Dunmore and the dawn of the club series
THE Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran was the setting early last month when the footballers of Dunmore MacHales and St Joseph's were joined by clubmates and supporters to celebrate, reminisce and relive some golden memories from their All-Ireland club final meetings of 50 years ago.
The Donegal club, an amalgamation of Bundoran and Ballyshannon, defeated Dunmore on an aggregate scoreline over two legs, played on a home and away basis, and though given unofficial status at the time, it was the first All-Ireland senior club football final ever played and paved the way for the prestigious competition that exists today.
The Donegal club, an amalgamation of Bundoran and Ballyshannon, defeated Dunmore on an aggregate scoreline over two legs, played on a home and away basis, and though given unofficial status at the time, it was the first All-Ireland senior club football final ever played and paved the way for the prestigious competition that exists today.