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AI Football Final Shocks

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Replying To Cbar:  "Was there a Mayo man on that Louth team?"
There sure was Cbar. Dan O Neill from Castlebar has the honour of being last Mayo man to win Sam.

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 784 - 18/12/2020 18:45:32    2323493

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Well I was nt around then Ollie but often heard people on about it and the musician Dermot Ó Brien. I never thought of it like that. The biggest county in Ireland v The smallest county. I'm sure at the time was a big shock alright."
Dermot O Brien was Louth captain in that great year of 1957. He nearly did not get into that match that day. The Louth team travelled to Dublin on the morning of the final and had a light lunch at the Hollybrook Hotel in Clontarf. O'Brien was carrying an injury and after lunch he went for a painkilling injection and then on to Croke Park with the driver. When he got there the gates were closed and no more people were allowed in. There were 72,000 people inside and thousands outside. It was impossible to gain entry. He finally managed to squeeze through and speak to a gateman. He explained his dilemma and who he was, the captain of Louth, but he refused to let him through. It was under an hour before the game started and he was still outside and nobody would believe who he was. Luckily for him a large contingent of Louth supporters recognised him and started to chant: "Let O'Brien through. Let O'Brien through. It was only then that he managed to get in and across the pitch to the dressing room. The public address system appealing for the Louth captain to get the dressing room immediately. He made it within ten minutes before the match started. Ironically the next time Louth played Cork in the Championship was in 2007 and O'Brien died that year. Louth's heaven was def 57.

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 784 - 18/12/2020 18:55:58    2323494

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Let's be honest. 1982 was the one everyone remembers. It was a shock and no two ways about it. I think all others pale in comparison to that and are forgettable but everyone knows about '82.
The penalty save I think was huge and Offaly seemed to get a new lease of life and belief that it could be their day.
Hard to believe it's nearly 40 years ago.
I remember seeing a documentary about Mick O Dwyer and for all the success he had he said that loss still haunted him. Mikey Sheehy too I'd imagine.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 18/12/2020 19:00:00    2323495

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Replying To Cbar:  "Do you remember the SF against Mayo? I didn't give you a prayer"
I can't rem the Mayo semi final, I must look and see if it's on youtube, 2014 was kinda the same, we just scraped past Armagh in the quarter final, think we had our eyes on Dublin and Armagh nearly nabbed us,
bit like what happened with Cavan this year, That was a great team in '92, we'd have gone very close in '93 as well but the Ulster final was played on a waterlogged pitch and Derry just nabbed us on the day, they went on to win Sam then.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 18/12/2020 19:16:06    2323500

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Dermot O Brien was Louth captain in that great year of 1957. He nearly did not get into that match that day. The Louth team travelled to Dublin on the morning of the final and had a light lunch at the Hollybrook Hotel in Clontarf. O'Brien was carrying an injury and after lunch he went for a painkilling injection and then on to Croke Park with the driver. When he got there the gates were closed and no more people were allowed in. There were 72,000 people inside and thousands outside. It was impossible to gain entry. He finally managed to squeeze through and speak to a gateman. He explained his dilemma and who he was, the captain of Louth, but he refused to let him through. It was under an hour before the game started and he was still outside and nobody would believe who he was. Luckily for him a large contingent of Louth supporters recognised him and started to chant: "Let O'Brien through. Let O'Brien through. It was only then that he managed to get in and across the pitch to the dressing room. The public address system appealing for the Louth captain to get the dressing room immediately. He made it within ten minutes before the match started. Ironically the next time Louth played Cork in the Championship was in 2007 and O'Brien died that year. Louth's heaven was def 57."
Brilliant story. Thanks Ollie. I ll remember that one.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3675 - 18/12/2020 20:46:19    2323522

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Galway were rank outsiders going into the 2001 final v Meath.
We had scraped through all our games having lost in Connacht to roscommon while meath had wiped the floor with kerry in the semi.
My gut was telling me that we'd win that one,, but still I was so nervous I couldn't watch the second half lol.
Pure elation when it was over.

The year after kerry were hot favourites to beat armagh too but they lost.

Haven't had a shock since in the final really,, though Dublin in 2011 and kerry in 2014 were underdogs.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1705 - 18/12/2020 21:03:26    2323528

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Replying To realdub:  "I remember the '91 final well, and believe it or not I found myself shouting for Meath. If there had of been the same amount of injury time they allow today I think Meath could have nicked it."
Was '91 the year Colm O'Rourke couldn't start having been suffering from pneumonia or something the week before the final,he came on and got a few scores late in 2nd half if my memory serves me.Down have a great record in AI finals.

In 1992 I fancied Donegal so not a shock for me,not too many shocks in finals really.

Offaly denying Kerry 5 in a row was some shock though that was a good Offaly team but Kerry were top dogs at the time.

ONdeDITCH (Limerick) - Posts: 873 - 18/12/2020 21:21:18    2323541

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Replying To ONdeDITCH:  "Was '91 the year Colm O'Rourke couldn't start having been suffering from pneumonia or something the week before the final,he came on and got a few scores late in 2nd half if my memory serves me.Down have a great record in AI finals.

In 1992 I fancied Donegal so not a shock for me,not too many shocks in finals really.

Offaly denying Kerry 5 in a row was some shock though that was a good Offaly team but Kerry were top dogs at the time."
I think Seamus Darby's goal was the real shock, Kerry looked like they had the 5 in a row in the bag, that Offaly team were knocking on the door a long time, a very good team.
I don't think Kerry will ever get over the Dubs doing the 5 in a row before them and it could well be 6 by this time tomorrow. I have a notion Mayo are going to win though, but all rational thought really says Dubs 6.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 18/12/2020 21:48:06    2323567

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Replying To ONdeDITCH:  "Was '91 the year Colm O'Rourke couldn't start having been suffering from pneumonia or something the week before the final,he came on and got a few scores late in 2nd half if my memory serves me.Down have a great record in AI finals.

In 1992 I fancied Donegal so not a shock for me,not too many shocks in finals really.

Offaly denying Kerry 5 in a row was some shock though that was a good Offaly team but Kerry were top dogs at the time."
Well Ondeditch Down had a great record toll 2010 v Cork and Donegal till 14 v Kerry. Only football team left with a 100% record in finals is your own Limerick.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3675 - 18/12/2020 22:20:10    2323583

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There haven't been too many shocks in AI finals in my memory, the underdog has won it on occasions but not really shocks as such. The Offaly team in '82 had been knocking on the door for a while and had many players who'd won AIs in the early 1970s in the lineup.
Down in 91 was a surprise as the broke the stranglehold Leinster & Munster teams had on the Sam McGuire for almost a quarter of a century, Galway 98, Armagh 02, Tyrone '03 were outliers but in hindsight great and deserving champions.
Mayo winning tomorrow would be a shock as in there is an opinion this isn't as strong a team as a few years back but the year that's in it I have a feeling we might see one of the greatest sports stories ever written unfold before our eyes tomorrow evening.

Galway4ever (Galway) - Posts: 209 - 18/12/2020 23:20:56    2323602

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The single most impressive thing about the Dubs is that they. Punish. Every. Mistake. Other teams, you have the luxury of your team playing poorly for a quarter and still being able to get the win. Against this Dublin team, you really can't afford to make any mistakes at all. It shows how focussed they are that they react so quickly to any mistake. Like sharks smelling blood.

Anyway, c'mon Mayo, football needs you

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 18/12/2020 23:55:40    2323614

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "As far as I can see the only people that think it won't be a shock if Mayo win are Dubliners. Even most Mayo people fancy dubs and they normally confident. The last time Dublin had a new manager they beat Mayo also against James Horan who was in his 2nd year. I think the Dubs are the new yerra yerra. Are you copying us. You mention Mayo s new injection of pace but you fail to mention that Mayo were built on a strong midfield and a rock solid defense. Now their midfield is nt as strong and their defense is very pourus. Tipp had 10 goal chances in semi final against them. I don't get it dubdec. The lack of a crowd is to Mayo s advantage but other than that Dubs hold most of the aces. I just hope it's a good game."
I'm always nervous ciarraimick when it comes to finals...especially against Mayo

dubdec99 (Dublin) - Posts: 180 - 19/12/2020 10:13:14    2323662

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Brilliant story. Thanks Ollie. I ll remember that one."
No probs at all Mick.

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 784 - 19/12/2020 11:18:04    2323680

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Replying To slayer:  "I don't think 92 was a shock at all. Donegal were mixing up a long & short game, got it right in the final. Dubs hadn't been in a final since 85 & were rebuilding.

In terms of all Ireland football final shocks, this is the top 3 I can think of: in my lifetime:

1982 Offaly 1-15 Kerry 0-17 - monumental
1991 Down 1-16 Meath 1-14 (Meath had been in the finals of 87, 88, 90, Down just steamrollered them)
2001 Galway 0-17 Meath 0-8 (Kerry champions in 2000, Meath destroyed them in 01 semi, Galway overcame Meath)"
That 2001 result was not a shock in fairness. Somewhat exaggerated by the fact of Meath's big semi win. That was a seriously gifted Galway team who had Kerry on the ropes in the drawn 2000 final and of course the '98 win. Mild surprise the extent of the win in 2001 but those three teams (Meath, Galway and Kerry) were very much on par with one another during those years.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 19/12/2020 12:03:15    2323691

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I'm surprised that no one has mentioned 1978. Dublin were going for three in a row, they had already won the league that spring and were considered nigh on unbeatable. Kerry were not going well and after losing to the Dubs in 1977 and 1976 Micko was in the last chance saloon. There were no bookies backing in gaelic games at the time but if there were Dublin would be odds on favourites. Everything was going to plan early on, the Dubs led by 5 points at one stage and then Kerry got a softish goal to reduce the deficit Then a few minutes before half time Kerry were awarded a fourteen yard free about 5 to 10 yards to the right of the Dublin goal and the rest as they say is history. Kerry went on to win by 17 points I think.
I' not saying it will happen today but you never know

seventyniner (Galway) - Posts: 41 - 19/12/2020 12:08:31    2323695

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Replying To Cbar:  "Whatever you think will happen Saturday - Dublin are favourites.

If Mayo win it will be a shock.... what..... in your opinion...... are the biggest shocks in AI Football Finals and where would a Mayo win rank in terms of biggest shocks?

Donegal beating Dublin in '92 after an absolutely awful SF against Mayo comes to mind as the last time we had a bigger shock in a final."
I remember that awful semi final and Pat Spillane saying that Dublin would easily beat the pick of both teams. It was a significant match however in that it was Donegal's first ever win in Croke Park and gave them great confidence. They just kicked on and played some great stuff in their first ever final. Starting Manus Boyle was also key as he gave a MOTM performance scoring nine points.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 506 - 20/12/2020 03:09:18    2324341

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Wait wait wait! I kinda got lost in here. What game are we talking about? The recent or are we just going back and forth in history. All I know is that the season is not really good right now. Well, at least for me. I also did not expect that the recent rankings released.

KaitlynnDuff (Longford) - Posts: 17 - 22/12/2020 13:33:54    2325378

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Replying To KaitlynnDuff:  "Wait wait wait! I kinda got lost in here. What game are we talking about? The recent or are we just going back and forth in history. All I know is that the season is not really good right now. Well, at least for me. I also did not expect that the recent rankings released."
A bot??? On HS? I've seen it all now!

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 22/12/2020 16:45:00    2325443

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Meath beating a Cavan team going for a 3 in a row in 1949 was apparently a huge shock. I think Meath brought a guy out of retirement who hadn't played in 5 years. They won handy.

FootblockREF (Monaghan) - Posts: 563 - 22/12/2020 22:35:32    2325558

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