1995 Leinster hurling final on youtube

[Bord na Mona man]

Probably Offaly's most accomplished hurling performance.
I haven't seen this match since the famous day.
It would bring a tear to eye.

What's on youtube is taken from someone's VCR, so the quality has deteriorated.

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l55bS0JIGmM
Part 2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0S2cQutEfY
Part 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rThzbtnGmKc
Part 4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWC2CruYTCc
Part 5http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCXboHRWXs
Part 6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiadoD9IysI
Part 7http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A8R-coSK2k
Part 8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtdLQr4ShTg

[midfield]

great to see this game again , one of the best days ever in croke park ( not the weather ) but beating the cats off the field. only for the two goals they got near the end ,we would have held them to less than 6 points. Never forget the down pour of rain.Although Billy Dooley got man of the match. I thought that it was probably Daithi Regans finest game for the county ever.

Imagine if we could ever give a beating like that to the cats again!

[Plain of the Herbs]

i got the tape of it from the old 'videos.ie a few years ago I hadn't it taped on the day 'cause I made a hames of setting the timer on the trusty old VCR. You can imagine my disgust when I got home.

Some thinks I'd forgotted in the passage of time - Eddie O'Connor getting vexed and throwing the ball at Cregan - hilarious. In fairness Eddie tried his best to drive his side. Ger Canning's commentary complaining how the rain was ruining the match - as a classis was unfolding before his eyes.
The Offaly deluge of points during the third quarter. The half back line absolutely cleaned up.

Some things I never forgot though -

The rain, oh the rain - and that during the hottest summer in living memory! i got the same shower twice on the way to Dublin, once going through Durrow, the second at the strt of the motorway at Kilcock, the worst rain I've ever driven in.

The disaster that was the minor final. Pat Joe moved Barry to every line of the field - everything bar take him off.

kilkenny taking the field, the heavens opening, Offaly coming out, then turning to go back in again. Thinking that period inside would win or lose it. Kilkenny goalkeeper Michael Walsh doing a TV interview on the sideline before the start!

The hooking and blocking in the first half, Kilkenny only scored one point from play - that was the first one. Willie O'Connor burying Johnny D with a drive, and Dickie Murphy missed it!

Michael Walsh dropping Daithi Regan's shot over the line. John Troy's point when he dribbled hockey style and unleashed a ferocious shot off the ground that flew over the bar at the Railway end. T'would have been one of the greatest ever goals if it went in. Linesman Pat Delaney giving a dodgy line ball against us - two yars after he gave John Power a penalty for falling over himself.

Johnny P's speech "to our critics . . . we're now the favourites to win the All-Ireland."

Celebrating winning the All-Ireland for the next seven weeks - if only we knew what was coming . . .

BTW, I've a spare copy of the programme if anyone wants it send me a PM.

[Bord na Mona man]

It was some masterclass in blocking and hooking.
Tactically Offaly adapted to the conditions much better too.
Given the weather, there was never going to be much long range point taking.
The Offaly half back line stayed close to the full back line to help them out.

The Kilkenny full back line didn't get much cover from the players in front. Pat O'Connor and Billy Dooley often got several seconds and attempts to try and gain possession.
Watching it, you almost expect Tommy Walsh or JJ Delaney to arrive and mop up, as soon ball breaks loose .
In 2009 if a Pat O'Connor equivalent tried soloing from the sideline to the 'D' we all know what fate would await him!

Offaly's cause was helped by very poor shooting by Adrian Ronan and Pat O'Neill from placed balls. Two of the wayward sort of talented players who were never going to cut it under Cody.
I had forgotten what a looper Eddie O'Connor was. You could see Offaly players were also gunning to hit him a skelp as he looked on the verge of exploding.

I remember back in college that year and the various explanations from Kilkenny lads as to why they lost... Kilkenny can't hurl well in the rain, Ollie Walsh had a row with John Power and had lost the dressing room, Kilkenny got soaked before the match etc.
Great days!

With hindsight hints of our later downfall were already there.
For starters, David Hughes opting to bat at any ball that arrived over 6 feet.
The lack of fitness was apparent too. Billy Dooley was doubled over gasping for breath long before the end.
Ger Loughnane copped Offaly's lack of fitness at the AI semi finals when he met Brian Whelahan at half time and Sid told him how ferociously hot it was out there.
There was also no game winner who could be sprung from the bench (apart from Joe Errity IMO).
In the '94 All Ireland, Offaly were able to introduce Michael Duignan and Pat O'Connor to help pull it out of the fire.
In '95, the first two options were Brendan Kelly and Declan Pilkington - who were workers for 60-70 minutes, but not ideal for a smash and grab raid.
I wonder did Clare coming out of Munster the week before change the dynamic of the Leinster final?
The Leinster final possibly became the de-facto All Ireland in people's minds.

[turk]

An absolutely brilliant game, best game i was ever at.

If I remember, rte showed full deferred coverage of it at 6pm in the evening, after they had done their live match (at a guess i think it was Tyrone v Derry?)

Troy's point he whacked over off the ground was class.

I'd be very interested in seeing this match again.

[Plain of the Herbs]

I think that was the first year of the guinness sponsorship and beacuse the ocuntry wasn't ready for real 'live' matches on d'Telly, they showed them in full deferred at 6 in the evening.

I remember Liam Horan in the Indo raising questions like the pressure the match on TV combined with every milking machine in the country going flat out at the same time would put on the national grid!

Also how would having a portable telly in the milking parlour showing the match affect the cows' performing.

Oh happy days.

An absolutely brilliant game, best game i was ever at.

If I remember, rte showed full deferred coverage of it at 6pm in the evening, after they had done their live match (at a guess i think it was Tyrone v Derry?)

Troy's point he whacked over off the ground was class.

I'd be very interested in seeing this match again.

[bracknaghboy]

Question:

How would the Offaly team from 1995 get on against todays Kilkenny outfit??

[Bord na Mona man]

My uncle who lives in Waterford was listening to the match on Kilkenny local radio.
When the match coverage ended, the first record they played was...

Wait for it....

"Everybody Hurts" by REM.

[Bord na Mona man]

Question:

How would the Offaly team from 1995 get on against todays Kilkenny outfit??

Difficult to compare.
They'd really need to be prepared to the current day fitness levels to stand a chance.

[Bord na Mona man]

I'd be very interested in seeing this match again.

Watch it on youtube you plank!

[turk]

I'd be very interested in seeing this match again.

Watch it on youtube you plank!

I meant on a proper telly, you idiot!

[Bord na Mona man]

I'd be very interested in seeing this match again.

Watch it on youtube you plank!

I meant on a proper telly, you idiot!

What is wrong with your monitor?

[turk]

I like to watch matches on the telly

[bracknaghboy]

The clips from Youtube are unwatchable.

[turk]

The clips from Youtube are unwatchable.

It would be a big novelty to a buffoon like Bord na Mona man!!