REFEREED ON “BLOODY SUNDAY”

The following report of an event held in Croke Park to mark the 25th Anniversary of the tragic “Bloody Sunday” events in Croke Park in November 1920 appeared in the Leinster Leader in November 1945. 

Mick Sammon of Celbridge, veteran Kildare Gael who refereed the match at Croke Park on historic Bloody Sunday, 25 years ago, stood among his old comrades at the same spot on Sunday last on the occasion of the anniversary of that tragic day.

With the Dublin and Kildare teams they stood in a square at the spot where Michael Hogan of the Tipperary team was shot dead, while a decade of the Rosary was recited, to be followed by the sounding of the last Post and then the raising of the flag to full mast.

Officials and members of the G.A.A. and players of the Dublin and Tipperary teams who took part in the 1920 game, during which spectators and players were surrounded by British forces and fired upon, were present. The Dublin and Kildare teams, headed by a band, paraded on the field, joining the gathering of veterans and the attendance of almost 7,000 stood bare-headed as Rev. R.F. McGouran O.M.I., Belcamp Co. Dublin, recited a decade of the Rosary.

The attendance included Messrs. J Shelly and P. McDonnnell, captains respectively of the Tipperary and Dublin teams of 1920 and the following players – Messrs Stephen Synnott, D. Lanigan, Comdt J. McDonnell, John Synnott, Joe Synnott, F. Burke and Mick Sammon, who referred the 1920 match.

Also present were – Messrs P. Hogan (brother of Michael Hogan), Seamus Moore, T. Ryan, G. Doyle, S. Ryan. J. Norris, J. Murphy, P. Ó Caoimh Gen Secretary, GAA; L. Brennan, Chairman, Leinster Council; S A Braonáin Chairman, Dublin County Board; H. Conlon, Secretary do; T. Lawlor, Chairman, Kildare Co Board, T P Clarke Secretary, do; B. Maguire, J. Fletcher and Rev M Troy C.C.