Fifteen years before the birth of the G.A.A., the Killimer Hurling Club provided the first ever book of rules written for the modern game of hurling.  The first ever inter country match war between South Galway and North Tipperary, played in Dublin in 1886.

In the first ever Inter-County Hurling Championship, Galway were represented by Meelick.  In 1887 they played against Castlebridge, ?The Bold Shemaliers? who represented Wexford.  The game was played in Elan Park, Dublin and the Meelick men carried the day.  After the game, the teams exchanged hurleys, as a memento.

The first Connacht Hurling Championship was played in 1899.  The competition was played at Claremorris with Ardrahan representing Galway.  They played and defeated Mayo, and then, after an hours rest, went on to win against Sligo.

So Galway have a long and distinguished hurling history.  They always had to arrive in Croke Park the hard way, not for them the advantage of match play; not for them the greatest training of all ? tough testing championship games.

And so it is very good to see them playing such a match in Pearse Stadium next Sunday.  We are guaranteed a wholehearted displayed of Ireland?s oldest game, the world?s fastest field game. So out with the maroon and lets to the stadium and give them out best support.

So we thought to show you some fine hurlers about fifty years ago, representing the Jes at under age level.  They are:

Back row, left to right: Colm O?Carra; Pádraic Keanan; Alban Kelly-Mór; ______ Lally; Frank Bailey.

Middle row: ___________; Niall McConn; _______ O?Carra, Newcastle; Tom Corbett; Tom Mannion; Aodh O?Dochartaigh.

In front are Brendan Healy, Brian Walshe & Niall Duignan.

Our thanks to Brian Walshe for this photograph.