It was regarded as one of the greatest shocks of the 20th century in gaelic football, the day that Waterford defeated Kerry in the Munster senior football semi-final back in Jun, 1957. Maybe it truly was the year of the underdog as Louth went on to defeat Cork in the All Ireland Final!

Sean Forde from Kiltimagh, who died in Sligo before Christmas, played at midfield for Waterford in that famous game at the Sports Ground in Waterford. The final score was 2-5 to 0-10. Sean was a member of An Garda Siochana and was stationed in Tramore at the time. His centrefield partner on the day was Seamus Power.

When the final scoreline of Waterford 2-5, Kerry 0-10, was phoned into Radio Eireann, they refused to believe it and sought further confirmation from other sources. But it was true ... two goals in the final quarter, one late in the game, followed by the match-winning point from Tom Cunningham two minutes from time, saw The Decies pull off a sensational victory. It was said afterwards that some of the Kerry panel were "almost afraid to go home" after the game!
The Kerry team was captained on the day by Ned Fitzgerald, father of Maurice who "destroyed" Mayo in the 1997 All Ireland Final. It also featured one famous Mick O'Dwyer as well as another Kerry legend, Tom Long.
Overconfidence caught up with Kerry. But things were not right in the camp anyway. They travelled to Waterford 24 hours in advance. A night on the town was to cost them dearly!

Only 16 players were available when heads were counted in the dressing room before the game. One of them, Denny O'Shea, was carrying an injury. John Barrett, the well-known journalist who was covering the game for The Kerryman, was asked to find himself a pair of football boots and tog out as a sub - which he did.

I am not sure of the name of the person who compiled a nostalgia piece on the famous game but he caught the mood of the occasion. "Waterford had laid their plans after the team was picked in Landers' pub in Dungarvan on the Tuesday night before the game, something that greatly irked Pat Fanning, a strict TT and a future president of the GAA who was also a selector. He expressed the hope that 'this will be the last time a Waterford team will be chosen in a licensed premises'. It wasn't, of course, but that's another story.

"The rugged Waterford side got an unexpected boost when Sean Cleary of Clonmel who was appointed referee was mysteriously replaced at the last minute by the much more liberal Seamus Hayes. Of course, that shouldn't have been a factor because it would have been a very poor day indeed if lowly Waterford, no matter what tactics they employed, were able to impose themselves on Kerry. But remarkably, this is exactly what happened although the fates turned very much against the hot favourites late in the game when they conceded two shock goals and an equally shock lead point.
"At half time when Kerry led by 0-6 to 0-2, everything seemed to be going according to plan. After 40 minutes, the score stood 0-8 to 0-2 in favour of Kerry and to all intents and purposes the game was as good as over.

"But then the unexpected happened. On the 44th minute, Georgie White took a free out near the sideline and as the ball dropped in the square, Tim Barrett, who was a fine fielder, rose to catch it. It was at that precise moment that Waterford's bustling full forward, Noel Power, hit the replacement goalkeeper with a frontal charge and bundled the ball over the line.
"Points were exchanged at both ends and with six minutes to go Kerry were hanging on to a precarious three point lead, 0-10 to 1-4. Waterford, now in full cry, came again in search of undying glory. Again Tim Barrett fielded a dropping ball but with the defence marked absent he was left exposed to another fierce Waterford onslaught led by Jim Timmons and buried in the back of the net.

"In today's game both goals would have been disallowed and perhaps two red cards flashed but, back then, goalkeepers were expected to bear the brunt of whatever was thrown at them and referee Hayes was definitely not going to spoil the Waterford party.
"The end was now in sight for Kerry and with only two minutes remaining, Tom Cunningham, better known as a hurler, got possession about 40 yards out and shot the winning point. Pandemonium reigned and the home crowd rose to salute a famous victory."

And so Mayo's Sean Forde had carved out his own special niche in the history of the GAA. Soon afterwards, he was transferred to border duty and assigned to Glenfarne Station in Leitrim. He was to spend the greater part of his working life as a senior Detective Garda in Sligo.

Sean, who was in his early 70s is survived by his wife Margaret, daughters Sharon and Aideen, sons-in-law, grandchildren, brothers Hugh (Kiltimagh), Jimmy (Melbourne), Tom (Limerick) and Michael (Dublin) , sisters Nonie Gill (Murrisk, Westport) and Nancy O'Sullivan (Limerick), nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

- Courtesy of the Mayo News, 24th January 2012 Tweet

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