The year the Tribesmen came to Aughrim
IN 2001 the GAA changed the structure of the football championship. To be fair it changed for the better. It improved in a way that has proved to be a huge success both financially from their point of view and collectively.
Whilst keeping the ‘minnows’ swimming amongst the ‘sharks’ until their ruthlessness needs fulfilling it has helped football try keep pace with hurling. Gone was the traditional format and in came the qualifier system. This offered counties from other provinces the chance to come together earlier other than in a semi-final. Most importantly to many was the second chance at glory that it brought.
It was not without drama back in 2001 with the Foot and Mouth outbreak casting a shadow over activities back then also. It cleared much quicker than the Covid-19 outbreak and when May arrived it was all systems go.
Wicklow were moving well in early 2001. A big January O’Byrne Cup win over Carlow who we would meet in May in the championship was an early boost. A rare win over the Dubs was to follow in Aughrim in the same competition before Westmeath knocked them out in the semi-final. A league defeat away to Cork preceded the outbreak and some seven weeks later another loss away to Limerick ended the campaign. No doubting the Foot and Mouth broke any momentum that had been built up by Moses Coffey and his squad early in 2001.
This showed in a disappointing championship draw with Carlow in Newbridge. Leading 2-4 to 0-4 at the break it looked good for Wicklow.
Carlow fought back and earned a replay with a late free. Wicklow were expected to see the job through a week later.
It wasn’t to be with Carlow playing with a passion that Wicklow could not match.
Centre back Joe Byrne kicked a deserved injury time winner. It was now that Wicklow were glad of the chance to put things right in the qualifiers.
Longford were to be our first ever opponents in the new system. They had fell foul of Dublin but had put in a decent display that marked them down as favourites for the trip to Aughrim.
Wicklow were handicapped coming in to battle with Ronan Coffey missing through suspension after the Carlow replay, Tommy Gill was also suspended the previous Thursday night by the Wicklow C.C.C. Gary Jameson was ruled out with injury and Barry Sheehan was a late casualty with a hamstring injury.
During the game Gary Doran and Colm Toomey were both sent off as was Pauric Davis, the Longford dangerman.
Doran and Davis were gone before the clock had reached ten minutes.
This was to be the game that Keith Byrne really showed what he was capable of.
Stepping up to lead the attack in the absence of Coffey and Gill, the Shillelagh man was sensational. He destroyed the Longford fullback line all through and his goal helped Wicklow to lead 1-7 to 0-6 at the break but facing the wind in the second half it looked a scarce enough advantage. Byrne was to finish with a personal tally of 1-5 and he also won three frees which Darren Coffey duly pointed.
At the three-quarter stage Wicklow led 1-12 to 0-6. Thomas Harney was popping up all over the field in a typically dynamic display, Barry O’Donovan was imperious at full-back with Stevie Cushe and Brendan O’hÁnnaidh also solid. A big Wicklow crowd celebrated a fine 1-14 to 0-11 win and in the circumstances the management and players deserved the cheers at the end. The Carlow game was consigned to the memory bank.
Up next were Galway. This would mark the first time Wicklow would play a team from outside Leinster in the Senior championship (apart from the ‘B’ All-Ireland competition).
Galway had been beaten by Kerry after a replay in the millennium final the previous September.
They had lost the league final to Mayo after a thrilling game but were still one of the favourites to lift Sam.
Roscommon shocked them in Connacht however and they were eager and thankful for the chance to get back on track.
The last time a Galway team had played championship football in Aughrim was in 1969 when the Wicklow Juniors defeated them in the All-Ireland semi-final. Could that be repeated some 32 years later.
Moses Coffey, who had played at midfield in that game in ’69, was now manager and with more options with a near full squad, his hand was stronger.
Tickets were scarce and Jimmy Dunne was trying to keep everybody happy in the week leading in to the game with a genuine hope that Wicklow could deliver a shock.
A big home crowd gathered in Aughrim for the Saturday afternoon throw in.
It was a throwback to big championship days around Lawless’s Hotel with the crowd gathered outside with a live band entertaining all.
Shops, takeaways and other public houses also benefitted along with the street traders selling their hats and headbands. Galway had travelled in large numbers too with many fearing their year could end.
One downside was a couple of overzealous stewards refusing entry to the Wicklow goat who had travelled up for the big game. He had to make do with a temporary home in a local garden during the game.
The players of Knockananna and Carnew had served up a decent appetiser on the undercard in the Carter Cup.
Many of the Galway team were becoming household names and they showed why.
They were irrepressible in the opening exchanges aided by the strong wind blowing from the
Tinahely direction straight in to the town goal.
Winning the toss of Pat McEneaney coin was crucial. The month in between the defeat to Roscommon and this game had been well spent on the training field.
John O’Mahony had them flying and there was to be no chance of a slip up.
Even if there had been a ‘Battle of Aughrim’ they would have won that such was their superiority.
They had 1-7 on the board before Wicklow finally opened their account in the 24th minute through Shane O’Neill.
Michael Donnellan epitomised the term ‘Rolls Royce’ footballer that day in Aughrim. His running power and ability to find a maroon jersey with passes long and short were a joy to watch.
Donnellan glided over the lush Aughrim sod and left many trailing in his wake when he turned on the after burners.
His midfield partner Sean O’Domhnaill delivered a 50-metre lobbed pass that found Alan Kerins in behind the Wicklow full-back line for the first Galway goal.
Padraic Joyce was always available and was going through man markers rapidly. The current Galway manager was to give an exhibition of point kicking later in the summer right through to the final. The Wicklow defenders held him to one point from play on the day in Aughrim which was no mean feat.
It was 1-9 to 0-3 at the break with Tommy Murphy also pulling off a great save from Joe Bergin during the first half.
O’Neill pointed early for Wicklow in the second half but a combination of lack of quality supply and ten wides shot from out the field hampered any chance of a big comeback. Tony Hannon and Jonathan Behan who was causing problems also pointed. Keith Byrne was finding no space with his heroics against Longford earning him extra attention from
the tight-marking Galway fullback line.
Ja Fallon was showing his class and he set up Kieran Comer for the second Galway goal which stretched their lead to ten points in the 47th minute. Tommy Gill found the net for Wicklow soon after benefitting from a Keith Byrne knock down and hope resurfaced momentarily.
When Ja Fallon got through for the third Galway goal it was done and dusted. Wicklow gambled whilst chasing the Galway lead and big gaps were left at the back.
Wicklow battled on and the introduction of Don Jackman, Barry Sheehan and David Dillon around the middle. Jackman drew a big cheer from the bank after kicking a mighty score.
To take it in context - Wicklow outscored the Westerners by 1-9 to 2-5 in the last 50 minutes.
The poor start was to come back to haunt us and the question of what might have been if we had first use of the wind or if the goat had been there would forever remain unanswered.
A headline from one report declared ‘Romance had met Reality’ which was about right.
Galway would go on to defeat Armagh, Cork, Roscommon, Derry and Meath in the final to become the first team to win through the qualifiers.
Doing so in its first year showed the benefit of the qualifiers. There were 63 games played in total in 2001 that attracted 1,208,651 through the turnstiles. Wicklow would go on to have some unforgettable runs in the new system which we will have a look at again in the near future.
WICKLOW: Tommy Murphy (Rathnew); Mark Coffey (Rathnew), Barry O’Donovan (Blessington), Thomas Burke (Hollywood 0-1); Steven Cush (Coolkenno), Brendan O’hÁnnaidh (Bray), Brian Whelan (Baltinglass); Darren Coffey (Rathnew 0-2) and Shane O’Neill (Donard-The Glen 0-2); Thomas Harney (Dunlavin), Ronan Coffey (Rathnew), Tony Hannon (Hollywood 0-1); Tommy Gill (Rathnew 1-1), Keith Byrne (Shillelagh), Jonathan Behan (Blessington 0-1). Subs used: Paul Callaghan (Blessington, Barry Sheehan (Avondale), David Dillon (Tinahely), Don Jackman (Coolkenno 0-1), Oisin O’hÁnnaidh (Bray). Other panel members: Ray Stapleton (Ballymanus), Gary Jameson (St Patricks), Robert Hollingsworth (St Patricks), Kevin Manning (Ashford), Colm Toomey (Donard The Glen), and Gary Doran (Carnew).
GALWAY: Alan Keane; Kieran Fitzgerald, Gary Fahy, Richard Fahy; Declan Meehan, Thomas Mannion, Sean Óg De Paor (0-1); Sean O’Domhnaill and Michael Donnellan (0-1); Jarlath Fallon (0-1), Kieran Comer (1-1), Joe Bergin (0-2); Alan Kerins (1-0), Padraic Joyce (0-3), Tommy Joyce (0-3). Subs used Matthew Clancy and Kevin Walsh.