25 years ago

[Bord na Mona man]

A bit of nostalgia - the same day Eamonn Dunphy threw a pen and said he was ashamed to be Irish (allegedly)

This Day 25 Years Ago Saw A Truly Momentous GAA Result - And Hardly Anyone Saw It

17 June 1990. Two great players make their championship debuts in Croke Park. One would have a dream debut. Wherever he went the ball fell into his hand. The other endured a distressing opening 19 minutes and spent the next 41 minutes on the bench.

Brian Whelahan was the former. The Irish Independent reported that 'a star was born' and commended Whelahan for his stunning performance at right half back.

The latter was DJ Carey, whose performance attracted little comment. Carey said later on he would never forgive the selector who panicked and whipped him off so early in the game.

Carey in fact scored Kilkenny's only point while he was on the pitch. It was a straightforward free and didn't serve to save him from the curly finger on the line.

After 20 minutes it was 3-6 to 0-1 to Offaly.

One of the biggest blitzes Kilkenny have ever endured. Topped only by the opening half-hour of the 2012 Leinster final.

And hardly anyone saw it.

Despite the game being part of a double header with Dublin and Wexford in the first semi-final, only 17,000 people turned up in Croker.

Everyone else was at home or in the pub watching Jack's boys huff and puff against Egypt in Palermo. Watching Eamon Dunphy wonder aloud what Tommy Eglington and Peter Farrell would have thought of it all. Watching the little Egyptians stifle Ireland.

The crowd watching the hurling that day was a deeply emaciated one. They really were restricted to the diehards.

Offaly would go on to win on the scoreline of 4-15 to 1-8. It was the nadir for Kilkenny hurling. Things would improve rapidly for them within a few years.

Offaly beat Dublin to scoop their third successive Leinster hurling title before going on to lose to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.


http://www.balls.ie/gaa/this-day-25-years-ago-saw-a-truly-momentous-gaa-result-and-hardly-anyone-saw-it/297322

[keep her low this half]

That's a good story but its not true. Brian Whelehan made his championship debut as a late sub against Antrim in the All Ireland semifinal a year earlier. That was probably his first start. Offaly won three Leinster titles in a row in that period and never made an all ireland final. As for Kilkenny they were in the all ireland final a year later and champions in 1992 with a certain Mr Carey the main threat on both teams.

[AZOffaly]

Yeah, and Offaly won the All Ireland in 1994 with a Mr. Whelehan as hurler of the year, but not an Allstar(!). What I wouldn't give for 3 Leinsters in a row but no All Ireland these days!

[Premier Emperor]

The latter was DJ Carey, whose performance attracted little comment. Carey said later on he would never forgive the selector who panicked and whipped him off so early in the game.

Carey in fact scored Kilkenny's only point while he was on the pitch. It was a straightforward free and didn't serve to save him from the curly finger on the line.

There were other matches after that when Carey should have been taken off and they were afraid to do it.

[laoislad]

The latter was DJ Carey, whose performance attracted little comment. Carey said later on he would never forgive the selector who panicked and whipped him off so early in the game.

Carey in fact scored Kilkenny's only point while he was on the pitch. It was a straightforward free and didn't serve to save him from the curly finger on the line.

There were other matches after that when Carey should have been taken off and they were afraid to do it.

I'd say there was plenty of games Tipp fans wish he was taken off....

[Premier Emperor]

The latter was DJ Carey, whose performance attracted little comment. Carey said later on he would never forgive the selector who panicked and whipped him off so early in the game.

Carey in fact scored Kilkenny's only point while he was on the pitch. It was a straightforward free and didn't serve to save him from the curly finger on the line.

There were other matches after that when Carey should have been taken off and they were afraid to do it.

I'd say there was plenty of games Tipp fans wish he was taken off....

Not really. He never did much against Tipp. His reputation got overblown by the easy games he had in Leinster against woeful opposition.

[Canalman]

PE is right enough in what he says. It is the current generation of Tipperary hurlers that KK have dominated bar that one AIF where Tipperary fully deserved the win.

Up to recently Tipperary beat KK pretty much always. No love lost between the two counties.

Will be amazed tbh if Tipperary don't win the AI this year.

[seafoid]

PE is right enough in what he says. It is the current generation of Tipperary hurlers that KK have dominated bar that one AIF where Tipperary fully deserved the win.

Up to recently Tipperary beat KK pretty much always. No love lost between the two counties.

Will be amazed tbh if Tipperary don't win the AI this year.

I heard someone on RTE saying that on their day Galway are the only Team that can beat the cats. Surely Tipp have that as well.