Five years earlier, the Dubs went to Cork.
When Munster beat the mighty All-Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978, it inspired a highly successful play by John Breen.
Maybe, some day, all the drama of the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final replay will make it to the stage of the Opera House and The Gaiety Theatre.
Father Joe Kennedy brilliantly captured the occasion.
For years, he ran the Dublin Supporter’s Buses from Mount Argus. That began in 1974 when Dublin won the All-Ireland.
It looked like Dublin were going out in the semi-final of ’83. Until Barney Rock’s late goal ensured a replay.
Father Joe’s piece began with the suspense of where the replay would be played. In Croke Park, or, as Cork requested, in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“It was a long wait,” he wrote. As everybody waited for news.
Father Joe Kennedy has fond memories of 1983
Eventually, white smoke rose from Jones’s Road. He learned of the decision the next night by listening to Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin’s radio sports bulletin.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh it would be. On the following Sunday. It would be the first All-Ireland semi-final to be held outside Croke Park since 1941.
“First thing on Tuesday morning, I got onto CIE’s Private Bus Hire department,” explained Father Joe.
“How many buses do you want?” asked the lady.
“How many do you have?” he replied.
When the order was confirmed, he sent the details to his friends in the Irish Independent, Evening Herald and Evening Press.
“For the next few days, the phone never stopped ringing.”
Barney Rock of Dublin contests a high ball with Cork goalkeeper Michael Creedon
Many years later, as he sat in Mount Argus on a summer’s morning, he reflected: “I think we ended up with 14 buses leaving from here.”
That was after 7am Mass. “By 8.am, the last of the buses had set off from the front gates.
“It was the greatest exodus of Dublin supporters that had ever taken place
“It was dull and overcast. But we were in good spirits. And by the time we got to Cashel, the sun had come out.”
Before the game, in the scorching August heat, the banter was bouncing along the Cork streets.
“The Cork and Dublin fans mingled so well. They shared a good sense of humour.
“The Dubs would belt out Molly Malone. The locals responded with ‘The Banks.’”
Just outside the turnstiles, he spotted a Dub selling Cork flags and scarves.
Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan at the final whistle
“I asked him politely why he wasn’t selling the Dublin colours.
“He replied that he had run out of all his Dublin stuff in Cork the night before, adding:
“’Father, they talk about a recession, but I can tell you there’s no recession down here!’
“A Garda approached me and remarked: ‘God, Father, it’s great to see the Dubs down here. Cork has never seen anything like this.’
“As I took my seat in the open stand, I fully realised what he meant.
“I was astonished as I looked down at the Blackrock end. It was like Hill 16 when the Dubs were in Croke Park, but this time with even more colour and sound.
“All the Cork fans were at the City End. Both ends were singing and chanting, and the whole stadium joined in.”
In his piece, Father Joe stated that the stadium clock had just skipped past 1.30 when the Dublin team and officials walked out onto the turf.
“The roar that greeted them could have been heard out in Bantry Bay.
“As I discovered later, that was the single, most important moment in the team’s build-up to the match.”
Dublin selector Lorcan Redmond told him: “When we walked out, we were simply overwhelmed by the whole spectacle. There was navy and blue everywhere.
“We just knew in our hearts then that we just couldn’t let our supporters down.
“We all know that a match is never won before the throw-in, but I felt it was that moment that won us the game.”
The curtain-raiser was the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship semi-final in which Cork beat Kilkenny.
Anytime Kilkenny scored, the Dubs cheered!
Father Joe tells the tale of the Ranelagh Gael, Liam O’Hagan.
When Brian Mullins converted a penalty, Liam raised his Blue Panther banner. Not realising he was at the Cork end of the ground. With the Cork people packed in behind him on the terraces.
“I asked him what he did for the remainder of the game. ‘Ah, I just held up the banner when we scored the goals. I didn’t bother with the points!’”
The enjoyment of the day was enhanced by the warmth of the locals.
“They were so welcoming towards us. They were saying well done, you deserved it.
“And the Dubs were saying that Cork were unlucky the first day.”
Back at the bus dpot, Father Joe did a head count.
One lad was missing. It was revealed that he had met a girl from Bandon and decided to stay on.
His father had a worried look. “What will I tell his mother when I get home?”
Everyone else was thinking that the young chap would wake up……….many miles from Arbour Hill!
The blue convoy left the banks of the Lee. By bus, train, car “and even on Honda 50’s.”
As Christy Moore would say “the craic was ninety.”
“We were all in great form,” tells Father Joe. “There was a mighty sing-song on the bus.
“There was such a rendition of Molly Malone that none of us would have been surprised had her ghost appeared and wheeled her wheel-barrow down the middle of the bus!”
He got word that the Dublin team were stopping for their post-match meal at the Kilcoran Lodge Hotel in Cahir.
“I told the passengers. I asked if it would be alright to stop in Cahir instead of our scheduled stop in Cashel.
“Well, the roof nearly came off the bus. It was an unexpected treat.”
A group of Dublin followers talked about following the Irish soccer team to Wembley, Holland, France and Belgium.
“But we have never experienced anything like we did in Cork.”
Dubs’ selector Donal Colfe stated. “It was a day not to be missed. Never to be forgotten.”
Last week was the golden anniversary of Dublin’s All-Ireland success in 1974.
Kevin Heffernan suggested the ’83 semi-final replay in Cork was, perhaps, the most golden day of all.
“It was one of the most memorable sporting occasions of all time,” declared Kevin.
“Everything was perfect. The organisation and the arrangements for the fixture were excellent. The spirit among the crowd. The friendly atmosphere. The place was electric.
“That performance was the highlight of our year. Every one of the lads played their part.
“Brian (Mullins) was inspirational. Kieran Duff had the game of his life. Barney (Rock) is a remarkable footballer. He can always pop up in the right place and score.”
Just like he did in front of the Hill in that first game in Croke Park. Which led to the replay. And to the refrain that:
‘Páirc Uí Chaoimh had never seen the likes of Heffo’s Army.’
