60 HURLING SEMI-FINALS IN TUAM AND ‘THE For over thirty years now semi-finals in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship have been invariably played in Croke Park, with the exception of the refixed 1998 Offaly/Clare semi-final, which was played in Thurles. Previous to that in the 1970’s Galway played semi-finals in Athlone (1970 v Wexford), Birr (’72 v Tipperary and ’74 v Kilkenny) and in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (‘76). Earlier still the county played semi-finals in Ennis (1940), Roscrea (‘41) and in the Market’s Field in Limerick in 1921. But what is generally forgotten is that Galway senior county teams have contested a few All Ireland semi-finals within the boundaries of the county – matches played at locations that might not be the first choice of anyone asked to hazard a guess as to where these contests might have taken place. South Park, affectionately called ‘The Swamp’ in the historic Claddagh area of Galway City, was where the All Ireland Semi-Final of the 1922 championship between Galway an Tipperary was played – as was common enough during those troubled times, that year’s competition was actually not finished until the following year, which meant that the Galway- Tipperary match did not take place until late August 1923. In 1950 the same counties met in an All Ireland Semi-Final played in the newly opened Tuam Stadium, where the minor semi-final was also played on the same day. Galway failed to win any of these two matches and in The Connacht Tribune of September 1st 1923, the following match report appeared on the 3-2, 1-3 loss to Tipperary. Almost 30 years later, on the 13th of August 1950, Galway County Board got the chance to showcase the newly developed St. Jarlaths Stadium in Tuam when Galway and Tipperary again met in an All Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final. Galway and Clare played a challenge match there the week before the big game and when the day came festivities were not confined to the spanking new stadium itself. The Tuam Herald reported the following week that a Civic Welcome was accorded the Tipperary team and officials when they arrived in the town on the Saturday night. “ An illuminated address in Irish and English was read by Mr. G. H. O’ Connor, Town Clerk, and presented to the Tipperary captain by Mr. M. W. Cahill, chairman of the Town Commissioners. Members of the Town Board, the local GAA club and Tipperary men living in Tuam were present at the function. “Rev. Father Ryan, chairman of the Tipperary County Board, returned thanks for the grand welcome given to them and said they were happy to come to Tuam to meet the Galway men, who had upheld the great game of hurling in the West and had a great record as worthy opponents for the best teams in the country. ” On match-day traffic was not permitted to cross the Square or park on any of the streets in the town centre. Special car parks were provided to cater for spectators coming from Galway, Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Dunmore, Moylough and Athenry, at a charge of 2 shillings per car. These are excerpts from the following week’s Tuam Herald match report : TIPPERARY…………………. . 4-7 GALWAY ……………2-6 For three-quarters of the hour in the All Ireland hurling sem-final at Tuam Stadium on Sunday last, Galway matched Tipperary, reigning champions, in speed and skill, but in the closing stages their efforts flagged and once more they had to yield the honours of the game when that little slice of luck might have given them the right of entry into the All Ireland Final. Tipperary’s winning margin of two goals and a point credits them with a greater superiority than they enjoyed over a team that lacked only the experience which cannot be garnered other than through the hard school of competitive hurling. It was again a case of a gallant and spirited Galway team being beaten not by a superior championship fifteen, but by the craft and teamwork they had gained in the provincial championship series. Tipperary were far from impressive as All Ireland Champions, and had Galway been able to press home an advantage that was very marked in the third quarter, they would have ended the Munster men’s unbeaten record. A most unusual switch was made when Sean Duggan left the goal to play as a forward. Such a move, prompted no doubt by an enthusiastic desire to urge the team to victory, had more spirit than wisdom. Chief honours on the Tipperary team go to Tony Reddan, their Galway goalkeeper, who brought off some wonderful saves when goals seemed certain. It was he who barred Galway the scores that they deserved in the third quarter, when a goal would have changed the whole course of the game. Man of the mathch for Galway was T Moroney, the slightly built midfielder, who gave a rare display of clever stick-work and overhead play. He was here, there and everywhere, and let nothing go astray, Sharing the honours with him was Josie Gallagher, who was an inspiration in attack and played himself to a standstill when moved to the centre to partner Moroney. Between them thery gave little chance to the Tipperary pair, but their efforts were wasted through lack of combination among the forwards. There were few weaknesses in the Galway team and the backs especially hurled with vigour and a grim determination, though they slowed up a good deal in the last ten minutes. The fulls gave good cover to Duggan, who brought off some fine saves in spectacular fashion – once coming out on his knees from a melee in the goal-mouth – but was beaten rather unexpectedly by Shanahan’s goal from long range. Flynn kept Tipp. ’s full-forward Maher in check all through, and Corless kept a close watch on Jimmy Kennedy, who had only two scores, both off frees. Paddy Kenny proved the most dangerous corner man, and his goal was a classic shot, but “Inky” Flaherty held him well. Gordon, after a shaky start, Tadhg Kelly, an impetuous centre-half and Molloy, who was not at his best, gave little away to Tipperary’s trio of Ryans. Towards the end, however, the Galway defence went slow and ragged while the Tippeary men gained in confidence. The Galway forwards lacked finish and combination, and the inside men were slow to take their chances. McNamee was easily the best of the six when Gallagher went to midfield, and Killeen did some good work in the early stages. McInerney was also prominent at times and Duignan, who replaced Fahy, contributed some neat hurling. TIPPERARY – A, Reddin, M. Byrne, A. Brennan, J. Doyle, S,. Bannon, P. Stakelum, T. Doyle, P. Shanahan, S. Kenny, Ed. Ryan, Mick Ryan, Thos. Ryan, P. Kenny, M. Maher, J. Kennedy. GALWAY – S. Duggan, C. Corless, D. Flynn, M. J. Flaherty, H. Gordon, T. Kelly, J. Molloy, T. Moroney, J. Killeen, J. Sammon, J. Gallagher, K. McNamee, M. McInerney, M. Burke, W. Fahy. Referee – W. O’ Donoghue (Limerick) BY MÁRTAN Ó CIARDHA
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