The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Before the 90s, semi-finals in Croke Park were just a day out for Ulster teams.
In the first 106 years of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Sam Maguire only ever made the trip up to the northern province on eight different occasions so, after the provincial championship, things generally became a precession.
Down came along in ’91 though and changed everything. Their All-Ireland win not only broke the cycle but it completely shifted the mindset so much so that Donegal went down to the capital the very next year and followed their example, picking up their first ever title. Derry the next year. Down again in ’94 and, suddenly, Ulster had awoken.
In 1995, Tyrone made it five final appearances in a row from four different counties in the north but they couldn’t get over the line. They would eventually.
But Croke Park remained a daunting place for many of the footballers in the nine counties. Derry had won one Ulster title the 17 years previous to their breakthrough so that meant their senior team had played at headquarters just once in that time too.
So even though they had overcome Down in Newry and then Donegal in the Ulster final, they were still going into the unknown and coming up against a mighty Dublin outfit who had gotten their act together.
So they went to Meath for a night away and a challenge game with one of the best teams in the country – and one of the teams who knew all about the Dubs – and they enlisted the help of Colm O’Rourke for some pointers.
In a new book (released today), The Boys of ’93: Derry’s All-Ireland Kings, Maria McCourt – the niece of legendary manager Eamonn Coleman – details a unique journey for the Oak Leaf county and does it through the words of her father.
As Eamonn recalls:
“After travelling down to play Meath in a challenge match, I had asked Colm O’Rourke to have a word with the team about the Dublin game.
“A great player and a man who had much experience of Croke Park, he spoke of what to expect, what an All Ireland semi-final meant and about the importance of the team – the whole team – in winning Sam.”
O’Rourke’s message was simple. Derry were a good side and Croke Park would show that so, even though they went five points down at half time, they didn’t let the occasion get to them and, as Mickey Moran stood up in the changing room and let them have it for the first time – another gem from the book – the players responded and showed the country why Eamonn Coleman was sure the media and those who overlooked Derry ‘knew nothing about football’.
“Good players, good teams, should relax going into Croke Park because, if you’re a good player and if you’re a good team, you’ll play well there,” said O’Rourke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ep0OuOfWS6o
Five points down, still three with 10 minutes to go, the story wasn’t finished.
They were ready for the challenge, for Croke Park, for the favourites for the All-Ireland.
‘We couldn’t wait for it, couldn’t wait to get at the Dubs. The team was ready, the management was ready and we felt that this was going to be our year.
‘Dublin was a big, strong, tough team with Dr Pat O’Neill at the helm and they carried the favourites tag going into Croke Park. Coming from Ulster, there was a time not long passed when we were only supposed to go to Croke Park and play well. We weren’t supposed to win, that belonged to the 26 Counties. But Down’s great breakthrough in ’91 had laid the foundation for everybody: Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and the rest, everybody believed and it’s been the same since, when Ulster teams go to Croke Park we’ve as good a chance as anybody.’
‘Mammy, can I use your photo in a cynical, social media marketing exercise for Eamonn’s book?’
‘You can surely, love.’ PAUSE. ‘Now, can you tell me what that means?’ #theboysof93 ON SALE TODAY
@IAP_MERRION @chrisynwa23 pic.twitter.com/4P45NYMlGv— Maria McCourt (@scoutfinchreads) September 12, 2018
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