Is this amazing season written in the stars?
EARLY on the morning of 21st November 1920 acting under the orders of Michael Collins, the IRA’s Chief of Intelligence, a group of men were sent out to kill members of the British Secret Service operating in Dublin. In a series of co-ordinated raids across the southside of the city 14 men were killed including at least six intelligence agents and two members of the British Auxiliary Force.
That same afternoon the footballers of Dublin and Tipperary were due to play a glamour challenge game in Croke Park. Both teams had already qualified for that year’s All-Ireland final but the completion of the championship was delayed owing to the death on hunger strike of Terence McSwiney and widespread unrest throughout the country.
Due to the morning’s events GAA authorities considered cancelling the game but with a crowd of over 10,000 already on their way to the game it was decided to proceed. The game was underway only 10 minutes when trucks carrying RIC police and Auxiliaries stormed into the ground from the Canal End.
Their orders were to search spectators for weapons, however they opened fire on the crowd almost immediately killing 14 innocent people and injuring over 100 others. Among those killed was 24 year old Tipperary defender Michael Hogan who was shot in the back as he crawled off the pitch towards the Hill 16 exit in front of the Cusack Stand. The GAA later named the Hogan Stand in his memory in 1925.
Exactly 100 years ago to the day on Saturday evening at Croke Park the GAA commemorated those killed with a moving and poignant ceremony on Hill 16 immediately before the Leinster Final. The day will be forever etched in the history of the GAA.
The remaining victims were: Jerome O’Leary (10), Dublin; William Robinson (11), Dublin; John William Scott (14), Dublin; Tom Hogan (19), Limerick; James Burke (44), Dublin; Joe Traynor (21), Dublin; Jane Boyle (26), Dublin; James Teehan (26), Tipperary; Tom Ryan (27), Wexford; Daniel Carroll (31), Tipperary; James Matthews (38), Dublin; Michael Feery (40), Dublin; Patrick O’Dowd (57), Dublin.
Wearing a special commemorative jersey with the names of the 14 who perished embroidered on their sleeves, Dublin completely annihilated Meath in the match that followed.
Just when we thought the All-Ireland champions could get no better they produced another awesome display of ‘total football’ to leave Meath players and management visually shell-shocked as they limped off the pitch at the break trailing 2-12 to 0-02.
Things didn’t improve in the second period as the Dubs outplayed their opponents in every facet of the game winning their 10th provincial title in a row at a canter by 21 points. It’s back to the drawing board for Andy McEntee’s Meath but where this result leaves the remaining counties in Leinster is anyone’s guess.
On this emotive weekend the stars seemed to be aligned for a Tipperary victory in Munster. Colin O Riordan had returned from Sydney Swans during the AFL off-season with permission to play and All Star Michael Quinlivan, who’d withdrawn from the panel at the beginning of the season, returned to the fold as he couldn’t now go travelling.
Wearing the same green and white jersey that Michael Hogan had been shot dead in 100 years ago Tipperary shocked warm favourites Cork to create another historical moment and claim their first Munster Football Championship in 85 years.
Inspired by Quinlivan and the superb Conor Sweeney, who claimed 0-12 between them, the Premier County deservedly took the title with a marvellous allround display at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Ronan McCarthy’s young Rebel side never reached the heights or intensity levels of the Kerry victory.
With Mayo, Dublin and Tipperary all now qualified for the All Ireland semi-finals, could Cavan possibly complete the quartet for a repeat of the four provincial winners from 1920? Ordinarily such a far-fetched notion would be dismissed outright as a foolish romantic fairytale but this has been no ordinary year.
Mickey Graham’s men went into the clash with Donegal as massive underdogs but it was clear from the outset that this Cavan team meant business.
They tore into Donegal right from the off and deservedly led 0-5 to 0-2 after 10 minutes before midfielder Cillian Brady was harshly sin-binned.
With the numerical advantage Donegal regained control and landed seven of the next eight points before Brady resumed. However Graham had done his homework from last year’s Ulster decider and got his tactics spot on this time.
They pushed up on the opposition kick-out and didn’t allow Donegal any space to build from deep. In possession they surprised Donegal by taking their man on in the final third and breaking the first tackle with support then coming off the shoulder.
Cavan were determined, brave, honest, and gutsy throughout and played with an energy and controlled aggression that their more illustrious opponents simply couldn’t match.
Entering the final quarter Derry referee Barry Cassidy did his best to keep Donegal in the game with another extremely harsh black card on Cavan corner forward Conor Madden but the Breffni men kicked on.
They doubled downed their efforts and forged ahead during the 10 minute period with the inspirational Raymond Galligan one of many who were outstanding.
Cavan simply wanted this more and the momentum and spirit which they’ve gathered over the last four weeks was unstoppable at the finish. The aforementioned Madden sealed an amazing triumph when he buried the ball low to the Donegal net to secure Cavan’s first Ulster title since 1997.
The out-pouring of emotion and passion at the final whistle was heart warming and a throwback to championship days of yesteryear. The only pity was that there wasn’t 20,000 Cavan supporters present to savour the moment.
Having suffered back-to-back league relegations Cavan are now a Division 3 side and shouldn’t theoretically have been able to live with this Donegal XV. But the sum of their parts is greater than the individuals involved and Mickey Graham has moulded a magnificent team spirit and collective that is more akin to a club setup. They now face the six in a row chasing Dublin juggernaut in the last four – surely a step too far?
At the outset of the championship four weeks ago I predicted that Winter football would produce
some championship shocks …. but Tipperary and Cavan? In the strangest of all strange years perhaps the outcome really is written in the stars.
A couple of final thoughts. Not so long ago emotions were running high among players, managers and supporters about a Tier Two Football Championship. Now we’re at the business end of the season with just four teams remaining, two of which would have been taking part in that same Tier Two Championship had the season not been interrupted by the global pandemic.
Should the football championship now revert back to straight knockout? On the evidence of this year’s condensed competition it’s the way to go.
The two All Ireland semi-finals are fixed for Croke Park in two weeks time on the weekend of the 5/6th December. I’m wondering is there an argument for playing the Dublin/Cavan game at a neutral venue rather than the perennial home of the Dubs. Spectator capacity concerns are no longer an issue under current restrictions, therefore why not level the playing field by taking the Dubs out of their traditional home venue.
Since 2013 Dublin have played 50 championship games – 44 of those fixtures have taken place in Croke Park.