Welcome to the second instalment of A Trip Down Memory Lane, where we revisit key moments in Raheens GAA history. This week, we turn back the clock to 1934 and Raheens’ first-ever appearance in a Senior Football Championship final—just nine years after the club’s founding.

Having captured the Junior Championship title in 1928 and earning promotion to the senior ranks, Raheens found themselves on the grandest stage in Kildare football. Their opponents, reigning champions Athy, were aiming for back-to-back titles. A large crowd gathered at the county grounds in Newbridge on a crisp and breezy October afternoon for what would prove to be a battle of two halves.

One newspaper described the encounter as "a dour struggle," while another called it "a thrilling struggle." The reality? It was both. Raheens dominated the opening half, playing confident, attacking football and racing into a six-point lead, leaving Athy scrambling to stay in contention. However, the tide turned dramatically in the second period. Raheens, perhaps conscious of their advantage, adopted a defensive approach, with the ball crossing the halfway line only three times.

Athy piled on the pressure, and while Raheens’ backline—led by Frank Malone, Peter Waters, J. Martin, and Sharpe—held firm, a dramatic late goal from Athy’s Paul Matthews brought the sides level just before the final whistle. The contest ended in a stalemate: Raheens 0-6, Athy 1-3.

With the title still undecided, a replay was set for the coming weeks. Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we revisit that historic rematch in full detail.

Match transcripts below............................................................

Kildare Nationalist

CO. KILDARE FOOTBALL FINAL.
ATHY AND RAHEENS DRAW IN DOUR STRUGGLE.

Before a large crowd at Newbridge on Sunday, Athy (holders) and Raheens contested the final of the Co. Kildare football championship. A high wind blew across the field and hampered football, but notwithstanding this an excellent game was the outcome. In the opening half Raheens secured the best side and at half time led by six points to nil. Their forwards were more alert than their opponents and made good use of their chances early on. Cannon was their star forward but at times was left unmarked and let open shots at the goal.

and their team showed changes from that which went through the opening rounds. Their display did not reach the standard shown in previous rounds and their forwards were completely off form. A bad mistake which seems to have crept into the side was trying for goals when points were certain. If the latter had been made use of on Sunday another championship would have come to the town. They showed up well in the second half, but five minutes before full time they seemed a beaten side. Unexpected things can happen before the final whistle and Paul Mathews made these occur. With his side three points down he received the ball from a throw in and evading three opponents sent in a

Which completely baffled the goal men. It was indeed the best goal scored so far in the championship and was the outcome of a brilliant piece of individual play. Raheens in the closing period were penned in their own half, but a word must be said of sportsmanship. Malone their full back, kicked the ball to the side line no fewer than twenty times. This brought shouts of disapproval from a large section of the spectators, who came to see a good football match. If the referee had used more strength and given a penalty kicks to Athy, when this became prevalent it would certainly have been put an end to, but nothing occured. It was also at the referees’ discretion to give extra time, but none came, so it is hoped when the replay comes off stricter observance will be maintained throughout and so give the people who have come long distances value for their money.

Athy opened up per Kelly but McCabe drove well down the field. Cunningham returned to Fox who gave to Dunne but Hutton in the Raheens goal brought off a timely save. Fox and Mulhall led an Athy attack but Malone was prominent in the Raheens defence. Joe Murphy sent on a high ball which Martins saved and relieved a heavy attack. Waters was well tackled by Mathews who passed to Mannion and the latters shot went wide by inches.   On the kick-out, Fox was fouled the free went well in and a hard tussel took place on the square but Malone relieved. Kelly sent down again and Crofton Saved. Raheens now pressed per Waters and Scott but Chambers made a great save in goal, the rebound was gathered by Scott who boxed over the bar. Mathews was fouled and Foxs kick went well in and Dunne sent wide. Mathews returned and Malone drove well up to Campbell who narrowly missed a point. Raheens continued to press but Murphy and Co were good backs. Mahon sent to Mulhall and the latters kick went wide. Mannion was fouled and the kick at goal proved fruitless. Mathews kick was saved by Waters but an attack by Doyle and Looney was checked by Malone. A free to Raheens taken by Malone was cleared by Cunningham. Attack after attack was broken up by Malone who was playing a fine game in the back line. Waters lead an attack but Chanders proved his worth in goal. Sharpe was fouled and Waters kick was cleared by Joe Murphy. Raheens continued to press but Waters and Scott sent wide. Mathews gathered the kick out gave to manion but Martins again saved. Play was now very vigorous and the tackling was rather on the severe side. Malone fouled near the goal but the kick was saved when a point was certain. Athy forwards were very erratic and had three wides in as many minutes. Waters was prominent at midfield and set his forwards moving but J Murphy relieved the pressure. Athy returned but J Sharpe cleared up the field to Waters who gave to Geraghty who made no mistake in raising the white flag. Fox was fouled and the free went into the goalmouth but after a scramble was boxed outside. J Murphy was fouled close in and Looney went for the all important goal and Malone cleared on the line. P Sharpe gathered the ball and gave to Cannon who added a point.(3-0)  A free to Athy saw Mulhall send well in but Dunne was well held by Malone and the ball went wide. Raheens led a strong attack as per Waters and Cannon lying in an easy position secured position to add a point (4-0) A free to Athy was well placed by Mathews and Malone fouled but again the free was saved by Martin. Raheens pressed and Cannon again added a point (5-0) and the half time Whistle came.

Raheens attacked and Waters saw his fast shot gathered by Cannon who notched a minor (6-0). This sudden reverse seemed to wake Athy and they led a fierce attack on the Raheens’ goal but of no avail. After Mannion had stemmed a Raheens’ rush Fox sent to Matthews who opened the Athy scoring with a point. Cunningham was fouled but Waters returning the kick sent wide. After a struggle in mid-field Matthews was fouled and Mulhall made no mistake with the kick in adding a minor (6-3). Cunningham was fouled and Murphy gathering the free sent wide by inches. Athy continued to press and their backs were well up over the half-way line. Malone in saving time and sent the ball over the side line which drew shouts of disapproval from the large portion of the spectators. Athy tried hard for a score per Mannion, Looney and Mulhall but Malone adopted the same tactics. Dunne was hurt but resumed after attention

Two 50’s to Athy in succession brought no further scoring and with time running out it looked like they were to relinquish the title to the northern representatives. The climax came five minutes from the end  Mathews gathering the ball from a throw in evaded three opponents and then sent in a lightening drive which beat Hutton all the way. Athy supporters went wild with delight and shouts of encouragement were heard on all sides but it was too late for soon after the final whistle came leaving both teams to fight another day.. Result—Athy 1-3; Raheen 0-6.

 

 

Raheens …… 0 - 6
 Athy ………. 1 - 3

At the Droichead Nua County Football G.A.A. Grounds on Sunday, Raheens created something of a surprise by holding a young Athy team to a draw, 0-6 to 1-3. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions, the game did not reach the heights expected, but there were some bright and exhilarating passages of football in the opening moiety, and excitement was tense when Raheens turned with a lead of five points to nil at half time. It was generally expected that with the strong wind in their favour Athy would gain an easy victory. Such was not the case and with Raheens putting up a great defence it was only in the last few minutes that Athy got the goal—a fine shot by Matthews that saved the title for Athy. The game was peculiar and difficult to describe. Raheens, though they had the best of matters in the first half, never really had a monopoly of the play, and Athy missed a number of scores that should have been theirs.

Raheens played inspired football in this half, and never gave Athy a real chance to become dangerous. Raheens had apparently made up their minds to concentrate on the defence, and certainly they did, for the ball crossed the half way line only about three times during the whole of the half-hour, and if it wasn’t for the ineptitude of the Athy forwards, who gave a very unimpressive display, the champions would have a second title to their credit. Many were of the opinion that had Raheens continued to play, as best they could under the conditions, the bright, breezy football they had served up in the first half, they would have won comfortably. Remembering that attack is always the best means of defence. That they did not score against the breeze was proved in the first minute of the second moiety, when Connor sent over a glorious point.

The Raheens defence was, however, splendid, and with the invincible Frank Malone standing at his best it was almost impossible for Athy to penetrate. Athy, however, never played like a winning team, and with the play deteriorating a good deal in the second half, the game could not be said to be up to the standard of previous finals.

Raheens won the toss and attacked immediately, and the play was only in progress when a good centre from Peter Waters was sent over the bar by T. Campbell for the opening minor. Athy, however, did not discourage by the wind, made persistent attacks on the Raheens’ posts but on each occasion the finishing was extremely weak, sending the ball either wide or directly into the hands of their own opponents. For Athy, they did some good work which was nullified by a weak attack. Raheens at this stage be to faster than their opponents and in the goal mouth melee Peter Waters blocked and pressure was relieved when Frank Malone took a free for Raheens to send well down and the Athy goalie Chanders made a great save.

Raheens had a couple of frees, but brought no scores, and at the other end J. Murphy sent Athy back twice. Not to be denied the champions were back again, and Mannion had a great shot for the goal brilliantly saved by Hutton who punched out. A free again relieved pressure for Raheens and the ball was quickly passed along to the wing for Geraghty to send over second minor for Raheens. Athy came back again and a beautiful passing movement down the wing was spoiled by J. Murphy.

Athy had a free in but the shot was well blocked by ever reliable Frank Malone and the ball was sent to Geraghty who passed on to T. Campbell who transferred it over the bar for Raheens’ third point. Raheens were best now, and seemed to be in rampant form, giving one the impression that the game was even in it. Another quick movement and T. Campbell had his second minor, and then just before half time, J. Cannon had a short bout but a couple of frees brought Raheens back again, and the clever full forward sent a neat point over the bar for Raheens’ fifth score. The interval whistle went almost immediately and the half time scores were—

Raheens …… 0 - 5
 Athy ………. 0 - 0

On the resumption to everyone’s surprise, Raheens seemed still the superior team, and when T. Connor secured another beautiful point from the left wing corner it looked bad for Athy. It was only a surprise, however, and for some time back Athy had been held close at the defensive line waiting for an opening. The latter shot into the left wing corner towards which the wind was always inclined to blow the ball. Matthews scored a point. J. Martin, J. Sharpe and Malone were now very prominent in the Raheens defence, but Athy were not to be denied, and were back again for T. Mulhall to send over another minor.

Fox had a few shots for the goal but sent wide, and Mannion immediately made better his effort for a quick goal, but an alert defence completely baffled his effort. A few minutes later, however, Mulhall from a free directly in front of the Raheens goal mouth sent over the third point for Athy. Matters were not now too promising for Athy, as with this rate of progress they could never hope to win, as there was only about seven minutes to go. Raheens, however, were not putting any of the fire characteristic of their first half endeavours into the game, and while their defence was striving desperately it seemed that a goal was inevitable, and the expected goal did come when Matthews sent a great cross shot which completely deceived the goalie, sending it into the net for the equalising score.

Things were now nearly up and Raheens who now seemed to be only too glad of a free game kept kicking the ball with monotonous regularity into the corner of the field towards which the wind was blowing, and when the final whistle blew there was no further score.

For Athy—Fox, M. Malone, J. J. Murphy and Matthews played a good game, although not showing like their best forms; while F. Malone, J. Sharpe, P. Waters, and J. Martin were about the best.