50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

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Plain of the Herbs
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50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

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No sooner had Offaly won Sam Maguire for the first time on Sunday 26th September 1971 than it was straight back onto the football fields in what would turn out to be a hectic schedule of games and travel over the following seven months.

Sunday 3rd October
With events in the north of Ireland taking a dire turn for the worse (internment was introduced eight weeks earlier), Antrim came to Tullamore in a fundraiser for the Northern Relief fund. Celebrations were the order of the day as far as Offaly supporters were concerned, with the Sam Maguire paraded. Antrim left with a 3-13 to 3-10 win, Paddy Fenning started instead of Tony McTague (injured ankle), Murt Connor took the frees and six of the subs got a run.

Sunday 10th October
The Senior football semi-finals were played, where Ferbane beat Rhode 0-8 to 0-7 and Gracefield defeated St Carthage’s (that’s Shamrocks nowadays) 1-10 to 1-6.

Sunday 17th October
The Senior football final was played, Ferbane bridging a 57 year gap when they beat Gracefield 4-10 to 1-9. Éamonn Lowry (2), Derek Kelly and Willie Molloy scored the goals, Tony McTAague scored 0-7.

Sunday 24th October
It was back to Croke Park again, where Offaly faced Down in the Grounds Tournament semi-final. Offaly won 1-12 to 0-8 with 14 of the All-Ireland team. Tony McTague captained the side for the first time. Paddy Fenning, out of favour since his decision to go on holiday at the time of the Leinster semi-final in July, was restored to the team in place of Jody Gunning.

Sunday 31st October
Offaly got their league campaign underway with a 0-16 to 2-3 win over Dublin at O’Connor Park before a crowd of roughly 4.5k. A free-riddden encounter that was punctuated by fist fights, Paddy McCormack and Nick Clavin were missing so Greg Hughes stepped in at full-back and John Smith was at centre half-back. Paddy Fenning continued at corner-forward.

Sunday 7th November
A repeat of the All-Ireland meeting with Galway in the Grounds Tournament at Croke Park. This time Offaly won 5-7 to 1-7. McCormack and Clavin returned, Fenning continued as he would for the remainder of the season, and John Smith lined out at full-forward replacing Seán Evans, something that would also continue despite the Gracefield man’s reputation as a defender. And Seán Lowry made an impressive Senior debut as a half-time sub, releasing Clavin to midfield to good effect as they did in the All-Ireland final.

Sunday 14th November
Offaly travelled to Cork for the league, in a repeat of the All-Ireland semi-final and came away with a 0-11 to 0-9 win. Flu ruled Paddy McCormack out, so Mick Ryan went to full-back and Seán Lowry made his first start at right corner-back. Larry Coughlan returned to the side at centre half-back, while Greg Hughes made his final appearance in the tricolour jersey he wore with distinction for so long, this time at full-forward.

Sunday 21st November
A rare Sunday off for Offaly, though Ferbane faced Portlaoise at Birr in the Leinster club championship. While that night at the County Arms Hotel in Birr, Offaly received their All-Ireland medals.

Sunday 28th November
Back in league action, Offaly entertained Waterford at O’Connor Park and won 1-17 to 1-4. Seán Lowry started at centre half-back for the first time, while Nick Clavin started a game at midfield and Paddy Fenning scored 1-5 from play.

Sunday 12th December
Mighty Kerry came to Tullamore for the fourth round of the league. And before a massive 15,000 people Offaly gave a performance for the ages, crushing Kerry 2-14 to 1-9 and cemented their status as All-Ireland champions. Writing in the Irish Press, veteran GAA correspondent Pádraig Puirseal opened with “Before the greatest gathering I have ever seen in Tullamore’s O’Connor Park Offaly yesterday clinched, and clinched most convincingly, their claim to being the supreme football team of 1971 when they beat league-holders Kerry even more convincingly than their final eight point margin reveals”.

13 of the All-Ireland team started, Seán Evans partnered Willie Bryan at midfield for the first time, while the full-forward line of Paddy Fenning, John Smith and Murt Connor was having a settled look about it. Puirseal remarked “There was no man on this Offaly side who did not play a major part in this, probably the sweetest of all their many victories in 1971. If this was one of McTague’s greatest hours, he was assisted by a defence that was rock-solid until those last five minutes when victory was already certain, an able and effective midfield, and a forward line all of whom shot good scores except Kevin Kilmurray, who made many of the openings for his colleagues.

Sunday 19th December
On the Sunday before Christmas (and your 12th Sunday out of 14 if you’re Tony McTague), Offaly travelled to Clonmel to face Tipperary. Offaly won 1-12 to 2-6, Martin Furlong made a great save in stoppage time at the end, Larry Coughlan deputised at centre half-back, Seán Evans was midfield, while Séamus Darby made his debut at top of the right and scored 0-3.

Sunday 16th January
Four weeks later and Offaly were back in action, this time against Kildare at Tullamore in 1970’s O’Byrne cup. Offaly gave their second string a run, so Noel Kinnarney, Paddy Byrne, Mick Wright, Christy Dunne, Billy Donlon, Ray Allen, Larry Coughlan, Kieran Claffey, Liam Hanlon, Jody Gunning, Dick Gleeson, Hugh Healy, Séamus Darby, Éamonn Lowry and Gay Grehan all got an opportunity. Willie McNally, Seamus Cocoman and Derek Kelly were introduced from the bench. Kildare won 2-5 to 0-9.

Sunday 23rd January
Back on the road again, when Offaly travelled to Ballybay for the Northern Relief Fund tournament tie against Monaghan. On the Sunday before Derry’s Bloody Sunday, Offaly won 5-9 to 0-7.

Sunday 6th February
Offaly resumed their league campaign with a 3-11 to 0-7 win over Kildare at Athy. Seán Lowry deputise for Mick Ryan, Seán Evans continued at midfield, as did Paddy Fenning and John Smith in the full-forward line.

Sunday 20th February
Ten Offaly men (Furlong, Ryan, McCormack, Mulligan, Clavin, Bryan, Kilmurray, McTague, Cooney and Connor) lined out for Leinster in the eastern province’s 0-13 to 1-9 Railway Cup semi-final win over Ulster. McTague scored 0-9 from frees.

Sunday 27th February
Offaly qualified for the league semi-final with a 1-11 to 1-6 win over Galway at Tullamore. Mick Wright made his debut at full-back, Larry Coughlan filled in for Martin Heavey at left half-back and Kieran Claffey returned to fill in for Kevin KIlmurray at centre half-forward.

Friday 17th March
The same ten Offaly men started for Leinster as the Railway Cup final against Munster ended all square, 1-15 each at Croke Park. John Smith came on, and Nick Clavin again switched to midfield.

Thursday 23rd March
Following a dispute that cast doubt on Offaly’s participation in the trip, Offaly departed on the All-Star trip to San Francisco.

Sunday 26th March
Offaly were beaten 0-11 to 0-12 by the All-Stars. The match took place at the Balboa soccer stadium in San Francisco, with a controversial late point giving the All-Stars a lead going into the second leg.

Sunday 2nd April
Offaly beat the All-Stars 1-15 to 1-11, to take the series on a 1-26 to 1-23 aggregate.

Sunday 16th April
Returned from their 12,000 miles All-Stars round trip, Offaly faced Mayo in the league semi-final at Croke Park. At full strength now (Evans midfield, Fenning, Smith and Connor in the full-forward line), Offaly were strongly expected to advance. But Mayo opened with a goal after 21 seconds, and after a thrilling semi-final in which the sides were level seven times, Tony McTague’s late equaliser ensured a replay. Offaly scored 0-16, Mayo 2-10, with McTague giving an exhibition of dead ball shooting, converting 13 from 14 (11 frees, two ‘50s), while Larry Coughlan’s introduction at midfield steadied Offaly in that sector.

Sunday 23rd April
Nine Offaly men (Murt Connor didn’t start) lost the Railway Cup final replay to Munster 0-10 to 2-14 at Cork, in what was a poor performance by the eastern province.

Sunday 30th April
Offaly lost the League semi-final replay to Mayo 0-8 to 1-11 leading to concerns about the All-Ireland champions’ form since the All-Star trip. Kieran Claffey, who came on a fortnight earlier, regained his place at midfield. In all, 14 of the 20 scores came from frees, and once Willie McGee goaled for Mayo with 12 minutes to go there was only going to be one winner. And to compound matters Paddy Fenning was sent off in the last minute for his part in a heated exchange.

Saturday 27th May
To London for the annual Whit Weekend Wembley Games tournament where Offaly faced Cork. Martin Furlong didn’t travel so Noel Kinnarney played in goal, Cork won 2-12 to 2-7, they only one to impress was Séamus Darby who scored 0-3 from corner-forward.


Sunday 4th June
On the day Offaly Senior hurlers were dumped out of the Leinster championship by Laois, the footballers brought an experimental team to Killarney for a tournament game against Kerry. Offaly made a good fight of it before going down 1-12 to 1-18, where Mick Wright did well at full-back. Tom Darcy was Offaly’s goalscorer while Noel Kinnarney, Paul Prendergast, Seán Lowry, Billy Donlon, Seán Kilroy, Ambrose Hickey, Tony Keegan, Séamus Darby and Jody Gunning also played.

Sunday 11th June
Four games took place in the Offaly SFC where champions Ferbane beat St Rynagh’s 0-9 to 1-5 at Birr, Clara beat newly promoted Na Piarsaigh (Kilcormac-Killoughey) 0-10 to 0-5 at Ferbane, Daingean beat Edenderry 1-8 to 0-5 and St Mary’s (Raheen) beat Éire Óg 3-8 to 2-7.

Sunday 25th June
For some reason, Offaly had a bye to the Leinster semi-final where they face Meath. Seán Lowry was handed a championship debut at centre half-back, releasing Clavin to midfield. Séamus Darby’s impressive Wembley performance gave him a first start at top of the right to the exclusion of Murt Connor. And on the Friday before the semi-final, Paddy Fenning was freed to play following his league semi-final sending off.

Offaly rediscovered the form of old with a performance for the ages, even though McTague’s influence was restricted following a heavy hit in the early stages. With Offaly wearing white, Nick Clavin dominated midfield. Willie Bryan goaled after 14 minutes, Seán Evans added another five minutes later. Evans roved 60 yards from his full-forward position, as Offaly’s off the ball runing and fisted passing opened the Meath defence. Offaly responded to a soft Meath goal with four points of their own and led 2-10 to 2-1 at half-time.

Offaly won 2-17 to 3-5 where 22,119 attended, revenge for 1970’s Leinster final reverse to Meath and raging favourites to win Leinster.

Sunday 2nd July
Gracefield beat St Carthage’s 0-14 to 0-11 when Daithi Murphy and Tony Keegan both scored 0-5 for the winners and Seán Kilroy hit 0-8 for the Rahan parish side; and Rhode defeated Doon 0-18 to 0-5 in the Offaly SFC. Jody Gunning kicked 0-10 for Rhode.

Sunday 9th July
Erin Rovers overcame Tullamore 2-8 to 2-7 with Johnny Cooney scoring 1-5, while Ballycumber beat St Columba’s, concluding the Offaly SFC first round.

Sunday 16th July
The Offaly Junior footballers won the county’s first Leinster title at the grade since 1935 when defeating Wexford 3-8 to 1-3 at Portlaoise. Senior panellists Noel Kinnarney, Mick Wright, Billy Donlon and Tom Darcy played, as did Ambrose Hickey, Liam Hanlon, Seán Kilroy, Hugh Healy and Paudge Mulhare who had either previously or would in the future, line out for the Seniors.

Sunday 23rd July
Unsurprisingly, Offaly named an unchanged team for their third Leinster final meeting with Kildare in four years, though a late change saw Larry Coughlan replace Mick O’Rourke at corner-back.

The champions could have done without conceding an early goal, though responding with three points of their own before Johnny Cooney goaled. Kildare levelled with another goal, then went ahead, before Offaly showed their class with a succession of points (Bryan, McTague (two frees), Clavin and Kilmurray) to lead 1-9 to 2-3 at half-time. Kilmurray was the recipient of three uppercuts from a Kildare defender which went unpunished, four days after the Muhammad Ali – Al ‘Blue’ Lewis fight at the same venue.

After the resumption, Offaly extended their lead to eight points (1-15 to 2-5), following some spectacular shooting from long range from Willie Bryan and Johnny Cooney. They relaxed after that, winning 1-18 to 2-8. The win came at a cost though, Nick Clavin was carried off with a knee injury which would keep him out until October, while the wrist fracture that Willie Bryan carried into the game was put in a cast on the following day. Mick O’Rourke, too, was injured and gone for the year.

Wednesday 26th July
The U21 footballers beat Louth 2-8 to 1-6 at Navan, with Senior panellists Seán Lowry, Mick Wright and Séamus Darby lining out.

Sunday 30th July
In the SFC, Gracefield were the first team to advance to the semi-final with a 1-15 to 0-9 win over Daingean. Erin Rovers and Ballycumber ended all square 2-5 each, Johnny Cooney scoring 2-3 for the former.

Sunday 13th August
The U21 footballers drew their Leinster final at Tullamore, Kildare’s equalising point, their 14th, drawing level with Offaly’s 2-8 for whom Mick Fitzgerald and Éamonn Lowry were the goalscorers..

Sunday 20th August
First-time Ulster winners Donegal were Offaly’s All-Ireland semi-final opponents, Offaly replacing the injured Clavin by moving Larry Coughlan to midfield and introducing john Smith at corner-back.

In an uncomfortable first half, it took hot favourites Offaly 20 minutes to score their second point. Donegal led 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time, by which time Murt Connor had come on for Séamus Darby, and Willie Bryan went to full-forward in a switch with Seán Evans.

Offaly rearranged at half-time. And John Smith went to centre half-back, Seán Lowry to left half and Martin Heavey to left corner. Donegal opened up a three point lead, though Coughlan and Evans dominated midfield thereafter. Larry Coughlan kicked a free from 60 yards to level the scores, and two quickfire Willie Bryan points put Offaly two ahead. Kevin Kilmurray’s goal opened an eight point gap, Donegal pulled the goal back, and Martin Furlong was forced into two fantastic saves in the dying moments.

Still, Offaly badly missed Nick Clavin’s influence, though with the plaster by then removed from his injured knee there was still hope he would be available for the Final.

Tuesday 22nd August
Hopes of the U21s making it a Leinster treble were dashed when Kildare beat Offaly 2-9 to 0-6 in the replayed Leinster final.

Sunday 27th August
The SFC continued, with the three remaining quarter-finals decided. Jody Gunning scored 1-4 as Rhode beat Clara 3-7 to 0-4; Johnny Cooney scored 1-5 as Erin Rovers made no mistake with a 3-8 to 0-7 replay win over Ballycumber; and champions Ferbane also advanced with a 2-16 to 2-6 win over St Mary’s.

Meanwhile at Finglas, Willie Bryan’s late point gave Offaly a 1-12 each draw with Dublin in the Player Will tournament final. Offaly fielded just five of the All-Ireland semi-final team, with Louis Maher, Pat Pender, Hugh Healy, Mick Wright, N Kelly, Seán Kilroy, Mossy Clavin and Freddie and Gay Grehan called up.

The buildup
Nick Clavin’s right knee dominated discussion in the lead up to All-Ireland Sunday, even in Kerry. Would he play? Would he start? Was he training? Or was he still hobbling? Ten days before the final, Offaly announced a team without him, quashing rumours of a return, though he was to wear no 17. That team included Larry Coughlan at corner-back, Seán Evans at midfield and John Smith at full-forward, while Murt Connor’s experience and semi-final performance gave the Walsh Island mad the nod at corner-forward, replacing Séamus Darby. It was the Bryan – Evans combination that had dominated Kerry in the previous December’s NFL encounter at Tullamore.

Mick O’Rourke was unavailable too, though Offaly trainer Fr Tom Gillooly reminded Pádraig Puirseal in the Irish Press “Even if Clavin and O’Rourke were fully fit and on the team, Larry Coughlan and Seán Lowry would still be very much in the running to gain places. On his form in the last couple of matches, could Coughlan have been left off? As for Lowry, he is a great footballer who has already proved himself in the best of company, and don’t forget the matches John Smith has played either, whether in attack or defence.”

Sunday 24th September
It was a dour final, punctuated with mistakes, fumbles and 55 frees. Offaly opened with three points in 90 seconds but soon lost momentum before leading 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time. John Smith came to midfield around the three-quarter mark, then Johnny Cooney scored a point and punched in a goal to open a five point lead. Brendan Lynch goaled from the kickout, and the final 20 minutes was a thriller.

Mick O’Dwyer equalised with three minutes left, Kerry missed two chances, then hit the post with a goal attempt, before Johnny Cooney was pulled down in the scoring zone. The referee was playing for the draw and waved ‘play on’, then had to blow full-time when Dan Kavanagh looked certain to score at the other end.

Sunday 15th October
Kerry’s overwhelming replay record dominated the buildup to the replay. That, Mick O’Connell’s wedding on the day before the replay, Micheál Ó Sé being hospitalised with tonsilitis in the week before the replay, Offaly’s never having beaten Kerry in Croke Park, Offaly letting Kerry off the hook the last day.

Séamus Darby replaced Murt Connor, while Kerry surprised everybody with an unchanged selection despite having real options in Pat Griffin and Derry Crowley.

It was the day the acclaimed ‘Bryan the Brave’, Offaly crushing Kerry in a 1-19 to 0-13 win. Initially the scores came in ‘breaks’, like snooker. Offaly scored five before Kerry had a shot at goal, despite Johnny Cooney going off with a shoulder injury in the 10th minute. Then Kerry scored five of their own to equalise, by which time Eugene Mulligan too was gone off with an injured shoulder. Offaly replaced Mulligan with Nick Clavin, who could barely run.

Level at half-time, 0-8 each, Offaly made decisive switches at half-time. Smith went to centre half-back, Lowry to right half, Clavin to full-forward and Fenning to right half-forward. Tony McTague opened the second half scoring, before Mick O’Connell, Brendan Lynch and Mick O’Dwyer put Kerry into a two point lead. Paddy Fenning’s fortuitous goal restored Offaly’s lead and then the dam burst. Willie Bryan took over at midfield and Offaly added eight points in twelve minutes. Bryan and Connor pointed, O’Connell pointed for Kerry, before Connor, McTague (free), Bryan and McTague (3, 2 frees) pressed home the advantage. O’Connell pointed a free, and Darby and, Bryan concluded the scoring.

Sunday 29th October
Two weeks later, Offaly were back in Croke Park again to open their league campaign, beating Dublin 2-15 to 1-5. With Mulligan, Cooney and Clavin all injured in the replay, and Kilmurrany and Coughlan also absentees, Mick Wright played at full-back, Jimmy Byrne at left full-back, Liam Hanlon at midfield, while John Mollin scored the second goal from full-forward.

Sunday 5th November
It’s fitting to end here. Offaly ruthlessly beat Donegal 4-11 to 0-7 in the Grounds Tournament final, but it ended on a sad note with Paddy McCormack receiving an eye injury that ended his career. He even refused to go off, going into goal to receive treatment while Furlong took over at full-back. He was still 33.

Later he told Raymond Smith in The Football Immortals “I have absolutely no hard feelings against Donegal and I want to say that most emphatically. Why would I? Every day you go ut on the field you know that the million-to-one-chance can happen – that you may be the one that will suffer a serious injury. Not many serious injuries, thank God, happen in gaelic games but that doesn’t mean that they cannot happen and haven’t happened from time to time. I was one of the unlucky ones in the end to suffer a bad eye injury – like Tom Walsh the Kilkenny hurler.” And Paddy sadly and reluctantly called time on his football career in the spring of 1973 after 15 years and 43 championship and 71 league appearances in green, white and gold. The breakup of Offaly’s great team was underway.


With thanks to the archives of the Offaly Independent, Irish Press, The Football Immortals (Raymond Smith) and All-Star Gazing (Moira Dunne and Eileen Dunne.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Doon Exile
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Doon Exile »

Thanks Plain for posting that. Read every bit - love the old stuff.
Doon exile....

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bracknaghboy
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by bracknaghboy »

Brilliant read.
Can you imagine this below.......15,000 in the old old OCP a couple of weeks before Christmas. Wonderful.
Plain of the Herbs wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 10:22 pm Sunday 12th December
Mighty Kerry came to Tullamore for the fourth round of the league. And before a massive 15,000 people Offaly gave a performance for the ages, crushing Kerry 2-14 to 1-9 and cemented their status as All-Ireland champions. Writing in the Irish Press, veteran GAA correspondent Pádraig Puirseal opened with “Before the greatest gathering I have ever seen in Tullamore’s O’Connor Park Offaly yesterday clinched, and clinched most convincingly, their claim to being the supreme football team of 1971 when they beat league-holders Kerry even more convincingly than their final eight point margin reveals”.

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Lone Shark
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Lone Shark »

Outstanding stuff.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

biffinbanner
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by biffinbanner »

i was at thaat game as a very young boy. a magical day .and i remember tony mctague scoring a point from the sideline at least 40 yards out at the hospital side into the road side goals. its was as good as the famous maurice fitz one if not better. the kerry lads were looking at him with awe that he would have attempted it much less scored it..pity theres no footage available..

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Bord na Mona man
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Bord na Mona man »

Great work.
The diary format and chronology really helps to paint a picture of how the year panned out.

An 'inverted pyramid' take of the year would start at the 2nd half of the AIF replay and taper off.

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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by SearingDrive »

Lots of memories from the 1971/72 era. I was there in the rain in 1971, and for the two games v Kerry in 1972. Great nostalgia from POTH. The past is a foreign country, they say.

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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Doon Exile »

And there doesn’t seem to be any hold up on the club championship with it being played 2 weeks before championship games.
Doon exile....

Plain of the Herbs
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

Go raibh maith agat. Glad you enjoyed.
Doon Exile wrote: Wed Mar 23, 2022 10:52 pm Thanks Plain for posting that. Read every bit - love the old stuff.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

Wonderful is right. People would be down behind the far goal at that rate.
bracknaghboy wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 1:42 am Brilliant read.
Can you imagine this below.......15,000 in the old old OCP a couple of weeks before Christmas. Wonderful.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Plain of the Herbs
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

And that’s essentially what I wanted to set out. First, how the team evolved with O’Rourke, Clavin, Claffey, Connor and Gunning being replaced by Coughlan, Lowry, Smith, Darby and Fenning.

And also I wanted to set out the extremely busy playing schedule the lads faced from All-Ireland Sunday right through to Christmas, and then from January up to the end of April by which stage it was time to get serious about preparing for 1972. Bear in mind Furlong and McTague had babies and toddlers at that time, and they're just the ones I'm aware of.
Bord na Mona man wrote: Thu Mar 24, 2022 11:50 pm Great work.
The diary format and chronology really helps to paint a picture of how the year panned out.

An 'inverted pyramid' take of the year would start at the 2nd half of the AIF replay and taper off.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Plain of the Herbs
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

Thanks. 1971 and 1972 must have been a great time for an Offaly supporter to be alive.
SearingDrive wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 4:47 pm Lots of memories from the 1971/72 era. I was there in the rain in 1971, and for the two games v Kerry in 1972. Great nostalgia from POTH. The past is a foreign country, they say.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Plain of the Herbs
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

Yes, and no. Yes, the first round was played between 11th June, 2nd July and 9th July, with the quarter-finals played between 30th July and 27th August. But 1972 was a bleak time for a club footballer in Offaly. There were 16 Senior clubs, a straight knockout championship. So half the clubs got one match, and half the clubs got two (and Erin Rovers and Ballycumber had a replay). But that was it.

There was no time to play the semi-finals and final until 1973. Between the League (Offaly reached 1973’s league final) and the Grounds Tournament after the All-Ireland replay played on 15th October, 1972’s semi-finals weren’t played until 13th and 20th May 1973, with Gracefield beating Ferbane in the final on 3rd June 1973. And the winners’ celebrations were truncated with Ferbane exacting revenge just four weeks later and dumping the Blackthorns out of 1973’s championship at the first hurdle.

That was nothing new in the 1960s and 1970s here. The Offaly Senior finals of 1961, ’62, ’64, ’67, ’69 and ’72 weren’t played until the year following the year to which they relate. And the entire championship of 1961 was played in 1962.
Doon Exile wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:51 pm And there doesn’t seem to be any hold up on the club championship with it being played 2 weeks before championship games.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

Plain of the Herbs
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Re: 50 years ago, how 1971's breakthrough became 1972's dominance

Post by Plain of the Herbs »

YouTube link to the 1972 replay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsZxdnQxmPA
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.

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