GAA Finals During December:

While December 2020 was seen as unusual with the All Ireland hurling final scheduled for Sunday 13th December and the football final taking place six days later on Saturday 19th December at Croke Park.

Before December 2020 the only football final scheduled for the month of December was the senior All Football final which was played on Saturday 9th December 1917.

Joe OMuircheartaigh recalls the meeting of Clare and Wexford:

'Wexford defeated Clare to complete the third leg of a four-timer. A crowd of 6,000 turned up at the Jones' Road venue to watch a game played in ideal conditions. The Irish Independent reported that " the weather was ideal for outdoor games, the sun shining brilliantly."

As Croke Park was not decorated with lights in December 1917, that final did not take place at 5.00pm, it began at twelve noon to ensure the game was completed before darkness descended.

The advertisement for the 1917 final noted that admission rates were; sixpence - one shilling - one shilling and sixpence. Entrance to the sideline-seats section was extra to the dearest ticket of one shilling and six pence. The advertising notice also said there was a single entrance area at the Ballybough end.

The Clare team had been in 'collective-training' for a number of weeks at Kilkee in preparation for the December final. Three players from North Clare participated in those preparations. Goalkeeper, Micho Connole (Kilfenora); Paddy ODonoghue (Fanore) and Micho OLoghlen (Lisnanard).

Wexford were favourites for the 1917 final as they were winners during the previous finals of 1915 and 1916. They won the 1917 final by nine points to five points. They also won the 1918 final completing four football titles in a row.

Acknowledgements:

Joe OMuircheartaigh

edward ologhlen

December 2020

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