gallantly against Tyrrell, Cleary and Keenan — the Galway
line only managed three points between them — but the pressure from out
fired was too much for them, and the wonder is that they defied the
opposition as often as they did.

As the other end, the story is easily told. Galway's backs especially the half line of John Donnell and, Sean Meade and Martin Newell, threw up an iron curtain through which the Kerry forwards found it impossible to penetrate. As it was, O'Connell had seven of Kerry's ten points, and six of these he scored while operating at midfield.

Failed to Score
The Kerry full line of O'Leary, Long and Barrett failed to register a single score and this shows how thoroughly they were shadowed by the bone—hard full—back line of Colleran, Tierney and McDermott.

Long battled gamely to outwit Tierney, but except for one or two occasions he was never allowed test goalkeeper Geraghty. Joe Barrett, along with right winger Pat Griffin, was the only forward to threaten danger to the winner's posts.

After the game Kerry supporters were
holding the post—mortems which are part and parcel of every big game.
And topmost among the list of WHYS were the following:

The Whys
Why was Frank O'Leary left play nearly the full hour when he should have been replaced by Dom O'Donnell at an early stage?

Why was Kevin Coffey not brought on in place of Jer D. O'Connor at half time instead of when the game was almost over?

Why was an aimless kicker like Donie O'Sullivan entrusted with an unaccustomed forward role after he had been taken out of midfield as every Kerry man will tell you, O'Sullivan is first and last a defender?

Why was recently indisposed Bernie O'Callaghan brought on to the side when sitting it out on the reserves' bench as was a player of the speed and superb ball control of Derry O'Shea star of Kerry's All—Ireland Minor winning side in 1962?

Galway were right worthy title winners and in a team that glittered with the glow of real champions, Tierney, Donnellan, Meade, Garrett, Reynolds, Tyrrell and Keenan were brightest of all.

The only Kerrymen who will ever retain any happy memories are Culloty in goal, Niall Sheehy, Denis O'Sullivan, Mick O'Connell, Pat Griffin and Joe Joe Barrett.

Bags...Bullet point your envisionary concept of Galway's fine day's of the '60.....

Old ball Game merchants..Country backs (Engaged for roubistinousity married to townie (crafty-dole drawing) forwards

Nice to see one of my former teachers mentioned in the article above.

He was always very coy when anyone asked him about football though, but one of the funniest men I've ever met.

St Grellan's lost an All Ireland final I believe. I only know that because I actually had a friend called Grellan, never heard of it before or since.

Down V Galway in the 1960s? Down's goal scoring ability would have won it.