Post by BIGMAC on Jun 2, 2007 14:46:15 GMT
Can lightning strike again?
As Waterford prepare for tomorrow's clash with Kerry, today is the 50th anniversary of the day their predecessors pulled off one of the greatest upsets in GAA history by beating the mighty Kingdom. Dissention in the Kerry camp, the goalkeeper withdrawing from the panel, a defender playing in goal, Mick O'Dwyer making his debut and a reporter promoted to the panel formed the backdrop to a remarkable occasion where Waterford's determination ultimately triumphed. MARTIN BREHENY re-visits the day and talks to some of the principals
THE voices behind Waterford goalkeeper Gerry McCarthy were screaming advice as he prepared to take the kick-out
"For God's sake, take your time. We have them, we have them."
McCarthy didn't know why the crowd were so excited or why they were yelling at him to slow things down.
He was feeling pretty good himself, having kept a cleansheet against Kerry and now Waterford were within seconds of getting a draw in the most unlikely circumstances. He wondered what Tralee would be like for the replay.
McCarthy had made a slight miscalculation. Waterford were actually leading Kerry by a point in the 1957 Munster semi-final and as he thumped the kick-out downfield, the referee blew the final whistle.
The Sportsground in Waterford erupted amid scenes of euphoria never witnessed - since or before - by the county after a football game.
Waterford 2-5, Kerry 0-10.
The unthinkable had happened. Kerry, proud holders of 18 All-Ireland titles, two of which were won in the previous four years, had been beaten by Waterford for the first time in 46 years.
"It took me a little while to actually realise we had won it. I thought it was a draw but as the crowd came onto the pitch it quickly dawned on me that we had pulled off what would have been regarded as impossible," recalled McCarthy.
The Kerry players began looking for holes, although none would be sufficiently deep or dark to hide them from the embarrassment or odium they were about to experience.
The 21-year-old right half-back was as bemused as the rest. He had just completed his senior championship debut with Kerry and knew that whatever direction his career took, this defeat could never be erased from the memory.
His name? Mick O'Dwyer. Yes, the same Micko who would go on to play for Kerry until the age of 37, prior to embarking on what would become the most successful managerial career in GAA history and which tomorrow takes him back to Croke Park with Wicklow.
"I thought I might never play for Kerry again. Kerry people aren't very forgiving when any championship game is lost but losing to Waterford left all the players feeling like traitors. We knew the reception we would get back home," said O'Dwyer.
Some hours after the game, a young Dublin-based university student from Kerry, convinced that either his ears were deceiving him or that the wrong result had been read out, phoned the Radio Éireann offices.
"What was the real result of the Kerry-Waterford game?"
"Waterford 2-5 Kerry 0-10."
"Are you sure?"
"Certain. Kerry were beaten."
"They can't be."
"They were."
Gerald McKenna put down the phone, convinced that the world couldn't survive such a seismic sporting tremor.
"I never found out who owned the voice at the other end of the line in RTE, but it was definitely a Kerry accent. He was as emotional as me at the thought of Kerry being knocked out of the championship in such unlikely circumstances.
"They had played Galway in a great League final a few weeks earlier and while they lost, they had played well against the reigning All-Ireland champions.
No indication
It certainly gave no indication of the fate that awaited Kerry against Waterford," said McKenna who went on to become a very successful Kerry County chairman and who is their current Central Council delegate.
The story of Waterford's 1957 win over Kerry is as remarkable as it is memorable. The background from a Kerry perspective was one of total chaos caused by a row over the team captaincy, late withdrawals, a corner-back playing in goal and a journalist covering the game for The Kerryman being drafted onto the subs' bench.
For all that, Kerry had so many big names aboard that they seemed complete certainties to reach another Munster final.
After all what chance had Waterford against a team that included Mick O'Connell, Tadghie Lyne, Paudie Sheehy, Tom Long, Ned Fitzgerald, John Dowling, Jerome O'Shea and Ned Roche, not to mention young O'Dywer?
Kerry's problems had started with a dispute over the captaincy which led to regular goalkeeper Marcus O'Neill not travelling to Waterford. Obviously no arrangements were in place to find a specialist replacement and Kerry went into action with corner-back, Tim Barrett between the posts.
Star defender Sean Murphy withdrew due to studies and Tom Moriarty was also unavailable.
Clearly the Kerry County Board didn't react to the growing absentee list because they found themselves so short-handed on match day that they only had one official sub, Denis O'Shea.
However, they also asked Kerryman reporter, John Barrett, who was a handy club player, to tog out in case of a serious emergency.
His elevation to the panel didn't compromise his journalistic instincts as he noted rather witheringly in his match report the following week that his illustrious colleagues would have won comfortably "had they rated their own ability a little less highly".
Waterford hadn't won a Munster championship game for a few years and weren't regarded as the remotest threat to Kerry.
A team that included Tom Cunningham, Mickey O'Connor and Seamus Power, who would go on to win Munster hurling medals later in the year, was captained by Cork-born Con Crowley, father of broadcaster, Carrie Crowley.
A fierce collision ensued and Barrett was driven into the net, still clutching the ball. The goal was allowed.McCarthy had been in goal since 1955 and recalls that while Waterford hadn't won many matches over the previous few seasons, they had a fierce pride and determination.
"Mattie Lonergan was full-back and at some stage in most games where we were losing, he would turn around to me and say that whatever happened, we'd concede no more goals. In those days goalkeepers were fair game for in-coming forwards, so Mattie and the rest of the lads made sure I got good cover."
McCarthy was a big man who needed little protection and who wasn't averse to delivering summary justice to any forward who ventured too close.
In that famous clash against Kerry, he raced out along the endline at one stage and dumped Tadghie Lyne onto the bank with a thundering challenge which he admits that if it was delivered today would probably bring an arrest charge.
"It was every man for himself back then, so it was important to know the referee's style. We noted before the game that there had been a change of referee. The new man was Seamus Hayes from Tipperary who wasn't noted for blowing the whistle too often.
"Just as we were about to go out for the game, one of our lads shouted, 'We can do what we like today, look who's refereeing'," recalls McCarthy, who later went on to carve out a distinguished career as a GAA and greyhound writer with the Irish Press.
Kerry led by 0-8 to 0-2 after 40 minutes and seemed set for an easy win but then Waterford began their courageous recovery. Noel Power scored a goal and the gap was down to three points with six minutes to go before Waterford found the net a second time in circumstances that would never be allowed in the modern game.
Kerry goalkeeper Tim Barrett made a catch and as he was coming off his goal line, supported by big full-back Ned Roche, they were met by the Waterford 'pack' led by Jim Timmons. A fierce collision ensued and Barrett was driven into the net, still clutching the ball. The goal was allowed.
"That's what it was like for goalies at the time. He was the first target every time. He could get a belt from any quarter if he didn't have good defenders to protect him," said McCarthy.
Shortly afterwards, Cunningham dashed forward from his centre-back slot to kick a point that clinched probably the most famous victory in Waterford's football history.
Devastated Kerry left the ground as quickly as possible and after a quick meal began the long journey home in a party of five cars.
Some headed for Youghal where the process of drowning their many sorrows began.
"I never drank alcohol, but I had to stay with those who did. Drink or no drink, we all knew what awaited us when we got back to Kerry so we were in no hurry home. It was all hours by the time we hit Kerry. People were in bed but we reckoned that when they got up next morning they would be all out to lynch us. And they were," said Mick O'Dwyer.
Good record
Waterford went on to the Munster final where they lost to Cork, 0-16 to 1-2.
"We had a good record for not conceding goals against Cork around then but we also found it very hard to score against them. They were ready for us after what we had done to Kerry," said McCarthy.
There was further fall-out in Kerry when Marcus O'Neill wrote a letter to the County Board offering a harsh appraisal of the circumstances which led to the defeat by Waterford.
He got a six-month suspension for his troubles.
This setback for Kerry was followed by another disastrous defeat against Kildare in the League in February 1958 when they lost by 3-10 to 1-0, but things turned quickly from there on and they would go on to win the next eight successive Munster titles while also winning two All-Ireland crowns.
- Martin Breheny
As Waterford prepare for tomorrow's clash with Kerry, today is the 50th anniversary of the day their predecessors pulled off one of the greatest upsets in GAA history by beating the mighty Kingdom. Dissention in the Kerry camp, the goalkeeper withdrawing from the panel, a defender playing in goal, Mick O'Dwyer making his debut and a reporter promoted to the panel formed the backdrop to a remarkable occasion where Waterford's determination ultimately triumphed. MARTIN BREHENY re-visits the day and talks to some of the principals
THE voices behind Waterford goalkeeper Gerry McCarthy were screaming advice as he prepared to take the kick-out
"For God's sake, take your time. We have them, we have them."
McCarthy didn't know why the crowd were so excited or why they were yelling at him to slow things down.
He was feeling pretty good himself, having kept a cleansheet against Kerry and now Waterford were within seconds of getting a draw in the most unlikely circumstances. He wondered what Tralee would be like for the replay.
McCarthy had made a slight miscalculation. Waterford were actually leading Kerry by a point in the 1957 Munster semi-final and as he thumped the kick-out downfield, the referee blew the final whistle.
The Sportsground in Waterford erupted amid scenes of euphoria never witnessed - since or before - by the county after a football game.
Waterford 2-5, Kerry 0-10.
The unthinkable had happened. Kerry, proud holders of 18 All-Ireland titles, two of which were won in the previous four years, had been beaten by Waterford for the first time in 46 years.
"It took me a little while to actually realise we had won it. I thought it was a draw but as the crowd came onto the pitch it quickly dawned on me that we had pulled off what would have been regarded as impossible," recalled McCarthy.
The Kerry players began looking for holes, although none would be sufficiently deep or dark to hide them from the embarrassment or odium they were about to experience.
The 21-year-old right half-back was as bemused as the rest. He had just completed his senior championship debut with Kerry and knew that whatever direction his career took, this defeat could never be erased from the memory.
His name? Mick O'Dwyer. Yes, the same Micko who would go on to play for Kerry until the age of 37, prior to embarking on what would become the most successful managerial career in GAA history and which tomorrow takes him back to Croke Park with Wicklow.
"I thought I might never play for Kerry again. Kerry people aren't very forgiving when any championship game is lost but losing to Waterford left all the players feeling like traitors. We knew the reception we would get back home," said O'Dwyer.
Some hours after the game, a young Dublin-based university student from Kerry, convinced that either his ears were deceiving him or that the wrong result had been read out, phoned the Radio Éireann offices.
"What was the real result of the Kerry-Waterford game?"
"Waterford 2-5 Kerry 0-10."
"Are you sure?"
"Certain. Kerry were beaten."
"They can't be."
"They were."
Gerald McKenna put down the phone, convinced that the world couldn't survive such a seismic sporting tremor.
"I never found out who owned the voice at the other end of the line in RTE, but it was definitely a Kerry accent. He was as emotional as me at the thought of Kerry being knocked out of the championship in such unlikely circumstances.
"They had played Galway in a great League final a few weeks earlier and while they lost, they had played well against the reigning All-Ireland champions.
No indication
It certainly gave no indication of the fate that awaited Kerry against Waterford," said McKenna who went on to become a very successful Kerry County chairman and who is their current Central Council delegate.
The story of Waterford's 1957 win over Kerry is as remarkable as it is memorable. The background from a Kerry perspective was one of total chaos caused by a row over the team captaincy, late withdrawals, a corner-back playing in goal and a journalist covering the game for The Kerryman being drafted onto the subs' bench.
For all that, Kerry had so many big names aboard that they seemed complete certainties to reach another Munster final.
After all what chance had Waterford against a team that included Mick O'Connell, Tadghie Lyne, Paudie Sheehy, Tom Long, Ned Fitzgerald, John Dowling, Jerome O'Shea and Ned Roche, not to mention young O'Dywer?
Kerry's problems had started with a dispute over the captaincy which led to regular goalkeeper Marcus O'Neill not travelling to Waterford. Obviously no arrangements were in place to find a specialist replacement and Kerry went into action with corner-back, Tim Barrett between the posts.
Star defender Sean Murphy withdrew due to studies and Tom Moriarty was also unavailable.
Clearly the Kerry County Board didn't react to the growing absentee list because they found themselves so short-handed on match day that they only had one official sub, Denis O'Shea.
However, they also asked Kerryman reporter, John Barrett, who was a handy club player, to tog out in case of a serious emergency.
His elevation to the panel didn't compromise his journalistic instincts as he noted rather witheringly in his match report the following week that his illustrious colleagues would have won comfortably "had they rated their own ability a little less highly".
Waterford hadn't won a Munster championship game for a few years and weren't regarded as the remotest threat to Kerry.
A team that included Tom Cunningham, Mickey O'Connor and Seamus Power, who would go on to win Munster hurling medals later in the year, was captained by Cork-born Con Crowley, father of broadcaster, Carrie Crowley.
A fierce collision ensued and Barrett was driven into the net, still clutching the ball. The goal was allowed.McCarthy had been in goal since 1955 and recalls that while Waterford hadn't won many matches over the previous few seasons, they had a fierce pride and determination.
"Mattie Lonergan was full-back and at some stage in most games where we were losing, he would turn around to me and say that whatever happened, we'd concede no more goals. In those days goalkeepers were fair game for in-coming forwards, so Mattie and the rest of the lads made sure I got good cover."
McCarthy was a big man who needed little protection and who wasn't averse to delivering summary justice to any forward who ventured too close.
In that famous clash against Kerry, he raced out along the endline at one stage and dumped Tadghie Lyne onto the bank with a thundering challenge which he admits that if it was delivered today would probably bring an arrest charge.
"It was every man for himself back then, so it was important to know the referee's style. We noted before the game that there had been a change of referee. The new man was Seamus Hayes from Tipperary who wasn't noted for blowing the whistle too often.
"Just as we were about to go out for the game, one of our lads shouted, 'We can do what we like today, look who's refereeing'," recalls McCarthy, who later went on to carve out a distinguished career as a GAA and greyhound writer with the Irish Press.
Kerry led by 0-8 to 0-2 after 40 minutes and seemed set for an easy win but then Waterford began their courageous recovery. Noel Power scored a goal and the gap was down to three points with six minutes to go before Waterford found the net a second time in circumstances that would never be allowed in the modern game.
Kerry goalkeeper Tim Barrett made a catch and as he was coming off his goal line, supported by big full-back Ned Roche, they were met by the Waterford 'pack' led by Jim Timmons. A fierce collision ensued and Barrett was driven into the net, still clutching the ball. The goal was allowed.
"That's what it was like for goalies at the time. He was the first target every time. He could get a belt from any quarter if he didn't have good defenders to protect him," said McCarthy.
Shortly afterwards, Cunningham dashed forward from his centre-back slot to kick a point that clinched probably the most famous victory in Waterford's football history.
Devastated Kerry left the ground as quickly as possible and after a quick meal began the long journey home in a party of five cars.
Some headed for Youghal where the process of drowning their many sorrows began.
"I never drank alcohol, but I had to stay with those who did. Drink or no drink, we all knew what awaited us when we got back to Kerry so we were in no hurry home. It was all hours by the time we hit Kerry. People were in bed but we reckoned that when they got up next morning they would be all out to lynch us. And they were," said Mick O'Dwyer.
Good record
Waterford went on to the Munster final where they lost to Cork, 0-16 to 1-2.
"We had a good record for not conceding goals against Cork around then but we also found it very hard to score against them. They were ready for us after what we had done to Kerry," said McCarthy.
There was further fall-out in Kerry when Marcus O'Neill wrote a letter to the County Board offering a harsh appraisal of the circumstances which led to the defeat by Waterford.
He got a six-month suspension for his troubles.
This setback for Kerry was followed by another disastrous defeat against Kildare in the League in February 1958 when they lost by 3-10 to 1-0, but things turned quickly from there on and they would go on to win the next eight successive Munster titles while also winning two All-Ireland crowns.
- Martin Breheny
