2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
The 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final was the 114th All-Ireland Final and the deciding match of the 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, an inter-county Gaelic football tournament for the top teams in Ireland.
| Event | 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 September 2001 |
| Venue | Croke Park, Dublin |
| Referee | Michael Collins (Cork) |
| Attendance | 70,482 |
← 2000 2002 → | |
Galway defeated Meath.[1] Neither side contested a final again until Galway's semi-final victory over Derry in 2022.[2]
Competition structure
Each of the 32 traditional counties of Ireland is represented by a county side. Every county, except Kilkenny, participated in the 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The "overseas county" of New York also participated, while London played no part in the competition due to the outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease.[3] Each county in Ireland is located in a province; for the purpose of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, London and New York are located in Connacht. The 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship began with the four provincial championships – knock-out competitions between county sides in the same province. The four winners of these championships progressed automatically to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The sides which did not win a provincial championship entered the All-Ireland qualifiers to determine which other four teams would play in the quarter-finals. New York, however, only competed in the provincial championship.
Background
The 2001 Championship was the first to feature the qualifying system,[4] in which sides who had not won their provincial championship competed for the right to join the provincial winners in the "All-Ireland series". Galway, who had lost to Roscommon in the Connacht Championship semi-final, thus became the first side to contest an All-Ireland Final having not won their provincial championship.[5]
Galway had previously contested the final on 21 occasions, winning 8 times (in 1925, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1998) and losing on 13 occasions, the most recent of which was the previous year.[6] They were appearing in the final for the third time in four years.[7] Meath had won the title 7 times (in 1949, 1954, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1996 and 1999) and lost on 8 occasions. Manager Seán Boylan had been in charge for 8 of Meath's previous final appearances, including replays.[8]
The two counties had not played each other in the Championship since 1970, when Meath won by four points.[9] In 1966, the sides contested the final.[9]
Earlier in 2001, Galway lost the National Football League final against Mayo.[10]
Routes to the final
Galway
| Round | Opposition | ScoreNote 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd qualifying round | Wicklow | 3–12 – 1–09 |
| 3rd qualifying round | Armagh | 0–13 – 0–12 |
| 4th qualifying round | Cork | 1–14 – 1–10 |
| Quarter-final | Roscommon | 0–14 – 1–05 |
| Semi-final | Derry | 1–14 – 1–11 |
In previous years, Galway, having lost to Roscommon in the Connacht Championship semi-final, would have played no part in the All-Ireland series as they did not win their provincial championship. However, the introduction of the qualifier system this year gave them a second opportunity to reach the final. The county entered at the second qualifying round, against Wicklow,[11] and with further victories against Armagh[12] and Cork,[13] joined Meath at the quarter-final stage.
Going into the final quarter of their semi-final against Derry, Galway were trailing by five points but ultimately won the game 1–14 (17 points) to 1–11 (14 points).[7] Derry had named an unchanged line-up from their quarter-final against Tyrone,[14] while Galway initially did not name anyone at right wing forward as they were waiting on fitness reports on Jarlath Fallon and Paul Clancy;[15] Fallon went on to start the game.[7] Galway were leading 0–05 – 0–4 when Enda Muldoon scored Derry's goal in the 26th minute.[16] Matthew Clancy scored Galway's goal in the 66th minute.[7]
Meath
| Round | Opposition | ScoreNote 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-final | Westmeath | 2–12 – 3–09 |
| Quarter-final replay | Westmeath | 2–10 – 0–11 |
| Semi-final | Kerry | 2–14 – 0–05 |
Meath won the year's Leinster Championship, by virtue of victories against Westmeath,[17] Kildare[18] and Dublin,[19] to seal their place in the All-Ireland quarter-final.[20]
Meath were drawn against Westmeath in the quarter-final and Galway were scheduled to play Roscommon; both of these fixtures were repeats of matches played in the provincial championships.[21] There was no repeat of Galway's earlier defeat as they triumphed 0–14 to 1–05 (8 points) in Castlebar.[22] Westmeath, who had lost to Meath by a single point in the Leinster Championship,[23] were leading Meath by 9 points on 20 minutes but the game eventually finished a 2–12 (18 points) – 3–09 (18 points) draw (Meath score given first).[23] Despite having Hank Traynor sent off, Meath won the replay 2–10 (16 points) – 0–11.[24]
Meath reached the final following a 2–14 (20 points) to 0–05 victory against the defending champions Kerry.[25] Kerry, who started the game with all but 2 of the players who won the title the previous year,[26] only managed to score a single point in the second half.[25] Meath's line-up was unchanged from the previous round;[27] only 2 players did not start the 1999 final.[27] John McDermott scored Meath's first goal towards the end of the first half to give his side a 5-point lead at the break.[25] The lead was extended to 11 points following 6 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half.[25] John Cullinane scored Meath's second goal in the 66th minute;[25] an earlier goal was disallowed for an infringement on the square ball rule.[25] Kerry's Éamonn Fitzmaurice was sent off late in the game.[25]
Pre-match
Meath were expected to win their eighth All-Ireland senior football title.[28][29]
Referee Michael Collins had also officiated Galway's semi-final match.[16]
Galway's hurlers contested the 2001 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on 9 September, but lost to Tipperary.[30] Dual player Alan Kerins, who played in the hurling final, was named as a substitute for the football final.[31] The Galway and Tipperary managers complained about the condition of the Croke Park pitch following the hurling final;[32] a few days later, Croke Park spokesman Danny Lynch stated every effort was being made to prepare the pitch for the football final.[32] The new Hogan Stand of the stadium was under construction at the time.[33]
The build-up to the final was overshadowed by the September 11 attacks.[34] The atmosphere in Galway and Meath was more muted than it would normally be leading up to an All-Ireland final.[34]
Match
Galway won easily, their second title in four years. At full-time it was Galway 0-17 : 0-08 Meath.
In the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Final, held just before the senior game, Tyrone and Dublin drew 0–15 – 1–12.[35]
Meath, who announced their starting line-up on their then recently launched website a couple of days before the final, started with the same 15 players who began the semi-final against Kerry.[9] All but two of the side had started the final two years previously;[9] Richie Kealey and Ray Magee replaced Paddy Reynolds and Enda McManus.[9]
Match report
The first half lacked quality play.[36] Both sides scored six points,[37] but also amassed many wides.[36] Galway's Donnellan sent two frees wide.[36]
Meath's Ollie Murphy was substituted on 45 minutes after breaking a finger.[38] Nigel Nestor was sent off following a second yellow card shortly afterwards,[38] with Meath trailing by two points.[39] In the 59th minute, with the score 0–13 – 0–08,[37] Trevor Giles missed a penalty for Meath.[38] Some commentators suggested John McDermott dived to win the penalty.[40] Padraic Joyce scored ten points for Galway, nine of which came in the second half.[40] Meath's full-forwards had little of the ball - they only amassed 2 wides during the game[41] and only scored two points in the second half.[36]
Match details
Galway | Meath |
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References: [42]
Post-match
The Galway side returned to the county the day after the final.[43] They made appearances in Ballinasloe, Tuam and Galway city, where a civic reception was held, to greet fans.[43] The city's mayor, Donal Lyons, said Galway people across the world were proud when watching the side.[43] More than 10,000 fans gathered in Tuam.[43]
Tomas Mannion announced his retirement after the final.[44]
Notes
Note 1 Galway score given first.
Note 2 Meath score given first.
References
- ^ Kenny, Tom (14 April 2011). "The men who first brought Sam to Galway". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
Kerry beat us in 2000 by 1 – 17 to 1 – 10, but the following year we won, beating Meath by 0 – 17 to 0 – 8.
- ^ "All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Derry v Galway updates". Ireland. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ "Championship exclusion hits London hard". The Irish Times. 12 May 2001.
- ^ "What might have been...". Irish Independent. 27 February 2010.
- ^ "Galway must keep focus to deny improving Derry". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 25 August 2001.
Whatever the outcome, the winner of tomorrow's All-Ireland football semi-final will create their own special place in history as the first team to reach the final, having been earlier beaten in the provincial series.
- ^ Campbell, John (21 September 2001). "GAA: A Royal command performance looms". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ a b c d Moran, Sean (27 August 2001). "Wide boys Galway turn it around; Galway 1-14, Derry 1-11". The Irish Times.
- ^ O'Hara, Eamonn (21 September 2001). "Boylan pays Tribe-ute to opposition's class". Irish News.
- ^ a b c d e Moran, Sean (19 September 2001). "Boylan names strongest line-up". The Irish Times.
- ^ O'Riordan, Ian (1 May 2001). "Party put on hold as Mayo reset their sights". The Irish Times.
- ^ Moran, Sean (2 July 2001). "No Aughrim ambush for Galway; Galway 3-12, Wicklow 1-9". The Irish Times.
- ^ McGeary, Michael (8 July 2001). "Galway's flight of clancy". Sunday Life.
- ^ Moran, Sean (23 July 2001). "Galway put O'Mahony through it; Galway 1-14, Cork 1-10". The Irish Times.
- ^ O'Riordan, Ian (24 August 2001). "Derry again unchanged". The Irish Times.
- ^ Moran, Sean (23 August 2001). "Galway leave vacancy in attack". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b Campbell, John (27 August 2001). "GAA: Galway carve up case for defence". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ Reid, Philip (4 June 2001). "Meath show their survival instincts". The Irish Times.
- ^ Moran, Sean (25 June 2001). "Normal service resumed as Meath rise to occasion". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Dogged Dublin lack attacking bite". The Irish Times. 16 July 2001.
- ^ "GAA:Roscommon's rare glory opportunity". Belfast Telegraph. 18 July 2001.
- ^ "Dublin drawn against champions Kerry". The Irish Times. 23 July 2001.
- ^ Duggan, Keith (6 August 2001). "Galway bounce back to silence the detractors; Galway 0-14, Roscommon 1-05". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b "Westmeath remember their place in things". The Irish Times. 6 August 2001.
- ^ Duggan, Keith (13 August 2001). "Meath give romance short shrift; Meath 2-10, Westmeath 0-11". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g Moran, Sean (3 September 2001). "Meath hordes tear down Kingdom; Meath 2-14, Kerry 0-5". The Irish Times.
- ^ O'Riordan, Ian (29 August 2001). "Hassett takes over from Ó Sé". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b O'Riordan, Ian (31 August 2001). "Reynolds loses out in reshuffle". The Irish Times.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (22 September 2001). "Galway have the stomach to digest Meath". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 22 September 2001.
So much money has flooded onto Meath to win their eighth All-Ireland senior football title tomorrow that it's virtually impossible to believe that this is essentially the same side which took to the championship road last June shackled by uncertainty.
- ^ O'Rourke, Colm (23 September 2001). "Expect a Royal party by tea". Sunday Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 23 September 2001.
...I expect that Meath, by teatime, will have started a Royal party.
- ^ Cregan, Eamonn (10 September 2001). "Tipperary prove team spirit counts". The Irish Times.
- ^ Moran, Sean (17 September 2001). "Kerins fails to make Galway cut". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b Campbell, John (11 September 2001). "GAA: Croker worries come to surface". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ Campbell, John (22 September 2001). "GAA: Hogan Stand just ticket". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ a b McNally, Frank (22 September 2001). "Galway fans bet on the hope that Meath have popped their corks". The Irish Times.
- ^ Barton, Damian (24 September 2001). "Tyrone prove they have nothing to fear from Dubs; All-Ireland MFC final: Tyrone 0-15 Dublin 1-12". Irish News.
- ^ a b c d O'Hara, Eamonn (24 September 2001). "Galway secure Sam with second half blitz". Irish News.
- ^ a b Duggan, Keith (24 September 2001). "Final verdict: Score-by-score". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c Moran, Sean (24 September 2001). "Meath the victims as Galway turn it on; Galway 0-17, Meath 0-8". The Irish Times.
- ^ Carney, Martin (24 September 2001). "Turning Points". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b Archer, Kenny (24 September 2001). "A qualified success but joy for Tribe; Bank of Ireland All-Ireland SFC final: Galway 0-17 Meath 0-8". Irish News.
- ^ Stynes, Brian (24 September 2001). "GAA: ALL-IRELAND FINAL: GALWAY V MEATH - THE FIRST EVER BACK-DOOR WINNERS HAVE BROUGHT US TO A BRAND NEW ERA; NOW WE CAN CALL GALWAY GREAT". Irish Daily Mirror.
- ^ a b Campbell, John (24 September 2001). "GAA: 'Sam' sits proudly over Galway Bay". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ a b c d Tierney, Ciaran. "Happy return for All-Ireland victors". The Irish Times.
- ^ Jones, Adrian (25 September 2001). "Mannion says enough after second Sam; Gaelic Games". Irish News.