Armagh have paid the penalty

IN Armagh, they still talk about the penalty and what could have been. They reckon no man could take a penalty like Bill McCorry.

His tree stump legs unleashed the hardest shot in the north. Jim McKnight, a survivor from Armagh's first All-Ireland final, recalled the man responsible for the most infamous miss in their history.

"Bill took the best penalties I ever saw. He would make sure ball, keeper, everything would go behind the line." On that September afternoon 49 years ago, McCorry hitting a penalty as hard as he ever had, watched it sail past the post and wide. For the remaining 12 minutes, the Armagh flame simply flickered as Kerry captured their 17th All-Ireland title.

The 1953 final broke all kinds of new ground. Armagh were the first side from the six counties to contest an All-Ireland final. When the GAA hierarchy fumbled in their till, they discovered £10,904/9s/1d taken as receipts, a remarkable record for its time. The official attendance stood at a record breaking 85,166, although well over 7,000 people managed to sneak in. The Tuesday before, the Kingdom was rocked by a controversy so great it splashed itself across the front page of the national newspapers. Kerry captain Paud Sheehy was sensationally dropped for the final. A Garda James Murphy took the reins. Meanwhile, on the shores of Lough Neagh, Armagh spent a week in a training camp under the watchful eye of John Valallely, "a well known all round athlete and physical culture expert."

Valallely had taken a month off from his teaching job and for a week instilled a strict regime for his Armagh players. The minutes before the game were pure mayhem. Over 7,000 people got in for free when three gates were broke down by the pressure of the crowd.

Kerry made all the early running, and were two points ahead after five minutes. Armagh had to wait until the 15th minute to get their first score from Gerry O'Neill, but two minutes later, Mal McEvoy scored a goal.

In true Kerry fashion, they responded with a brace from Tadhg Lyne.

Armagh retreated for their half time tea, with a lead of 1-3 to 0-5.

As the second half got underway, Armagh added to their advantage with two more points. Then Kerry went on a nineteen minute scoring spree. Six points in that period put them four points ahead. Armagh only trailed by two points. Brian Sealey bombed a ball into the Kerry goal. The Armagh players protested the Kerry keeper had stepped over the line. The umpire didn't flag it. The referee was Peter 'the man in the cap' McDermott. He awarded Armagh a penalty, and then McCorry shot wide.

Kerry went on to win 0-13 to 1-6 with JJ Sheehan crowning a great display, with a point near the end.

The bittersweet memories have been a long time fading in Armagh. KERRY: J Foley; J Murphy, E Roche, D Murphy. C Kennelly, J Cronin; JM Palmer, S Murphy, MD Hannifin, J Brosnan, JJ Sheehan, T Lyne, T Ashe, J Kelly, J Lyne. Sub G. O' Sullivan for Hanafin.

ARMAGH: E McMahon; G Morgan, J Bratten, J McKnight, F Kernan, P O'Neill, J Quinn; M O'Hanlon, M McEvoy; J. Cunningham, B. Seeley, B McCorry, P Campbell, A O'Hagan, G O'Neill. Subs: Wilson for McMahon; Murphy for Wilson and Quinn.