It's 25 year's since Derry won GAA's biggest prize and, with the Oakleaf County's new season getting underway this weekend, HUGH GALLAGHER worries that it could be another 25 before we see another one.
The other day I was looking at an old photograph I took at Croke Park, Dublin in 1993. That was the year everything went Derry's way.
Around that time there was a great feeling in this city. I went to most of the matches home and away. People like John McChrystal encouraged us to support 'our' team. Big Brian McGilligan was working on a building project near us in Creggan Estate. Buses were subsidised to take city supporters to away games on a regular basis.
We went to Newry where we beat Down, then to Casement Park to see off Monaghan and proceeded to the Ulster Final at Clones where we met Donegal. The place was waterlogged that day and the game was played in torrential rain. If they hadn't already let the majority of Donegal and Derry fans in early the match would surely have been called off.
But we beat Donegal and we were off to Croke Park for the semi-final against Dublin. We were lucky that day too and came away with a 0-15 to 0-14 victory. The Dublin supporters were far from being hostile after defeat and they wished us well for the final against Cork.
Luckily I managed to get a ticket for the final and decided to go by train. The special excursion was organised by the Ardmore Club.
Not being from that part of the county it took a while for them to even talk to me – I was a city boy, after all! During that journey I became acquainted with a few facts that shocked me! I was told in no uncertain manner that gaelic football would never take hold in Derry city. Country or should I say 'county' people didn't approve of the likes of me. I was a Johnny-come-lately, a soccer supporter. “No offence, sar!”
Soccer fans
Club football too was becoming more important than wearing the Derry jersey! People began to see a journey into Derry as an away game. I had no answer to this argument.
I remembered Celtic Park when I played there as a schoolboy at the Christian Brothers. Then it was run-down; mucky in winter and a dust bowl in summer. At every opportunity when the brothers weren't there we played soccer.
Anyway, despite my less than enthusiastic welcome on that train I came away from Croke Park after the victory against Cork and celebrated like any true Derry man. Maybe 1993 was a one-off; an apparition. Did it really happen? I witnessed it!
Since then it's been terrible to watch Derry go through that torture called 'the back door' only to bow out eventually. I don't see us getting to an Ulster Final any time soon.
Even during that great year of 1993 there were rumours of rows and real scraps in the camp. And then there was the departure of Eamonn Coleman. Why did that happen? That really got to me! Some fans supported some players and hated others in the panel. I was told this. I know of a few people who couldn't stand the way Joe Brolly celebrated a score by blowing kisses!
Solutions?
Given the dire circumstances Derry find themselves in, would it be too much to ask that all concerned with the future of gaelic sport in Derry get around a table and come to a workable solution?
If it is decided that city folk like me should be discouraged and that Celtic Park should be abandoned, then at least we'll know where we stand!
Being a part of Derry's future should be the aim of all young players. They should be as proud to be a member of the Derry panel as they are to play for their club. Otherwise it will probably be another 25 years before Derry folk get our hands on the Sam Maguire, if ever!
In the meantime I'll continue to dream! It's all that's left for me to do!
Picture above: Hugh Gallagher's view in September 1993 as Derry swept aside Cork by 1-14 to 2-08 to lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the only time in their history.
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