Memories from one of the greatest decades ... the Fifties.
Wexford v Cork 1956 All Ireland Final, goal mouth action under a high dropping ball ... or 'a schemozzle in the parallelogram ...' as Michael O'Hehir used to say!
There was little to be happy with in the gloomy Ireland of the Fifties, but at least the years from 1951 to '56 inclusive were a golden era of Wexford and Cork hurling ...
In the '51 final, Wexford's Nicky Rackard had the ball in the net after only two minutes and again after ten. But great second half saves from Rackard by the legendary Tipp goalie, Tony Reddan, saw the Premier county defeat Wexford by 7-7 to 3-9. '52, '53 and '54 saw Cork - powered by the great Christy Ring - complete a three-in-a-row, the final leg of the series being a defeat of Wexford, before an attendance of almost eighty five thousand people. Consolation for Wexford in '55 as they defeated Galway. Again, Rackard goaled after only two minutes, lighting the way to a first Wexford title in forty five years.
1956 saw what might be termed the 'tie breaker' between these two great 'Rebel' and 'Model' teams. Ring was hunting his ninthAll Ireland medal. Another Rackard goal was decisive, this time two minutes from the end. Seconds earlier, the great Art Foley had saved what looked like an unstoppable free from Ring. Although it whipped the historic medal from his grasp, as it were, Ring ran towards Foley, hand outstretched, to congratulate him.
This is a photo of true hurling legends … On the right hand side – ready to catch the ball - is the Wexford goalkeeper Art Foley (St Aidan's, Enniscorthy). Next is Bobby Rackard (Rathnure) who is closely marking Christy Ring (Glen Rovers) in the centre … next, wearing the number 3 jersey on the left is the Wexford full back Nick O'Donnell. The player he is grappling with may be either Terry Kelly (Tracton) the Cork full forward or Josie Hartnett (Glen Rovers) the Cork centre forward.
The Cork/Wexford sequence ended the following year, with a September tussle between the South Eastern neighbours, Kilkenny and Waterford, with the black-and-amber considered lucky to defeat an inexperienced Déise side.
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