Wicklow’s rich history in schools football
WICKLOW have had great success in vocational schools’ football over the years. Twelve Leinster titles and three All-Ireland victories since 1974 is a record that stands up with the best of them.
In 1974, the campaign started with a good win over Dublin County, 2-8 to 1-8.
Up next a struggle to shake off a determined Carlow team who had been All-Ireland champions in 1972.
Wicklow laboured in Baltinglass before eventually progressing 2-10 to 1-6.
Westmeath were beaten in the semi-final 2-8 to 0-9. Up next was Dublin City in what would be the first appearance by a Wicklow schools’ team in Croke Park. A Wicklow win by 1-8 to 1-3 to secure their first Leinster title.
Dunlavin players Pat O’Toole and Pat Ryan gave a dominant performance in the middle of the park. O’Toole, Seamus McDonald and Ronnie Mackey scored two points each while Joe Tomkins got the goal with five minutes remaining. The other points were scored by
John O’Brien and Eamon Dunne.
It was Connacht champions Mayo who Wicklow would face in the semi-final. Played in Athlone, Wicklow settled slow. Trailing 0-10 to 0-4 coming to half-time a penalty scored by Pat Ryan gave them hope. A quick fire 1-1 from Joe Tomkins after the break shook Mayo and Seamus McDonald found the net to seal a 3-8 to 1-11 win.
Tyrone would be the opposition in the final in Croke Park on May 12. A wet day left the pitch heavy and the bigger Wicklow side benefitted. A goal by Joe English gave the Wicklow men a half-time lead of 1-3 to 0-5. Another goal in the second half from Balitore player Ronnie Mackey, one of ten Dunlavin players on the starting team, helped Wicklow to a fivepoint lead. Tyrone fought back and got a goal of their own but Joe Tomkins and Pat O’Toole pointed to secure a 2-7 to 1-7 win. It was the first football All-Ireland since the Junior win of 1936.
Team and scorers on the day: Mick Hall (Carnew); Pat Kelly (Dunlavin), James Mooney (Dunlavin), Tom Miley (Wicklow); Paddy ‘Giggler’ Doyle (Carnew), Michael
Flynn (Dunlavin), Jack Lynch (Dunlavin); Pat O’Toole (Dunlavin 0-2) and Pat Ryan (Dunlavin, Captain 0-1); Ronnie Mackey (Dunlavin 1-0), Eamon Dunne (Dunlavin 0-1), John O’Brien (Dunlavin); Joe English (Dunlavin 1-0), Joe Tomkins (Blessington 0-2), Seamus McDonald (Wicklow 0-1) SubsJohn Byrne (Baltinglass), Seamus Fogarty (Wicklow), Pat Lannigan (Carnew), Joe Delaney (Dunlavin), David Cooper (Wicklow) and Michael Gorman (Dunlavin).
Team mentors were Frank Campbell, the trainer from Dunlavin, Billy Hendrick, Blessington, Dave Hallahan, Baltinglass, Kevin Lee, Carnew, Gerry O’Donoughue, Arklow, Jim Murphy, Wicklow, John Walshe, Rathdrum and Hugh O’Brien.
The next All-Ireland final appearance was in 1980 where Derry proved too good on the day. This Wicklow team had looked good all through Leinster, defeating Laois 1-15 to 0-4, Kildare 2-12 to 1-4 before a 2-15 to 1-5 win over Wexford in the semi-final.
In the final, Wicklow had a comfortable 1-13 to 0-10 win over Offaly to set up an All-Ireland semi-final with Kerry. The Kerryman
reported the following week how Wicklow had given a ‘superb display of vintage football’ in Cashel to defeat the Kingdom.
A massive wind blew down the field and Wicklow had first use. With Larry Tomkins and John John Doyle playing superbly at midfield, Wicklow were well on top but unbelievably only led 0-4 to 0-1. The wind increased in strength during the break and it was a gale blowing in to their faces as they took their place for the throw in.
Kerry had turned it around to lead 0-7 to 0-5 halfway through. Wicklow hit a purple patch and played some fantastic football to kick the next five points. Kerry came strongly again but the Wicklow men held out to win 0-11 to 0-9.
Derry were hot favourites for the final. Wicklow started slowly and found themselves 1-2 behind after just six minutes. They recovered to play some decent football but that bad start was too much of a handicap to overcome. They had trailed 1-4 to 0-2 at the break.
A spell of Wicklow pressure early in the second half yielded a couple of points from Tomkins but Derry were never in danger and it was to be disappointment for captain Paul O’Dare and his team.
Wicklow: Owen Sheridan (Carnew); Billy Kenny (Baltinglass), Tom Moore (Dunlavin), Pat Lennon (Blessington); Ciaran Shannon (Blessington), Sean Ryan (Dunlavin), Nick O’Neill (Baltinglass); John John Doyle (Carnew) and Larry Tomkins (Blessington 0-2); Paul O’Dare (Carnew Captain), John Ryan (Dunlavin 0-1), Andy Owens (Baltinglass 0-2); Peter Daly (Blessington), John Doyle (Rathdrum 0-1), Billy Byrne (Rathdrum). Subs: Jimmy Callaghan (Blessington), Fachtna Whittle (Dunlavin), Jim Windsor (Rathdrum), Eddie McHugh (Wicklow), Liam Healy (Dunlavin), Martin Murphy (Carnew)
Mentors in 1980 were Jim Kirwan (Carnew), Paddy Hendrick (Blessington), Frank Campbell (Dunlavin), Ken Browne (Baltinglass), John Walshe (Rathdrum), Jim Murphy and Hugh O’Brien (Wicklow).
A Leinster final loss in 1982 to Dublin City was disappointing but in 1983 a new squad had arrived and hopes were high. A first-round win over Kildare was hard earned in Baltinglass. The pitch was waterlogged and Kildare were leading heading in to the final ten minutes before a Denis Kilbride goal changed the course of the game. James Byrne got another Wicklow goal and a couple of points to see Wicklow through 2-6 to 1-3.
The semi-final with Carlow was a tougher assignment. Losing by seven points with 20 minutes to play it looked like curtains for Wicklow. A spirited fightback seen them score three points in the last couple of minutes to edge it 2-7 to 2-5. The Leinster final was less taxing affair with a 1-10 to 1-1 win over Dublin in Naas.
In the All-Ireland semi-final, it was Ulster champions Down in Summerhill in Meath. Another cracking game was on a knife edge right to the end as Wicklow progressed 3-7 to 3-5. Losing at the break 2-2 to 0-5 after having wind advantage once again it looked bleak. This particular Wicklow team seemed to rise when faced with a challenge and once again struck for important goals through James Byrne from a penalty and substitute John Keogh to get through.
Clare had beaten a fancied Mayo team in their semi-final and would be no pushover. Wicklow had prepared with games over the Easter against Tullow VS and Baltinglass under-21 team.
On April 24 in Croke Park a determined Wicklow display ensured a second title would be coming to the Garden County. Once again first use of the wind was not of much use to the Wicklow men. Clare led twice before Wicklow rallied to lead 0-3 to 0-2 at the break.
Kevin O’Brien had the opening Wicklow score and two James Byrne points the second from a 50-metre free left Wicklow ahead with no score for the last fifteen minutes of the half. Alfie Zeller kicked two second-half points and O’Brien and Byrne also found the range as Clare were kept at bay with Denis Kilbride outstanding at full back. A late goal chance for Clare struck the post as Wicklow won 0-8 to 0-4. A big Wicklow following enjoyed the moments after the game even if the stewards