2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final

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2001 All-Ireland Football Final
Event2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Galway Meath
0–17 0–08
Date23 September 2001
VenueCroke Park, Dublin
RefereeMichael Collins (Cork)
Attendance70,482
← 2000
2002 →

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.

Galway defeated Meath.[1] Neither side contested a final again until Galway's semi-final victory over Derry in 2022.[2]

Competition structure[edit]

Further information on the competition: All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Further information on county sides: County (Gaelic games)

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[edit]

Further information on the sport and the terminology used in this article: Gaelic football
County Galway (left) and County Meath (right) shown within Ireland.

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[edit]

Galway[edit]

Main article: 2001 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Galway
0–17 – 0–08Meath
P. Joyce (0-10)
J. Bergin (0-02)
P. Clancy (0-02)
M. Donnellan (0-01)
J. Fallon (0-01)
D. Meehan (0-01)		 Report R. Magee (0-02)
N. Crawford (0-01)
J. Cullinane (0-01)
T. Giles (0-01)
E. Kelly (0-01)
J. McDermott (0-01)
O. Murphy (0-01)
Croke Park, Dublin
Attendance: 70,482[42]
Referee: Michael Collins (Cork)
Galway kit
Galway
Meath kit
Meath
Galway:
1 Alan Keane
2 Kieran Fitzgerald
3 Gary Fahey (Captain)
4 Richard Fahey
5 Declan Meehan
6 Tomás Mannion
7 Seán Óg De Paor
8 Kevin Walsh
9 Michael Donnellan
10 Paul Clancy
11 Jarlath Fallon
12 Joe Bergin downward-facing red arrow 71'
13 Derek Savage
14 Pádraic Joyce
15 Tommy Joyce downward-facing red arrow 71'
Substitutes:
Alan Kerins upward-facing green arrow 71'
Kieran Comer upward-facing green arrow 71'
Manager:
John O'Mahony
Meath:
1 Cormac Sullivan
2 Mark O'Reilly
3 Darren Fay
4 Cormac Murphy downward-facing red arrow 57'
5 Donal Curtis
6 Nigel Nestor Yellow card 50' Yellow-red card
7 Hank Traynor
8 Nigel Crawford
9 John McDermott
10 Evan Kelly
11 Trevor Giles (Captain)
12 Richie Kealy downward-facing red arrow 50'
13 Ollie Murphy downward-facing red arrow 45'
14 Graham Geraghty
15 Ray Magee downward-facing red arrow 70'
Substitutes:
Paddy Reynolds upward-facing green arrow 45'
John Cullinane upward-facing green arrow 50'
Niall Kelly upward-facing green arrow 57'
Adrian Kenny upward-facing green arrow 70'
Manager:
Seán Boylan

References: [42]

Post-match[edit]

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[edit]

Note 1 Galway score given first.
Note 2 Meath score given first.

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Derry v Galway updates". Ireland. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Championship exclusion hits London hard". The Irish Times. 12 May 2001.
  4. ^ "What might have been...". Irish Independent. 27 February 2010.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ Campbell, John (21 September 2001). "GAA: A Royal command performance looms". Belfast Telegraph.
  7. ^ a b c d Moran, Sean (27 August 2001). "Wide boys Galway turn it around; Galway 1-14, Derry 1-11". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ O'Hara, Eamonn (21 September 2001). "Boylan pays Tribe-ute to opposition's class". Irish News.
  9. ^ a b c d e Moran, Sean (19 September 2001). "Boylan names strongest line-up". The Irish Times.
  10. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (1 May 2001). "Party put on hold as Mayo reset their sights". The Irish Times.
  11. ^ Moran, Sean (2 July 2001). "No Aughrim ambush for Galway; Galway 3-12, Wicklow 1-9". The Irish Times.
  12. ^ McGeary, Michael (8 July 2001). "Galway's flight of clancy". Sunday Life.
  13. ^ Moran, Sean (23 July 2001). "Galway put O'Mahony through it; Galway 1-14, Cork 1-10". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (24 August 2001). "Derry again unchanged". The Irish Times.
  15. ^ Moran, Sean (23 August 2001). "Galway leave vacancy in attack". The Irish Times.
  16. ^ a b Campbell, John (27 August 2001). "GAA: Galway carve up case for defence". Belfast Telegraph.
  17. ^ Reid, Philip (4 June 2001). "Meath show their survival instincts". The Irish Times.
  18. ^ Moran, Sean (25 June 2001). "Normal service resumed as Meath rise to occasion". The Irish Times.
  19. ^ "Dogged Dublin lack attacking bite". The Irish Times. 16 July 2001.
  20. ^ "GAA:Roscommon's rare glory opportunity". Belfast Telegraph. 18 July 2001.
  21. ^ "Dublin drawn against champions Kerry". The Irish Times. 23 July 2001.
  22. ^ Duggan, Keith (6 August 2001). "Galway bounce back to silence the detractors; Galway 0-14, Roscommon 1-05". The Irish Times.
  23. ^ a b "Westmeath remember their place in things". The Irish Times. 6 August 2001.
  24. ^ Duggan, Keith (13 August 2001). "Meath give romance short shrift; Meath 2-10, Westmeath 0-11". The Irish Times.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (29 August 2001). "Hassett takes over from Ó Sé". The Irish Times.
  27. ^ a b O'Riordan, Ian (31 August 2001). "Reynolds loses out in reshuffle". The Irish Times.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ Cregan, Eamonn (10 September 2001). "Tipperary prove team spirit counts". The Irish Times.
  31. ^ Moran, Sean (17 September 2001). "Kerins fails to make Galway cut". The Irish Times.
  32. ^ a b Campbell, John (11 September 2001). "GAA: Croker worries come to surface". Belfast Telegraph.
  33. ^ Campbell, John (22 September 2001). "GAA: Hogan Stand just ticket". Belfast Telegraph.
  34. ^ a b McNally, Frank (22 September 2001). "Galway fans bet on the hope that Meath have popped their corks". The Irish Times.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ a b c d O'Hara, Eamonn (24 September 2001). "Galway secure Sam with second half blitz". Irish News.
  37. ^ a b Duggan, Keith (24 September 2001). "Final verdict: Score-by-score". The Irish Times.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ Carney, Martin (24 September 2001). "Turning Points". The Irish Times.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ a b Campbell, John (24 September 2001). "GAA: 'Sam' sits proudly over Galway Bay". Belfast Telegraph.
  43. ^ a b c d Tierney, Ciaran. "Happy return for All-Ireland victors". The Irish Times.
  44. ^ Jones, Adrian (25 September 2001). "Mannion says enough after second Sam; Gaelic Games". Irish News.
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