G.A.A: All Ireland Hurling Final Programme, Cork V Wexford, 1956. (Two in a row for Wexford)

Dublin: Croke Park, 23rd September 1956: Cork (2-08) Wexford (2-14).

The G.A.A. All-Ireland Hurling Final Programme from 1956, featuring Cork versus Wexford, is a significant collector's item and a memento of one of the most iconic matches in hurling history. Played on September 23rd at Croke Park, the final was a dramatic rematch of the 1954 encounter between the two counties. This time, Wexford emerged victorious in a thrilling game that has since become legendary among G.A.A. supporters.

The match is particularly remembered for the heroic performance of Wexford's goalkeeper Art Foley, who made a crucial save from Christy Ring, Cork’s star player, in the dying moments. Wexford went on to win 2-14 to 2-8, securing their first All-Ireland title since 1910 and denying Ring what would have been a record ninth medal. The programme from that day captures the spirit and atmosphere of a time when the G.A.A. was a central part of Irish cultural life.

Typically modest in design, the 1956 programme included team line-ups, messages from G.A.A. officials, and advertisements from local and national businesses. Surviving copies are now considered rare, especially in good condition. For collectors and sports historians alike, the 1956 final programme is a treasured reminder of a golden moment in hurling lore.

[WR Sport]