Match Summary 1955

1955 All Ireland Team Champs

Wexford All-Ireland Champions, 1955. Back row left to right K.Sheehan (trainer), P.Kehoe, J.Morrissey, M.Codd, N.Rackard, T. Ryan, T.Bolger, O.Gough, W.Wickham, M.Hanlon, T.Dixon, H.O'Connor, E.Wheeler. Front row (left to right): T.Flood, B.Rackard, J.English, P.Kehoe, M Morrissey, N. O'Donnell (capt.) A Foley, C.Casey, W.Rackard, D. Hearne, S.Bluett, P.Hayes.

Nicholas Furlong

1955 All Ireland Team Champs
Nicholas Furlong

1955 All Ireland Team Champs

Wexford All-Ireland Champions, 1955. Back row left to right K.Sheehan (trainer), P.Kehoe, J.Morrissey, M.Codd, N.Rackard, T. Ryan, T.Bolger, O.Gough, W.Wickham, M.Hanlon, T.Dixon, H.O'Connor, E.Wheeler. Front row (left to right): T.Flood, B.Rackard, J.English, P.Kehoe, M Morrissey, N. O'Donnell (capt.) A Foley, C.Casey, W.Rackard, D. Hearne, S.Bluett, P.Hayes.

Nicholas Furlong

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Since each All-Ireland final brings its own flavour, the Galway – Wexford contest was no exception. After the emotional preliminaries the game was started by another hurling dynasty member, referee Bob Stakelum of Tipperary. The forwards were just settled in the second minute when Nick Rackard did something we have never seen him do before. Seamus Hearne hurled the ball from midfield to Padge Kehoe who sent it on. Rackard swung first time, a savage grounder. Tom Boland didn't know it was in the net until the air exploded. Tim Flood followed with a delicious point, and we sat back to savour the capture of safe medals.

Bernard Power, the veteran Galway full-back, went off injured and was replaced in his job of marking Nickey Rackard by the mobile army officer Billy O'Neill. Hubert Gordon came on in the Galway defence. Next the undaunted Galway men went on a spree using their surprise packet, the teenager Paddy Egan. Billie Duffy pulled on a clearance, Joe Young swept the ball across the Wexford goal and Egan hopped in like a cat to bamboozle both backs and goalie. That goal set Galway aflame. Minutes later a drive from the splendid Joe Salmon reached Paddy Egan again. As he slipped past Mick Hanlon the ball was flashed to the net again. Galway were in the lead. From that to half time Galway were only pegged back by a grim, altered defence and a powerful Wexford goal by Ned Wheeler. Cold fear was again added to the menu when Nickey Rackard drove a 21-yard 'special' wide. As the teams rested at half time, Galway were leading by 2-5 to 2-3.

Wexford opened the second half with their backs to the sun and a light breeze. For ten nightmare minutes the equal duel went on. Seamus Hearne then pointed. Seconds later Padge Kehoe equalised. Then Nicky Rackard swerved like a ballet dancer to point from play and Wexford were ahead. Tom Ryan disentangled himself to lash over another point: Rackard followed with a point from a free. Wexford were three points clear when Duggan put the brake on celebration with a pointed Galway free. It was at this stage that Wexford impatience erupted. Liberated, Nickey Rackard clutched a ball where he had raced towards the left forward area. He sent it to Paddy Kehoe, Kehoe sent it to Tom Ryan who took a brace of feigned steps. Ryan flicked the ball to Flood. Boland never had a chance.

From that moment until full time Wexford repeated the exhibition of which they were capable, exhibition material that because of the team's size and maturity still aroused the wonder of experts. Ned Wheeler brazened two points over, Padge Kehoe another beauty, followed by a Tim Flood butterfly float. Jim Morrissey scored a lofter from miles out. On the call of time Joe Salmon scored Galway's only point from play in the second half and Wexford was off again merrily attacking as the final whistle blew. Wexford 3-13, Galway 2-8. Wexford were All-Ireland champions- actual, real, undisputed All-Ireland hurling champions.

Extract from Nicholas Furlong's The Greatest Hurling Decade.