Recalling Kildare's 1905 All-Ireland Football Championship win

Those with a love of Irish culture will know that Heritage Week is a highlight of the Autumn schedule each year with thousands of events around the country.

Kildare has been to the fore in that regard and among the events this year will be one focusing on the Kildare side of 1905.

Pictured above is; Christopher McKenna (trainer), Bill Bracken, Jem Scott, Frank Conlan, Mick Murray, Larry Cribben, Mick Fitzgerald, Michael Fox (chairman); middle row: Jack Connolly, Tommy Kelly, William Merriman, Jack Murray (captain), Joe Rafferty, Jack Fitzgerald, Jack Gorman; front row: Edward Kennedy, Tom Keogh, Mick Kennedy, William Losty

The 1905 All-Ireland Football Championship was one of the most exciting to take place since the establishment of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

After twenty years of sometimes slow and erratic progress, football in all four provinces was finally becoming competitive.

In Ulster, only six provincial championships had been completed, with Monaghan, Armagh (2), Cavan (2), and Antrim taking the honours.

In 1904, Cavan had overcome 1903 champions Armagh – albeit they needed two replays before winning 0-8 to 0-4 after two draws.

In Connaught, Roscommon and Mayo were the ‘big two’, with Roscommon winning the western provincial title of 1903 against Mayo (1-02 to 0-04) and the Mayomen reversing matters for the 1904 title (3-6 to 0-1). Mayo’s win in 1900 was the only other championship.

In Munster, while Kerry were seeking three-in-a-row titles, the south remained quite an open province. Cork (7 titles) and Tipperary (5) led the roll of honour; with Kerry (3), and Limerick and Waterford (1), chasing them.

In Leinster, Dublin were the kingpins winning 10 of the 17 finals thus far, including 7 of the previous 9. Only Kildare (1903 Leinster champions) and Kilkenny (1900) were on a par with the Dubs.
Kilkenny had also been provincial runners-up in 1903 and 1904.

Gaelic Games in Kildare had been revived at the turn of the century by Dick Radley. He was ably assisted by Mr James Archer (chairman). Messrs McKenna, Rakin, Fox, and Lacey were also key figures in terms of the administrative work and organisational activities.

The Lillywhites had won the 1903 Leinster title, but would need to deliver something special in 1905. To win the All-Ireland title, they would have to defeat Dublin (1902 champions), Cavan (Ulster’s best), Offaly, Louth, and Kerry (1904 champions).
That opening match, against Dublin at Athy in August 1906, laid down a marker for the rest of the campaign. The Dubs were fresh from defeating a strong London side but Kildare grabbed the initiative from the outset and never let go. They eventually won by 0-6 to 0-2.

Notwithstanding the fact that the provincial championship had barely started, Kildare were nominated to represent the province in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cavan in September.

They made short work of a weakened Cavan side, comfortably winning by 4-16 to 1-6.

Back in Leinster, Kildare next faced Offaly who had romped past Meath. The match proved to be a slog and the Lilywhites had to dig deep, winning at Geashill in October, by 1-6 to 0-6, he all-important goal was delivered by Bill ‘Steel’ Losty.

The 1905 Leinster Final did not take place until January 1907, with Kildare holding on strong to win by 0-12 to 1-7. This was despite a laudable second-half comeback by Louth. It was an excellent match and the consensus was that it put the side ‘back on track.’

The All-Ireland Final did not take place until June 1907, at Thurles, as Kildare had initially refused to travel to Munster.
On the day, a 1-7 to 0-5 triumph was assured thanks to a powerful defensive performance which overwhelmed the Kerry forwards and midfielders alike.

The newspaper coverage of the matches was sometimes erratic, but the Leinster Leader was a stand-out in terms of the quality and directness of their reports.

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