September 28, 1958, Croke Park

The Hill, 1958

This was the final that was to be Dublin's coming of age. Dublin had not won an All Ireland since 1942 and in 1955 had been beaten by Kerry in what many regarded as a victory for the traditional 'catch and kick' game over the more innovative style of the City men. Indeed there was considerable suspicion of the manner in which Dublin played with mutterings about them having introduced a "soccer element" into the game. The fact that Kerry favoured what was fondly referred to as a "robust" or "manly" style was also approved of. In reality the '55 team was probably just too young and inexperienced. Several of the Kerry team had been on the All Ireland winning side of 1953 and most had played on the team beaten by Mayo the previous year. Defeat at the hands of the Kingdom was a bitter blow. The following year Dublin went out of the Leinster championship at the hands of Wexford and in 1957 lost the Leinster final to Louth who went on to win the All Ireland.

The '58 team was a different proposition. It was still backboned by St. Vincents who that year won their ninth county championship in ten years and the Vinnies were a tough uncompromising bunch. Added to that Dublin had 'discovered' the two Timmons brothers from St. Marys of Saggart. John in fact played in the national league for Wicklow earlier in the year but was eligible for Dublin in the championship. The other Saggart connection was team trainer Peter O'Reilly who had won an All Ireland with Dublin in 1942.

Mick Dunne of the Irish Press described Dublin as a "hardier, tougher side" than previously and this was seen as having been a crucial factor in their defeat of Galway in the All Ireland semi-final when Dublin were not found wanting when it came to mixing it with boys who thought that the Dubs were in some way soft. It was a lesson well learned to the extent where it has become almost a part of Dublin football's DNA.

As Dublin advanced through Leinster, overcoming Meath, Carlow and Louth in the process, the general expectation was that they would get to meet Kerry again in the final. That prediction, however, was upset when Derry, who had already caused a sensation in winning their first ever Ulster title, beat Kerry in the semi-final. It was possibly the biggest shock in Gaelic football for a generation and left us with a great imponderable. Would Dublin have laid the green and gold ghost in 1958? It is true that Kerry dethroned the Dubs in the 1959 semi-final but '58 might have been different. As it was we had to wait almost another 20 years to settle that score.

The fact that Derry had beaten Kerry made some suspect that they would also be able for Dublin. The general consensus, however, was that Dublin were a more mature and experienced team and would have too much scoring power for the Ulstermen.

The Dublin team were also far better prepared. It would appear that Derry's preparations were fairly basic. They did train at the Newbridge club pitch but apparently this was curtailed in the lead-up to the final by darkening evenings allied to the greater difficulties of getting men together from a large rural area. A problem that was exacerbated by the restrictions placed on travel as part of the Northern state's reaction to the IRA campaign that had begun in January 1957.

Dublin trainer Peter O'Reilly appears to have been well ahead of his time in relation to fitness and team training. Dublin had begun what was darkly referred to as "collective training" in January. They met on two nights per week at O'Toole Park in Crumlin and this was extended to three nights for two of the three weeks leading to the final. In the last week this was reduced to two sessions which were lighter than the more intensive earlier work-outs.

There was nothing in 1958 to compare to the wall-to-wall media coverage that now preceeds All Ireland finals but there was still a palpable sense of expectation particularly among Dubliners who were intensely proud of their team. Letters to Joe Sherwood, of Evening Press 'In the Soup' fame, prove that some other things also remain constant.

"Chinaman" of Dundalk explained why he was supporting Derry and why he thought they would "easily" beat the Dubs: "My main grudge is this. The team and its supporters think that the greatest footballers in the country come from Dublin". "Turnapin Tim" told Sherwood of his having had to endure the abuse thrown at the Dublin players in 1955 by a man from "the West". Ted pleaded that such "acid-drop neutrals" be asked not to turn up at the final.

A huge crowd was expected even though the capacity had been significantly reduced since the almost 90,000 who had, officially, attended the 1955 final. There were 15,000 stand tickets for sale and everyone else was advised that they would have to be at Croke Park at least three hours prior to throw-in. There was massive demand for the scarce tickets with £5 being the asking price on the 'black market'.

The Evening Press the night before the match reported that most of the Dublin players were in work that Saturday although captain Kevin Heffernan had gotten the day off from the ESB. Anyone wishing to take their mind off the game could relax by watching Kirk Douglas and Ernest Borgnine in The Vikings at the Savoy or Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Indiscreet at the Adelphi. Those with a taste for titian London girls with dodgy boyfriends could see Diana Dors at the Royal or if you wanted to meet a nurse there was dancing to the Johnny Flynn Showband at the Crystal.

Going to the match then was much more of a collective experience than today. Thousands of Dublin supporters marched into town from Donnycarney church behind a stage coach. Similar expeditions headed out from other locations around the city and county. It was also an excuse for men with gender issues to express themselves. A number of characters borrowed their granny's best dress to come out as Molly Malone although one paper was of the opinion that the Danny La Rue impersonator who accompanied the Dublin team on the pre-match parade was paying tribute to Jimmy O'Dea's 'Mrs. Mulligan', the Pride of the Coombe.

September 28 was overcast but the rain held off until later in the evening. The official attendance was 73, 371 but many more than that number squeezed in. It was also estimated that up to 25,000 were turned away from a packed Hill 16. The tightness of the crowd did not affect their lungs and a huge roar greeted the Dublin team when they came to the Hill. In the days before 'Come on you boys in blue' and 'Dublin in the rare oul' times', Cockles and Mussels was the hymn of the faithful and it echoed around the historic field as the Derry team came out from their dressing room.

In honour of the unique occasion, the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr. Farren, threw in the ball. He might have passed it to Jim McKeever as his county men were going to need all the help they could get. The match was referred by Simon Deignan who had won an All Ireland with Cavan in New York in 1947. Simon was a stalwart of the mighty Erin's Isle club in Finglas.

Dublin started the better and went two points up with a free from Ollie Freaney and a point by Heffernan. Derry responded with a point and were dominant at midfield where Jim McKeever was outstanding. Nonetheless Dublin made better use of the possession which they did win and went in at the break leading 0 -8 to 0 - 4.

Joe Timmons clears his lines, 1958

Just to prove that the throwing away of a half-time lead is not a recent innovation, Dublin quickly surrendered their advantage at the start of the second half. Having narrowed the gap to a point with a Sean O'Connell free, Derry pounced for a goal in the tenth minute when Ollie Gribbin poked home the ball after it had been half cleared by Dublin net man Paddy O'Flaherty of Beann Eadair. The sides were now level and Derry might have gone ahead except that O'Connell and McKeever missed two kickable opportunities. Key to Dublin's resolve was the switching of Cathal O'Leary to mark O'Connell and the growing dominance of the full back line of Lar Foley, Marcus Wilson and Joe Timmons. This laid the platform for a devastating period which won the title for the boys in blue. After substitute Maurice Whelan sent a long ball across to Dessie 'Snitchy' Ferguson, the Vincents man set off before sending it across to right half forward Paddy Farnan. Farnan bore down on goal in the manner of a man who was not going to be denied. His shot gave Derry goalkeeper Paddy Gormley no chance.

Dublin's lead was extended to five points with frees from Ollie Freaney before Johnny Joyce sealed the victory with a goal in the dying minutes following a clever passing movement involving Jock Haughey and Freaney. The long famine was at an end and this was reflected in Heffo's modest speech which referred to their years of disappointment leading to that moment. Despite the rain bonfires blazed from the north to the south of the county. Appropriately enough Vincents got care of the cup for the first night and took it out to the heartland. Having trekked over from enemy Good Counsel territory in Drimnagh after a feed of pints, my father and his mates sneaked in behind the band and got to drink from the precious trophy.

	DUBLIN - Paddy O'Flaherty (Binn Eadair), Lar Foley (St. Vincents), Marcus Wilson (St. Vincents), Joe Timmons (St. Marys), Cathal O'Leary , Jim Crowley (St. Vincents), Johnny Boyle (Aer Corps), John Timmons (St. Marys), Sean 'Yank' Murray (Skerries), Padraig 'Jock' Haughey (St. Vincents), Ollie Freaney (St. Vincents), Dessie 'Snitchy' Ferguson (St. Vincents), Paddy Farnan (St. Vincents), Johnny Joyce (St. Vincents), Kevin Heffernan (St. Vincents). Subs: Maurice Whelan (St. Vincents), Paddy Downey (St. Marys) DERRY - . P. Gormley, P. McLarnon, H.F Gribben, T. Doherty, P. Breen, C. Mulholland, P. Smith, J. McKeever, P. Stuart, S. O'Connell, B. Murray, D. McKeever, B. MUllan, O. Gribben, C. Higgins. Subs: R. Gribben for Higgins, L. O'Neill for Mullan, C. O'Neill for Breen REF - Simon Deignan (Cavan)