Both Dublin and Galway were fortunate to have reached the final at all, as both needed late goals in the semi-finals just to stay in the championship.

Dublin salvaged a draw with Cork thanks to a Barney Rock goal in injury time, before beating them in a memorable replay at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Conditions were terrible on the day of the match, with a gale-force wind and driving rain making it impossible for the players to play constructive football, and the physical battle was more intense than usual.

Dublin's Barney Rock scored a bizarre goal from 40 yards after a poor free-out from Galway goalkeeper Pádraig Coyne.

They claimed the goal should not have been allowed due to Dublin manager Kevin Heffernan interfering with play as he tended to the injured Joe McNally.

Whatever peace remained was swiftly dispensed with when, five minutes after the restart, Dublin's Kieran Duff lifted his foot towards the face of Pat O Neill, who lay stricken on the ground.

Dublin's "Dirty Dozen" or "Twelve Apostles", as they were to become known,[2][6] sat back and defended against Galway's forward play.

[7] The following morning's newspapers coverage had very little to do with the actual game, but focused on the ugliness of the match and also reported on the poor supervision at exits and the terrible crushing in the Canal End and on Hill 16, where a fan was stabbed.

There were reports of clashes amongst supporters after the match and of buses full of Galway fans being stoned as they left Dublin.

The pressure was on the GAA authorities to act fast and deal with the controversy on the pitch, but it took weeks for the organisation to sort out all the disciplinary matters arising from the final.

The entire incident left a sour taste in the mouth of GAA fans, especially those of Galway and Dublin, of which a rivalry between the two was born.