The Blues were back!
HUBERT MURPHY LOOKS BACK AT DRAMA OF THE 1961 LOUTH SFC FINAL - THE MHUIRES STARTING STAR MAN ANDY KIERAN IN GOALS AND THE BLUES ALMOST BLOWING AN EIGHT-POINT LEAD
EXACTLY a quarter of a century from their last success, the Louth Senior Football Championship title was back in the Newfoundwell part of Drogheda.
The famed Newtown Bfues justified their position as favourites on Sunday when they defeated gallant Naomh Mhuire by three points (1-12 to 1-9) in as hard a fought decider as has been seen in recent years.
A crowd who paid around £414 (the attendance was just short of 4,000) certainly got value for their money, especially in that nerve-tingling seoond moiety, when a great Mhuire revival had the rival supporters in a high pitch of excitement. Blues had many anxious moments indeed before referee M. McArdle sounded the final blast on his whistle, to leave one of the county’s most popular teams winners of the Championship for the fifth time in the club’s history.
The first half saw the Mhuire take a hammering. Unable to match their opponents in speed or craft, several players were soon toiling, and the destination of the trophy seemed a foregone conclusion when the Blues went off the pitch at half-time leading by eight points (1-9 to 0-4). But pre conceived notions were blown sky-high by a rejuvenated Mhuire in the second period, especially when right winger Paddy Reilly (an ex-Blues’ player, incidentally) fired home a great goal nearing the tenth minute, to clip the Blues’ lead to three points (1-9 . to 1-6). The sparks began to fly in real earnest subsequently, with the winners’ post having several narrow shaves before the sixty minutes had elapsed.
All in all, it must be said that the laurels rest where they belong, but it was touch and go. Many feel that a draw would have been a fairer result, and . there’s no doubt but that another meeting of the sides would be relished by the neutrals in Sunday’s gathering. One thing seems certain—if a second match was necessary the Mhuire would have a different line out to the one that took the field at the start of Sunday’s match. Big talking point when the game was all over was what possessed the selectors to play a forward of Andy Kieran’s undoubted talents in goals. It was the weirdest decision that the writer has come across for many a moon.
One could understand that if the former county minor was hobbling or only half fit, but such was not the case. “Daft” was the word used by a keen Mhuire fan when he heard the line-out announced over the loudspeaker system before the game started, and when the final whistle went his criticism was harsher still ... for Kieran during the second half was a big thorn in the Blues’ side, and had he been out the field all the time the points might well have gone the other way.
Whilst Blues had their share of luck in gaining the much prized Joe Ward Cup, they cannot be termed anything but worthy champions. All season they have been serving up high quality football, and in adding Naomh Mhuire to the scalps of St. Marys, St. Patricks and Roche Emmets, they wisely banked on the tactics that have paid rich dividends in Cup and Championship outings -speed to the ball, crafty positioning, and a generous dash of that most necessary quality in Championship football—determination and the will to win. They played with a calm assurance from defence out. even when Reilly got that wonderful goal.
It may-be said that the team -managed only three points before the interval, but each of these scores were in their own way vital ones. They came in the fourth quarter, with Liam Leech, Charlie O’Brien and “Justice”’ Gough being the marksmen.
Blues had to take the field without Paddy Leech, their regular left half, who spent the best part of the previous week in bed with a heavy cold. The vacancy was filled by moving up Tom Black from left full, and bringing on Liam Smith. The rest of the team was more or less on expected lines. Val Murphy, who played in the semi-final against Roche, was left out of the attack, Charlie O’Brien being preferred. He was given the spearhead position, with Gough