1947 GAA heroics available to view with IFI

The IFI has launched its new GAA Collection on the IFI Player, which features All-Ireland football finals from 1947 to 1959 and hurling finals from 1948 to 1968.

Sports fanatics have a chance to relive Cavan's heroics on the football field in 1947 after the the GAA Collection from The Irish Film Institute (IFI) was available to watch for free for a limited time only.

The IFI has launched its new GAA Collection on the IFI Player, which features All-Ireland football finals from 1947 to 1959 and hurling finals from 1948 to 1968.

The matches were filmed by some of Ireland's most famous cameramen, from Bob Monks to Brendan Stafford, Vincent Corcoran, and George Fleischman.

The 1947 Cavan v Kerry film can view viewed online HERE.

The IFI says of the archive film: 'In 1947, as a commemoration of the centenary of the Great Famine and to revitalise Gaelic games in America, the All-Ireland Football Final was held in New York.

'The game was played in the Polo Grounds, home of the New York Giants baseball team. The scorching conditions were difficult for players and the unusually shaped pitch was bone dry. Kerry started much better and built up an eight-point lead.'

'However, the switch of Cavan’s P.J. Duke from midfield to his more customary wing half back position would transform the game in Cavan’s favour.

'Among the leading Kerry scorers were Batt Garvey and Tom Gega O’Connor, while they also had a formidable defence including goalkeeper Dan O’Keefe and full-back Joe Keohane.

'Cavan’s Peter Donohue scored eight points and was described as the ‘Babe Ruth of Gaelic football’ by the New York press. Other Cavan heroes were legendary captain John Joe O’Reilly, Mick Higgins and Tony Tighe.'