Against the odds: Wexford's ambushes of Tipperary

1956 NHL final: May 6th, Croke Park

Wexford 5-9, Tipperary 2-14

"I will believe that Wexford can beat Tipperary in a major final when I see it on the scoreboard - after the match." These were the words of legendary Tipperary trainer Phil Purcell in the run-up to this League final - one of the most memorable in the competition's history. Last-minute goals by Tom Dixon and Nicky Rackard gave Wexford a four-point win but what made the match extraordinary was the half-time score.

Tipperary led by 15 points, 2-10 to 0-1. Wexford, All-Ireland champions for the first time in over 40 years the previous September, were the arrivistes and Tipp the old money.

Tipperary's Paddy Kenny scored 2-8 but the day belonged to Rackard who reputedly smashed a table full of glasses in the dressing-room at half-time. His total was 2-1 but he inspired the comeback.

John D Hickey in the Irish Independent wondered "if Christy Ring means more to Cork, or if Mick Mackey meant more to Limerick than does Nicky Rackarad to Wexford".

Rackard contented himself with hoping that "Phil Purcell took a good, long look at the scoreboard - after the match".

1960 All-Ireland final

September 4th, Croke Park

Wexford 2-15, Tipperary 0-11

An unfancied amalgam of survivors from the 1950s and newcomers, Wexford were complete outsiders in this final. Tipperary were on the verge of establishing themselves one of the great sides in the history of the game with four All-Irelands in the following five years. On this occasion, however, the match tilted wildly against them.

Although Wexford led by only two points at half-time it should have been more. Jimmy Doyle, the most celebrated forward of his generation, was held scoreless from play by a 19-year-old championship debutant John Nolan.

"There is not a man in the game capable of holding Jimmy Doyle for the full hour," commented the ever helpful Phil Purcell in an interview in the Sunday Review.

Shortly after half-time Hopper McGrath scored a goal for Wexford, who raised their game sensationally and outscored Tipperary 1-8 to 0-3 in the second half.

1968 All-Ireland final

September 1st, Croke Park

Wexford 5-8, Tipperary 3-12

Outsiders again, Wexford were overrun in the first half as a Tipperary attack in which Babs Keating was very prominent, raced into an eight-point lead, 1-11 to 0-3. The centre of the attack was to prove the game-breaker for Wexford.

It was Tony Doran's first All-Ireland and he switched from the 40 to full forward with Jack Berry dropping back to centre forward. They scored 2-1 and 2-2 respectively. For nearly the entire second half, Tipp managed only one point. Two consolation goals came in the dying minutes.

The match was also notable for the performance of Mick Roche, the Tipperary captain, who lined out at centre back. There is a widely-shared view that no one has ever played better on a losing side in an All-Ireland final.

Wexford won both the senior and minor finals that day. Neither would be won again for another 28 years.