Galway GAA to honour 1986 All-Ireland Minor winners

Guests of honour at Sunday's rescheduled county football finals

Galway's All-Ireland Minor Football Championship winning team from 1986 will be the guests of honour at Sunday afternoon's County Senior and Intermediate finals at Pearse Stadium. This year marks the 40th anniversary of that victory when Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, New York, Down and Cork were all defeated on the road to glory.

It was the fifth time that the county won the U-18 All-Ireland following on from previous titles in 1952, '60, '70 and '76. Galway would go on to further success at the grade in 2007 and more recently in 2022 when the age limit was reduced to U-17.

Galway went into the 1986 championship with promising early season form after capturing the Connacht Minor League title. Tommy Finnerty and goal scorer Peter Maher combined for 1-8 in their facile 1-12 to 1-0 provincial opening round win over Sligo.

A lengthy break due to Leaving Cert exams preceded their semi-final with Leitrim. Finnerty scored two first half goals before Kevin Walsh, an effective target at full-forward, and Tommy McDonald added two more in a 4-14 to 1-4 result. Tomás Mannion and Fergal O'Neill were also prominent in the scoring stakes.

Mayo, who were All-Ireland champions at the grade in 1985, overcame Roscommon on the opposite side of the draw. But Galway dominated their 'old firm' final in Dr. Hyde Park to prevail by 1-9 to 2-1 despite an opening half that brought Mayo goals for Joe Mulroy and John French.

Galway had drawn level by the break, their goal coming from Peter Maher's opportunism, while Tomás Kilcommins and Finnerty kicked the bulk of their points. Alan Mulholland, John Joyce and O'Neill were praised highly in that week's Tuam Herald. It became a maroon and white provincial double as the county's seniors snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Roscommon.

Galway trounced New York in a one-sided 'home' All-Ireland quarter-final by 4-20 to 1-4. Maher completed his hat-trick and Maurice McDonagh was also among the goals. Finnerty and O'Neill combined for 11 points as the team's sights soon switched to a semi-final test against Down.

"It is widely accepted that this is an exceptional year for the minor grade with Galway, Down, Dublin and Cork all regarded as fine sides with considerable natural ability", wrote Jim Carney in The Tuam Herald. "Any one of the four could probably be installed as warm favourites in other seasons, but with such all-round excellence this year, it is difficult to make predictions."

Galway shone brightly against the Ulster champions but only after 'keeper Adrian Brennan was called upon for an early save. Brian Silke, Francis McWalter and Ger Farrell, on for the injured Bosco Walsh, were lauded for their displays in the full-back line and giving a half line of Padraig Fallon, Mulholland and Michael Tarpey the scope to stamp their imprint on the game. Mannion and Finnerty accounted for 3-6 in a superb 3-10 to 0-6 victory.

Galway went on to deliver the All-Ireland under John Tobin and his management team. Mannion, Maher and Finnerty scored the all-important goals in a 3-8 to 2-7 victory over the Rebels, with Maher the hero of the hour by volleying home what proved the winning score.

Afterwards, Galway captain John Joyce lifted the Tom Markham Cup. Sadly, the Salthill clubman died in 1997 at the age of 29. Another panel member in Annaghdown's Tommy Greaney, a talented footballer and hurler, also had his life cut short at 21.

The Galway team, subs and scorers in the All-Ireland final were: Adrian Brennan (St. Michael's); Brian Silke (Corofin), Francis McWalter (Monivea-Abbey), Ger O'Farrell (Salthill); Padraig Fallon (St. Brendan's), Alan Mulholland (0-1, Salthill), Michael Tarpey (Corofin); John Joyce (0-1, captain, Salthill), Kevin Walsh (0-2, Killannin); Tomás Kilcommins (0-2, St. Brendan's), Fergal O'Neill (Glenamaddy), Maurice McDonagh (0-1, Tuam Stars); Tomás Mannion (1-0, Monivea-Abbey), Peter Maher (1-1, Monivea-Abbey), Tommy Finnerty (1-0, Oughterard). Subs used: Bosco Walsh (Killannin), John Mitchell (Caherlistrane), Norman Costello (Salthill).

Galway's 1986 All-Ireland Minor winners will be presented to the crowd at half-time in Sunday's Senior Football Championship final between Maigh Cuilinn and Salthill-Knocknacarra.