Match Programmes

A selection of some Match programmes from a range of games I’ve attended over the years although there are many many more…The first one shown here is the team selection from the 1972 Final between Kilkenny and Cork. I attended my first All Ireland Final in the 1960’s

1984 – 3 in a row dashed

A game that should have been a formality turned into an epic encounter described with passion in Raymond Smiths book ‘the hurling immortals’. Pat Henderson’s team were aiming for 3 in a row – the first since the early 1900’s and in the Centenary year of the GAA too for added measure. Hurling fans began to anticipate the prospect of a mouth watering 3 in a row All Ireland bid versus their 1982 and 1983 opponents Cork – and on Munster turf in Semple Stadium.

Alas it was not to be – a succession of pre match injuries to 3 key members of the double double winning defense gave Wexford the boost required to take the game to the Champions. Despite the handicap and falling behind by significant margins twice within the game, Kilkenny produced a valiant 20 minute comeback in the second half to level the game. A chance appeared for a point which might have turned the game in Kilkenny’s favour but this was lost and Tony Doran ended Kilkenny dreams with a last hoorah.

Meanwhile in Munster, even more drama was to be played out in one of the greatest Munster Finals of all time where Tipperary laid the foundation for their re-emergence as a hurling power with a defiant performance against Cork. Tipp looked winners with 5 minutes to go but as with Tony Doran v Kilkenny, Seanie O’Leary broke Tipp hearts with a late pounce and it was Cork who eventually went on to be crowned Centenary champions.