Leaving in a hired car on an august Saturday. Through small villages and towns on narrow roads to our Nations Capital(apologies to Forrest Gump).Into Finglas marvelling at the 20-30 ft. high tv aerials on each chimney reaching up for BBC and ITV. On to the Parnell Mooney, being 'helped' to park car by gentlemen in peaked caps and helpful, forceful tone.(Where are they now?)
Copious amounts of alcholol, trying to understand the Dooblin accent. Sleeping half in, half out, in car with four other males, being awoke by lashing rain on blue denim clad legs.
Making for Busarus to get something of a clean up, but mouth feeling rotten and head thumping. Heading up Jones's Road in more rain. Meeting neighbours from home.Feeling part of a great movement. No supporters in county colours, just wearing the Sunday best. Seating in the Upper Hogan, all wooden benches and asbestos roof. Head pounding from noise and hangover, cheering on the county minors to a semi-final draw(they would go on to win the A L that year)
Standing for the National Anthem being envious of the Cork supporters as neither could I sing nor did I know the words.
Hopes pinned on Frank McGuigan. County getting a hammering. A little skinhead called Jimmy Barry Murphy scoring goals for fun past big Liam Turbett.
Up the road home, every small town with its own traffic jam, on to Aughnacloy with the mother of all jams courtesy of the RUC and Army.(Quick border joke - Car heading north stopped by RUC, where're you headed SIR? - Derry - Don't know that place pull over SIR - 20 mins later now SIR where're you going? - Derry - Never heard of it, Stay there - 20 mins later - Where are you heading Sir - Strabane)
Back home to watch short higlights on B/W tv - we still lost.

lamhliathroid1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 25 - 03/09/2013 11:23:29    1473819

All-Ireland semi-final in 1996, Mayo vs Kerry. I was 8 years old, myself and my family lived abroad at the time, we were on holiday back home for the summer and it was the first time gaelic games really caught my imagination.

Memories primarily of having to get up quite early in the morning to make it to Croker (Mayo minors were also playing Kerry- they lost by two points, I think). Parking on Jones Road, getting into the Hogan and thinking how old everything looked- I'd been to Old Trafford by that time, was a little bit spoiled!

Mayo were in control of the game all the way through- highlights included James Horan's marvellous chipped goal and Maurice FitzGerald's unerring freetaking. John Madden was badly caught out for the Kerry goal, still looking up at the big screen replay of James Nallen's opening goal for Mayo. A portent of things to come in the final, as it turned out.

Looking back on it now, I wish that I had a greater understanding of how rare and special a victory over Kerry in the championship was! But few eight year olds appreciate historical standings in the game.

We decamped in Mother Hubbard's on the motorway for a full Irish and savoured the victory. Good times.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 03/09/2013 11:38:40    1473837

Great read.

My first trip to Croke Park was in 1996 for the semi final v Kerry. Headed up on the train from the west all excited.I was 10 and remember my dad saying "sure we have to bring ya because Mayo might not get there for a long time again" I think we paid cash at the gate as tickets were only required for finals that time.

How wrong was he....we beat Kerry. I thought it might be like that all the time. One couldn't make up what would happen next...6 final defeats later and I am still waiting to reach the promised land. Hopefully this is the year.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11547 - 03/09/2013 11:44:42    1473845

Good thread i'm surprised this hasn't been started before.

My first ever game at croke park came in 1995 when tyrone took on Galway in the all Ireland semi final.
That was the year and that summer was when i caught the bug for gaelic football, i was only turned 9 and the old man landed back to the house with tickets for the ulster semi final against derry, i remember standing on the hill barley able to see a thing as 13 man tyrone managed to beat derry by a sigle point in a heat drenched clones the feeling was just amazing considering derry always seemed to get the better of us in the early 90s.
Anyway the aul boy couldn't get me a ticket for the ulster final against Cavan which we won. The Saturday of the semi final he landed home from mcconnells sports shop in Cookstown with a brand new W.J Dolan tyrone jersey and said i'll need it for croke park tomorrow i near died.
We took of fairly early that sunday morning and on arriving in dublin ( for the first time) it seemed like an endless sea of tyrone supporters i was just amazed, i'm not sure how many galway people were their that day but in my eyes it was all tyrone.
We had tickets for the newly built cusack stand just at the back of the first tier, i remember the Derry minors playing that day not sure who it was against but they won, then out came tyrone i can still hear the roar and the deafening of air horns which might seem strange to some of the younger posters on here but to anyone around my age ( late 20s) they'll never forget the air horns either. Of the game i remember we started ok and the game was fairly close, i think galway were maybe ahead at half time but then canavan got that fisted goal that crept over the line and we went on to win by a few points, it's hard to believe thats 18 years ago makes you wonder where the time goes. I'm looking forward to reading the replies on this thread it should make for good reading.

duke_raul (Tyrone) - Posts: 993 - 03/09/2013 12:05:01    1473884

First Round of the Leinster Championship 1991- Dublin v Meath - 2nd game.

Have no real recollection of it at all but that's the one that my Da always said was the first I was at.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13795 - 03/09/2013 12:21:11    1473909

Good posts. I have vague memories of being in Croke Park to see Dublin hurlers in the early 70s when uncle was playing but no real recollection. I do remember every second of the 1974 semi final against Cork. Myself, Da, brother and uncle were in upper Hogan and never forget the sight of the Hill and the contrast of red and sky blue. Was more or less the same Cork team as beat yourselves in '73 lamhliathroid: JBM, Morgan, Coughlan, Barron etc. Dubs were Cullen, O'Driscoll, Doc, Kelliher, Reilly, Larkin, Wilson, Mullins, Rooney, Anton, Hanahoe, Hickey, Doyle, Jimbo, McCarthy - or was it Gogarty??? Would take me longer to name team from Sunday! I was just mesmerised by it all. So was born a lifelong addiction.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 03/09/2013 12:32:56    1473929

My first visit to Croke Park came in the 1995 All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. I've been back countless times since and I'm not sure if I've seen a better individual display than Canavan gave that day, when he was at the peak of his powers. I've trawled Youtube for some footage of the game before but to no avail.

whitegoodman (Tyrone) - Posts: 439 - 03/09/2013 12:49:10    1473958

whitegoodman
County: Tyrone
Posts: 405


Funny enough i did the exact same thing after i posted my message. Enjoy :)

http://youtu.be/GWpS1NkFMFU

duke_raul (Tyrone) - Posts: 993 - 03/09/2013 12:55:51    1473970

lamhliathroid1
County: Tyrone
Posts: 21
____________________
Ditto, was only about 7 at the time so memory is a little bit hazy, but do remember my Da taking a load of us down in his Bedford van, normally used for work but converted into a people carrier for the occasion, way ahead of its time. My one abiding memory of that game was the incessant rain and gloom.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 03/09/2013 12:56:45    1473973

1970 ai hurling final aged 8

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2967 - 03/09/2013 12:57:58    1473975

1990 All Ireland semi v Cork, have a decent account of ourselves but Cork ran away with it last ten winutes. Following year semi final v Meath, thought we had it after a great first half but then Tommy Dowd decided to turn on the style in the second half.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 03/09/2013 12:59:33    1473976

1986 AI final v Galway.
The joy of watching Tom Cashman lifting Liam and the legend K.Hennessy getting two goals..
Happy times, lets hope we can repeat that feat again on Sunday..

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 375 - 03/09/2013 13:07:36    1473990

All Ireland Semi-Final v Mayo 1989, the old stands & wooden seats, nothing like the Croke Park we all know now.

A convoy of cars left from my granny's house after a cooked breakfast. Uncles, cousins, aunts, the whole family were on our way to Dublin. First obstacle the checkpoint in Aughnacloy, blessing ourselves in memory of Aidan McAnsespie. Then on we went, slowly making our way through Monaghan, 'Blaney, Ardee and Slane before we even reached the Drumcondra Road and the sight of HQ. Picnic packed and enjoyed on the side of the road.

I spent as much time watching the crowds as I did the game, I still remember being overawed by the colour and the noise. And of course the mullet belonging to one Willy Joe Padden, what a warrior.

maor_uisce (Tyrone) - Posts: 167 - 03/09/2013 13:18:19    1474004

03/09/2013 11:44:42
yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 5001

1473845
...6 final defeats later and I am still waiting to reach the promised land. Hopefully this is the year.

yew tree, I kid you not my heart actually ached when I read that line, and all the yearning in it. Maybe it's having a "lovely Mayo Mammy" but by God I fervently hope this is your time. Unfortunately after witnessing that wonderful BÁC team on Sunday it is more hope than expectation on my part. If I am wrong I will never have been happier.


1984 final, I had just gone six, a bit too young because I remember accidentally cheering a Barney Rock point at some stage! Though I remember Spillane's points from under the Hogan. The stand out image though is that the special centenary programme was £1, and it seemed such an astronomical price- €5 last Sunday, ha!

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 03/09/2013 14:41:34    1474141

the 1996 all ireland semi final sitting behind one of those bloody pillars in the hogan stand . Its amazing how much croker has changed.

I just love the buzz of croker , no where else compares. Ive been to anfield celtic park and old trafford and none compare

HurlerOnTheFenc (Mayo) - Posts: 282 - 03/09/2013 15:05:05    1474181

1988 All-Ireland semi-final v Tipp, lower Hogan. Too young to understand that Antrim were underdogs and big ones. We kept pace for much of game, hit the bar, Tipp go up other end and goal. They win by 8 (3-15 to 2-10 I think). Dad wants to go to pub so we leave before second semi (Galway and Offaly), walking along behind the Canal End, getting roared at and abused by some young Tipp fans hanging over wall at back back of terrace (things like that stick lads, still never been a fan off ye since, same with Tyrone lol).
Da gets lashed, I watch second semi disappointed still at our game (bar the following year this was to be a depressing recurring theme of trips to HQ). Just remember being awe-struck when walking up steps and into stand, getting first glimpse of the pitch and stadium.
Sometimes - a lot actually - I miss the old Croke Park. Was something special about it. Now it all seems a bit too sterilised and corporate.

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 03/09/2013 15:23:41    1474194

1997 Leinster final. Meath vs Offaly.
Only 10 yrs old, sitting on the hill, surrounded by offaly fans (me father included!) Can remember the harsh language used by the fans and thinking they were all thugs (naïve! sure I do the same myself now)
Then the huge Offaly flag descending over my head! That head wreckin 'uaibh Faille - Uaibh Faille!!' chant.
And of course the football. That man Vinny Claffey still gives me nightmares after the hiding he gave us that day.

All sounds pretty negative, I know....caught the bug that day all the same

dubsout (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 03/09/2013 15:27:34    1474200

Good post srb. Not all memories are good ones.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 03/09/2013 15:32:18    1474205

1992 All Ireland Football Semi Final : Clare v Dublin

We were robbed, Pardrig Conway goal was NEVER a square ball. Dublin keeper O'Leary said to me years later it should never have been disallowed.

BannerBoy2013 (Clare) - Posts: 325 - 03/09/2013 15:37:22    1474211

First trip to Croker was the All Ireland Hurling Final in 1990, never been so excited. Felt so proud that I was the first of all my mates in Manchester to make it to Croker.

As a 9 year old Mancunian I'd been to Old Trafford several times but had never experienced a crowd and atmosphere like it. Something a bit special about the old Croker, it's a bit more diluted now.

The colour and noise to a kid was amazing, the mixture of the maroon and white & red and white on the hill and in the canal end was something special, only feels like yesterday when the team came out, the noise was deafening.

The old fella is a Galway man, would travel home for all semi's and finals, we were now old enough to be taken to the game. Joe Cooney was hero to me and my brother, for years we would play Hurling in the garden pretending to be him. It was a great Galway side, the legendry half back line of Finnerty, Keedy and McInnerney with his white boots. Michael Coleman & Pat Malone in midfield. Hopper McGrath on the wing, Noel Lane at full forward. I can remember so much about the game, a really early goal from Kevin Hennessey, Joe Cooney giving Jim Cashman the run around in probably his greatest half of hurling. Tony Keedy got a wonderful point, caught a clean catch, sold a few dummy's and ran about 40 yards with the ball and pointed. Galway were so on top and dominant, will always remember Martin Naughton going through on goal and Cunningham making a brilliant save but the umpire gave it wide. Think Galway were 8 points up, but then the tide turned, the very tall Mark Foley got a goal and they kept coming, the Galway defence collapsed, think Cork scored 4 goals in about 15 minutes to take it . The score line will stay with me forever, 5-15 to 2-21. We were gutted but the buzz of when the Galway side came out of the tunnel is something I'll never forgot.

Off we went back to Manchester dreaming of another day out in Croker. Thankfully been lucky enough to make it back since.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 03/09/2013 16:03:05    1474229