Heroes homecoming for Kilkenny hurlers after winning 1922 hurling championship

Killkenny, 11 September 1923 -The Kilkenny hurlers have received a rapturous welcome home to the Marble city after defeating Tipperary at Croke Park on the 9th of September to secure the delayed All-Ireland Championship title for 1922. The victorious team’s train pulled into the station in Kilkenny City at 9.3pm amid scenes of unprecedented jubilation.

Whatever about recent political divisions, this was a county united and all classes of local citizens turned out to cheer their conquering heroes, with hats, caps and handkerchiefs waved aloft by the large cheering crowds. So enthusiastic, indeed, were some of the waiting supporters that as soon as some of the players disembarked from their train carriages, they were thrust upon shoulders and carried to the Central Hotel where they were staying for the night.

The procession to the hotel was led by the St. John’s Brass Band and the route was lined with blazing barrels of tar. The cheering crowds were not inclined to retreat once the team entered the Central Hotel so a number of the party, including captain Wattie Dunphy and trainer P. Lanigan, prevailed upon to make short addresses where the message was a uniform determination to try and retain the coveted title for 1923. The players, some of whom had adopted disguises in order to leave the hotel, are expected to return to their various locales today where further receptions and celebrations are guaranteed. 

Pathé newsreel footage of the 1922 hurling final, held in September 1923

The match itself was a thrilling affair and hugely attended -  over 30 special trains were put on to carry spectators from practically all corners of the island to Dublin. And they were not to be disappointed this was a quality contest, the standard of play reaching heights which, according to some observers, have only seldom, if ever, been reached before.

This was the first meeting of these two teams - Kilkenny and Tipperary - in an All-Ireland decider since the 1916 championship when the Premier men emerged triumphant, avenging their previous defeat to the same opposition in the 1913 final. However, on neither of those two occasions, was the same prize on offer as this year. When the President of the G.A.A Mr. Dan McCarthy TD, handed the silver challenge cup to the Kilkenny captain, Wattie Dunphy, the Mooncoin-man became only the second recipient of a trophy that had been gifted by well-known London GAA stalwart, Mr. Liam McCarthy. The trophy was first awarded earlier this year to Limerick for winning the delayed hurling championship for 1921.  

THE 1922 HURLING FINAL - KEY STATS
Score-line:  Kilkenny 4-2 (14), Tipperary 2-6 (12)
Attendance: 26,119
Gate Receipts: £2,403 7 0

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]