Dublin v Kerry
All-Ireland semi-final day. The 2nd one. Last week Cork dismissed Meath with frightening ease.
And today, moments ago, Dublin and Kerry finished their game.
We talk about Kerry and Dublin as one of the great GAA rivalries, but I don’t know that it is anymore. I think it’s mostly Dublin people only, and those of a certain age, that talk in this way.
In relatively recent times there’s been a couple of quarter-final clashes, both of which Kerry won, though one took a replay. But really what those of us who talk of this rivalry are talking about is the 1970s.
There were clashes in the 1980s also, but Kerry then were doing that stange nonchalent lap-of-honour for their great team, casually picking up a bonus 3 All-Ireland’s in a row. All I remember of them was Pat Spillane swinging that leg from anywhere in the field and the ball going over the bar, as the 1983 winning Dublin team was consigned to the status of just another team.
But in the ’70s both teams had their day. The 1978 final between them, which Kerry won, is probably the crunch game because it really defined Kerry’s greatness as they ran off in search of an impossible 5-in-a-row - which but for the boot of an Offaly man they almost pulled off - and despite Dublin hanging around for another year it really finished Dublin’s greatness as a team.
Dublin’s goalkeeper, Paddy Cullen, lived in my neighbourhood and I used to stand beside him in church back then so I would get to shake his hand.
Earlier in ‘78 I had been to Croke Park to watch Dublin win the league against Mayo, and afterwards I was in the pub with the team and got to drink out of the trophy. Age limits didn’t apply when drinking beer out of trophies.
Shortly after that my class in school went on a tour to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. And because they’re so close to Shannon Airport, we flew. On a Jumbo. And on that flight was the victorious Dublin team who after their Shannon stopover (remember them) were heading to the US as a reward for winning either the league or the previous year’s All-Ireland against Armagh.
So 1978 was a great year to be a kid and a Dublin fan. Until the All-Ireland final.
The pivotal moment in ‘78, that still hurts almost 30 years later, was never written about better than by Con Houlihan:
…and while all this was going on, Mikey Sheehy was running up to take the kick and suddenly Paddy dashed back towards his goal like a woman who smells a cake burning.
The ball won the race and it curled inside the near post as Paddy crashed into the outside of the net and lay against it like a fireman who had returned to find his station ablaze.
And the 1979 final is best forgotten, so when Dublin fans think of Kerry and rivalries, we think of 1977 and the clash in the All-Ireland semi-final. We like to call it the greatest game of Gaelic Football ever played, but that’s only because we won. In truth I watched an Ulster final in the mid-nineties between Derry and Down, the first half of which was the best football I have ever seen.
Today Kerry beat Dublin by a couple of points. It was a very bizarre 2nd half with Dublin doing nothing for ages, then doing something but wasting good chances while Kerry went out of it, only for the near-drama of the final few minutes to sort of unfold.
Dublin certainly had their chances today but it’s Cork and Kerry in the 2007 final, so again Dublin fans revert to the memories of ‘95, ‘83 and especially that legendary semi-final in 1977 of which here is a few minutes for you on video:
If you’re interested further then you’ll want to read Kerry V Dublin, the book by Tom Humphries
For me at least Dublin have saved me a chunk of money because I don’t now have to go scrambling looking for a ticket for the final when I get home.
This post is dedicated to people who wear GAA county jerseys but never actually watch Gaelic Football, Hurling or Camogie.
See Also:
• Gaelic Football in Kansas City
• Setanta Broadband Offers Faster Viewing Speed
• All-Ireland Sunday in KC
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
I remember the Kerry-Dublin days all too well. Who’ll win this year? Dublin or Kerry? No other county was ever mentioned.
I also recall a school tour to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. On a Jumbo. Were you, like me, as disappointed to come home on a bus? As upset? Probably not, because I lost my sandals on that trip (don’t ask how) and my mother was all picture and no sound for a fortnight.
That trip on the 747 was my first time to fly. Although I’d been to England dozens of times by then, it was always by ferry. So flying the once was a huge excitement.
Definitely didn’t fly back - presumably the schedules didn’t fit in - but I have a recollection of coming back by train. That might be wrong and possibly we did travel back by bus - but the ‘plane trip dominated the day.
The candle that features in my 101 things was bought in the folk park that day.
Irish KC readers familiar with McCarthy’s Bar: A Journey of Discovery In Ireland will remember a very funny scene from that folk park.
Bring back memories. We used to get an afternoon off school the years Kerry one. The team would always come and visit the school bring Sam along and afterwards we could go home!
I’d forgotten the visits to the school, Conortje. We were lucky enough to have the Sam Maguire brought to us 3 times in those wonderful years.
It was strange to see that big shiny trophy in all the grey of your school yard and buildings when you normally only see it on the telly.