Kerry shine in the Big Apple

Amid all the nostalgia and celebration of the 1947 Cavan-Kerry commemoration, a couple of stars emerged. One was the venue, Downing Stadium on Randall's Island, New York city. A compact ground with a capacity of 30,000, it may be a bit shabby, but compared to the current GAA headquarters at Gaelic Park, it's a palace. It was generally held that the association could do worse than acquire the ground as its permanent home in New York. John Wilson, the former Tanaiste and one of the 1947 survivors honoured at the weekend, said: "The quality of the playing pitch and its size amazed me. Compared with the Polo Grounds, it's in a different league. I'd love if it were possible to purchase it as a headquarters for the GAA here."

On the pitch, Maurice Fitzgerald's 1-10 evoked memories of the New York media's reaction to Peter Donoghue's eight-point haul for Cavan 50 years ago. Lionised for his contribution by the local sportswriters, Donoghue was dubbed the "Babe Ruth of Gaelic football".

During an afternoon when many of the participants struggled to emulate the footballing prowess of Dr Ruth, Fitzgerald rescued the match from anti-climax with another remarkable display of point-taking accuracy.

Unlike the Polo Grounds final, this year's match didn't command much coverage in the local media. The New York Times, which originally coined the Babe Ruth comparison, couldn't find room for a mention of it on any of its 536 pages.

The New York Post gave a straight, four-paragraph match report under the heading "Fitzgerald paces Kerry in Irish showcase" - a strong echo of "Donoghue's eight points pace 17-13 victory", the sub-heading on the Times report of 50 years ago.

Amongst the organising committee, there was relief and satisfaction at the successful completion of the project which was initiated 18 months ago. A voluntary body, it raised £350,000 and brought out all the survivors of the 1947 match and the relations of the deceased.

Patricia Sheridan, PRO of the committee, was hopeful that the event would lead to greater things: "I would like to see something built on it. I would love us to have a home like this. The atmosphere today was like being at Croke Park, the excitement leading up to the game. I think events like this definitely help the game here, like the '47 final did. You can see that from all the fans that turned out."

Financially, the crowd of 10,000 was an adequate success. "We did a lot of fund-raising and we're happy with the attendance. It means we're covered," she said.

Three matches took place on the afternoon and there were other events included on the schedule. The History of Ireland Performance Company performed a specially commissioned dance, representing the 1947 final with the referee's role taken by a black-clad solo dancer - a suitably agitated representation of Martin O'Neill who, in an act of heroic parsimony, was pressed into service because he was secretary of the Leinster Council and over in New York anyway.

A prominent referee, he was nonetheless reluctant to come out of retirement for the occasion, but relented in the end, only to earn undying controversy in Kerry for disallowing two of their goals.

As in 1947, the ball for Saturday's match was thrown in by the mayor of New York city, Rudy Giuliani, who showed that he had been well briefed with an informed introductory speech. Maybe election year had a role in his appearance, but he stayed on until half-time, longer than expected.

Among the crowd was a sizeable travelling contingent, including rugby international and Kerry All-Ireland medallist Mick Galway, who was visiting his three sisters and one brother in New York. Does he miss the football?

"Ah, not really. I'm happy with the road I took, but I still follow it. Being a Kerryman, what other choice do I have?"

The participants' reactions were governed by the mundane realities of the league match. "We took it very seriously," said Kerry coach Seamus MacGearailt. "It's the start of the league and important for us to get a few wins in before Christmas and take the pressure off us."

On the social side, he was happy to have met again Mick Higgins, the Cavan player who had been in charge of Longford in the days when the county won Leinster and league titles. MacGearailt had trained with them when working in Longford.

Stephen King, Cavan's captain, was disappointed but appreciative of the event. "It was a great occasion and it really brought home to us the significance of '47, which obviously none of us remember."