Given the talk (whether it's good or bad) surrounding Dublin's attempt to do the fabled '5 in a row', I'd like to remember the last time this was attempted in football, and invite people to share their memories of the build up to and the All-Ireland final of 1982.

CornAghais91 (Dublin) - Posts: 126 - 06/08/2019 22:41:04    2221961

As a young impressionable Dub, it was like watching Brazil get beat by a last minute goal in a World Cup final.
It was real epic stuff.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 06/08/2019 23:23:53    2221984

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 07/08/2019 00:08:09    2221988

"Five in a row, five in a row, can't believe that we've won five in a row..."

Seamus Darby had something to say about that! Though it's touch and go as to whether he fouled Tommy Doyle in the build-up...

Saw a game on All-Ireland Gold a few times, Martin Furlong's penalty save was the turning point IMO. Kerry had a few chances to equalize but badly missed Pat Spillane.

The game ultimately proved a good thing for Kerry as their team probably would have broken up if they had won, but the squeezed another three Sams out of their team in 84, 85 and 86.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 07/08/2019 07:56:22    2222020

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 07/08/2019 10:01:56    2222059

Shane Lowry's Dad Brendan and his uncles Mick and Séan won Celtic crosses on that historic day. The Lowry's are some men for making a bit of history.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 07/08/2019 10:26:01    2222078

Unless you saw it live it may be difficult to take in the magnitude of this game.

Ireland was a country still emerging from the Hunger Strikes in 1981 which had for a long time been the main topic of conversation. GAA was central to the Irish psyche. Offaly had come from nowhere to win the Leinster Hurling title in 1980, then the All-Ireland in 1981. The Offaly footballers had contested the 1980 semi final v Kerry in a classic and then lost the final to them in 1981. Kerry had ruled football with an Iron Fist.

Ireland was very different back then. GAA was an integral part of everyone's life. All week the talk was about the game. There was not the same media coverage as there is now so interviews with Management or Players were golden. Both sides changed their shirts for the final, as I think they did in 1981 also. The Offaly shirt was lovely, mainly white with the green & gold also thrown in with a bit of class.

The game itself was eventful but the feeling was Offaly were never out of it, as Kerry put away other teams in finals. The penalty save was pivotal, Furlong was a hero. But a 'never say die' attitude which was a key characteristic of Offaly teams in that era made them keep going at Kerry. It wasn't a great surprise that they had a go at winning the final, but it was a surprise that they held Kerry off after getting ahead. There didn't seem to be any panic, they believed that the title was theirs. Then again in the previous four finals Kerry had a health lead in the latter stages of the game. Perhaps they felt jitters at only being two up as the clock ticked towards winning time.

The goal itself is one of the most magical memories ever in GAA. As a hurling man, I even say perhaps 'The' single greatest GAA memory there is. Does any other memory make people remember where they were or who they were with when it happened? It is like watching that TV program 'Cold Case' where they flick between present day & the era in question. Certainly, that moment is one that stands out from childhood. Darby's dance, a mini pitch invasion, the legendary Micheal O'Hehir's commentary - iconic.

In 1997 Offaly won the Leinster Football title with a fine win over Meath. Kerry had won Munster. They looked on course to meet in the All-Ireland final but Mayo stepped in to defeat Offaly. It would have been nice to see that rematch fifteen years on and with Roy Malone & Vinny Claffey they would have had a right cut off Kerry. The Offaly team from 1982 didn't kick on as Dublin emerged with a fine team from 83-85 and then Meath ruled Leinster from 86-91 89 (apart).

We learned a lot about GAA from that 1982 match. Never giving in, self belief, the power of a great Manager (which I believe Eugene was). But in the years after there was also a lesson about class and tradition. Kerry lost the 1983 Munster Final to Tadhg Murphy's late Cork goal, but then won the finals from 84-86, beating a very good Dublin team as well as sides like Meath & Tyrone also along the way. In nine years of championship they won seven titles and lost the other years to two late goals. Quite simply a magnificent team.

But everyone remembers Seamus Darby, Offaly and from the other messages, that nudge/push :-)

Offaly v Kerry 1982 - Great memories.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 07/08/2019 11:04:20    2222099

Kings of September by Michael Foley is probably the best GAA book I've read and it is all about Offaly in 1982. Well worth a read

I wasnt old enough to remember that final but I still get goosebumps when I see clips of that 'high lobbing dropping ball' going in. There seems to be a half second pause of silence from the crowd as Darby catches the ball, what will he do with it. Then pure bedlam. And sheer excitement from Micheal O'Hehir. He was irreplaceable. The voice of GAA TV coverage

Thelonesomegoose (Leitrim) - Posts: 204 - 07/08/2019 11:23:23    2222110

GeniusGerry (Kerry) - Posts: 2105 - 07/08/2019 11:28:23    2222112

On Hill16 as a neutral. In my misguided youth smoking a fag, but like all that day looking for history - either way it was going to be history. Ironic really that it is remembered for the day that history wasn't made.

A few minutes to go in the rain, a gent, big, bearded and mountainy (although from the flattest part of Ireland) in front of me - Imposing, but softened by his nice new woolly jumper, speckled, dark grey in colour, resembling a late evening firmament.

All hell breaks loose, the fag was gone and Like Darby hit the back of the net I had hit the back of the geansai.

Things settled and i shuffled a few feet to the left as i noticed a new black hole that would have had Galileo as excited as Seamus!

Podge8395 (Dublin) - Posts: 38 - 07/08/2019 12:05:57    2222127

The faithful (pardon the pun) year of 1982 began well for the Kerrymen seeking immortality. The league title was secured following a replay against Cork. If I remember correctly the drawn and replayed final were played in Cork and Kerry respectively.

The league title secured Kerry faced into the Championship potentially 4 games away from securing the historic 5 in a row. The only real contenders as I remember were Offaly and maybe Cork. There was no other creditable challenge.

The hype machine really cranked up as the Championship began.

CornAghais91 (Dublin) - Posts: 126 - 07/08/2019 22:33:30    2222492

The fact that the free, which led to the famous Darby goal, stemmed from a professional foul by Bomber Liston seems to have been air-brushed from history.
Just shows you: crime doesn't pay.

Aibrean (Kerry) - Posts: 263 - 08/08/2019 14:23:01    2222693

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/08/2019 14:31:33    2222699

Wonder where all those T-shirts ended up . I'd say they got shipped out to Mongolia or somewhere.:-p)

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 08/08/2019 14:39:04    2222702

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 08/08/2019 16:23:00    2222736

A work colleague recommended that I put a few bob on Offaly as they were 3/1. I wasn't convinced these were good odds but relented. When I went to the bookies I was tempted by even money on Kerry to win by 8 points. Thankfully, I put a fiver (£6 incl tax) on at 3/1.

I recently checked a few reports of the game; Pat Spillane came on at half time for Ogie Moran.

My recollection is that, after the goal, Offaly had another chance of a point but Gerry Carroll kicked it wide. Kerry had a chance to equalise but Tom Spillane's effort dropped short.

Six or seven weeks later, I was at the U-21 final in Carrick-on-Shannon between Donegal and Roscommon. Two men behind me were discussing the senior final. One had seen a video of the final six times and was obviously delighted that Offaly had won and even more pleased that Kerry had lost. His friend asked him whether, after six viewings, he thought Seamus Darby had pushed Tommy Doyle. "No he didn't" he said and added "Even if he did, it wasn't a foul". Beauty is not the only thing that is in the eye of the beholder.

tommy58 (Dublin) - Posts: 169 - 08/08/2019 17:19:34    2222748

CornAghais91 (Dublin) - Posts: 126 - 08/08/2019 17:25:19    2222750

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 08/08/2019 17:38:49    2222758

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7345 - 08/08/2019 18:45:34    2222773

Watched a replay of that match the other night. The thing that struck me was the poor quality of the passing The game has changed so much and there is now much higher premium on possession and recycling. The amount of Hail Mary kicks out of defence was actually strange to watch again after all these years.
Still reckon Matt Connor was an incredibly talented player. John Egan was imperious. He'ss knocked to the ground, retains possession and gets straight back up and shoots a great point. He was class.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1974 - 08/08/2019 20:00:45    2222795