All Ireland qualifier: Antrim v Kerry

[ONeill]

Laugh all you like, but I was proved right in the Donegal and Cavan games

Who's laughing? I'm being honest.

[imtommygunn]

I honestly think we can win this one if we play to the best of our abilities and get the rub of the green...

I did not feel we could beat Tyrone but I really do think we can give this one a rattle. The Tyrone game was about learning - realistically it wasn't one we could win. I think a number of players will have learned and hopefully Baker will learn a few things too.

Stick Gallagher on Dara and run him and aim all our kickouts at McKeever on AN other. I'd start Niblock and Burke in the FF line and play McCann CHF. Tomas McCann needs to run at them too and McLean on Tommy Walsh and Brady on Cooper. Loughrey on Declan O'Sullivan and Scullion on Galvin.

It's just a pity it's 3 bloody hours journey

[ONeill]

Has anyone have any info on the '46 game?

That's a good question. I found this in the Irish Examiner archives:


During the week I came across a report that reminded me of Morgan's and Keohane's comments. When Kerry defeated Antrim in the All-Ireland football semi-final of 1946, Antrim lodged a formal objection that the Kerry players were "guilty of conduct calculated to bring the association into disrepute".

The Antrim County Board protested that "members of the Kerry team continually indulged in rough play and repeatedly made deliberate and unwarranted assaults on our players during the progress of the match".

The Antrim board wanted Kerry thrown out of the championship, adding: "The majority of these attacks, which resulted in serious injuries to many of our players, were made when they were not in possession of, or playing, the ball. Injuries, which we maintain were the result of deliberate attacks, were sustained by eight members of our team. We are prepared to submit evidence regarding the extent of their injuries".

An Irish Times sports reporter noted: "I consider Antrim's the fastest bunch of forwards that ever graced Croke Park".

Joe Keohane was full-back for Kerry that day. Was that what he meant all those years later when he said they had ways of slowing down fast players. There were over 30,000 people at the game. Most of them were from the North. Kerry people stayed at home partly in protest at the price of a train ticket to Dublin — 27 shillings return!

OTHERS were just waiting for the final. As the Kerry players took to the field, the Antrim supporters roundly booed them.

The Antrim players were apparently ahead of their time because they were playing a new brand of football, using the hand-pass to move the ball down the field. "It was the most spiritedly contested semi-final I have seen in years", according to a report in The Kerryman. "One team (Kerry) was playing Gaelic football, Antrim's was a brand of football characterised by over-holding the ball and throwing it. To stop ball-throwing movements the Kerry backs pulled the ball-throwers down. This is the answer to these tactics".

When Antrim protested, there was indignation in the Kerry press. The GAA Central Council met to consider the protest on the last Saturday in August and debated the issue for two hours before overruling the objection by 19 votes to 10.

"Antrim's advocates defeated their own case", according to The Kerryman. "Their autocratic bearing and dictatorial attitude roused the hostility of the southerners. The northerners were the self-appointed guardians of the association's honour; its reputation was their only concern; they were charged with redeeming the good name of the GAA which the Kerry rowdies had done so much to besmirch. All of which would be highly amusing if it were not so disgusting".

The central council chairman appealed to Antrim to withdraw the objection, which he depicted as the most unusual he had come across in his long experience. He seemed to suggest the Antrim supporters had roused the Kerry players, as it "did not make for good feeling that Kerry should be booed coming out on the field".

Antrim produced nine medical certificates for their players. "Nurtured in an atmosphere of religious intolerance and bitterness, the northern Gael has a very different mentality from his brother in the south", The Kerryman noted. "Thus we had the type of objection never heard previously in the 60-year history of the association".

Various speakers used a tone that shocked central council members.

"If rough play were allowed to continue, the chairman of the Ulster Council reportedly warned, "they would meet force with force."

Maybe this explains what happened to the 'Gooch' in last year's final against Tyrone. He was essentially taken out of the game in an off-the-ball incident.

"Life is too short to bear these things in mind", The Kerryman concluded its report of the central council meeting 60 years ago. "Let us forget them. Fare thee well, Antrim!"

Their footballers have not been back in Croke Park since.

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/08/26/story11730.asp

[ziggysego]

Has anyone have any info on the '46 game?

That's a good question. I found this in the Irish Examiner archives:

Really more of a request than a question there ONeill.

[ONeill]

[ONeill]

From the Kerryman:

However, there were huge repercussions following the game. The Antrim county board against the wishes of their players lodged an objection against Kerry. In the objection they stated that members of the Kerry team had indulged in rough play and that these tactics before 30,000 spectators was calculated to bring the GAA into disrepute. For two and a half hours on August 31 the Central Council considered Antrim's objection.

The referee in his report stated that play was overvigorous towards the end and he had to award several frees to Antrim and he continued that in the second half he send Bill Casey and Harry O'Neill to the line. The objection was declared lost by 19 votes to 10. In one of my first ever interviews with Kerrys legendary full-back Joe Keohane he spoke about that game.

"We were Croke Park specialists and they were making their first appearance in All Ireland semifinal. They tried to walk the ball into the net and even when going for points they tried to get close in. So we decided that the only way to stop them was for each man to tackle the forward for whom the pass was intended.

"Of course we did not stand on ceremony, but I must emphaise that at no time did we indulge in reprehensible tactics. Our play completely disrupted Antrim's basketball type of forward play. You must play hard to win an All-Ireland and Antrim failed to change their style despite the fact that we mastered their short passing. We played it hard but we played it fair."

http://www.kerryman.ie/sport/gaelic-football/bruddys-death-takes-another-hero-of-the-polo-grounds-1708823.html

[orangeman]

I've a sneaky feeling Antrim's going to win this one. Sunday was a huge learning curve for them and Kerry's having trouble finding form this year. If Antrim come out with the self-believe that they can do it and run at Kerry early on.... well Kerry could experience their first defeat in the Qualifiers.

No disprespect to Kerry but I think most neutrals would love to see Antrim beat Kerry.


Realisitically they've little or no chance.

[Orior]

It's just a pity it's 3 bloody hours journey

Well, last Sunday I left norf Beal Feirste (codifed so as not give my whereabouts away to owc) at 9:30 and into the ground at half time of the minor game. I suppose I would have got to see it all if it hadnt been for the fatal accident outside Monaghan.

[ONeill]

The men of '46 stood tall
When Kerry were in sight.
The great Kingdom had not forseen
The majestic saffron might.

The Green and Gold were second best
As Armstrong ran the show.
The King was dead, the Glens alive;
A formidable northern foe

Alas the darkness came to pass
And as Kerry couldn't cope,
They fouled and dragged, the win was theirs
As the Glens were left to mope.

The spirit of '46 lives on
In every Saffron chest
You can be sure in Tullamore
They'll give their very best.

The Kingdom won't indulge again
Antrim's great running game
Let's hope the ref won't turn away
Or the Kingdom will try the same.

www.thespiritof46.com/apoem

[imtommygunn]

OM Sligo had little or no chance last week. Had they scored that penalty Kerry would have been gone. They're not the force they were - even last year.

Donaghy is a massive loss to that team and Dara O'Se, their leader, is not even in shape. Tie that in with a dodgy full back line and a HB line who aren't what they once were either and you're facing an entirely different prospect of a Kerry team from last year.

[ONeill]

Well, last Sunday I left norf Beal Feirste (codifed so as not give my whereabouts away to owc) at 9:30 and into the ground at half time of the minor game. I suppose I would have got to see it all if it hadnt been for the fatal accident outside Monaghan.

I left Glenavy at 8.30 and was in Clones by 10. 2 stout, both games, barbeque at home at 6. Great venue.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Has anyone have any info on the '46 game?

That's a good question. I found this in the Irish Examiner archives:


During the week I came across a report that reminded me of Morgan's and Keohane's comments. When Kerry defeated Antrim in the All-Ireland football semi-final of 1946, Antrim lodged a formal objection that the Kerry players were "guilty of conduct calculated to bring the association into disrepute".

The Antrim County Board protested that "members of the Kerry team continually indulged in rough play and repeatedly made deliberate and unwarranted assaults on our players during the progress of the match".

The Antrim board wanted Kerry thrown out of the championship, adding: "The majority of these attacks, which resulted in serious injuries to many of our players, were made when they were not in possession of, or playing, the ball. Injuries, which we maintain were the result of deliberate attacks, were sustained by eight members of our team. We are prepared to submit evidence regarding the extent of their injuries".

An Irish Times sports reporter noted: "I consider Antrim's the fastest bunch of forwards that ever graced Croke Park".

Joe Keohane was full-back for Kerry that day. Was that what he meant all those years later when he said they had ways of slowing down fast players. There were over 30,000 people at the game. Most of them were from the North. Kerry people stayed at home partly in protest at the price of a train ticket to Dublin — 27 shillings return!

OTHERS were just waiting for the final. As the Kerry players took to the field, the Antrim supporters roundly booed them.

The Antrim players were apparently ahead of their time because they were playing a new brand of football, using the hand-pass to move the ball down the field. "It was the most spiritedly contested semi-final I have seen in years", according to a report in The Kerryman. "One team (Kerry) was playing Gaelic football, Antrim's was a brand of football characterised by over-holding the ball and throwing it. To stop ball-throwing movements the Kerry backs pulled the ball-throwers down. This is the answer to these tactics".

When Antrim protested, there was indignation in the Kerry press. The GAA Central Council met to consider the protest on the last Saturday in August and debated the issue for two hours before overruling the objection by 19 votes to 10.

"Antrim's advocates defeated their own case", according to The Kerryman. "Their autocratic bearing and dictatorial attitude roused the hostility of the southerners. The northerners were the self-appointed guardians of the association's honour; its reputation was their only concern; they were charged with redeeming the good name of the GAA which the Kerry rowdies had done so much to besmirch. All of which would be highly amusing if it were not so disgusting".

The central council chairman appealed to Antrim to withdraw the objection, which he depicted as the most unusual he had come across in his long experience. He seemed to suggest the Antrim supporters had roused the Kerry players, as it "did not make for good feeling that Kerry should be booed coming out on the field".

Antrim produced nine medical certificates for their players. "Nurtured in an atmosphere of religious intolerance and bitterness, the northern Gael has a very different mentality from his brother in the south", The Kerryman noted. "Thus we had the type of objection never heard previously in the 60-year history of the association".

Various speakers used a tone that shocked central council members.

"If rough play were allowed to continue, the chairman of the Ulster Council reportedly warned, "they would meet force with force."

Maybe this explains what happened to the 'Gooch' in last year's final against Tyrone. He was essentially taken out of the game in an off-the-ball incident.

"Life is too short to bear these things in mind", The Kerryman concluded its report of the central council meeting 60 years ago. "Let us forget them. Fare thee well, Antrim!"

Their footballers have not been back in Croke Park since.

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/08/26/story11730.asp

Baker should pin this to the dressing room wall on Sunday!!

[Mike Sheehy]

OTHERS were just waiting for the final. As the Kerry players took to the field, the Antrim supporters roundly booed them.

why were they booing ? There was no real history between Kerry and Antrim at that point (or since) ?

[tyssam5]

Has anyone have any info on the '46 game?

That's a good question. I found this in the Irish Examiner archives:

Really more of a request than a question there ONeill.

My dad tells me Micheál Ó Hehir's radio commentary was a tad biased that day. Apparently one could hear the booing of Kerry's disgraceful tactics in the background and he claimed to be completely mystified by the crowd's reactions.

Funny reading the bits from the Kerryman, that paper hasn't changed anyhow.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

OTHERS were just waiting for the final. As the Kerry players took to the field, the Antrim supporters roundly booed them.

why were they booing ? There was no real history between Kerry and Antrim at that point (or since) ?

Spoke to my father this evening (he was at the game)... he said he remembers the booing was at the start of the second half due to Kerry's puke football tactics in the first half!