The meeting of Kerry and Sligo in a National League match in Tralee next Sunday has revived memories of the last time the teams met in that competition. Apart from their forgettable clash in the All-Ireland semi-final of 1975 in Croke Park, the sides have not met since April 10th, 1948, in the now unlikely environs of the Sligo Showgrounds.
On that occasion, they were contesting the quarter-final of the National League and a record crowd of 8,000 thronged the ground, which is now entirely associated with soccer.
Although the notorious "foreign games" ban was in force, it did not prevent the Sligo selectors from nominating a number of players who would have been illegal, under GAA rules, at the time.
This was to bring about a notable situation when, in the early part of the match, one Sean Fallon scored two goals for Sligo to put the Kerry side under severe pressure. Fallon later moved to Glasgow Celtic and while there was selected to play for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and later became assistant manager to Jock Stein at Glasgow Celtic. A local soccer ground in Sligo is now named after him.
Many famous names appeared on the programme for the day. The great Danno Keeffe was in goal for Kerry, Paddy Bawn Brosnan was at fullback, Bill Casey (Brian Mullins' uncle) was at centre half back, Batt Garvey was at left half forward, Frank O'Keeffe (Johnno's father) was at right corner forward and Thomas Ashe, who later also had connections with Glasgow Celtic, was at left corner forward. His grandson, Fintan, was a sub for Kerry in this year's All-Ireland final.
Nor were Sligo without notable players of the day. At right corner back was John Joe Lavin, who now lives within a stone's throw of Croke Park. He also represented Ireland in events like the long jump and hop-step-and-jump on many occasions.
Brendan Wickham, who subsequently played for Sligo Rovers on their return to the League of Ireland, was in goal, "Big Tom" Dunleavy was at fullback, and others, such as Mick Gaffney, Frank White and Mick Christie, figured in several Connacht teams in the Railway Cup. The score on that occasion, including Fallon's two goals, was Kerry 3-7, Sligo 2-4.
The Kerry team for Sunday's encounter shows widespread changes form the team that won the All-Ireland.
This would appear to bode ill for Sligo, as the Kerry attack now reads: Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Liam Hassett, John Crowley, Mike Frank Russell, Dara O Cinneide and Liam Brosnan.
Declan O'Keeffe is back in goal for Peter O'Leary, Liam Flaherty is at centre half back and Donal Daly will partner Dara O Se at midfield. Sligo have made two changes from the side which forced a last-minute draw with Monaghan. Their fullback on that occasion, Colin White, was injured, and he is replaced by Nigel Clancy. Neil Carew, from Coolera-Strandhill, is back after injury and takes over at left half back, while Eamon O'Hara moves to partner Paul Durcan at midfield. Dermot Kevany drops out and Ken Killeen coming in at centre forward.
A surprise selection is the nominated All Star, Paul Taylor, selected in the left corner forward position.
Kerry (SF v Sligo): D O'Keeffe; M O'Shea, B O'Shea, S Stack; K Burns, S Moynihan, E Breen; D O Se, D Daly; E Fitzmaurice, L Hassett, J Crowley; M F Russell, D O Cinneide, L Brosnan. Subs: W Kirby, M Hassett, J Brennan, K Scanlon, R O'Rahilly, P O'Leary, F Ashe, J McGlynn, J Daly.
Sligo: P Kilcoyne; N McGuire, N Clancy, M Cosgrove; R Keane, B Kilcoyne, N Carew; P Durcan, E O'Hara; K Killeen, B Walsh, S Davey; E Cawley, D Sloyane, P Taylor.
