Galway's First Sam Maguire: A Championship for the Ages
Galway's maiden All-Ireland senior football title, clinched in 1925, was a triumph steeped in controversy and chaos. It wasn't simply a matter of overcoming Mayo; it was a battle against a system struggling to find its footing.
The Connacht Championship alone proved a logistical nightmare, stretching across 11 matches. The first-round clash between Roscommon and Sligo was particularly chaotic, requiring six encounters to determine a victor. The initial meeting ended in a draw, with Roscommon lodging an objection. Four replays, held throughout July and August, also ended in stalemates, with a fifth fixture scheduled for Claremorris never taking place. Finally, in September, Sligo triumphed 2-3 to 0-2, booking their place in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, the other side of the draw witnessed Galway and Leitrim drawing their semi-final twice. Leitrim's refusal to participate in extra-time in the second encounter allowed Galway to secure victory in the second replay, winning 1-4 to 0-5.
The complications were not confined to the western province. Kerry's victory over Cavan in a semi-final held in Tralee sparked controversy. Cavan lodged an objection, met with a counter-objection from Kerry, ultimately leading to the disqualification of both counties by Central Council.
With Connacht falling behind schedule, Mayo emerged as the province's representative in the remaining All-Ireland semi-final, defeating Wexford. However, this victory was also contested, with Wexford's objection narrowly failing by a single vote.
As the last team standing, Mayo were in line to claim the All-Ireland crown, despite still having a Connacht semi-final and final to play. They overcame Sligo in October by 2-6 to 1-6 but then suffered a Connacht final defeat to Galway.
This result cast doubt on Mayo's All-Ireland claim, with Galway being recognised as the 1925 champions. Mayo protested, but Central Council, relying on a 1920 rule that stipulated All-Ireland finals had to be played at Croke Park, validated Galway's victory. To address concerns, Central Council decided to hold a new competition, featuring the four remaining teams. Kerry refused to participate, allowing Galway to defeat both Cavan and Wexford, securing their All-Ireland title as the only unbeaten football team in 1925.
Famous Referee
The 1953 All-Ireland final, pitting Armagh against Kerry, saw Peter McDermott officiating. The remarkable aspect was that McDermott was not only still an inter-county footballer, but also captained Meath to the title the following summer in 1954.
They Think It's All Over
Galway's Sam Maguire triumph in 1938, achieved against Kerry in a dramatic replay, is etched in folklore. With Galway holding a 2-4 to 0-6 lead late in the game, the referee blew for a free. However, ecstatic Galway fans mistook it for full-time and flooded the field, leading to a chaotic scene. The referee, overwhelmed by the commotion, struggled to restore order, with Kerry players leaving the field and some even departing the ground altogether. After extensive delays, the game resumed with a Kerry side featuring nine substitutes. They managed to register a score but couldn't overturn the result, with Galway emerging victorious 2-4 to 0-7.
Armaghâs First for Ulster
Armagh holds the distinction of winning Ulster's first-ever All-Ireland title. On August 14, 1927, they defeated Dublin 4-11 to 0-4 in the 1926 All-Ireland Junior Championship final.
Burns Family History
An Armagh victory on Sunday would mark a unique occasion. Jarlath Burns, the 41st President of the GAA, has his son Jarlath Ãg on the Armagh squad. A GAA President has never presented a cup to his son's winning team during their term. The closest instance was when the late, great Joe McDonagh's son Eoin played on the Galway minor and U21 hurling teams that fell short in the 1997 and 1999 finals.
Colour Code
The nuns of Omeath are credited with providing Armagh with their first-ever All-Ireland triumph, weaving their jerseys from orange wool for the 1926 JFC decider. This tradition has endured since.
Galway's jersey history is more fluid. Initially, they wore various combinations of blue and gold, later adopting green and white. However, their successful 1934 campaign saw them donning the maroon and white of the county champions and Sigerson Cup winners UCG, a design they have retained ever since.
Sharp Shooter
Galway manager Padraic Joyce holds a prominent position among the top marksmen on All-Ireland final day, having bagged 0-10 in the 2001 final victory over Meath. The distinction of being the highest scorer is shared by Dublin's Jimmy Keaveney and Kerry's Mikey Sheehy. Dublin hero Jimmy notched 2-6 in the 1977 victory over Armagh, a day when the Dubs scored five goals. A year later, Kingdom legend Sheehy replicated this scoreline as Kerry routed the Dubs in the '78 final.
