1914 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final

1914 All-Ireland
Senior Football Final

Official match programme
Event	1914 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Kerry Wexford 1–3 (6) 2–0 (6)
Date	1 November 1914 [1]
Venue	Croke Park, Dublin [2]
Referee	Harry Boland [1] (Dublin)
Attendance	13,000 [1]
← 1913

1914 All-Ireland
Senior Football Final Replay

Kerry Wexford 2–3 (9) 0–6 (6)
Date	29 November 1914 [1]
Venue	Croke Park, Dublin
Referee	Harry Boland (Dublin) [3] [4]
Attendance	20,000 [1]
Weather	Windy [1]
1915 →

The 1914 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final was the 27th All-Ireland Final and the deciding match of the 1914 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, an inter-county Gaelic football tournament for the top teams in Ireland. It was held at Croke Park in Dublin on 1 November. The game ended in a draw and a replay was held on 29 November.

Harry Boland was the referee. ^[1]

Wexford were captained by Seán O'Kennedy, whose brother Gus played at corner-forward.^{[ citation needed ]}

First game

The final ended in a draw, necessitating a replay. ^[2] Wexford led 2–0 to 0–1 at half-time, but Kerry fought back to score five points in the second half.^{[ citation needed ]}

The final score was 2–0 for Wexford and 1–3 for Kerry. ^[2] The Kerry point that brought them level was scored with only two minutes of play remaining. ^[2] Dick Fitzgerald got it.^{[ citation needed ]} Wexford did not score in the second half and managed no points in the entire game. ^[2]

Over 26 trains were specially laid on for the final, coming from all parts of the island. ^[2]

Replay

The replay was held in windy conditions ^[1] on 29 November. ^[5] The wind proved critical to the outcome of the game. Wexford's six points were scored during the first half when they had the wind behind them. Kerry's scored all of their two goals and three points during the second half. ^{[1] [6]}

Special trains were also put on for the replay from destinations across the island: Belturbet, Cork, Cahersiveen, Dingle, Galway, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Shillelagh, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford. ^[1] These trains contained young men often "accompanied by their sisters and their sweethearts. The cramping and discomforts of a three to a six hours' train journey, in a stifling and vitiated atmosphere, was borne with the greatest of goodwill and forbearance. There was no complaining; jokes were cracked; humorous, patriotic, and sentimental songs were sung; and there was every sort of music, from bands and violins down to the tin whistle and mouth organ", said an analysis from a week later (5 December). ^[1]

The Dublin restaurants "did a good trade, and so did the public houses in certain districts. But there was practically no drunkenness, disorderly conduct, or horseplay on the streets". ^[1]

Match details

Kerry, champions

Kerry v Wexford

1 Nov 1914 Final

Kerry	1-3 – 2-0	Wexford

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Harry Boland (Dublin) Attendance: 13,000

---

Kerry v Wexford

20 Nov 1914 Replay

Kerry	2-3 – 0-6	Wexford

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Harry Boland (Dublin) Attendance: 20,000

Kerry

Wexford

References

1. Mullally, Una (14 July 2019). "As the summer football season heats up, let's take a trip back to 1914 for the 27th All-Ireland Final". The Irish Times . Retrieved 14 July 2019.
2. "Wexford and Kerry draw All-Ireland Football Final". Raidió Teilifís Éireann . Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
3. Freemans Journal 1763-1924, Monday, 30 November 1914
4. O'Connell, Cian (9 December 2016). "1916 All Ireland referees remembered". One hundred years ago Dunphy and Walsh took charge of the All Ireland Finals, while Boland, who reffed the 1914 Football decider and replay, was also remembered.
5. "1914 Football All-Ireland Final Replay Match report". GAA.ie.
6. High Ball magazine, issue #6, 1998.