A GREAT READ FOR OUR CAVAN MEMBERS AND ALL GAA LOVERS (1947)

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A GREAT READ FOR OUR CAVAN MEMBERS AND ALL GAA LOVERS (1947)
It may seem a long time ago now but, 67 years later, the Cavan v Kerry All Ireland Final in New York is one of those unthinkable, improbable and audacious pieces of GAA history that has never grown old!  As any of our Cavan club members, and maybe some of the Kerry set, will tell you the 1947 Football Final is memorable for a whole host of reasons, both on and off the pitch.  For our leading online contributor, Breffni man Matt Cahill, the retelling of the story in Paul Fitzpatirck's book, "The Fairytale of New York", has a strong emotional connection.  His review of the book (below) brings a special GAA moment to life for all of us.  Special people, a special time!
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Paul Fitzpatrick of the Anglo Celt provincial newspaper has written an insightful and entertaining book about the most famous All-Ireland football final ever played, the 1947 final between Cavan and Kerry. "The Fairytale in New York", published last September, will be of particular interest to the many Cavan people in our club, sometimes called "the Cavan Mafia", and to the GAA fraternity generally.  Although part of a very special event, Kerry people would be rather less nostalgic, of course, and still rue the loss of an eight-point lead early in the game.  There is fascinating background detail and many stories which bring to life Cavan's finest hour.

The book chronicles faithfully the manoeuvres which brought the brainchild of John Kerry O' Donnell to fruition, the persuasiveness of Canon Hamilton of Clare in engineering the necessary congress (GAA that is) approval, the massive logistical operation involved, and of course the pulling together of   a winning Cavan team and so on.  Cavan at that time normally won the Ulster title at their ease, and   never trained prior to an Ulster final.  But in 1947, they did.   Antrim   had stopped their nine-in-a-row bid in '46.  With the carrot of New York, they took no chances.  Ahead of their time perhaps they   employed   as masseur/trainer Monaghan born John McGeough who had won silver in   the 1500 metres representing Great Britain at the Athens Olympics in 1906.  Co-incidentally, Caughoo a horse with Cavan connections, won the   Grand National of 1947.  Michael O'Hehir's radio broadcast, which brought the country to a standstill, is legendary in itself and had a record audience listenership of over one million.

The actual game was truly titanic and the author recounts each ebb   and   flow faithfully.  Kerry's whirlwind start caught Cavan flat-footed.   But   Cavan prevailed in the end. For Kerry this was a bitter day but they   were gracious losers.  The aftermath of the voyage home, celebrations,   the adulation and the quest for the three-in-a-row is explored.  They   truly had written themselves and their county into Cavan and Irish   sporting history.    The team abounded with characters. Willie Doonan saw honourable   service with the British Army in the Second World War and although   carrying war wounds, he went on to star for the Breffni Blues in the 1947 and 1948 All-Ireland wins.  Sharpshooter Peter Donoghue, was   dubbed "The Babe Ruth of Gaelic Football." by the American media. "  Centre-forward Mick Higgins, the mastermind of the team, on his arrival in London on the way home, was likened to Tommy Lawton the great Chelsea centre-forward of the time.  There was Phil "The Gunner" Brady from Mullahoran and the searingly quick Tony Tighe, the best   ball carrier of his day.  All and many more in the pantheon of Cavan  football copperfastened their fame at The Polo Grounds.    But tragedy was not long coming to this golden team.  P.J Duke, stellar in the Polo Grounds and heir apparent to John Joe O'Reilly was first to go, succumbing to tuberculosis in 1950.  The outstanding John Joe O'Reilly, then youngest ever commandant in the Irish Army and centre half-back and captain, standing at a half inch over  5' 8"  was named on the team of the century in 1984 and millennium in 1999.   Tragically, "The Gallant John Joe", immortalised in the eponymous song, died all too young in 1952. He never recovered from an injury sustained in a football game.  Their passing was mourned countrywide.   Their names and achievements will never be forgotten in the Kingdom of Breffni.

This fascinating book recalls wonderfully a unique and special time.    On reading excerpts to my ninety year old father recently, a Eureka moment occurred. The book mentioned that when the team reached Maghera, a few miles inside the Cavan border with Meath, a banner was draped across the road.  The legend read "Breffni welcomes home her heroes."   "I made that banner and painted most of it" said Phil Cahill, former player with Maghera and proud son of Cavan.  Happy memories indeed!

Football.