Iconic Moments

1995 Clare's All Ireland Win
Like all great sporting stories, Clare’s All-Ireland win in 1995 had a generous dollop of the most vital ingredient of all – surprise. To say their first All-Ireland title in 81 years came out of the blue would be a gross understatement.
1995 Clare's All Ireland Win
Like all great sporting stories, Clare’s All-Ireland win in 1995 had a generous dollop of the most vital ingredient of all – surprise. To say their first All-Ireland title in 81 years came out of the blue would be a gross understatement.

There had been hints of an emergence from the shadows of Munster hurling in 1993 and ’94, when they reached two provincial finals in a row, but on each occasion they appeared to take a backward step after suffering humiliating defeats.

When Ger Loughnane, a teacher and former inter-county star with the Banner, took over as manager at the end of 1994, he set about rewiring the collective mindset of a group of players who were preconditioned to accepting Clare’s status as poor relations in hurling’s long-established hierarchy.

Loughnane, along with his backroom team of Mike McNamara and Tony Considine, took team preparation and training methods to a new level with infamously punishing training sessions on the hill in Crusheen.

Armed with incredible levels of fitness and a new-found mental fortitude, Clare reached the 1995 National League final where they were narrowly beaten by Kilkenny. However, that defeat would be a mere footnote in the narrative of the Championship summer, as Clare set off on an unlikely adventure that would captivate and enthral the Irish sporting public.

It might have been so different had Ollie Baker not scored a last-minute goal to secure a one-point win over Cork in the Munster semi-final. Reigning champions Limerick were dismantled in the provincial final giving Clare their first Munster title since 1932. Galway provided little resistance in the All-Ireland semi-final to the unstoppable force the Banner had become during that glorious summer.

Offaly provided the opposition in the final, which will be remembered not just as a fine game, but for the colour, noise and feverish enthusiasm of the Clare support in Croke Park. The Clare supporters also had to contend with a supposed curse the team had been put under by a faith healer named Biddy Early, who had, according to legend, afflicted an All-Ireland drought on the county dating back to 1914.

A superb game ended dramatically, as substitute Eamon Taaffe swept home a late goal to give Clare a 1-13 to 2-8 win. Taaffe etched his name permanently into Clare folklore after delivering the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Banner County for the first time in 81 years.

The ‘Curse of Biddy Early’ had been broken and Clare’s All-Ireland success heralded the so-called ‘Revolution Years’ which saw Offaly, Clare and Wexford dominate the Championship over a five-year period in the 1990s, leaving traditional giants Cork and Kilkenny out in the cold.

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1939 Thunder & Lightning Final
The 1939 All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny will be forever remembered not for the quality of the game or stand-out moments of skill but the extraordinary weather conditions in which the game was played.
1939 Thunder & Lightning Final
The 1939 All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny will be forever remembered not for the quality of the game or stand-out moments of skill but the extraordinary weather conditions in which the game was played.

Set against the backdrop of the outbreak of World War II, there was added interest as it was the first time great rivals Cork and Kilkenny had met in over eight years, while the Rebels, who included a young Jack Lynch, were fast gaining a reputation as an up-an-coming team.

The Croke Park pitch was sodden after torrential rain on the Saturday night and Sunday morning, although there was a brief respite before throw-in and the sun even made an appearance at half-time. However, a loud clap of thunder and a torrential downpour soon after referee whistle’s had blown to restart the match sent spectators exposed to the elements scampering for cover.

Conditions deteriorated to such an extent in the second half that supporters were unable to make out the identity of players, as the incessant rain gradually turned into a relentless deluge. The unprecedented conditions led the Irish Independent to report that journalists in the press box in the old Cusack Stand were forced to find alternative arrangements to keep their notes dry.

On the field of play, Kilkenny defied the conditions to run out 2-7 to 3-3 winners, but confusion reined over who had scored the winning point. It was reported in the press that Terry Leahy was the Cats’ match-winner, but it has subsequently emerged that it was in fact Jimmy Kelly who had sent over the decisive score.

September 3, 1939 will go down in history as the day the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany, but for the 39,302 in attendance at Croke Park, it will be remembered as the day of the infamous ‘thunder and lightning final’.

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Roscommon play Galway this Sunday in the Connacht Senior Football Championship. Who will win?

Iconic Moments

1995 Clare's All Ireland Win

1995 Clare's All Ireland Win

1939 Thunder & Lightning Final

1939 Thunder & Lightning Final

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