Galway Hold Off Strong Tyrone Rally and Qualify For Football Final

Connacht Tribune, Saturday, August 18th 1956

Introduction

Galway 0—8
Tyrone 0—6

Seconds after referee Paddy McDermott had sounded the final whistle at Croke Park on Sunday hundreds of relieved but jubilant Galway supporters swarmed on to the pitch to chair their fifteen heroes to the dressing rooms. Relieved because the men in maroon had had their narrowest victory to date; jubilant because they had qualified for their first All—Ireland football final in fourteen years.

After three overwhelming victories in the Connacht Championship, Galway were firm favourites to reach the final with Cork. But Tyrone, the surprise team in Ulster, proved the shock team of the year when, trailing by three points at half—time, they rallied strongly in the second half and very nearly pulled the game out of the fire.

While every credit is due to the men of the "wine red hand" for their gallant bid, Galway deserved their hard—fought victory. For months to come, the brilliant displays of Jack Mahon, Jack Mangan, Tom Dillon and Sean Purcell, the architects of Galway's victory, will be discussed with pride throughout the county.

While Galway won by a narrow margin, the result could just as easily have been reversed. Had that been the case, however, even the most ardent Northern supporter would have agreed that Galway would have agreed that Galway would have been unlucky. The winners were the more solid team, showed better understanding and stood the fast pace for the hour. Tyrone were fast but when their forwards got moving they lacked finish. Their backs were courageous and their excellent covering up near goal prevented at least two major scores.

Galway were first to score when Tom McHugh collected a short kick out, side—stepped O'Hagan and tapped the ball over the bar. After two Tyrone points, which gave them their only lead in the game, Galway were doing all the pressing, but wide followed wide with monotonous regularity. In all they had seven in as many minutes. Purcell made it level pegging from a free and by half—time they were three points ahead.

After a dull third quarter, Galway further stretched their lead by two points but, entering the closing stages, Tyrone put on the pressure and excitement mounted as Frank Donnelly coolly pointed two frees to narrow the gap to a goal.

At this stage Sean Purcell moved to midfield and immediately brought new life to the sector. Tyrone's onward march was stopped for a while and anxious Galway supporters breathed more freely.

With only three minutes to go Donnelly again pointed a free but Galway fought back and a drive by Purcell found Gerry Kirwin. The latter sent in a beautiful pass from the wing, but the forwards were well held and the ball sailed outside the posts. With tension mounting, Donnelly was wide from a close—in free and Devlin's long kick out was dropping in the midfield sector, the long whistle sounded, the game was over and Galway were in the final.

Breeze Advantage

Galway had the advantage of a slight breeze in the first half but a soft drizzle developed during the interval and the wind died down. Had the breeze held, it would have been a help to Tyrone but, judging by their performance against Cavan, in a downpour, at Clones, the rain was more welcome than the breeze.

Galway won and for that alone they deserve every congratulation. But, truth to tell, it was probably their poorest performance this year. Their lack of drive and faulty shooting could have cost them the match. It was obvious at the start that Tyrone were suffering from "nerves" and had the winners settled down quickly and taken advantage of the many scoring opportunities afforded them, they would have been ahead by a far greater margin at the interval. As he proved conclusively later in the game, Sean Purcell had his scoring boots on. Why he was not nominated to take two "fifties" which were driven wide by McDonough is difficult to understand. But McDonough was not the only one who could not place the ball between the posts. Frank Stockwell, normally a crack shot, had two wides in the opening minutes.

The Galway forwards, who had been the terror of all the defences in Connacht, never got going as a really effective, striking unit. That was clearly borne out by the fact that five of Galway scores came from frees and, incidentally, all were scored by Purcell. It must be remembered, however, that the attack was pitted against a very strong defence in which full—back J. Devlin belied his venerable appearance with a masterly display of high fielding and tenacious tackling. Personal safety was thrown to the winds when the Tyrone goal was in danger and the backs fought every ball with terrier—like persistency. Against such a determined defence, the Galway forwards could not make any real impression. And when the ball did elude the backs, Tony Turbett was between the posts to see that it did not enter the net.

Mahon Brilliant

What of the Galway defence? Unquestionably, they would have been in dire trouble without Jack Mahon. Although nursing an injured elbow, the Dunmore man stood rock solid at centre half—back and completely mastered the much—vaunted Jackie Taggart. He was worth his weight in gold in the second half when his cool, firm handling of a greasy ball and his lengthy clearances when Tyrone rallied spelled the difference between victory and defeat.

The rest of the backs, with the exception of Tom Dillon, were sometimes caught on the wrong foot and will have to tighten their grip if they are to master the Cork attack.

It was not a great All—Ireland semi—final but it was incomparably better than the Cork — Kildare game. The football was always exciting, if not spectacular, and the closeness of the scoring kept the big attendance on edge up to the final whistle. The fact that Tyrone were making their first appearance in senior ranks at Croke Park gave an added flavour to the game; Galway had a big following but it was completely dwarfed by the huge attendance from the North.

The date of the final is, as yet, uncertain due to the polio epidemic in Cork. Galway will have, at least, six weeks to prepare for that encounter. If they are to capture the Sam Maguire Cup, last held in 1938, they will have to improve considerably. Apart from those already mentioned, the rest of the backs will have to develop a better positional sense. On Sunday Gerry Daly made few mistakes, but any he did make he was lucky. In that full—forward Frank Higgins did not capitalise on them. Jack Kealy was no match for Frank Donnelly but John Kennedy who replaced him late in the first half did fare somewhat better. However, the latter is too prone to foul when beaten to a ball. In the half—back line Michael Greally tried hard but there was little he could do to stop the quicksilver Jones. On the other wing Jack Kissane fought for every ball with grim determination. It is significant that his opponent E. Devlin failed to register a score.

Eivers Outstanding

The high fielding and all—round brilliant performance of Frank Eivers was one of the features of the game. The tall Garda, partnered by a much—improved McDonough, completely blotted out the Tyrone midfielders in the first half and was also on hand when danger threatened the backs on more than one occasion.

Kingpin of the Galway attack and one of the outstanding players on the field was Sean Purcell. When Tyrone improved at midfield in the second half, the Tuam star moved to partner Eivers and helped to put a damper on the Northern resurgence. His spectacular fielding and weaving solo runs kept the losers on the defensive.

Billy O'Neill was always a hard trier but he could make little headway against S. Donnelly while on the other wing Tom McHugh, up to his retirement due to injury was always in position to lend a helping hand or take a shot at goal when the opportunity came his way. His opening point was coolly taken. Jackie Coyle signalised his appearance as a substitute with a well taken point.

Although Kirwin, Stockwell and Young were always in the thick of things, they could not penetrate the Tyrone full—back line. Young was rather unlucky in the first half when a piledriver from him was just cleared by the vigilant, Turbett.

Much of the credit of victory must go to goalkeeper and captain Jack Mangan. His coolness under pressure and uncanny anticipation saved at least two certain scores. Early in the game he was accidentally knocked against the upright after stopping a hard shot, but managed to hold on to the ball and eventually cleared it.

With full back Devlin, McSorley, Donaghy and Corey were the best of the Tyrone defence while Jones was their most dangerous forward. Fran Donnelly was a very accurate place kicker.

Many obvious fouls went unnoticed by referee McDermott. At least four frees should have been given to Frank Stockwell who was blatantly held by the full—back.

The Scoring

Winning the toss, Galway elected to play with the breeze. They gained possession from the throw—in but Corey broke up the attack. After Eivers had been fouled Jack Mahon's placed kick found Frank Stockwell who sent wide. The same player had another near miss before Tom McHugh collected a short kick out and sent over the bar for the opening score. After a great clearance under pressure by Mangan, Jones evaded Greally and sent over the equaliser after three minutes. Following the kick out the same player was fouled near the goal and Frank Donnelly pointed the resultant free. After Jack Mahon had been fouled, his free kick reached Purcell, who sent in a racking shot that was cleared by Turbett at the expense of a 'fifty'. Mahon was wide from the placed kick. McDonough had three wides before McHugh was fouled and Purcell pointed the free in the tenth minute.

Four minutes later Turbett had a great clearance from a Purcell drive but Billy O'Neill colleted and sent over Galway's third score. Purcell pointed his second free after Young had been fouled but this score was negatived when Donnelly pointed a Tyrone free. After John Kennedy had replaced Kealy, Purcell pointed two frees in succession to give Galway an interval lead of three points.

Shortly after the restart Coyle replaced McHugh who heralded his appearance with a neat point in the 12th minute. Three minutes later Purcell pointed another free to complete Galway's tally. Tyrone improved in the last quarter and narrowed the gap with two points from frees by Donnelly. Taggart and Eivers had wides in turn before Donnelly pointed a place kick for Tyrone with only three minutes left for play. Kirwin was narrowly wide and Donnelly missed a free before the final whistle sounded.

Galway: J. Mangan, J. Kealy, G. Daly, T. Dillon, J. Kissane, J. Mahon, M.Greally, F. Eivers, M. McDonough, T. McHugh, S. Purcell, W. O'Neill, J. Young, F. Stockwell, G. Kirwin, Subs: J. Coyle (for McHugh), J. Kennedy (for Kealy).
Tyrone: T. Turbett, B. McSorley, J. Devlin, P. Donaghy, S. Donnelly, P. Corey, J. J. O'Hagan, J. O'Neill, P. Devlin, I. Jones, J. Taggart, E. Devlin, D. Donnelly, F. Higgins, F. Donnelly, Subs: T. Campbell (for D. Donnelly), H. Kelly (for Donaghy).
Referee: Mr. P. McDermott (Meath).