New work restores young football heroes of 1952 to their proper place in GAA history

On the Sunday afternoon of October 12, 1952, Galway’s minor footballers won the first All-Ireland title in that grade for the county, when beating Cavan in the final at Croke Park by 2-9 to 1-6.

Now that famous event has been preserved in print thanks to the efforts of one Barry Cummins who has researched the background to that success in a delightful compilation of old pictures, newspaper reports of the time and GAA minutes of that era.

One insight into the low-key approach to minor football at the time is provided in an article written by the late Jack Mahon (former All-Ireland winner, 1956, and Football Board Chairman for many years), in the November 1 edition of the City Tribune, 2002.

Jack was writing a preview piece for the paper of the 2002 county final meeting of Annaghdown and Corofin, outlining how Jim Carney, would be introducing the victorious Galway minor team of 1952 to the crowd at the Salthill venue. He recalled ‘the way things were’ for that Galway minor team of ’52.

“In those days, there was little notice taken of the minor final and Brian Mahon, the captain, remembers being presented with the cup afterwards in the dressing rooms by the then Galway Football Board Secretary, John Dunne.

“Neither was there a team photo taken on the day. The only photo of the occasion was taken a day later before the triumphant team returned home,” Jack recalled.

He named the team that lined out that day in Croke Park as follows: Michael Ryan, Ballinasloe; Brian Naughton, Ballinasloe; Seamus Kyne, Clonbur; Seán Hoban, St. Jarlath’s College and Mayo; Mark Lohan, Newbridge; Eugene Dunleavy, Salthill; Mick Hawkshaw, Barnaderg; Martin Kelly, Williamstown; Brian Mahon, Dunmore, captain; Tom Brosnan, Tuam; Seamus Mitchell, Newbridge; Liam Manning, Fohenagh; Brian Waldron, Tuam; Gerry Kirwin, Ballinasloe; and Mick Geraghty, Glenamaddy.

Jack Mahon also noted that earlier in the campaign other members of the panel – Jimmy Staunton, Dunmore; Albert Kelly, Dunmore; Brendan Donoghue, Guth na nÓg (Voice of the Young, a club in Galway city for players ‘who didn’t have a club’!); Paddy Coady, Abbeyknockmoy; Larry Cunningham, Newbridge; Johnny Joyce, Headford; and Gerry Meehan, Annaghdown – also played their parts.

For further information on the publication, Barry Cummins can be contacted on: 086-7744286.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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