First 15-a-side match

WE have seen where traditionally strong parishes are being forced to amalgamate to compete in underage GAA competitions. Looking at the reported number of hurling and football players who have emigrated in recent times, how long will it be before the same will have to happen at adult level or before the authorities are forced to reduce the size of teams in order to allow clubs compete?

The first matches organised by the newly formed association were for teams of 21-a-side. The rule, as published in the United Ireland newspaper in February 1885 stated, “There shall not be less than 14 or more than 21 on a side in regular matches”. It also stated that play would last for one hour and twenty minutes. There were two uprights and the crossbar was to be ten feet from the ground. Only goals counted.

Prior to that there were variations in the rules in different parts of the country. On Easter Monday 1884, Michael Cusack brought his Metropolitan Hurling Club to Galway to play Killimor. The game had to be stopped more than once because the two teams had different sets of rules. This convinced Cusack that there was a need for a central organisation with a standard set of rules.

Initially, the playing number was standardised at 21. The lineout was possibly 1 (goalkeeper) 3, 3, 3 (backs) 2, 2, 3, 3, 1 (forwards). This line-up continued only until 1892 when it was reduced to 17 – more like the modern line-up with an extra inside forward and an extra single back in what might be described as a ‘sweeper’ role. Seventeen-a-side teams lasted for 21 years. Then in 1913, numbers were reduced to 15.

The first 15-a-side inter-county matches took place in the Croke Cup competitions of that year. The early Croke Cup included both hurling and football and were presented to the association by Archbishop Croke of Cashel. As its patron, Croke played a vital role in the early years of the GAA. When the association split in 1887 into supporters of the IRB and supporters of the Parliamentary Party, it was he who brought both sides back together which led to Maurice Davin being elected president. When he died in 1902, the GAA decided to erect a memorial to him and the Croke Cup Tournaments were part of the fundraising.

At first the fundraising was haphazard and after a few years, very little had been raised, until 1913, when a serious effort was made. So successful was the Croke Tournament of that year, not only did it fund the erection of a statue in Thurles but also provided the seed for the purchase of Croke Park. Over 25,000 spectators turned up to see Kerry play 1912 All-Ireland champions Louth in the final. The match ended in a draw 1-1 to 0-4 but it was remarkable for a different reason. It was the first time that 15-a-side teams lined out for an inter-county football match.

That first ever 15-a-side GAA inter-county match took place on May 4, 1913 – 100 years ago this week.