Trip to London were ‘huge’ for the game in Wicklow

PLAYING the game against London in Wembley Stadium in 1968 just days after Manchester United had defeated Benfica in the European Cup final was a huge event in terms of the development and improvement of Wicklow hurling according to Carnew’s Sean Doyle who lined out against London at the famous stadium.

The extensive and informative report from that historic occasion is repeated in full below but two members of the Wicklow panel spoke to the Wicklow People on Monday to share their memories and thoughts on what was a wonderful experience that put hurling in the Garden County on a new level.

Carnew’s Sean Doyle lined out in the first game against London in Wembley on the Saturday afternoon. Doyle was switched back to centre back for that game because of the smaller pitch and the expectation that the puck outs would travel further and land down on the Wicklow half-back line. It would be Doyle’s first ever experience in that position.

‘It was huge, it was a huge thing to go to London back then,’ said Sean Doyle. ‘It put us at the forefront. Wicklow hurling had come up from ground level and it started to take off after that,’ he added.

Doyle says that Wicklow went on to win a Junior All-Ireland (1971), be narrowly beaten by Tipperary in an Intermediate

All-Ireland final (1971) before taking their place at Senior where they fell to Laois by three points in Carlow.

In the league at that level they drew with Galway in Athenry before taking on Waterford and Offaly (in league and championship) in a game that All Star Offaly goalkeeper Damien Martin described as the making of the great Offaly team.

Sean Doyle says that he always felt hugely grateful for everyone who organised and made the trip to London possible in a time where money was scarce. He said that the team that made the journey were a ‘great group of hurlers and a great group of people’.

Kilcoole’s Jimmy Hatton said that while memories are distant given the timeframe that it was a great weekend.

Hatton, a renowned referee as well as a talented hurler, played in the second game on the Sunday afternoon in New Eltham.

He said that Wembley was impressive but with him having refereed All-Ireland finals in Croke Park at that stage it wasn’t as daunting as one might expect.

Jimmy recalls one humorous anecdote where he came to the rescue of Blessington’s Jack Boothman who was refused entry to the team meal after going out for a walk.

Hatton came to the future GAA President when he informed security of his credentials.