TWO generations of Galway football heroes are to be celebrated at separate commemorative events this month.
GAA president Jarlath Burns will unveil a permanent plaque honouring the county’s first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship-winning team at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe on Saturday, September 12.
The ceremony, at 3.30pm, forms part of the centenary commemorations for Galway’s complicated but historic 1925 championship success.
A black granite plaque has been commissioned by the Galway 1925 Centenary Committee — it will stand at the entrance to Duggan Park.
Galway’s first All-Ireland crown emerged from one of the most confused championships in GAA history. Delays, objections and disqualifications disrupted the competition, while the Connacht championship alone required 11 matches.
Mayo initially represented the province in the All-Ireland series and defeated Wexford, but subsequently lost the delayed Connacht final to Galway by 1-5 to 1-3.
Galway were ultimately recognised as the 1925 champions. A further competition was arranged to resolve the dispute, in which Galway defeated Cavan and Wexford to confirm their standing as the only unbeaten team in that year’s championship.
After the plaque unveiling, a second event will be held at Gullane’s Hotel at 6pm. Local sports historian Steve Dolan will launch a commemorative booklet about Ballinasloe’s celebrated “Invincibles”, who won seven successive Galway Senior Football Championships between 1913 and 1919.
A week later, attention will turn to the Galway side that captured the county’s ninth All-Ireland senior title in 2001.
Members of the team, their families and supporters will gather at The Galmont Hotel & Spa in Galway on Saturday, September 19.
The afternoon will include interviews and panel discussions with members of the victorious squad, archive footage, a three-course meal, a raffle and an auction.
The team managed by the late John O’Mahony had already been honoured as the jubilee side at Croke Park before this year’s All-Ireland final between Mayo and Kerry.
O’Mahony was represented by his wife Geraldine, while Finn Clancy took the place of his father Paul, the much-admired Galway forward who died in June at the age of 49.
The 2001 triumph remains one of the most remarkable campaigns in championship history.
Having lost to Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final, Galway would previously have been eliminated. However, the newly introduced qualifying system provided a route back into the competition.
They defeated Wicklow, Armagh and Cork before gaining revenge over Roscommon in the All-Ireland quarter-final. A 1-14 to 1-11 victory over Derry then carried Galway into their third final in four seasons.
Meath entered the decider as strong favourites after overwhelming defending champions Kerry by 2-14 to 0-5 in the semi-final.
The sides were level at six points apiece at half-time, but Galway took control after the interval. Inspired by Pádraic Joyce, who scored 10 points, they outscored Meath by 11 points to two in the second half and won 0-17 to 0-8.
Galway thereby became the first county to win the All-Ireland senior football title after coming through the new “back-door” qualifying system.