FROM THE ARCHIVES 1945 ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL - CAVAN V WEXFORD Cavan 1-4 Wexford 0-5BEFORE A record football semi-final crowd at Croke Park yesterday, Cavan, Ulster champions, qualified for the 1945 All-Ireland final (against Cork on September 23rd).
Despite the absence of trains and road services, the avenues to Croke Park streamed with people from 2 o'clock on.
Stands, sidelines and vantage points were filled a "final" crowd.
Leitrim boys qualified for the minor final against Dublin first time of meeting.
The pitch played fast, but the quality of football in the senior game was below the Cork-Galway standard of a week before.
The first half was played at a fast pace throughout, but so close was the tackling that few, if any, spectacular movements were built up; while both sets of forwards, closely marked by dour backs, missed many shots from point-blank range.
Big Tom O'Reilly, as right full for Cavan, might well be considered the hero of the game. Not alone did he come out field to order a positional change that almost immediately brought Stafford's brilliant and decisive goal midway in the second half, but when Wexford staged a gallant do-or-die rally in the closing minutes, it was Tom O'Reilly saved Cavan.
Galligan and Cully, too. were sound. Whilst John Joe O'Reilly and TP O'Reilly opened the road for winning movements, Wexford were hard battlers to the end of an hour broken by many minor injuries and frees.
The game lacked brilliancy, and hand passing was missing; the "box" interpretation of the Ulster pass changed the character of the play, and the style of Cork's win over Galway suggests a very close final.
Mr Brendan Nestor, of Galway, was a capable and strict referee.
O'Neill, for Wexford, starred; Kavanagh, Culleton, Goodison and Clancy were next.
Both sets of backs tackled so resolutely that scores came slowly. Kehoe saved a low shot from Higgins, but the Cavan man took his chance next time, opening the score with a point off a Cavan free.
O'Neill, on Wexford's left, raced through. F O'Reilly saved when Cavan's lines were under pressure.
Tackling was fierce, and few attractive movements developed in a dour game. T Kehoe had a free, and balanced scores at one point each. In the 22nd minute Cavan again took the lead, when Lieut Deignan swung a grand ball above the bar.
Wexford quickly were on terms when O'Neill raced to the 40 mark and shot the second Wexford minor. Cavan finished the half hour at a fast pace, Deignan, Tighe and TP O'Reilly put in stout work.
Deignan lashed a point through, and close on half-time he placed a fast centre in O'Donoghue's hands and an overhead drive landed Cavan's fourth.
Half-time: Cavan 0-4, Wexford 0-2.
Wexford opened well and pressed hard. T Kehoe was wide with a shot before shooting an accurate free for Wexford's third.
Tackling was too close to allow good football. Tom O'Reilly ordered a Cavan switch, which worked well, for Stafford, now at full forward, collared a flying ball and shot deadly to the net for the only goal of the hour.
The game was broken and ragged now, with frequent stops for injuries. Cavan pressed hard, meeting a sound, dogged defence.
Wexford finished with new heart. Clancy took a strong hand at midfield, and Kehoe pointed a free. Substitutes were called on in a desperate finish. O'Neill made some brilliant runs. Galligan and Tom O'Reilly shone in Cavan's defence, but Kehoe, having tried for a goal, put over a point for Wexford, and only a goal separated the teams.
Tom O'Reilly saved Cavan again and again at this stage. Des O'Neill now raced through for Wexford and swung a grand point across.
T O'Reilly was injured, but held on to a grim finish, and his backs held their lines from resolute Wexford attacks to the end.
The attendance at Croke Park for yesterday's Cavan-Wexford All-Ireland football semi-final was 44,526, and the gate receipts were £3,208. Both figures beat the previous semi-final record, made when Carlow and Kerry met last year.
Attendance is up by 3,799, and receipts by £693.
