Players from Cavan and Kerry recall their experience of the only All Ireland Football Final to be played outside the country .
Cavan and Kerry footballers who played the 1947 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final at the Polo Grounds in New York were honoured by the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland.
The football final of 1947 was the only time a final was played outside Ireland broadcast live by Radió Éireann.
Seven of ten surviving players were at the ceremony in Dublin yesterday to remember the unique occasion. Tony Tighe who played right half forward for Cavan has three All-Ireland medals, but says the one that stands out is from 1947.
Kerry player Mick Finucane recalls the players being impressed by New York and he sees the occasion now as something really special.
Air travel was another new experience for those travelling to New York and flight conditions made the 1947 journey a nerve wracking one.
I’d say there were four or five rosaries said on the way over.
Kerry had been tipped as favourites, but Cavan were the victors on the day, winning 2-11 to 2-7.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 May 2005. The reporter is Clare MacNamara.
