1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
Encyclopedia
The 1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final was the 67th All-Ireland Final and the culmination of the 1954 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
, an inter-county hurling
tournament for the top teams in Ireland
. The match was held at Croke Park
, Dublin, on 5 September 1954, between Cork and Wexford
. The Leinster champions lost to their Munster opponents on a score line of 1-9 to 1-6.
The game is notable for a number of reasons. The gates were closed 35 minutes before the start of the senior game due to the size of the crowd. A record 84,856 people were in attendance to see Christy Ring
of Cork capture a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland winners' medal.
and Galway
to take the previous two titles. Wexford last appeared in the championship decider in 1951 when they lost out to Tipperary
who captured their own three-in-a-row. They last won the All-Ireland title in 1910 when they defeated Limerick
to take their first championship. Cork and Wexford last met each other in the championship more than half a century earlier in the All-Ireland final of 1901 with victory going to Cork. An interesting statistic at the time was the fact that Wexford had never beaten Cork in the championship.
A record 84,856 spectators turned out in Croke Park
to see one of the most anticipated All-Ireland hurling finals ever played. The charismatic Wexford men, one of the most talked about teams of the decade, had reached their second All-Ireland final in three years and looked well capable of winning this one. Cork, on the other hand, looked forward to creating their own piece of history. A win would give them a third All-Ireland title in-a-row while on a personal level a win would give captain Christy Ring
a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland medal. The record crowd of spectators also looked forward to a scoring shoot-out between Christy Ring and Wexford’s Nicky Rackard
.
, a future Cork dual player
, latched onto the sliothar and deftly sent it over the bar for the openings core of the day. Shortly afterwards one of the biggest cheers of the day went up Christy Ring captured his first score of the day when he converted a 40-yard free. Wexford were visibly unnerved by the big occasion and the even bigger attendance and found it difficult to settle. Their first score of the day came from the stick of Nicky Rackard
who later scored the equalizer after twenty minutes of play. Less than a minute later Ring was back in the thick of the action. He caught the sliothar, side-stepped three Wexford defenders and sent the sliothar sweetly over the crossbar to restore Cork’s lead. He quickly increased his own personal tally by converting a free before passing the sliothar to Willie John Daly
who captured Cork’s final point of the opening thirty minutes. Wexford were equally accurate with their constant attacks on the Cork goal. A pointed free by Nicky Rackard was followed by the first goal of the day. Paddy Kehoe sent in the sliothar from a sideline cut before Tom Ryan tapped it into the net for the first goal of the game. At half-time the Wexford men had the narrowest of leads by 1-3 to 0-5.
Immediately after the restart Wexford got off to the better start courtesy of a Tim Flood
point after a jinking solo run. With six minutes gone in the second half the Cork players found their rhythm again. A long clearance by Gerard Murphy fell to Christy Ring who weaved his way through the Wexford defenders. He was 30 yards out from the goal when he sent of a powerful shot that looked like a certain goal. The players and spectators were convinced that Ring had put Cork back in the lead, however, the umpire had his finger raised for a 70-yard free. There was no goal as the sliothar struck Wexford full-back Nick O'Donnell
and went out over the end line. Such was the force of Ring’s shot that the impact of the sliothar broke O’Donnell’s collarbone and he had to retire from the game. Bobby Rackard
was switched to the full-back position; however, it turned out to be a tactical error as his clearances failed to go as far as O’Donnell’s. Ring sent over his fourth point of the game in the forty-second minute before Vincy Twomey
moved outfield with the sliothar and sent another sweet shot between the posts. In spite of the onslaught Wexford clung on to their two-point lead, however, the turning point of the match was just around the corner. With four minutes left in the game nineteen-year-old Johnny Clifford
became the hero of the day for Cork. Wexford goalkeeper Art Foley
was caught out of position and off his goal line leaving Clifford with an easy shot into an almost empty net. Cork had regained the lead but only by the smallest of margins. It had given them some breathing space; however, Wexford launched one final attack. This failed and when Josie Hartnett
sent over another point the title looked to be Cork’s. Fittingly, the final score of the game came from the man who was about to make history. Christy Ring pointed to give Cork a 1-9 to 1-6 win and a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. Furthermore, the victory gave Ring a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland winners’ medal.
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WEXFORD:
|
GK
1
Art Foley
RCB
2
Billy Rackard
FB
3
Nick O'Donnell
LCB
4
Mick O'Hanlon
RWB
5
Jim English
CB
6
Bobby Rackard
LWB
7
Ned Wheeler
M
8
Jim Morrissey
M
9
Séamus Hearne
RWF
10
Paddy Kehoe
CF
11
Tim Flood
LWF
12
Padge Kehoe
(c)
RCF
13
Tom Ryan
FF
14
Nicky Rackard
LCF
15
Bobby Donovan
Substitutes:
CB
Tim Bolger
RWF
Dom Aherne
MATCH RULES
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1954
-Miscellaneous:* Meath qualified for the Leinster semi-finals for the first time.* Antrim take part in the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 1949. It was their last game at this stage of the championship until 1984....
, an inter-county hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
tournament for the top teams in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The match was held at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, Dublin, on 5 September 1954, between Cork and Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
. The Leinster champions lost to their Munster opponents on a score line of 1-9 to 1-6.
The game is notable for a number of reasons. The gates were closed 35 minutes before the start of the senior game due to the size of the crowd. A record 84,856 people were in attendance to see Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
of Cork capture a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland winners' medal.
Overview
Sunday September 5 was the date of the 1954 All-Ireland senior hurling final between Cork and Wexford. Cork were appearing in their third consecutive championship decider, having beaten DublinDublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
and Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
to take the previous two titles. Wexford last appeared in the championship decider in 1951 when they lost out to Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
who captured their own three-in-a-row. They last won the All-Ireland title in 1910 when they defeated Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
to take their first championship. Cork and Wexford last met each other in the championship more than half a century earlier in the All-Ireland final of 1901 with victory going to Cork. An interesting statistic at the time was the fact that Wexford had never beaten Cork in the championship.
A record 84,856 spectators turned out in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
to see one of the most anticipated All-Ireland hurling finals ever played. The charismatic Wexford men, one of the most talked about teams of the decade, had reached their second All-Ireland final in three years and looked well capable of winning this one. Cork, on the other hand, looked forward to creating their own piece of history. A win would give them a third All-Ireland title in-a-row while on a personal level a win would give captain Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland medal. The record crowd of spectators also looked forward to a scoring shoot-out between Christy Ring and Wexford’s Nicky Rackard
Nicky Rackard
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956...
.
Match report
At 3:15pm the sliothar was thrown-in and the game began in earnest. Cork got off to the better start when Éamonn GouldingÉamonn Goulding
Éamonn Goulding is a retired Irish sportsperson. A dual player at the highest levels, he played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s. Goulding also played Gaelic football with his local club St...
, a future Cork dual player
Dual player
Dual player or dual star is a term used in Gaelic games to describe a player who plays both Men's Gaelic football and Hurling or Ladies' Gaelic football and Camogie. The player doesn't necessarily have to play at the same standard in both sports...
, latched onto the sliothar and deftly sent it over the bar for the openings core of the day. Shortly afterwards one of the biggest cheers of the day went up Christy Ring captured his first score of the day when he converted a 40-yard free. Wexford were visibly unnerved by the big occasion and the even bigger attendance and found it difficult to settle. Their first score of the day came from the stick of Nicky Rackard
Nicky Rackard
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956...
who later scored the equalizer after twenty minutes of play. Less than a minute later Ring was back in the thick of the action. He caught the sliothar, side-stepped three Wexford defenders and sent the sliothar sweetly over the crossbar to restore Cork’s lead. He quickly increased his own personal tally by converting a free before passing the sliothar to Willie John Daly
Willie John Daly
Willie John Daly is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Carrigtwohill and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.-Early & private life:...
who captured Cork’s final point of the opening thirty minutes. Wexford were equally accurate with their constant attacks on the Cork goal. A pointed free by Nicky Rackard was followed by the first goal of the day. Paddy Kehoe sent in the sliothar from a sideline cut before Tom Ryan tapped it into the net for the first goal of the game. At half-time the Wexford men had the narrowest of leads by 1-3 to 0-5.
Immediately after the restart Wexford got off to the better start courtesy of a Tim Flood
Tim Flood
Thomas Timothy Flood , is a former professional baseball player who played second base for the St...
point after a jinking solo run. With six minutes gone in the second half the Cork players found their rhythm again. A long clearance by Gerard Murphy fell to Christy Ring who weaved his way through the Wexford defenders. He was 30 yards out from the goal when he sent of a powerful shot that looked like a certain goal. The players and spectators were convinced that Ring had put Cork back in the lead, however, the umpire had his finger raised for a 70-yard free. There was no goal as the sliothar struck Wexford full-back Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Éire Óg in Kilkenny and St. Aidan’s in Wexford. He was also a member of both the Kilkenny and Wexford senior inter-county teams from 1947 until 1962...
and went out over the end line. Such was the force of Ring’s shot that the impact of the sliothar broke O’Donnell’s collarbone and he had to retire from the game. Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1945 until 1957. Rackard is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:...
was switched to the full-back position; however, it turned out to be a tactical error as his clearances failed to go as far as O’Donnell’s. Ring sent over his fourth point of the game in the forty-second minute before Vincy Twomey
Vincy Twomey
Vincent Twomey was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1950 until 1956.-Club:...
moved outfield with the sliothar and sent another sweet shot between the posts. In spite of the onslaught Wexford clung on to their two-point lead, however, the turning point of the match was just around the corner. With four minutes left in the game nineteen-year-old Johnny Clifford
Johnny Clifford
Johnny Clifford was an Irish hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s...
became the hero of the day for Cork. Wexford goalkeeper Art Foley
Art Foley
Michael Arthur Foley , better known as Art Foley, is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1946 until 1956.-Club:...
was caught out of position and off his goal line leaving Clifford with an easy shot into an almost empty net. Cork had regained the lead but only by the smallest of margins. It had given them some breathing space; however, Wexford launched one final attack. This failed and when Josie Hartnett
Josie Hartnett
Josie Hartnett was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.-Club:...
sent over another point the title looked to be Cork’s. Fittingly, the final score of the game came from the man who was about to make history. Christy Ring pointed to give Cork a 1-9 to 1-6 win and a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. Furthermore, the victory gave Ring a record-breaking eighth All-Ireland winners’ medal.
Statistics
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align=center> | CORK: | ||
| GK | 1 | Dave Creedon Dave Creedon Dave Creedon was an Irish sportsperson. A dual player at the highest levels, he played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from at various intervals from 1940 until 1955. Creedon also played Gaelic football with his local club St... |
|
| RCB | 2 | Gerry O'Riordan Gerry O'Riordan Gerry O'Riordan was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Blackrock in Cork and both Claughaun and Ahane in Limerick. O'Riordan was also a member of the Dublin and Cork senior inter-county teams from 1945 until 1954.... |
|
| FB | 3 | John Lyons John Lyons (hurler) John Lyons was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the famous Glen Rovers club and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1946 until 1960.-Club:... |
|
| LCB | 4 | Tony O'Shaughnessy Tony O'Shaughnessy Tony O’Shaughnessy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Finbarr's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1952 until 1957.-Inter-county:... |
|
| RWB | 5 | Matty Fuohy | |
| CB | 6 | Vincy Twomey Vincy Twomey Vincent Twomey was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1950 until 1956.-Club:... |
|
| LWB | 7 | Derry Hayes Derry Hayes Derry Hayes was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.Hayes first came to prominence with the Cork senior hurlers in the early mid-1950s. He won his first Munster title as a half-back in 1953... |
|
| M | 8 | Gerald Murphy Gerald Murphy (hurler) Gerard Murphy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Midleton and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1956.-Club:... |
|
| M | 9 | Willie Moore Willie Moore Willie Moore was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.Moore first came to prominence as a member of the Cork senior hurling panel in the early 1950s. He came on as a substitute in Cork’s victory over Tipperary to win a Munster medal in 1954... |
|
| RWF | 10 | Willie John Daly Willie John Daly Willie John Daly is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Carrigtwohill and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.-Early & private life:... |
|
| CF | 11 | Josie Hartnett Josie Hartnett Josie Hartnett was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.-Club:... |
|
| LWF | 12 | Christy Ring Christy Ring Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in... (c) |
|
| RCF | 13 | Johnny Clifford Johnny Clifford Johnny Clifford was an Irish hurling manager and player. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s... |
|
| FF | 14 | Éamonn Goulding Éamonn Goulding Éamonn Goulding is a retired Irish sportsperson. A dual player at the highest levels, he played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s. Goulding also played Gaelic football with his local club St... |
|
| LCF | 15 | Paddy Barry Paddy Barry (Sarsfield's) Paddy Barry was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Sarsfield's and with the Cork senior inter-county team from 1947 until 1964. Barry is regarded as one of Cork’s greatest-ever hurlers.... |
|
| Substitutes: | |||
| LCF | Tom O'Sullivan Tom O'Sullivan (hurler) Tom O’Sullivan was an Irish sportsperson who played hurling with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1950s.O'Sullivan first came to prominence with the Cork senior hurlers in the early 1950s. He first tasted success in 1953 when he played in the corner-forward position as Cork defeated Galway... |
||
Art Foley
Michael Arthur Foley , better known as Art Foley, is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Aidan's of Enniscorthy and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1946 until 1956.-Club:...
Billy Rackard
Billy Rackard was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1950 until 1964.-Early life:...
Nick O'Donnell
Nick O'Donnell was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Éire Óg in Kilkenny and St. Aidan’s in Wexford. He was also a member of both the Kilkenny and Wexford senior inter-county teams from 1947 until 1962...
Jim English
Jim English was an Irish hurler who played as a right wing-back for the Wexford senior team from 1952 until 1964....
Bobby Rackard
Bobby Rackard was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Rathnure and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1945 until 1957. Rackard is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time.-Club:...
Ned Wheeler
Ned Wheeler is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Faythe Harriers and with the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1949 until 1965.-Club:...
Tim Flood (hurler)
Tim Flood is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Cloughbawn and with the Wexford senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-Club:...
Padge Kehoe
Padge Kehoe is a former Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Aidan's and with the Wexford senior inter-county team in the 1950s and 1960s.-Club:...
(c)
Nicky Rackard
Nicholas Rackard better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956...
- 60 minutes.
- Replay if scores level.
- Three named substitutes>