From the archive: Cavan v Cork, 1967

One of the best-ever Cavan sides unlucky to lose to the Rebels

Our archive photo is from a match that has prompted bitter regret for Cavan football followers for over five decades.

Fifty-three years ago last week, the Cavan senior footballers were very unlucky to lose to Cork by a point in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final at Croke Park.

The match finished 2-7 to 0-12 in favour of the Rebels. Cavan had beaten Down in the Ulster final and were fancied to do well but a hotly-disputed penalty for the Munster champions, and one not given at the other end for the Blues, were reckoned to have cost the Mick Higgins-trained side a place in the All-Ireland final.

Cavan captain Charlie Gallagher had a chance to level it with the last kick but his free from 50 metres trailed agonisingly wide.

Pictured above is the Cavan team who lost to Cork in the 1967 All-Ireland semi-final. Back (from left): Ray Carolan, Brendan Murtagh, Micheál Greenan, Gabriel Kelly, Seamus Galligan, Andy McCabe, Steve Duggan, Jimmy O’Donnell, Peter Pritchard. Front: Brendan Donohoe, Tom Lynch, John Joe O’Reilly, Charlie Gallagher (capt.), Phil Murray, Pat Tinnelly.