The 1957 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final was a Gaelic football match played at Croke Park on 22 September 1957 to determine the winners of the 1957 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the 71st season of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, a tournament organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association for the champions of the four provinces of Ireland. The final was contested by Cork of Munster and Louth of Leinster, with Louth winning by 1-9 to 1-7.
The All-Ireland final between Cork and Louth was a unique occasion as it was the first ever championship meeting between the two teams. Similarly, the game was billed as a David and Goliath battle as it pitted Ireland's biggest county against Ireland's smallest county.
Louth's All-Ireland victory was their first since 1912. The win gave them their third All-Ireland title over all and put them joint eighth on the all-time roll of honour along with Mayo and Cork. It remains their last All-Ireland final appearance.
Cork's All-Ireland defeat was their second in succession after losing to Galway in 1956. It was their ninth All-Ireland final defeat in total.
Match
Due to the identical nature of the colour of their jerseys a change was necessary. Louth wore the green of Leinster while Cork wore the blue of Munster.
In the first half it was the Louth team who had the balance of play in the early stages. They built up a lead of 0-5 to 0-3 after just twenty minutes. Shortly after, Cork took the lead when Tommy Furlong beat the advancing Louth goalkeeper to a centre from Nealie Duggan and punched to the net. Niall FitzGerald added a point before the interval.
On the resumption Denis "Toots" Kelleher extended Cork's lead with another point and it looked as if the Rebels were on their way. Louth again took up the running and scored four points in succession to regain the lead with ten minutes remaining. Two points from Kelleher put Cork back in front - then came the decisive moment of the match. In the 26th minute of the second half, a line ball delivered high into the Cork goalmouth by Kevin Beahan hit the back of the net after a tussle between Louth forward Seán Cunningham and Cork corner-back Dan Murray. Despite frantic efforts by Cork they couldn't claw back Louth's lead. Twice it seemed a goal was imminent, however, Louth held on for their two-point victory.
Details
GK1 Liam Power (Mitchelstown)RCB2 Mick Goold (Macroom)FB3 Denis Bernard (Dohenys)LCB4 Dan Murray (UCC)RHB5 Paddy Harrington (Garda, Dublin)CHB6 Paddy O'Driscoll (Garda)LHB7 J. J. Hinchion (Canovee)MF8 Eric Ryan (Garda)MF9 Seán Moore (Glenview)RHF10 Joe O'Sullivan (Beara)CHF11 Niall FitzGerald (Collins)LHF12 Tommy Furlong (St Michael's)RCF13 Éamonn Goulding (St Nicholas)FF14 Nealie Duggan (Lees) (c)LCF15 Denis Kelleher (Millstreet)Substitutes: 16 Finbarr McAuliffe (South Kerry) for Joe O'Sullivan 17 Tim O'Callaghan (Macroom) 18 Donal O'Sullivan (Lees) 19 Mick McCarthy (St Finbarr's) 20 Colm O'Shea (Clanna Gael, Dublin)Manager: Éamonn Young GK1 Seán Óg Flood (Dundalk Young Irelands)RCB2 Ollie Reilly (Hunterstown Rovers)FB3Tom Conlon (Stabannon Parnells)LCB4Jim Meehan (Naomh Mhuire)RHB5Patsy Coleman (St Mary's)CHB6Peadar Smith (Oliver Plunketts)LHB7Stephen White (Dundalk Young Irelands)MF8 Kevin Beahan (Seán McDermotts, Dublin)MF9Dan O'Neill (St Dominic's)RHF10Séamus O'Donnell (Cooley Kickhams)CHF11Dermot O'Brien (St Mary's) (c)LHF12Frank Lynch (Geraldines)RCF13Seán Cunningham (Dundalk Young Irelands)FF14Jimmy McDonnell (Darver Volunteers)LCF15Jim Roe (St Mary's)Substitutes: 16Barney McCoy (St Mary's) 17 Alfie Monk (Naomh Mhuire) 18 Jackie Reynolds (Oliver Plunketts) 19 Jim McArdle (Roche Emmets) 20 Jim Judge (Newtown Blues) 21 Aidan Magennis (St Mary's) 22 Michael Flood (Dundalk Young Irelands)Manager:Jim Quigley
References