At the first quarterly meeting of the GAA’s central executive in Dublin on February 27th, 1887, a draw was made for the first All-Ireland Hurling and Football Championships. Twelve counties, including Louth, had entered for the football in time and were paired as follows:

• Louth v Waterford       
• Limerick v Meath
• Kilkenny v Cork
• Tipperary v Dublin
• Wexford v Galway
• Clare v Wicklow

Tipperary and Clare received walk-overs from Dublin and Wicklow, due to the failure to travel to the appointed venues. Wexford entered the second round unopposed owing to Galway’s withdrawal.

2nd Round
Louth v Wexford; Limerick v Kilkenny; Tipperary v Clare

Semi-Final
Limerick v Tipperary; Louth a bye

FINAL
Limerick (Commercials) 1-4 Louth (Dundalk Young Irelands) 0-3

Young Irelands trained for the match against Waterford (Ballyduff Lower) in McCann’s field (now Broughton Street). They also arranged with the G.N.R. to run a special train from Dundalk on the day of the match, calling at Castlebellingham and Dunleer. Eight hundred people travelled with the Young Irelands team to the match. The game, at Elm Park, Merrion, Dublin on July 24th, which began at 12.24pm and was refereed by Willie Halpin, Newmarket-on-Fergus, had added significance in that it was the first inter-county championship played under G.A.A. rules. Ten thousand people watched the match and the one following, Limerick (Commercials) against Meath (Dowdstown).

Waterford had territorial dominance in the first half and led 0-3 (forfeit) to 0-1 at the interval. Play was resumed after four minutes, despite Waterford’s claim to a fifteen minute break. On the re-start, Waterford went further ahead with a point, which was to be their last score of the game. As the half progressed Louth’s superiority in the middle began to tell. After four points had been scored, Charles McAlester set the seal on victory with a well-taken goal. A fisted point by Pat Morgan was soon followed by two forfeited points. With five minutes to go, after Bernard Whately and one of the Waterford players were involved in a scuffle, the referee sent both players to the line for two minutes. No further score resulted and at the final whistle Louth were deserving winners of the first inter-county football championship game by 1-8 (2 forfeits) to 0-4 (1 forfeit)

Louth (Dundalk Young Irelands, green and black jerseys);
Edward Feeley (goal), Henry Fagan, John McCrave, John Dowdall, Edward Goodman, Pat McGuinness, Jack Connor, Michael John Carroll (captain), James Campbell, Pat Morgan, Ned McAlester, Tom Murphy, John Maguire, Jim Keating, Michael Robbs, Tom Caraher, Pat Curtis, Tom O’Rourke, Tom Stewart, Charles McAlester, Bernard Whately (vice-captain).

In the second round Louth were fixed to play Wexford (Castlebridge) at St. Patrick’s club grounds, Goldenbridge, Kilmainham, Dublin on August 28th. On arriving by train in Dublin shortly after 10.00am, the Young Irelands team went to the Tavistock Hotel, 17 D’Olier Street where, after togging out, they travelled by train to Kilmainham for the match. About 5,000 people were present to watch the match and the following one between Limerick and Kilkenny (Kilmacow).

J.K. Bracken, Templemore, refereed. Louth, who played with the wind, were soon on the attack and put the elements to good use to lead 0-7 (3 forfeits) to 0-0 at half-time. On the turnover, Wexford came more into the game and succeeded in scoring two points and three forfeit games. However, they were unable to break down a resolute Louth defence in the closing stages and were defeated 0-7 (3 forfeits) to 0-5 (3 forfeits).

After accounting for Tipperary, Limerick qualified to meet Louth in the first All-Ireland football final at the Benburbs club grounds, Donnybrook, Dublin, on April 29th, 1888 (O’Byrne’s field at Beech Hill was then the home ground of the Benburbs club (Donnybrook). It was situated half-way between Clonskeagh and Donnybrook). The first indication that Young Irelands received of the match was a reference to it in the Freeman’s Journal on the Friday morning prior to the game. This was followed by a letter in the mid-day post from Tim O’Riordan, Hon. Secretary, stating that arrangements had been made “to play off the match on Sunday”. Young Irelands protested at the shortness of notice, but the central executive refused any postponement and the game went ahead as planned.

Sport of the day contained the following description of the game: “The game started at 2.30pm. Louth won the toss and played with the wind. For ten minutes the defence of the Commercials were sorely tried as the Louth men, playing in magnificent style, got hold of the ball on each kick and returned it by their clever hand-play and punting right in front of the Limerick goal which, however, they were unable to capture, three points being the sum total of their score. The Commercials, after keeping the ball for a few minutes on Louth’s goal line, it was worked by one of the defenders to one side, where it found its way through the point space. In the latter part of this half the ball never remained very long in either territory and was never in dangerous proximity to either goal. The score at half-time remained Young Irelands 0-3 Commercials 0-1. A minute after change of sides, the Commercials forced the Young Irelands to kick out; this was repeated a few times. Again Young Irelands found that style of play which they had developed to an extraordinary degree – hopping the ball on the hand – to be the old reliable for transferring the scene of the operations. This, however, was only temporary, being followed by the commercials gaining a goal. Tom McNamara got procession of the ball in his own territory on the left wing and succeeded in dribbling it down to the Young Irelands 21-yards mark, where he centered it. It finally went to W.J. Spain, who very cleverly kicked a goal. After this Louth died somewhat and Limerick, without much difficulty, totted up three additional points. Twelve minutes remained, and the Young Irelands men, rousing themselves, tried hard to score, but Limerick held out”.

Final Score: Limerick (Commercials) 1-04  Louth (Dundalk Young Irelands) 0-3. The referee was John Cullinane, Bansha, Co. Tipperary, later on an M.P. Gate receipts for the gamecame to £300. For Louth, Michael J. Carroll was outstanding, despite an early injury. In defence John Dowdall had a good game and Tom Murphy excelled himself with some skilful play, his punting being especially of a high order.

Louth (Dundalk Young Irelands):  Edward Feeley (goal), Pat Clarke, John Dowdall, Henry Fagan, Jack Connor, John McCrave, Pat McGuinness, Tom Murphy, Edward Murphy, Tom O’Rourke, William Whately, Arthur O’Hagan, Michael John Carroll (captain), Pat Morgan, Edward Goodman, John Maguire, *Jim Keating, James Campbell, Pat McGinn, Peter Jackson, Tom Lavery. Reserve: Sam Keating. Arthur O’Hagan and Tom Lavery replaced Charles McAlester and Ned McAlester who did not play owing to the death of their uncle.

Limerick (Commercials): Denis Corbett (goal and captain), Tm Fitzgibbon, Willie Gunning, Richard Breen, John Hyland, Tom McNamara, William J.Spain, Patrick J. Corbett, Mick Slattery, Jeremiah R Kennedy, Mick Casey, Jim Mulqueen, Malachai O’Brien, Pat Kelly, Tim Kennedy, Philip Keating, Willie Cleary, Robert Normoyle, Pat Reeves, Tom Keating, T McMahon.

Before the start of the game, the Young Irelands captain objected to W.J. Spain playing with Cmmercials, on the grounds that he had been involved in the Dublin county championship the previous year with the Dublin Kickhams club against the Grocer’s Assisitant’s club. This as more authoritatively submitted to the central executive on the written statement of Thomas J. Smyth of the Grocer’s club, the Young Irelands stating that if their objection was sustained, they would prefer to replay the match. Alderman John Mangan, representing Louth, was present whrn the central executive met in Dublin on the day following the match. After some discussion, the central executive ruled that Thomas J Smyth’s statement could not be proved conclusively and over-ruled the objection, awarding the first All-Ireland football championship to Limerick Commercials.

Extract from “The GAA in Louth – an Historical Record” by Rev. John Mulligan S.M. (Hon. President of Dundalk Young Irelands GFC).