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. In fact the game failed to come up to expectations.

Shrill—A—Minute

For the unaffiliated observer it can only be described as a huge disappointment, a 'shrill—a—minute' decider in which Referee Jimmy Hatton from Wicklow did his utmost to spoil with a surfeit of whistle which served only to ruin the county of the game.

His decisions were none too clear and often came well after the actual minor infringement which was usually of a very trivial nature. But jovial or not many fouls within the range of the Kerry goal were blatant and to allow them to go unpunished or without reprimand would have been both an injustice and neglect.

But referee Hatton was neither and this is evidenced by the fact and of the twenty—five scores registered, twelve came from frees, from each side and all Galway's frees were by tight boot of Cyril Dunne.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.