On this day in 1971, Offaly football reached the summit for the very first time.
On 26 September 1971, the Faithful County arrived at Croke Park with history within their grasp and left as All-Ireland Senior Football Champions.
Offaly defeated Galway by 1-14 to 2-08 in a landmark final, securing the county’s first-ever Sam Maguire Cup.
It was a day that changed Offaly GAA forever and gave generations of supporters a memory that would live on for decades.
The build-up to the final had all the atmosphere of a major All-Ireland occasion. Dublin city centre was packed, with rosette and hat sellers doing a brisk trade as thousands of supporters made their way towards Croke Park.
Around Jones’ Road, queues moved slowly, while ticket touts were also doing business, with stand tickets reportedly changing hands for anything from £6 to £10.
Among those in attendance were Cardinal Conway, Primate of All-Ireland, President Éamon de Valera and Taoiseach Jack Lynch.
Offaly went into the final as favourites, although Galway threatened to gain the upper hand during the opening stages. Despite the torrential rain, however, the Faithful County produced the stronger performance and ultimately secured a historic three-point victory over the Tribesmen.
FULL-TIME: OFFALY 1-14 GALWAY 2-08
For Offaly, it was more than just a victory. It was the county’s first All-Ireland Senior Football title — the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Faithful County.
55 years on, the achievement of the 1971 team remains one of the proudest chapters in Offaly GAA history.
A day when Offaly made history.
By Offaly Secretary Sun 27th Sep
