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The Bomber celebrates in front of the Hill after scoring in the 1978 All–Ireland final.
WE’RE almost there folks.
For many of us, the summer really starts this Sunday when Kerry begin their defence of the All-Ireland against Tipperary.
The game in Thurles will be almost 40 years to the day since Kerry beat the Premier county to set in motion the greatest period in Kerry football history.
Back on June 15, 1975 Kerry beat Tipperary in Clonmel by 3-13 to 0-9.
It’s been an amazing period with 15 All-Irelands in the past 40 years, unearthing more legendary players than most counties have had in the last 131 years of the GAA.
I thought I’d look back at which finals were the most satisfying in that period. The ones where fans walked out of Croker punching the sky, thinking “yeah, that was a sweet one”.
So, in chronological order, here’s the ones that did it for me.
Continued below…
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1. 1975: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 0-11
The year of the young tigers. The early 70s was a barren period for Kerry football, branded as a transitional period for the kingdom.
Mick O’Dwyer’s charges were underdogs when they faced the confident and self-assured ‘Jackíns’. The culchies showed them though…
2. 1978: Kerry 5-11 Dublin 0-9
This was an easy choice.
As I child, I watched that amazing 1977 Kerry v Dublin semi-final on video over and over again and every time Micheál O’Hehir’s words “the tension and anxiety of the whole lot of them” were heard, I’d watch through my fingers as Bernard Brogan hammered the nail in the coffin of Kerry’s title ambitions.
The only consolation was that I’d then eject the video from the Ferguson Videostar VHS player and slot in the following year’s final. John Egan’s game-changing goal, Mikey’s guile, Bomber’s hat-trick, – heaven!
Having been beaten by the city boys the previous two years, the travelling support must have had some celebrations in the capital that night.
3. 1986: Kerry 2-15 Tyrone 1-10
This might be a surprise to some, but for a 13 year old boy on his first visit to Croke Park, this was very special.
Just after half-time it looked like Kerry were screwed. With Tyrone leading by six points, the northern side were awarded a penalty. Mystifyingly, Kevin McCabe opted to put it over for a point, giving Kerry a lifeline.
What ensued was a masterclass from Kerry, eventually winning by eight points. It was a sweet journey back in my dad’s Ford Granada to Quane’s Pub in Blennerville that night (even better when we stopped for chips!).
Even the guards raiding the pub that night didn’t spoil the celebrations. I’d say they were from Cork…
4. 1997: Kerry 0-13 Mayo 1-7
Well duh!
I know this list is in no particular order, but standing in the Canal End with the tears flowing and thousands of Kerry fans going baloobas around me, gives this the nod as the most satisfying Kerry All-Ireland victory ever.
The famine ended, Páidí had delivered and it set in motion the second ‘Golden Years’ period of Kerry football.
Best. Win. Ever.
5. 2009: Kerry 0-16 Cork 1-9
I’m bypassing many of the wins in the noughties because, apart from Galway in 2000, the other three were facile victories.
2009 though was special. Hammered by Cork in the Munster semi-final replay, Kerry then made heavy work of Longford, before scraping past Sligo in Tralee thanks to a Diarmaid Murphy-saved penalty.
The turning point came in a qualifier against Antrim in Tullamore. A large Kerry contingent of fans invaded the pitch after the win that day and those present sensed something special was happening.
The annihilation of Dublin justifies its own separate story, while beating the old enemy in Croke Park and seeing Darran O’Sullivan lift Sam is the most pleasing sporting sight this writer has witnessed since 1997.
