Historic Kilkenny

In 1969, New York GAA was on a high. It's hurling and football teams easily matched that of the talent on show in Ireland. Although the footballers had won the league three times, the hurlers had never achieved such success, but this looked set to change.

 

In October 1969 New York beat the newly-crowned All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the final of what was called the 'The World Cup', trouncing the Cats in the first leg (3-13 to 1-7) and drawing the second leg, to win comfortably on aggregate. They were trained by former Wexford great Mick Morrissey.

 

New York then went on to record another bit of history when beating a star-studded Munster side in the 1970 Cardinal Cushing Games. The momentum was very much with them and they were nicely set for a meeting with Cork, the ‘Home’ league champions of 1969 and 1970, when New York suffered its first setback — a request from Cork granted by GAA headquarters for a postponement of the two-leg final until after the 1970 championship was over.

 

The long delay broke the American sides momentum, while Cork had built up a head of steam by the time they finally went to New York. Cork won the first game on September 13 in Gaelic Park by three points (4-11 to 4-8).