What was early GAA like?

0byme75341jo28 · 06-08-2019 11:28am #1

Just been looking at some old GAA champions Wikipedia pages and this question crossed my mind. I imagine the current game in both codes would be barely recognisable compared to that of the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The scores seem utterly bizzare, there were no red or yellow cards, and I think I read somewhere that the games were two hours long? Was there rule changes or anything that made the game more similar to today's one, or was it simply pioneering players/managers that encouraged higher scoring matches?

Take 1914 football for example: Monaghan/Armagh played out a scoreless draw in the Ulster semifinal, before Monaghan prevailed in the replay winning 1-1 to 0-2. Kerry won the all Ireland 2-3 to 0-6 against Meath in a replay after drawing 1-3 to 2-0 in the first game. Surely this can't have been very enjoyable to play or watch?

Hurling in 1914 was also a bit mad. A Tipp/Limerick game finishing 8-0 to 3-1, Clare beating Galway 6-6 to 0-0 in the AI semi final, before beating Laois by 5-1 to 1-0. Some the pulls were utter carnage I imagine :pac:

And basically every year in the early 1900s was like this! Why were games so low scoring? Did teams just not realise going for more points improved their chances of winning? So many questions. It's just a fascinating topic and I think it'd be great if we could share our knowledge in this thread to help us better understand the early games

RMAOK · 06-08-2019 11:33am

Wasn't it 21 a side up until the 1910's?

The red and yellow card thing is a recent phenomenon - cant remember exactly, but it's no more than 20 years ago.

dobman88 · 06-08-2019 11:33am

I'd say the low points to high goals ratio in hurling would have a lot to do with the fact it was mostly ground hurling the way it was played. Wouldnt have been many lads picking it up, soloing or striking long.

Wasnt Christy Ring one of the first to start running with the sliotar on the hurl and was seen as a pioneer of the game at the time

partyguinness · 06-08-2019 11:37am

Intercounty football from the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s was grim enough 95% of the time- like a really ****e Junior C game today.

God only knows what it was like back in the 1900s. A cousin of mine going way back won on AI with Cork in 1911 obviously that was an exceptionally good year.

ToBeFrank123 · 06-08-2019 11:37am

I think hurling was nearly all ground hurling and Mick Mackey was one of the first to start picking up and soloing the ball in the 1930s.

I think football was 17 a side until about 1915. But the rules were loose at the time and objections and counter objections were a big problem. Games could be played and replayed over and over.

ToBeFrank123 · 06-08-2019 11:44am

partyguinness wrote: »

Intercounty football from the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s was grim enough 95% of the time- like a really ****e Junior C game today.

God only knows what it was like back in the 1900s. A cousin of mine going way back won on AI with Cork in 1911 obviously that was an exceptionally good year.

Football was mostly catch and kick up to the 1970s. Catch the ball, leather it down the other end of the field and hope for the best. There were of course a few more refined footballers such as Purcell or O'Connell who actually looked to put it into free space or play to the strengths of their team and they were ahead of their time.

Exiled1 · 06-08-2019 1:08pm

Should read 'The Hurlers' by Paul Rouse... a superb book detailing the early days of GAA and hurling in particular. It is framed around the first All Ireland hurling final between Tipp and Galway, played in Birr. The book includes much social history of the time.

munchkin_utd · 06-08-2019 1:11pm

ToBeFrank123 wrote: »

Football was mostly catch and kick up to the 1970s. Catch the ball, leather it down the other end of the field and hope for the best. There were of course a few more refined footballers such as Purcell or O'Connell who actually looked to put it into free space or play to the strengths of their team and they were ahead of their time.

sounds like hurling till a few years back

cms88 · 06-08-2019 5:09pm

Zion Hot Staffer wrote: »

Just been looking at some old GAA champions Wikipedia pages and this question crossed my mind. I imagine the current game in both codes would be barely recognisable compared to that of the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The scores seem utterly bizzare, there were no red or yellow cards, and I think I read somewhere that the games were two hours long? Was there rule changes or anything that made the game more similar to today's one, or was it simply pioneering players/managers that encouraged higher scoring matches?

Take 1914 football for example: Monaghan/Armagh played out a scoreless draw in the Ulster semifinal, before Monaghan prevailed in the replay winning 1-1 to 0-2. Kerry won the all Ireland 2-3 to 0-6 against Meath in a replay after drawing 1-3 to 2-0 in the first game. Surely this can't have been very enjoyable to play or watch?

Hurling in 1914 was also a bit mad. A Tipp/Limerick game finishing 8-0 to 3-1, Clare beating Galway 6-6 to 0-0 in the AI semi final, before beating Laois by 5-1 to 1-0. Some the pulls were utter carnage I imagine :pac:

And basically every year in the early 1900s was like this! Why were games so low scoring? Did teams just not realise going for more points improved their chances of winning? So many questions. It's just a fascinating topic and I think it'd be great if we could share our knowledge in this thread to help us better understand the early games

In the early days a goal outwaighed any number of points. For example Cork might score and goal and Dublin might score 10 points but Cork would still win

0byme75341jo28 · 06-08-2019 7:12pm

cms88 wrote: »

In the early days a goal outwaighed any number of points. For example Cork might score and goal and Dublin might score 10 points but Cork would still win

Now that's crazy. So taking a point was basically just an insurance score in case the game finished level?

ToBeFrank123 · 06-08-2019 8:17pm

Came across this.

https://www.museum.ie/The-Collections/Documentation-Discoveries/July-2015/Gaelic-Athletic-Association-Football-Rules-Book,-1

Some interesting rules in there such as:

What football rules were set down in January, 1888?

1888’s Rule 1 defined the size of the playing pitch. The ground for full teams (21 a-side) would be 196 yards long by 140 yards broad. 2015 pitch dimensions for 15-a side are 158 yards long and 98 yards wide.

Rule 4 detailed that there shall be an upright post standing 21 feet from each goal post on the goal line. A goal was scored when the ball went between goal posts and under the crossbar. A point, when the ball went over the crossbar or over the goal line within 21 feet of either goal post. In a change from today’s practice, Rule 5 stated that immediately prior to throw in, each team will stand in two ranks opposite each other in the centre of the field , each holding the hand of one of the other side. Matches would be decided by the greater number of goals. When the amount of goals were even, it was decided on the greater number of points.

cms88 · 06-08-2019 8:51pm

Zion Hot Staffer wrote: »

Now that's crazy. So taking a point was basically just an insurance score in case the game finished level?

It's actually quite hard to figure out really. That seems to be the case, but sometimes you see games from then when a team would score 10 points

Bonniedog · 06-08-2019 11:19pm

I've read fairly detailed reports of old games and am none the wiser really! First football games that sound anyway close to what we might know are from reports of teams like Tipp, Kerry, Dublin, Kildare in 20s.

Before that seemed pretty basic. Lots of big burly characters booting a heavy ball 20 feet and lots of lads chasing it unless they were taken out by a rabbit punch!

As someone else said hurling was almost exclusively ground with a heavy ball and sticks more like shinty ones than modern hurls. And rough as fk.

My Tipp grandad played in Dublin and for Dublin from about 1919 to 1930 and there is report of him having scored a goal been carried off unconscious and not waking up for six hours!

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 11:39am

Exiled1 wrote: »

Should read 'The Hurlers' by Paul Rouse... a superb book detailing the early days of GAA and hurling in particular. It is framed around the first All Ireland hurling final between Tipp and Galway, played in Birr. The book includes much social history of the time.

Rouse is absolutely fantastic. He literally has my ideal job. Sports history is wonderful at the best of times.

ArmaniJeanss · 07-08-2019 11:51am

cms88 wrote: »

It's actually quite hard to figure out really. That seems to be the case, but sometimes you see games from then when a team would score 10 points

Presumably if you were ahead by say 1-0 to 0-4 then deliberately scoring 'own points' when under pressure becomes a thing. Helps you retain possession and kill time. e.g., Dangerous ball into box, rather than trying to play it out, flick it over your own bar.

Maybe that explains some scores.

PowerToWait · 07-08-2019 11:57am

partyguinness wrote: »

Intercounty football from the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s was grim enough 95% of the time- like a really ****e Junior C game today.

God only knows what it was like back in the 1900s. A cousin of mine going way back won on AI with Cork in 1911 obviously that was an exceptionally good year.

You’re obviously an expert but I can’t help thinking that thousands would find your position laughable.

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 12:01pm

PowerToWait wrote: »

You’re obviously an expert but I can’t help thinking that thousands would find your position laughable.

And there's thousands of us who agree with him.

FrancieBrady · 07-08-2019 12:01pm

Paddy Kavanagh used to talk about taking the uprights to a game and erecting them.
In his essay 'Gut Yer Man' he talks about players shaking the posts and bending them to try to ensure a kick went wide.

Powerhouse · 07-08-2019 12:46pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

And there's thousands of us who agree with him.

So you would equate, say to choose randomly, the 1998 All Ireland final between Galway and Kildare with a particularly sh**te Junior C match today? You must be watching different Junior C matches to me.

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 12:47pm

Powerhouse wrote: »

So you would equate, say to choose randomly, the 1998 All Ireland final between Galway and Kildare with a particularly sh**te Junior C match today? You must be watching different Junior C matches to me.

I think the opprobrium is held for the 70s and 80s kick and crap.

Hal3000 · 07-08-2019 12:50pm

I don't know anything about GAA or Hurling so I'm not going to comment here

Bonniedog · 07-08-2019 12:55pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I think the opprobrium is held for the 70s and 80s kick and crap.

I don't know it was that "crap."

Fair enough there were few teams that played at the level of Kerry and Dublin but I wouldn't watch most football games now either.

Main thing I recall as a kid in Dublin playing in school and street leagues in 1973/4 - before Dublin won the AI - was that it was a grimly unattractive game to play. Big smelly jerseys, 30 a side rucks chasing a ball that seemed to be full of liquid concrete.

Hurling on the other hand, was for the more sensitive, artistic aesthete

Stoner · 07-08-2019 12:59pm

Bonniedog wrote:

Hurling on the other hand, was for the more sensitive, artistic aesthete

You must whisk a lovely egg Bonniedog, a great man for the pavlova if the mixer is broken.

Bonniedog · 07-08-2019 1:03pm

Stoner wrote: »

You must whisk a lovely egg Bonniedog, a great man for the pavlova if the mixer is broken.

I take it you are referring to my wristiness as a hurdler, rather than implying something about my sexuality

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 1:04pm

Bonniedog wrote: »

I don't know it was that "crap."

Fair enough there were few teams that played at the level of Kerry and Dublin but I wouldn't watch most football games now either.

Main thing I recall as a kid in Dublin playing in school and street leagues in 1973/4 - before Dublin won the AI - was that it was a grimly unattractive game to play. Big smelly jerseys, 30 a side rucks chasing a ball that seemed to be full of liquid concrete.

Hurling on the other hand, was for the more sensitive, artistic aesthete

Don't you start. You're not even pure blood! :P

---

The home final vs the final v London nonsense used to always annoy me. It was as bad as Galway getting to SFs by default in hurling.

Stoner · 07-08-2019 1:06pm

Bonniedog wrote:

I take it you are referring to my wristiness as a hurdler, rather than implying something about my sexuality

100% added value on the culinary skills only sir!!

Sir Guy who smiles · 07-08-2019 1:11pm

Hal3000 wrote: »

I don't know anything about GAA or Hurling so I'm not going to comment here

You've Got A Little Boy. He Shows You His Butterfly Collection - Plus The Killing Jar. How Do You React?

Bonniedog · 07-08-2019 1:12pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Don't you start. You're not even pure blood! :P

---

The home final vs the final v London nonsense used to always annoy me. It was as bad as Galway getting to SFs by default in hurling.

Tippophobe

Doubt that will ever become a hate crime some how.

Stoner · 07-08-2019 1:21pm

I do remember being told the whole one goal is worth an infinite number of points.

Then they put a number on it, something crazy.

Was there some game between Dublin and Cork one side got a goal and then sat on the line and defended it for the whole game let them score points all day but the one goal did the job.

Was earlier football between townlands playing, start at a halfway intersection and you had to work the ball into your own village to score. Obviously very localised. 50 + a side

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 1:36pm

Stoner wrote: »

I do remember being told the whole one goal is worth an infinite number of points.

Then they put a number on it, something crazy.

Was there some game between Dublin and Cork one side got a goal and then sat on the line and defended it for the whole game let them score points all day but the one goal did the job.

Was earlier football between townslands playing, start at a halfway intersection and you had to work the ball into your own village to score. Obviously very localised. 50 + a side

A goal is worth (∞+1) points

ArmaniJeanss · 07-08-2019 4:37pm

What's the earliest games we have good visual recordings for? A decent chunk of the game as opposed to 5 second clips.
I've seen some Irish soccer from the 1910s, not sure GAA has anything like that. Would be fascinating.

Powerhouse · 07-08-2019 4:51pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I think the opprobrium is held for the 70s and 80s kick and crap.

Not so sure about that - the 90s was mentioned too.

Itssoeasy · 07-08-2019 5:32pm

I mean I've heard of the goal outweighing any number of points and then I think it was made to count for five points and then eventually three as it is now. And those early hurleys looked like weapons, and you'd be some lad to get the sliotar up on that and solo it. There is an old christy Ring video of him demonstrating the skills of hurling in the 1960's and to be fair the game might have evolved in other ways since then but from the video the basics of the modern game were there.

Itssoeasy · 07-08-2019 5:35pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

What's the earliest games we have good visual recordings for? A decent chunk of the game as opposed to 5 second clips.
I've seen some Irish soccer from the 1910s, not sure GAA has anything like that. Would be fascinating.

The 1930's ? I think there is newsreel footage of the 1931 final between kilkenny and Cork which has a nickname but I can't remember which one it is but that game with to two replays.

Itssoeasy · 07-08-2019 5:50pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSkJa_UdpxM

An interesting film for the 1949 All Ireland Hurling final which includes footage of Thurles and O'moore park on Portlaoise is a nice thing to say.

BonnieSituation · 07-08-2019 5:54pm

Powerhouse wrote: »

Not so sure about that - the 90s was mentioned too.

I'd be sure of that knowing the poster's history.

beggars_bush · 08-08-2019 7:46am

Kicking those old leather footballs was not good for your feet

My father has suffered terribly with the blood vessels in his feet, as did all his brothers.

ToBeFrank123 · 08-08-2019 10:51am

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

What's the earliest games we have good visual recordings for? A decent chunk of the game as opposed to 5 second clips.
I've seen some Irish soccer from the 1910s, not sure GAA has anything like that. Would be fascinating.

I think it was a sigersson game from about 1924. Not great footage though.

There's some good footage from the 1930s though, particularly some of the tours by teams of the United States.

cms88 · 10-10-2019 1:48pm

This might be a place to ask. Anyone know when clubs stop going on to the All-Irelands?

Bonniedog · 10-10-2019 8:27pm

I think it was gradual process. Not sure about other counties but already by late 1910s, winning clubs were beginning to select some from other clubs in Dublin.

By 1930 the SFC winners Joeys only picked 5/6 of their own. I imagine county board selection began with the dominance of country lads playing in Dublin, which would have been from early 30s on.

Sonny678 · 12-10-2019 5:07am

BonnieSituation wrote:

I think the opprobrium is held for the 70s and 80s kick and crap.

The 70s and 80s was crap.. Football doesnt begins in 2011. The current Dublin are the greatest team ever. But that doesn't mean everything before 2011 is dreadful. Its like saying every team and soccer era before Barcelona team or Spain soccer team of this decade was rubbish or dreadful in soccer. Im sure u see in 30 years time say a Down or Galway team win a 3 in row All Irelands in 2050s. People will say this is best era ever. And this is Greatest football we have ever seen. Much better then football played 20 or 30 years before. They will be wrong, just as someone says football was crap in 70s and 80s. Sports evolves and styles change. But thats doesnt mean what happenned in the past was all crap, and only the present is any good.

Lets look at this era of crap called 70s and 80s.

How many players in this decade would get on the team of the Milleniun. 1 for certain Stephen Cluxton. Anyone else. In 70s you had playing Mick O Connell at midfield on team of Milleniun and Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheedy and Sean O Neill in the forwards in the team of the Milleniun. Thats 4 players from the 70s to 1 player from this decade. Remeber the team in Milleniun is who is the greatest left half back ever. On the team of the century you had 5 players who played in the 70s on the teams eg Mick O Connell, Jack O shea, Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheedy and Sean O Neill.

Here are some players that played in the the so callee crap 70s and 80s

Mick O Connell , Mick Dwyer , John O Keefe , Paudi O Se , Jack O Shea , Pat Spillane , Mickey Sheedy , Bomber liston, John Egan , Brian Mullins, Tony Hanohoe , Anto O Toole , Jimmy Keaveny, Kevin Moran , Barney Rock , Paul Curran , Charlie Redmond , Gerry Hargan , Joe McNally , Paddy Cullen , John O leary , Tony McTeague , Paddy McCormack , Wille Bryan , Matt Connor, Sean lowry , Richie Connor , Martin Furlong , Mickey Kearins , Dermot Earley snr , Tony McManus , Jimmy Barry Murphy, Billy Morgan, Val Daly , Liam McHale , Colm Browne, Eamon McEnaney, Joe kearins , Tony Scullion , Martin McHugh, Sean O Neill , Ambrose Rodgers, Larry Tompkins , Tony Davis , Niall Calahane , Dave Barry , Robbie O Malley , Mick lyons , Martin O Connell, Gerry McEntee, Colm O Rourke, Brian Stafford, Bernard Flynn , Mickey linden , Maurice Fitzgerald, Brian McAlinden , Harry keegan , Seamus McHugh, Willie Joe Padden , Peter McGinnity , Eugene McKenna , Plunket Donaghy , Kevin O Brien , Nudie Hughes , Frank McGuigan, Ger Power , Tim kennelly , Paddy Doherty , Conor Coulihan , Ciaran Duff, Tommy Drum , Ciaran Murray , TJ kilgallon , Stephen Joyce , Dermot Flanagan and many many more.

What about the teams in this era of so called crap
You had the greatest Offaly team ever which won 2 in row All Irelands 1971 1972
A brillant All Ireland winning Offaly team in 1982.
A brillant All Ireland winning Cork team 1973.
The second greatest Dublin team ever 1974 1976 1977
The second greatest team ever kerry 75 78 79 80 81 84 85 86
The Greatest Sligo team.ever 1975 Connacht champions.
The second greatest Roscommon team ever 4 Connachts in a row , league div 1 title and All Ireland finalist
The greatest Meath team ever 87 88
The greatest Cork team ever 89 90
One greatest teams ever to come out of laois second best laois team of last 70 years Div league 1 winners 1986
The greatest Monaghan team ever 3 times Ulster winners

And the great games in this so called era of crap.

Leinster Final 1970
Meath 2 - 22 Offaly 5 - 12

All Ireland Final 1970
Kerry 2 - 19 Meath 0 - 18

Ulster Final 1971
Down 4 - 15 Derry 4 - 11

Munster Final 1972
kerry 2 - 21 Cork 2 - 15

Connacht Final 1972
Mayo 3 - 10 Roscommon 5 - 8

All Ireland Final 1973
Cork 3 - 17 Galway 2 - 13

Munster Final 1973
Cork 5 - 12 Kerry 1 - 15

Connacht Final 1973
Mayo 2 - 12 Galway 1 - 17

All Ireland semi final 1974
Galway 3 - 13 Donegal 1 - 14

Connacht Final.1975
Sligo 2 - 10 Mayo 0 - 15

Munster Final 1976 Replay
Kerry 3 - 20 Cork 2 - 19

Ulster Final 1976 Replay
Derry 0 - 22 Cavan 1 - 16

All Ireland semi final Draw 1977
Roscommon 2 - 12 Armagh 3 - 9

All Ireland semi final 1977
Dublin 3 - 12 Kerry 1 - 13

leinster final 1980
Offaly 1 - 10 Dublin 1 - 8

Ulster Final 1980
Armagh 4 - 10 Tyrone 4 - 7

All Ireland 1980 semi final
kerry 4 - 15 Offaly 4 - 10

All Ireland final 1982
Offaly 1 - 15 Kerry 0 - 17

Leinster quater Final Draw 1983
Dublin 2 - 8 Meath 2 - 8
Leinster quater final replay after ET
Dublin 3 - 9 Meath 0 - 16

Munster Final 1983
Cork 3 - 10 Kerry 3 - 9

All Ireland semi final draw 1983
Dublin 2 - 11 Cork 2 - 11

leinster Final 1984
Dublin 2 - 10 Meath 1 - 9

Ulster Final 1984
Tyrone 0 - 15 Armagh 1 - 7

All Ireland semi final Draw 1985
Monaghan 2 - 9 Kerry 1 - 12

All Ireland semi final draw 1985
Mayo 1 - 13 Dublin 1 - 13

All Ireland Final 1986
Kerry 2 - 15 Tyrone 1 - 10

Munster Final 1987 Draw
Kerry 2 - 7 Cork 1 - 10

Munster Final 1988
Cork 1 - 14 Kerry 0 - 16

Connacht Final 1989 Replay after ET
Mayo 3 - 14 Roscommon 2 - 13

leinster Final 1989
Dublin 2 - 12 Meath 1 - 10

All Ireland final 1989
Cork 0 - 17 Mayo 1 - 11

Many great games . The thing is only All Ireland semi final and finals was shown live on tv in 70s and 80s. Even highlights was limited. So there is lack of footage of some matchs. While other matchs are never shown again from 70s and 80s. The only matchs are All Ireland finals. And they give a false impression of poor football. There was allot of kerry hammering teams in All Ireland finals and 3 tough finals in 70s and 80s. So people look at these finals and come to conclusion football was crap.

Anyway To show how little TV of gaa there was . In 1974 RTE only had 1 sports tv van and cameras. The Dublin horse show was on the same day as All Ireland semi final between Dublin and Cork in 74. RTE couldnt go to both so they went with cameras to Horse show in RDS in 1974 which meant we have no tv film at all of Cork v Dublin All Ireland semi final 1974. No live match, no highlights. Its not til 90s and really 00s tv matchs are live and many. The first ever live match that was not All Ireland semi final or final or Railway cup final, was 4th game Meath v Dublin in 1991.

The thing is allot of finals were poor in 70s and 80s because kerry were hammering everyone finals. Kerry hammering teams in 1978 , 1979 , 1984 , 1985 finals. While 1980 1983 and 1988 were tough finals . But there was many more great matchs in the era. People cannot see them because all that is shown from the era is these poor finals on re runs on TNAG. People see a bad final were kerry dominate in 1985. But forget there was great semi final in 1985 where Monaghan drew with Kerry.

There was some great legendary matchs from that era Meath v Offaly leinster final 1970 , All Ireland final Cork v Galway 1973 , 1976 Munster final replay Cork v Kerry, 1980 All Ireland semi final Offaly v Kerry , 1983 Munster final Cork v kerry, 1983 Draw All Ireland semi final Dublin v Cork, 1986 All Ireland final kerry v Tyrone , 1987 draw Munster Final Cork v kerry , 1989 Connacht Final replay Mayo v Roscommon. Great games.

U think of Jimmy Barry Murphy in 73 Michael O Hehir saying whats he going to do. Great kerry v Cork Munster finals in 76 and 83. Tadgh Murphy great goal to beat kerry in final in 83 in injury time. Or Barney Rocks late goal v Cork in 83 , or Pat Spillanes punch goal in 86 final , or Mikey Sheedy last second goal v Cork to draw match in Munster in 87 and Billy Morgan the Cork manager fallen to the ground in shock after. Many great moments.

And what about all the great managers in 70s and 80s three greatet ever managed in this era Mick Dwyer, Kevin Heffernan and Sean Boylan who between them won 15 All Ireland senior titles. You also had John O Mahoney the most sucessful Connacht manager ever , and Billy Morgan Corks greatest manager and the late great Eugene McGee Offalys All Ireland winning manager. Other quality managers who were managing at the time were Brian McEniff , Art Mcory , Sean Mcague .

The 70s and 80s had some of the greatest teams ever , some of the greatest players ever , the 3 greatest managers ever , and all time great legendary games. Not bad for an era was it.

Bonniedog · 12-10-2019 5:41am

TV highlights do not do justice to the games of the past.

Just following on from Sonny, the tension and excitement of Dublin/Meath games as one example went well beyond the quality of the games. And it was a different game but they had people on edge of seat most times. 1991 being most well known but not unique.

As the man says, you would have to been there!

Sonny678 · 12-10-2019 6:27am

Bonniedog wrote: »

TV highlights do not do justice to the games of the past.

Just following on from Sonny, the tension and excitement of Dublin/Meath games as one example went well beyond the quality of the games. And it was a different game but they had people on edge of seat most times. 1991 being most well known but not unique.

As the man says, you would have to been there!

Your 100% right, I have been at every leinster final since mid 80s and when Dublin beat Meath in 89 with Vinnys goal I never heard such a loud roar from the Dubs , the Dubs celebration were just unreal, it was unreal, the tension was unreal. The same when we won in 91. Also kerry v Cork 87, and if you go into 90s the games in Ulster were unreal, eg 1994 First round match between Down and Derry that was some game between All Ireland champions 1993 v 1994. And there was no back door. Thats what made it so tense. In 70s 0r 80s or 90s infootball there was no backdoor u got one chance and that was it. It was do or die. It was proper hardcore championship football.One chance and only one chance u got.

Radio5 · 14-10-2019 4:04pm

'Forging a Kingdom: The GAA in Kerry 1884-1934' by Richard McElligott is an in-depth look at the first 50 years of GAA in Kerry.

Don't know if anything similar has been done in other counties.

newbie11 · 14-10-2019 5:13pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

The 1930's ? I think there is newsreel footage of the 1931 final between kilkenny and Cork which has a nickname but I can't remember which one it is but that game with to two replays.

The 1939 final between between kilkenny and cork is known as "the thunder and lightning final" kilkenny won by a point on the day Chamberlain declared war on Germany

newbie11 · 14-10-2019 5:18pm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Rouse is absolutely fantastic. He literally has my ideal job. Sports history is wonderful at the best of times.

Agreed, he was on newstalk in the lead up to the football final with a fascinating history on the game, it's there as a podcast, he's also spoke about the history of rugby, soccer and cricket in Ireland on newstalk, could listen to him for hours

LoughNeagh2017 · 18-10-2019 7:34pm

I played football in a similar way when I was a teenager, wellying it away as soon as I got it. Having anxiety makes sport difficult, I can still remember the panic whenever I seen the ball being kicked my way, it's a sight that I will never forget.

What was early GAA like?

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