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| The Down and Kerry teams take part in the parade before the 1960 All-Ireland Final. (Bottom right is Fabian Boyle) |
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| Captain of the 1968 side Joe Lennon holds the Sam Maguire Cup above his head. |
The recollections of most people, even the players, is hazy about the match itself, apart from those frantic minutes waiting for the final whistle, as the Mournemen humbled the mighty Kingdom to its heaviest ever defeat.
After a few premature incursions of the pitch the inevitable blast sparked off incredible scenes as sober citizens seemed to go crazy, and Leo Murphy recalled seeing veteran Gaels openly weeping. The players took a bigger hammering from their own supporters than from their toughest opponents, and it took 15 minutes to reach the dressing-room.
Meanwhile up in the Hogan stand teacher Kevin Mussen mounted the rostrum to shake hands with Dev and grasp the trophy. From that moment on, the red and black would be always to be feared and respected.
Back at the hotel the squad was ordered by Dr Martin Walsh to lie down for an hour. After the victory banquet that night, the players and officials strolled down O'Connell Street at one o'clock in the morning to get the papers and read about their achievement.
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| Joyful scenes in the Down dressing room after the 1960 Final as Bobby Langan holds the Sam Maguire Cup assisted by Frank and Sean McAteer. |
All along the triumphant bonfire-blazing route home the newly-crowned champions got a royal reception; but the torch-lit entry into Newry was a stupendous homecoming with the heroes feted in the town centre, climaxing as thousands joined in singing: "Little town in the old county Down." It took almost a quarter of a century before any other team carried the Sam Maguire Cup back across the border, and twice more it has rested in the Mournes.
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| © Fabian Boyle 2001-2008 |
