Carlow V Dublin

After fifty years of striving Carlow won the Leinster Senior Football Championship when they defeated Dublin by three points in a memorable game. It was an hour of great football, played in a truly sportsmanlike fashion that delighted the thousands of Gaels who packed the grounds. Both winners and losers are deserving of the greatest praise for their wonderful display that kept their respective supporters on tip-toe of excitement right from the start to the final whistle, when the scenes of enthusiasm witnessed will long be remembered.The Dublin backs were kept busily moving but there was nothing to show for Carlow’s superiority in a bout of play that was really terrific with one long roar of encouragement. We were wondering if the players would stick the fast pace but they were all well trained and there was no sign of easing up. The continued poor finishes by the Carlow forwards was causing a deal of worry and then came the first score as 5 minutes from the start Maher kicked a long point for Dublin and they led against the run of the play. P. O’ Reilly kicked a long ball to Bermingham who put over a point and they led by 2. Morris placed to Rea who worked goal wards for a point after 8 minutes of grand football. Back came Carlow only to miss on a close in free and they spoiled a likely chance a minute later by fouling close in. Carlow continued to hold the balance of power round midfield. “Jimma” and Moore were playing great football hereabouts for the Barrowside team but the Dublin back blocked down all attempts at scores. Fagan cleared a fast ball from M. Byrne to see McCarthy kick clear to Maher who pointed to stretch the Dublin lead. L. Kelly again put Carlow attacking but Fagan boxed clear and when play reached midfield Falvey kicked a long high ball to Murphy who was fouled and Culhane pointed from the free and Dublin led by 5 to 1 with 27 minutes gone. The Carlow team had another spell of attack but all their scoring efforts came to naught and the first half closed with Dublin leading by 5 points to 1.Carlow began the second half in great style and forced a “50” which Jim Morris kicked well and long to goal for Fagan to punch clear but Rea got to the clearance and kicked in a fast goal. This score brought the big Carlow following to its feet to give vent to its feelings in great style but the cheering had hardly died down when Dublin swept to the other end and Counihan beat Quinlan from close in to restore the 4 points lead with a goal. Two goals in a minute! Archibold kicked a good long free that brought a second one and J. Doyle scored a grand point.

Back swept Carlow per Sullivan and Moore and a good shot was cleared by Fagan but Doyle swooped down and drove the ball straight into the net to level the scores with 15 minutes to go. There was now one big scene of enthusiasm as hats and coats were flung into the air some of them maybe never recovered. What did it matter the Carlow forwards now gained confidence and a minute later had a further point from Doyle’s free and led for the first time. The Carlow forwards were now going great guns while L. Kelly caught and kicked great balls in a game that was tense with excitement. Dublin then failed on a “50” and in a Carlow attack Rea hit the woodwork with a great shot.

The pace was still a cracker and this spell was thrilling as Doyle pointed from a seemingly impossible angle to make Carlow lead by 2 points and 10 minutes to go. This score was offset by one to Dublin per McGuire but immediately Rea kicked one for Carlow. When Hosey was well placed he was fouled and John Doyle again pointed from the free to give Carlow a goal lead with five minutes to go. Then came a great Dublin rally in an all-out effort to avert defeat. They had a close in free cleared by Farrell who a moment later scooped the ball off the line. Back again came Dublin and there were some uneasy moments in the Carlow camp as watches were scanned. Two frees to Dublin were well cleared and L. Kelly kicked well up the field just as full time sounded with Carlow winning on the score – Carlow 2-6 (12) Dublin 1-6 (9).

There were scenes of great jubilation at the end as the Carlow players were carried shoulder high from the field and all other worries were forgotten. They had now won their first Leinster Senior Final and should have gained enough confidence to go further and win an All-Ireland.

There were great scenes of jubilation in Carlow town on Sunday night when the players arrived back from Athy. Bonfires blazed at several street corners and large crowds indulged in singing and dancing till the small hours of the morning. The main streets of the town were thronged with supporters from all parts of the county recounting the many thrilling passages of a memorable game.

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