IT was the showdown of the
decade and Croke Park
was more like Casablanca.
The 1930s belonged to
Limerick and Kilkenny —
between them they had won
six All-Irelands and faced
each other in three finals.
Their meeting in the 1933
final drew a record crowd of
around 45,000 and by the
time they met in the 1940
decider that number had
jumped to nearly 50,000.
Amongst them were
diplomats from the opposing
sides in World War II.
It was the first anniversary
of the start of war and
representatives of Britain and
Nazi Germany were pictured
at the game.
Taoiseach Éamon de Valera
was there with his sons Vivion
and Ruaidhrí for the clash of
hurling’s superpowers.
Sitting nearby in the Hogan
Stand were British diplomat
John Maffey, American
envoy David Gray and Nazi
Germany’s minister to Ireland
Eduard Hempel — as were
BY DAVE COUGHLANLIMERICK LOOK FOR
HISTORY TO REPEAT ITSELF