Hogan Cup memories: the St. Jarlath’s 2002 story
Former players chat about the glory days
2002 holds a special place in the annals of St. Jarlath's College. The Tuam nursery's fortunes are part of the rich tapestry that is Hogan Cup history and that season delivered a 12th success in the All-Ireland Senior A Football Championship.
On Saturday evening, the men who achieved so much 20 years ago will gather in their alma mater with the Leaving Cert class of that year for a reunion where they will reminisce, relive and retell stories from a famous campaign.
Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon became their field of dreams when they unleashed their full potential on Ulster champions St. Michael's from Enniskillen and etched their names on the competition's roll of honour alongside the school's previous 11 All-Ireland winning teams.
Before that final came two of the most talked about colleges matches ever played. Jarlath's and Coláiste na Sceilige from Caherciveen in South Kerry met on consecutive Sundays at Páirc na nGael in Limerick.
Close to 30,000 spectators, the vast majority turning up for National League semi-finals that followed, watched curtain-raisers that stole the main event's thunder on both afternoons. They were matches and occasions that attracted national acclaim and lived long in the memory of those fortunate enough to have been in attendance…
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