Before most of ye were born but 1953 was our golden year.In the middle of the stagnant fifties when most Irish young men were headed for Holyhead was a time of Irish sporting excellence. Vincent OBrien won the first of his three in a row Grand Nationals withbEarly Mist for the unfortunate Mincemeat Joe Griffin but it was in two more genteel sports we exercised complete dominance. In tennis the ill fated Little Mo Maureen Connolly won the Grand Slam in tennis,the first time it happened and in golf the great Ben Hogan effectively won the Grand Slam in golf.He had turned forty in 1953,a film had already been made of his life,he was still suffering from the injuries he received in a car accident.He entered five tournaments that year and won them all,they were,the Masters,Pan American,Colonial,US open and The Open.After being criticised for never entering the British Open he adjusted brilliantly to the smaller ball and alien conditions at Carnoustie to break the course record and win by four strokes.
Surely ye don't find this post offensive. They may have been born in America but they were Irish alright,a lot more Irish than Terry Mancini or Tony Cascarino.
Surely ye don't find this post offensive.They may have been born in America but they were Irish alright,a lot more Irish than Terry Mancini or Tony Cascarino.
of course they were irish......hadnt they irish names......connolly and hogan......if hogan wasnt so good at golf hed hav played for tipp......and if connolly wasnt as adept with the tennis racket......shed hav captained the galway camogie team.......
of course they were irish......hadnt they irish names......connolly and hogan......if hogan wasnt so good at golf hed hav played for tipp......and if connolly wasnt as adept with the tennis racket......shed hav captained the galway camogie team......