Mayo 1975 All-Ireland Vocational Schools Winners

Fifty years ago this year, Mayo won their second of three Vocational Schools titles, their first coming in 1971, with the most recent in 1982.  Having first competed at this level in 1964, Mayo did not enjoy any success until 1971 when they won their first Connacht title, and subsequently went on to win the All-Ireland, beating Antrim in the final.  Mayo dominated in Connacht during the 1970s, and in 1975 they enjoyed facile wins over Leitrim by 4-11 to 0-5 and Galway by 2-10 to 0-2 to claim the provincial title. In the All-Ireland semi-final they faced tougher opposition, overcoming Kerry by 1-10 to 1-9 to qualify for the final.  They went into this game against Tyrone as underdogs, a team that included future senior stars Aidan Skelton and Damian O’ Hagan, but they tore the formbook to shreds, winning comfortably by 1-15 to 0-11, a margin that could have been much greater, as they also shot 18 wides.  The team was trained by Tommy O’ Malley, a Mayo Senior at the time, and a man who gave great service to Mayo GAA over a long period.

Scorers: Pat Dixon (1-2); Stephen Joyce (0-5); Patsy Walsh (0-3); Charlie Collins (0-3); Joe Flynn (0-1); Mickey Griffin (0-1).

Mayo:

Eugene Lavin (Kiltimagh)

Niall O’ Donnell (Westport)         John Loughney (Lacken)                               Pat Kilbane (Achill)

Miceál Collins (Lacken)                  Tim Griffin (Claremorris)               Padraic Moran (Westport)

Martin Coleman (Claremorris)    Stephen Joyce (Ballinrobe)

Mickey Griffin (Claremorris)        Michael Biggins (Ballinrobe)        Charlie Collins (Lacken)

Patsy Walsh (Ballinrobe)               Pat Dixon (Capt) (Claremorris)   Joe Flynn (Castlebar)

Subs: Gerry O’ Mahoney (Ballina) for P. Kilbane; Eddie Conway (Achill) for M. Biggins; Pascal Weir (Achill); Stephen McNulty (Achill); Tony O’ Donnell (Rossport); T J Gaughan (Geesala); Joe Fadian (Achill).  George Reilly (Westport) and Francis Moran (Westport) were part of the panel for the earlier rounds, but had left school by the time the final was played.

Many of this team went on to greater things in the years ahead.  Stephen Joyce enjoyed a long career in the Maroon & White of Galway, playing in the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Final.  Miceál Collins & Eugene Lavin were involved with Mayo throughout much of the 1980s, and when they reached the 1989 All-Ireland Final, while Pat Dixon and Patsy Walsh enjoyed great days with their respective clubs Garrymore and Hollymount. Joe Flynn enjoyed the distinction of winning County Junior titles with Parke in three different decades, 1976, 1981 & 1997, while Charlie Collins played in a County Senior final with Lacken, won a County Senior Hurling title with North Mayo, and is still involved to this day in Mayo GAA as a referee and steward here in MacHale Park.

 

 

 

Back L-R: John Loughney, Joe Flynn, Gerry O’ Mahoney, Martin Coleman, Eugene Lavin, Tommy Griffin, Eddie Conway, Padhraic Moran.

Front L-R: Pat Kilbane, Miceál Collins, Mickey Griffin, Stephen Joyce, Patsy Walsh, Pat Dixon (Capt), Charlie Collins, Michael Biggins, Niall O’ Donnell.