On this day in 1974, Tipperary became the first ever team to win the All Ireland Ladies Football Championship. They defeated Offaly on a scoreline of 2-3 to 2-2 at Durrow, Co. Laois. It was Tipperary’s first football All-Ireland since 1920.
The Tipperary Star noted the following week that ‘the game was a thriller from the first to the last whistle. The crowd will remember this tough battle between two super teams. Offaly may say they were unlucky, but on the run of play, the Tipperary girls had that vital edge in speed and all-round fitness.’ Tipperary’s scorers on the day were Eleanor (1-2), Mary McGrath (1-0)and Lilian Gorey (0-1)
The victorious Tipperary panel in 1974 (and 1975 when they did back-to-back) included:
Noreen Blake (Golden), Ann Bryan (Moycarkey Borris), Mary Burke (Emly), Marian Bryan (Moycarkey Borris), Chrisse Byrne (Ardfinnan),Eleanor Carroll (Ardfinnan), Margaret Carroll (Ardfinnan), Breda Cleary(Loughmore), Ann Clohessy (Moycarkey Borris), Sally Clohessy (Moycarkey Borris), Ann Croke (Mullinahone), Eileen Dudley (Cashel), Tina Flynn(Ardfinnan), Lilian Gorey (St. Bridget’s), Ena Hackett (Newcastle), Josephine Keane (Mullinahone), Katherine Keane (Mullinahone), Mary Lonergan (Emly), Betty Looby (Golden), Mary McGrath (Emly), Nora Moran (Newcastle), Alice Morris(Moycarkey Borris), Josephine Murphy (St. Bridget’s), Cait O’Dwyer (Moycarkey Borris), Susan O’Gorman (Ardfinnan), Mary Power (Mullinahone), Bridie Robinson(St. Bridget’s), Kitty Ryan (Ardfinnan), Josephine Stapleton (Loughmore),Majella Sweeney (Newcastle), Catherine Treacy (Loughmore)
