SNIPPETS FROM A YEAR TO SAVOUR

POWER PACKED: Another record was credited to Ned Power, the Wexford trainer, as this was the first occasion that the same man trained both Senior and Minor teams to achieve victory on the same day. And it was the same Ned Power who had earlier prepared the St. Peter’s College team which won the All-Ireland title.

MINOR MENTORS: The Wexford Minor hurling selectors who helped bring a third All-Ireland to the county were: Pat Murphy (Faythe Harriers), Michael Murphy (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Dominic Murphy (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Robbie Sinnott (Oulart-The Ballagh), Martin Doyle (Enniscorthy St. Aidan’s). Trainer: Ned Power (St. Peter’s College).

MICK JOINED SELECT BAND: When the final whistle sounded for Wexford’s victory, Mick Kinsella, the Buffers Alley defender and team substitute, became one of the select band of players in the country to have won All-Ireland medals in all grades. He won a Colleges medal with St. Peter’s in 1962, a Minor medal the following year, Under-21 and Intermediate medals in 1965, and a Senior medal in 1968.

When he came on to the Intermediate tem in 1965 he replaced Vincent Staples, a player who holds Leinster medals in all these grades, but when Staples was called up by the Seniors in 1965 he missed out on an All-Ireland Intermediate medal. Seamus Whelan and Paul Lynch also hold the distinction of winning All-Ireland Junior, Intermediate and Senior medals.

ART IN CONTACT: The first overseas telegram congratulating the hurlers of Wexford opened by County Secretary, Paddy Roche, was from that great goalkeeper of the 1950-’57 era, Art Foley, who is now in New York.

VACANT SEATS: There were two vacant seats at the All-Ireland finals at Croke Park and the reason why they were unoccupied became known the following Wednesday, three days after the big games.

On the Tuesday prior to the finals, the Secretary of Wexford County G.A.A. Board posted two tickets for the finals to a gentleman in Morriscastle. As the day of the finals drew near and the tickets had not reached their destination, there were frantic telephone calls to the Secretary, who was adamant that the precious documents had been sent out.

In fact, he explained, he had a note in his post-book showing the date of mailing. The caller was satisfied that the tickets were on their way but when would they arrive?

The answer came on the Wednesday morning, three days after the match, with a letter containing the now out-of-date tickets. The letter had been redirected from Jersey, Channel Islands, where they had been sent in arror.

WORLD CUP WIN: Wexford added the World Cup to their month-old All-Ireland crown when defeating New York at O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on a 1-17 to 3-5 final scoreline. On the New York team was Wexford great of the fifties, Mick Morrissey.

Wexford: Pat Nolan; Jimmy Furlong, Eddie Kelly, Ned Colfer; Vinnie Staples, Dan Quigley, Willie Murphy; Phil Wilson, Michael Jacob; John Quigley, Jack Berry, Christy Jacob; Seamus Barron, Tony Doran, Seamus Whelan.

GROUNDS SUCCESS: Wexford added the Grounds tournament to their laurels at Croke Park with a 4-6 to2-8 victory over Clare.

Wexford: Pat Nolan; Tom Neville, Eddie Kelly, Ned Colfer; Teddy O’Connor, Dan Quigley, Willie Murphy; Michael Jacob, Dave Bernie; John Quigley, Paul Lynch, Phil Wilson; Christy Jacob, Seamus Whelan, Jack Berry.

SPORTSTAR: On the Monday morning after the finals, Larry Byrne was named Sports Star of the Week on the Dubtex-sponsored programme.Thus within the short space of a few months, the young Kilmore-Rathangan hurler received the honour twice. He also won the title and the handsome prize that went with when assisting St. Peter’s College in the All-Ireland Colleges Senior final replay victory over Coláiste Chríost Rí.

DORAN FETED: Buffers Alley’s Tony Doran was presented with the Weekly Sportswriters award in the Raidio Telefís Eireann Montrose Studios by Micheál O’Hehir.

OLDEST SUPPORTER: One of Wexford’s oldest and keenest supporters, 93-year-old Mrs. Catherine Walker of Enniscorthy, was in Croke Park to cheer on her favourites.

MINOR THREE-TIMER: Wexford won their third provincial Minor hurling title in a row defeating Kilkenny by 4-11 to 4-4 in the provincial final in Croke Park.

OUT ON HIS OWN: Rathnure’s Dan Quigley was named Hurler of the Year.

MINOR DOUBLE: Mick Butler and Pat Cox became the first Wexford boys to win two All-Ireland Minor hurling medals. Butler was playing in his third consecutive final, and Cox was substitute goalkeeper on the winning team of 1966.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: Before the team left for their homecoming from Bray on the Monday afternoon, special presentations were made to trainer Ned Power and Mick Quinn (masseur). The presentations (wristlet watches) were made on behalf of the players by Dan Quigley as tokens of their appreciation.

TOP TABLE: The two men to lead Wexford from the top table were Senator Seán Browne (Chairman) and Paddy Roche (Secretary). They were described as Wexford’s finest-ever officers who carried out their roles professionally on a voluntary basis.

PATH TO FINAL: Beat Dublin 3-15 to 1-11 at Kilkenny on June 16 (Scorers: Tony Doran 2-2, Paul Lynch 0-6, Christy Jacob 1-2, Jimmy O’Brien 0-3, Ned Buggy and Con Dowdall 0-1 each).

Beat Kilkenny 3-13 to 4-9 at Croke Park on July 14 (Scorers: Paul Lynch 0-7 frees, Tony Doran 2-0, Christy Jacob 1-2, Jimmy O’Brien 0-2, Con Dowdall and Ned Buggy (’70) 0-1 each).

DORANS’ RECORD: One of Wexford’s foremost hurling families, the Dorans of Monamolin, became unique in the hurling world as a result of this victory.

They became the only family in the game that could boast All-Ireland hurling trophies in all grades open to their county, in the case of Wexford: Minor, Under-21, Intermediate and Senior.

Bill won Intermediate in 1961, followed by Tony’s Minor in 1963, while Tony and Joe were on the triumphant Under-21 team of 1965. The youngest, Colm, went on to serve Wexford with distinction too.