Tharla Sé Daichead mBliana is an Lá Inniu | It Happened Forty Years Ago Today
Forty years ago today, 21 September 1986, we played in our first-ever All-Ireland Senior Football Final.
Our previous four Ulster titles had ended in All-Ireland Semi-Final losses (to Galway in 1956, Louth in 1957, Cork in 1973 and Dublin in 1984) but in 1986 a 1-12 to 1-9 Semi-Final win over Galway put us into the Final. A first-ever Final for Tyrone, coupled with our first-ever Championship meeting with The Kingdom.
Back then there were five weeks between the Semi-Final and Final (this year the entire Sam Maguire Cup competition was completed in nine weeks), weeks which saw Tyrone awash with colours and team-related events.
On the day 68,628 were present in Croke Park to first see Galway win the Minor title and then, to the surprise of many, see Tyrone drive on to a deserved 0-7 to 0-4 half-time lead in the Senior game. Despite Jack O’Shea hitting the bar with a second-minute penalty, by the tenth minute Kerry led by three points, only for a sparking Tyrone to win the remainder of the half, 0-7 to 0-1.
The second-half started even better. Paudge Quinn’s goal and Kevin McCabe’s penalty point put us 1-8 to 0-4 ahead after just five minutes’ play. But then it all changed. Within another couple of minutes Kerry themselves had a goal and a point, and the momentum had clearly swung their way. Tyrone lost the iconic Eugene McKenna and John Lynch (both All-Stars that year) to injury, and in what was to prove that great team’s swansong, Kerry rolled on to a 2-15 to 1-10 win.
Few saw it at the time, but Tyrone (1995) would be back in the All-Ireland Final before Kerry (1997), and our next Championship meeting would be a remarkable and memorable day, 17 years later on 24 August 2003.
Ach sin sceal eile.
But 1986 remains pivotal in Tyrone’s GAA story. People now knew what was possible. At the start of 1986 we held 4 x Ulster Senior, 12 x Ulster Minor, 3 x Ulster U21 and 3 x All-Ireland Minor titles. Now the numbers read 16 x Ulster Seniors, 27 x Ulster Minors, 18 x Ulster Under 21/20s, 10 x All-Ireland Minors, plus 4 x All-Ireland Senior and 8 x All-Ireland U21/20 titles. The acceleration towards those achievements proved by the men of 1986 just can’t be measured.
Forty years ago today. A seminal day.
Our history-making 1986 players were: Eugene McKenna, Augher (Captain), Aidan Skelton, Drumquin, Martin Dorman, Edendork, Joe Mallon, Edendork, Sean Donnelly, Trillick, Ciaran McGarvey, Aghyaran, John Lynch, Castlederg, Kevin McCabe, Clonoe, Noel McGinn, Killyclogher, Paddy Ball, Aughabrack, Plunkett Donaghy, Moy, Harry McClure, Clonoe, Mickey McClure, Clonoe, Sean McNally, Brackaville, Paudge Quinn, Ballygawley, Damian O’Hagan, Coalisland, Mickey Mallon, Edendork, Declan Muldoon, Dungannon, Enda Kilpatrick, Pomeroy, Liam Grugan, Fintona, Audie Hamilton, Dungannon, Peter O’Neill, Moy, Stephen Conway, Cookstown, Aidan O’Hagan, Derrylaughan, Paul Maxwell, Edendork, Pat McKeown, Galbally, Con Mulholland, Cookstown, Stephen Rice, Augher.
Art McRory managed the team, aided by Tom McKeagney and Pat McCartan. Fermoy and Cork’s Jimmy Dennigan refereed the Final.
And overseeing our County affairs were Jimmy Treacy (County Chair), Brendan Harkin (County Secretary), and Vinny Beggs (County Treasurer), Tony McKenna (Activities Board Chair), Frank Rodgers (Activities Board Secretary) and Patsy Gallagher (Activities Board Treasurer).
By Seamus Donnelly Mon 21st Sep
