Dublin GAA take on Carlow on Saturday on what is billed as David against Goliath. Few pundits give Carlow GAA a chance, but every Carlow player will relish the task ahead and will be dreaming of Championship glory. In truth, it’s hard for a so called ‘weaker’ county to hang on against one of the superpowers, even they get ahead on the scoreboard there is usually an air of inevitability before they are reeled in. Favourites usually have more steel, skill and a stronger bench. Still, this week the Carlow men will be preparing themselves for their clash with All Ireland champions, testing themselves against the best. Isn’t that what the championship is about?
Down the years there have been a few big shocks that have had the bookies reaching for their satchels.
Clare v Kerry 1992
Jack O'Shea's last ever inter-county game for Kerry GAA and Seamus Moynihan's first, two weeks after finishing his leaving cert… Clare’s only provincial football title. The Munster Final in 1992 was surely just a case of handing on the keys of the Kingdom to the new guard, Clare GAA manager, the indefatigable John Maughan was only 28, and he got the job after being asked about a coaching position. Realising Clare was at a low point he told them to give him the whole lot and they did, hence his manager’s role. In the Munster Final in Limerick GAA, goals by Colm Clancy and Martin Daly made the difference. It was fairytale stuff for Clare and a nightmare for Kerry. Cue Bedlam in the Banner. Serious craic.
Meath v Kerry 2001
Croke Park, Sunday, September 2, 2001. Darren Fay described it in his book as the day Meath against Kerry stunned the world of football. The scoreline says it all: Meath 2-14 Kerry 0-5. The last ten minutes were played out to olés from the Meath GAA supporters as Kerry manager Paidi Ó Se knelt helpless on the sideline watching his team overrun by Meath. Meath went on to lose the final fairly toothlessly against Galway GAA but few, if anyone, saw their rout of Kerry GAA coming.
Fermanagh v Armagh 2004
Fermanagh had defeated Meath, Cork GAA and Donegal GAA in the qualifiers before dumping hot favourites Armagh 0-12 to 0-11 in Croke Park. It was the unlikeliest of wins, secured when Tom Brewster booted the winning point at the Hill end. One wag suggested that Fermanagh GAA knocked two teams out of the championship at the same time because less than two hours later old enemy Tyrone GAA were gone too. Having watched the Fermanagh game unfold, it was felt that Tyrone were that shocked and complacent at the prospect of playing their Erne neighbours rather Armagh in an All Ireland semi final that they didn't show up against Mayo GAA.
Kerry v Offaly 1982
The heart said Kerry were certs for the historic five in a row. It was a marvellous team, and they had their victory lap of the world all but organised save for the one small detail. Defeating Offaly GAA. Whatever the heart said, the head nagged and told anyone that would listen, don’t rule out Offaly. Eugene McGee for one believed his Offaly charges could upset the applecart. The scene was set for the perfect ambush. Seamus Darby lay in wait, and came off the bench to score the winning and most unlikely goal ever seen in Croke Park. The rest is history.
Leitrim in Connacht 1994
Leitrim GAA overcame Galway, Mayo and Roscommon GAA to win an unlikely Connacht title under John O’Mahoney’s leadership. Johnny was an astute manager who was able to tap into the skills of the Leitrim team led by Declan Darcy and turn them into a cohesive unit. Although they eventually succumbed to Dublin GAA in the All Ireland series they fully deserved their summer in the sun. As with Clare in 1992, this was a provincial success that captured the imagination of the entire country.
Sligo v Tyrone 2002
Tyrone went into the game as red hot favourites having won the national league and lost to Armagh in Ulster only after a hard fought replay. Sligo GAA had endured a disappointing campaign having lost the Connacht final in disappointing fashion to Galway and seemed to have little chance. Inspired by Peter Canavan Tyrone led 0-9 to 0-3 after 25 minutes but Sligo dominated the rest of the game inspired by the brilliance of Eamon O’Hara, outscoring Tyrone 1-11 to 0-3 to win 1-14 to 0-12. Sligo proved it was no flash in the pan losing only to eventually lose to eventual winners Armagh after a replay in the quarter finals.
Donegal v Dublin 2014
This was a game that the bookies got badly wrong. Very badly wrong. They had Donegal as long as 7/1 to win the game, in some places an eagle eyed punter could get 10/1. After 23 minutes, Jim McGuinness’s men were 0-08 – 0-03 down but got a foothold in the match to go in at half time leading 1-08 – 0-10. Donegal GAA subsequently added two more goals in the second half from Ryan McHugh who delivered a man of the match display. McGuinness's eureka moment preparing for the game was when he realized a ball kicked long to midfield over the Dublin press would allow Neil Gallagher to tip it down for runners to attack Dublin at blistering pace. After a few early scares, Donegal outscored Dublin by 3-10 to 0-8 over the final 50 minutes.
Kerry v Dublin 2009
That infrequently sighted invertebrate, the startled earwig, dominated post match discussion. Kerry stunned Dublin to win 1-24 to 1-7 against the odds with talk of a summer of acrimony and unrest meaning the Kingdom went into the game widely expected to lose. After defeat in the Munster final replay to Cork, Kerry stumbled through the qualifiers and narrowly avoided embarrassing defeats to Longford GAA, Sligo and Antrim GAA. The talk was that they were in disarray and the Dubs were on the rise. In this game they stirred themselves to despatch Dublin clinically and efficiently. After the game Pat Gilroy described his team as "startled earwigs.’ Needless to say, the startled earwig has not been seen in the capital since.