THE MEN OF ‘34

by Tom Kenny

There has been so much hype recently about how Galway had not beaten Dublin in football for 90 years that it got me wondering, what were those men of 1934 like? They must have been mighty men. They were!

This is who they were:

Mick Higgins from Kilkerrin, the captain. Aged 26, height 5’8”, weight 12 stone.

Michael Brennan, Ahascragh, goalie, also goalie for the hurlers, height 5’10”, weight 12-5.

Hugo Carey, Barna,  playing for Galway since 1929, height 6’2”, weight 13-6.

Mick Conaire, Ballinasloe, aged 23, height 6’1”, weight 13 stone.

Dennis O’Sullivan, Oughterard. A star in any position. Aged 21, height 5’10”, weight 12-6.

Tommy Hughes, Tuam, playing for Galway since 1928. Aged 27, height 5’10”, weight 12-9.

Tadgh McCarthy, Kerryman based in Galway for nine years, aged 27, height 5’8”, 12 stone.

Frank Fox, Dunmore, the Flying Finn of Galway football, Junior All Ireland winner, 1931. 

John Dunne, Ballinasloe, an outstanding footballer in 1931, 22. Height 5’10”, weight 11-10.

Martin Kelly, Ahascragh, playing for Galway since 1927, aged 28, height 6’1”, weight 12-2.

Dermot Mitchell, Corofin, playing for Galway since 1928. Captained UCG and Corofin. 26.

Ralph Griffin, Ahascragh, the baby of the team, 18 years old, 5’9” tall, weight 11-9.        

Brendan Nestor, Dunmore, won junior All-Ireland in 1931, aged 23, 5’11” tall weight 12-0.

Michael Ferriter, Kerryman, a student at UCG. Aged 23.

Patrick McDonnell, Ballinasloe, won a place in the team in place of Michael Donnellan and played excellently at full forward.

To get to the final, Galway had beaten Roscommon in Castlerea by 2-7 to 0-4, watched by 3,000 people; they then beat Mayo by 2-4 to 0-5, also in Castlerea, the attendance being 16,000 in the Connacht Final; the semi-final was against Cavan in Tuam and Galway won by 1-8 to 1-4. The final was played in Croke Park watched by 36,143 people. The ball was thrown in by Dr. O’Doherty, Bishop of Galway. “The game opened at a thrilling pace and within a minute Nestor scored a thrilling point. Comerford equalled for Dublin and Dowling scored a great goal for Dublin. Gradually, Galway took control and scores came rapidly through Dunne, Nestor and Ferriter who banged in two goals leaving Galway ahead by five points at half time. Early in the second half, Dublin got a grip on the game. But Galway fought back. With only four minutes to go, Dublin were within two points of Galway. The atmosphere was electric. Dublin’s team was converged on the Galway goal. Dennis O’Sullivan cleared again and again as Dublin, in a do-or-die effort charged looking for a goal. The final whistle was the sweetest sound ever heard in Croke Park. Galway had won the All-Ireland by 3-5 to 1-9.

Congratulations poured in to the team manager Dick Kenny, Ballinasloe, the trainer T. Molloy, the masseur T. Ryan and the lecturer in tactics Paddy Higgins from Kilkerrin, and special thanks to Fr. Cogavin, President of Garbally for allowing the team the facilities of the college while training.

This team had lost to Cavan in the previous year’s final but, in defeat, Galway were hailed as a major force in football for the future. They were the first Galway team to wear the maroon and white jerseys with the Galway Arms on the chest. The previous colours worn by Galway were Blue and Saffron and later Green. The fact that UCG were County Champions in 1934 may have influenced the County Board to adopt the College’s colours. They were also the first team to bring the Sam Maguire west across the Shannon. Shortly after the final, they sailed by liner to New York to play a number of games there.

Bobby Beggs was on the losing Dublin side that day, but four years later he was playing for Galway when they won the 1938 final.

Our first photograph is of the parade before the game. The Galway players we see are, from the left; Mick Higgins, Mick Conaire, Hugo Carey, Brendan Nestor, Frank Fox, Dermot Mitchell. ‘Coosaun’ Brennan, Dinny Sullivan, Ralph Griffin, Martin Kelly, P.J. McDonnell, Tadgh McCarthy, Mick Ferriter, John ‘Tull’ Dunne and Tommy Hughes.

Our second image is of Dr. O’Doherty throwing in the ball. Players, from the left, are Brendan Nestor (behind the bishop), Mickey Wellington (Dublin), Willie Dowling (Dublin), Must Kelly (Dublin) George Comerford (Dublin), Mick Higgins, Martin Kelly and Ralph Griffin, all Galway and the referee Jack McCarthy (Kerry).

Gaillimh Abú.