An Fear Rua - Exhibition games at Wembley in the 70's

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Topic: [QUOTE]Originally posted by Deise Vu: [B]Aren't the pitches way too small for Hurling? Football could probably be played with 12-a-side or something but a Hurling Keeper would be taking pot-shots at goal on the puckouts. Donal Og would be at the half way line before he'd let fly.[/B][/QUOTE] Found this report in an old scrapbook at home & have reproduced it for the benefit of users of the suite before. Enjoy. Massive sense of Irishness about the whole weekend every year in this period. RTE actually covered the games live in the early Seventies. NEWSPAPER REPORT FROM MAY 31 1958 KILKENNY ON TOP AT WEMBLEY PITCH TOO SHORT FOR OLLIE WALSH KILKENNY 6-10 CLARE 5-07 The long clearances of Kilkenny's ace goalie, Ollie Walsh has been a prominent factor in the fast rise to fame of the young Thomastown wander, but few hurling followers expected to see the day when his strokes would prove too lengthy for one of the World's leading arenas. Yet this was what happened at London's famous Wembley Stadiunm on Saturday, when Kilkenny beat Clare by 6-10 to 5-07 in the first ever hurling match at the headquarters of soccer, rugby league and numerous other sports. It was fitting that the first sample of hurling outside London's GAA pitches should be provided by Kilkenny traditional masters of the game. According to reports, leading British sports critics wee very impressed with the game and although the attendance of 33,240 in a ground capable of taking over 100,000 was not al that might have been expected, the secretary of the London county board stated that he felt they would almost certainly put up two games again at Wembley next Whit Sunday. Ollie Walsh's long pucking, and the equally long strokes of Clare's Mick hayes, on the 120 yard plus had a definite effect on the trend of the play and the scoring. An inordinate amount of work was thrown on the rival defences while the midfielder got little scope to figure prominently in the game. Consequently the high scoring - eleven goals was not a reflection on the respective defences, as it might seem, but was mainly due to the shortness of the pitch. The game finished in a crescendo of cheering. The atmosphere was super charged with excitement in the last quarter as Clare, inspired by a devastating Jimmy Smyth, made an all out bid for victory. The tempo, always fact, quickly mounted and the last eight or ten minutes were played at fever pitch. Scores were level three times in the first half and, although Kilkenny forged ahead on the resumption when backed by the considerable cold wind, there was always the possibility that the Munster men would catch them, if not regain the lead, The starts of Kilkenny's triumph were Ollie Walsh, James Walsh, Tom Walsh - who had one of his best games to date - Johnny McGovern, Sean Clohessy - who was back top his best form, scoring three goals - and Denis Heaslip. Best of the Clare side were jimmy Smyth, who hit the high spots after an inconspicuous first half, Naoise Jordan, Michael hayes, who challenged Ollie Walsh for goalkeeping honours; Dermott Shhedy, Johnny Purcell and gerry Ryan. TEAMS KILKENNY O Walsh T Walsh J Walsh J Maher P Buggy M Walsh J McGovern J Sutton M Brophy D Heaslip M Kenny J Murphy S Clohessy W Dwyer M Fleming CLARE M Hayes J Purcell D Hoey B Burke B Dilger D Sheedy M Blake N Deasy M Lynch J Smith M Nugent M Dilger P Kirby G Ryan W Jordan WEMBLEY 1959 CORK 7-09 KILKENNY 3-08 Remember Whit Sunday 1959, because it marked a very rare occasion on the calendar of hurling events - the day Cork, for once, didn't need Christy Ring. More frequently than not the Glen Rovers genius id indispensable in a Cork hurling team and the history of hurling championships is liberally sprinkled with the occasions on which Ring was in fact, Cork. When Cork lined out at sunny Wembley Stadium yesterday, 38-tear-old Ring was absent because of a shoulder-injury which prevent him from making the trip to London. But for this occasion it transpired that Cork could do without Christy Ring because they had Paddy Barry in their attack. And this veteran of many a championship campaign created havoc in the Kilkenny defence. A WARNING FOR TIPPERARY Barry's hurley was a lethal instrument of devastation, and from the centre-half-forward position he inspired this splendid Cork victory. which stands out as a warning for Tipperary that their Munster and All Ireland titles are in jeopardy. Here was a solid Cork defence, and it withstood the most adventurous attacks that Kilkenny could launch. Backed by brilliant Mick Cashman in goal, Gerald Mulcahy, Jimmy Broghan, Phil Duggan and Martin Thompson performed superbly. And from a mastery midfield partnership of Eamoon Goulding and Noel Gallagher went with a steady supply of the ball which eager forwards like Barry, Wilie Walsh and Noel O'Connell converted into score after score. Kilkenny went down fighting and their continued pressure in the second - half contributed greatly to a fast and hectic second period. Place no blame on Ollie Walsh, last year's Wembley hero, who made some splendid saves, despite the seven which beat him. Mick Walsh who retired towards the end of the day with a slight ankle injury, Mick Fleming and Micley Kelly were also prominent.

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