Leinster Senior Champions 1944

Carlow win Leinster 1944

Article taken from the Carlow Nationalist and Leinster Times Aug 1944 after Carlow defeated Dublin in Athy to win their first Leinster Title.

Carlow County Library

Carlow win Leinster 1944
Carlow County Library

Carlow win Leinster 1944

Article taken from the Carlow Nationalist and Leinster Times Aug 1944 after Carlow defeated Dublin in Athy to win their first Leinster Title.

Carlow County Library

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Leading up to the Leinster Football Final

In the year 1941, Dublin and Carlow were to meet in the Leinster Final at Croke Park but due to Foot and Mouth disease restrictions, the match was postponed. The teams met in Dr. Cullen Park in Carlow in November. Dublin, however were victorious. Dublin won again in 1942 in Athy. The mid 1940's were a particularly successful period in G.A.A for County Carlow. On July 15th 1944 Carlow played Wexford in the Leinster semi-final and beat them by a score of 5 goals 7 points (22points) to 3 goals and 6 points (15points).

Obviously this win lead to heightened anticipation of the Leinster Senior Football Final between Carlow and Dublin. The Carlow team that year was trained by "Jack" Dundon. A training fund had been set up by the Football Supporters' Club in the area. The people of Carlow responded well to the call for subscriptions.

For the 1944 final, eleven members of the Carlow team of 1942 were still on the team, while only four of the Dublin team were still playing. The Nationalist and Leinster Times of July 20th 1944 reported that Carlow had a "bright prospect of bringing the first Leinster Senior Championship to Carlow". The team from Carlow was named as:- J. Quinlan (O'Hanrahans), J. Lawler (Fighting Cocks), J. Archbold (Tullow), P. Farrell (Kilbride), P. Whelan (Tinryland), B. O'Rourke (Ballymurphy), E. Joyce (Ballymurphy), L. Kelly (Ballymurphy), J. Morris (Erins Hope), J. Moore (O'Hanrahans), M. Byrne, W. Hosey (Tinryland), P. Sullivan (Tinryland), J. Doyle (Tinryland), J. Rea (O'Hanrahans).

Medal Presentation Night 1944
Carlow County Library

Leinster Senior Football Championship 1944

The Leinster Senior Football Championship was held in Athy on July 30th, 1944. Supporters of the Carlow team were on the road early that morning as they heard Mass before proceeding to Athy. A record number of people made the journey in an apparently "never-ending stream of cyclists, and horse-drawn vehicles". The colours of the Carlow team predominated among the supporters' that day.

Carlow won the game by a score of 2 goals and 6 points (12points) to Dublin's 1 goal and 6 points (9points). The Carlow team had made football history. It was the first time that the title was held by Carlow since the foundation of the G.A.A. The game was described as "an hour of great football, played in a truly sportsmanlike fashion, that delighted the thousands of Gaels who packed the grounds. Both winners and losers are deserving of the greatest praise for their wonderful display, that kept their respective supporters on tip-toe of excitement right from the start to the final whistle, when the scenes of enthusiasm witnessed will long be remembered".

The trainer "Jack" Dundon, a Dublin man by birth received acclaim for his achievements and he was quoted as saying "Naturally I am delighted that we won. I never lost hope. I knew they would last better, and I am proud to have trained the first Carlow team to win the Leinster Senior Football Championship".

"There were scenes of great jubilation at the end as the Carlow players were carried shoulder high from the field, and all other worries were forgotten. After the game Mr. Molloy of the Dublin Board visited the Carlow players at their headquarters and congratulated them and their officials on their victory, which, he said, was well deserved on the run of the play. They had now won their first Leinster Senior Final, and should have gained enough confidence to go further and win an All-Ireland, and on behalf of the Dublin team he wished them the best of luck."

Carlow v Kerry

Over 40,000 people attended the All-Ireland semi final between Carlow and Kerry on September, 1944. The Carlow team fought hard but on this occasion Kerry were the victors with a score of 3 goals and 3 points (12 points) to Carlow's 10 points. However their great provincial victory over Dublin was unforgettable in that momentuous summer of '44.