Thrilling All—Ireland Final

Sports and Pastimes 30—09—1933

Galway's Game Battle — Thrilling All—Ireland Final — 45,000 Spectators Witness Contest

At Croke Park, Dublin, on Sunday, Cavan defeated Galway by 2 goals 5 points to 1 goal 4 points in the Senior All—Ireland Football Final. Forty—five thousand one hundred and eighty—eight spectators — the greatest crowd ever assembled at Croke Park — witnessed the thrilling contest.

Galway Makes History

The All—Ireland Senior Football Final has been fought and won. The laurels are not ours but by their gallant fight at Croke Park on last Sunday against the dethroners of Kerry, Galway has made football history and landed with a bang into the front ranks of Gaeldom. They are a mighty team whose pretensions to greatness cannot be denied and may look with hearts full of hope to the title of All—Ireland Champions before 1936.

Long before the hour fixed for the curtain raiser thousands began to pour into Croke Park. The majority of those who sported colours at all displayed the blue and white of the Ulster champions, and by the time of the Ulster champions, and by the time the senior teams lined up a veritable forest of blue and white emblems surrounded the playing pitch and easily dominated the green and white sported by the men and women of the West.

Hill Sixteen, standing out against the sky—line, like a miniature Ben Bulbin, was a dense mass of humanity, swaying like reeds in the wind — all keyed—up and expectant eager for the mighty clash between the stalwarts of Connacht and Ulster.

While the Antrim and Kerry minors were in action the crowd kept on pouring in.

Enthusiastic Gaels

The stands began to groan under the weight of enthusiastic Gaels and amongst prominent members and supporters of the G.A. A. from the West could be noticed: Rev. J. O'Dea, Galway, President, Connacht Council, G.A.A.; Mr. Peadar O'Farrell, Roscommon, Secretary, Connacht Council, G.A.A.; Mr. Martin O'Regan, Secretary, Galway County Board; Mr. Sean T. O'Ruane, Kiltimagh, late President of the Connacht Council; Mr. James Nohilly, Tuam; Mr. Padraic O'Higgins, Kilkerrin; Mr. Thomas Healy, County Registrar, G.A.A., Creggs, Roscommon; Mr. John J. Fahy, Treasurer, Roscommon County Board; Mr. Stephen Jordan, T.D., Athenry; Dr. O'Dowd, T.D., Roscommon; Mr. Furey—Ellis, Castlerea, and Mr. P. J. Gillooly, Secretary, Roscommon County Council.

Mr. Padraic O'Keeffe, the genial and capable secretary of the G.A.A. — aided by a willing band of stewards — had all arrangements as near to perfection as was humanly possible.

When Cavan retired victorious the Galway captain was the first to congratulate the captain of the winning team when the cup was being presented to Cavan's captain, Rev. Father O'Dea, chairman of the Galway County Board and Connacht Council, was one of the first to be seen making his way through the crowd on the sand fro the purpose of offering his congratulations on behalf of the men of the West.

When the game was over all agreed that the best team won, but that Galway was decidedly unlucky in not at least drawing with their opponents. Keen judges of the game believe that if Galway played naturally throughout the game as they did on entering the field after the interval when they thrilled the spectators for twenty minutes by their devastating style, that the laurels of victory would have been theirs. Some mistakes were made by them but these things are inevitable.

The Play

On the throw—in Cavan got going per Jim Smith and McGee shot for the Galway posts. A sigh of relief escaped Galway's supporters as the umpire signalled "wide", Galway dashed away from the kick out, but Cavan were not long in attacking again. Brennan, the Galway goalie, cleared in splendid style and there were loud cheers of "Grand Old Galway" from the men of the West. Their cheers were increased in volume some moments later when Kelleher opened the scoring with a point for Galway in less than five minutes from the start.

A free to Cavan followed the kick out. Phair of the Cavan team was injured but resumed immediately. A rush by Galway forwards held their supporters breathless for some seconds but to their dismay the ball went behind. Two frees followed and from the second free McGee equalised for Cavan. Dunne put the Galway forwards in motion but Connolly sent out of danger. Galway got going again, but a bad move in passing let Cavan away and the Galway goalie was called on to save the situation, a feat which he accomplished amidst a storm of applause from the Western Gaels.

A. O'Reilly, Cavan, met with a slight mishap and on the resumption of the game Meegan, Cavan, got possession but sent ??? The Ulstermen's disappointment was but short lived for McGee soon put them leading by a point off a free.

Galway now assumed the offensive, but Connolly came to the rescue with a dash. Both ends were now visited in turn and the forwards on both sides make little ??? opportunities afforded them some ?? passages followed and amidst en??? shouts of "Come on Nestor," the player thus addressed put Galway on level terms with their opponents by a neat point. Cavan now sent wide per McGee, and the Westerners coming away with a bang looked like taking the lead but were unable to find the Cavan posts.

McGee, Cavan, got possession about 40 yards but/and was about to get rid of the ball when he was charged by O'Sullivan. Jim Smith, the Cavan captain, took the resultant free and to the surprise of everybody, coupled with the consternation of Galway he drove straight into the Galway net to the accompaniment of a roar of victory from Cavan's supporters that must have been heard across Dublin Bay.

Little daunted by this dramatic turn of events, Galway dashed off towards their opponents' goal but their efforts ended in the ball going wide. Another free, per Smith resulted in Devlin putting Cavan further ahead by a point.

"Come on, Galway"; "What's the matter?" roared a chorus of voices from Western throats. The team responded and were pressing when the ball went into touch near the end line. The throw—in failed to give Galway the desired opportunity and just before the half—time whistle Blessing eluded Carey and McCarthy and sent to McGovern who punched the ball into the net for Cavan's second goal. This left the half—time score:
Cavan — 2 goals 3 points
Galway — 2 points.

On resuming Galway surprised the spectators by their dramatic "come back". They were all over the Cavan players and in less than ten minutes had a goal and a point to their credit, through the efforts of Donnellan and Nestor.

This gave the game a new attraction, and sent hopes soaring high amongst the supporters of the men of the West. Notwithstanding the condition of the ground the pace was a cracker. "Boys, but there is forked lightning for you," shouted an enthusiastic spectator on the Hogan stand "Good old Galway; come on Connacht" was heard on all sides and the Galway players responded with whirlwind tactics which fairly astonished their opponents.

Keeping up the pressure the Western forwards sent wide. Only a goal now separated the teams and excitement ran high. "Look out there, Cavan," shouted many voices in the well—known Northern dialect, and responding to the warning Cavan rallied and sent in a point, per Smallhorn. Galway pressed again and Donnellan sent to Nestor, who sent the ball into the net, amidst a crescendo of cheers and other demonstrations of jubilation. Unfortunately, this rejoicing was short—lived for the referee signalled that a foul had been committed. The score was disallowed and Cavan awarded a free. Galway's hopes were dashed but their representatives were determined to make this game a fight to a finish and returning to the attack Cavan defenders were obliged to save at the expense of a "50".

Keeping up the pressure, Galway was awarded a free, from which Nestor scored a point. Following the kick out, McCarthy sent well into Cavan territory and Galway's hopes began to soar with the ball.

Galway's forwards rushed towards the parallogram and Cavan's defenders came out to meet them. In the terrific clash Paddy Lynch, the Cavan full back, got severely injured and had to be removed on a stretcher to hospital. After about 5 minutes delay the game restarted with Crowe in the injured player's place.

Galway now slowed up considerably and were slow in getting rid of the ball. A rather bad mistake in passing gave Cavan a chance to get away and Devlin snatched a point, leaving the issue fairly safe for the Ulstermen.

From this until the final whistle play was of a mediocre nature and when the final whistle sounded it left the scores
Cavan — 2 goals 5 points
Galway — 1 goal 4 points

Mick Donnellan, the Galway captain, was the first to congratulate Jim Smith, the Cavan captain, who was, to a great extent, instrumental in bringing the first All—Ireland championship to Ulster.
Martin O'Neill (Wexford) refereed.

Teams

Cavan: J. Smith (capt.) (non—resident); W. Young (goal); M. Dennehy, P. Phair, T. O'Reilly (Cornafean), P. Lynch (Bailieboro'), H. O'Reilly (Cootehill), W. Connolly (Cootehill and Erin's Hope, Dublin), T. Coyle, L. Blessing (Cavan), P. Devlin (Killeshandra), D. Morgan (Cross), J. Smallhonn (Crosserlough), V. McGovern (Virginia and University College Dublin), M. J. McGee (Drumlane). Sub.: T. Crowe (Cavan).

Galway: M. Donnellan (capt.), F. Fox (Dunmore), B. Nestor (Dunmore and Erin's Hope, Dublin), M. Brennan (goal) (Ahascragh), H. Carey (Carna), M. Connaire (Ballinasloe and Kickhams, Dublin), J. Dunne, J. Kelleher (Ballinasloe), M. Kelly (Garda, Dublin), T. McCarthy, F. Burke (Galway Gaels), M. Higgins (Kilkerrin and University College), D. O'Sullivan (Oughterard), T. Hughes (Tuam), D. Mitchell (Corofin).

County Team Welcomed — Reception in Tuam

The county team got a hearty reception in Tuam on their return home last Monday evening. They were cheered by a large gathering at the railway station and fog signals exploded as the train steamed in.

It is generally conceded on all sides that they are the best team that ever left Connacht for Croke Park. Their youth and inexperience were the only factors that lost them the game, because on the run of the play they proved themselves as good as the Cavan team, but the latter had experience on their side.