GAA figures Pat Spillane, John O’Mahony and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh paid great tribute to Macra na Feirme at the Challenge Cup post-match reception on 13 June.

The match took place earlier that evening as the McHale Shamrocks took on the Massey Kickhams with 60 Macra na Feirme members lining out. All-Ireland winning manager John O’Mahony donned the Banisteoir bib once more to take charge of McHale Shamrocks, while in opposition he had All-Ireland winning footballer and GAA analyst Pat Spillane, who took charge of the Massey Kickhams.

All players received a commemorative medal at the post-match banquet and were treated to a few great tales of the early years of GAA broadcasting from legendary commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, including the little-known fact that the very first radio broadcast of a sporting event in Europe was the 1926 All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Galway and Kilkenny on 2RN. This was because the BBC was prevented from broadcasting sporting events before 7pm as it was feared at the time that it would damage newspaper sales.

Wireless

He also regaled the audience with tales of the first GAA commentators, men such as Paddy Mehigan and Seán Ó Ceallacháin who stood among the crowd with their equipment – there were no press boxes at the time – and broadcast the match as it happened to every wireless in Ireland.

It was no surprise that Massey Kickhams manager Pat Spillane was well up for the game. Speaking beforehand, he said: ‘‘The ultimate dream for any GAA player is to play in Croke Park. I was privileged enough to be a part of the greatest Gaelic football team of all time. I played in 10 All-Ireland finals with Kerry and won eight. It’s Mecca, it’s the place to be. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get the Croke Park experience and until the day they die they can tell their children, grandchildren, friends and neighbours that they played in Croke Park.’’

McHale Shamrocks manager John O’Mahony said: ‘‘Macra na Feirme has its tentacles in every parish throughout rural Ireland. It’s very similar to the GAA in that respect and it makes today’s occasion a great fit. There are major challenges facing rural Ireland and it is organisations such as Macra na Feirme that make a difference where there is a need to equalise development around the country.’’