THE final pieces of a Galway sporting puzzle, dating back over 70 years, have eventually been put together by Moylough native and St. Michael’s clubman, Barry Cummins.

It all stemmed from a casual conversation he had with his uncle John Cummins some years back who told him how he had won an All-Ireland minor football medal with Galway in 1952 although his name didn’t appear in the match programme.

Now, Barry Cummins has managed to trace every member of the panel involved in that 1952 Galway final success over Cavan – the first ever in that grade for the county – and has put it all together in his revised publication.

Entitled, ‘Minor Victory, Major Breakthrough, Galway Football 1952’, the compilation, which goes on sale next week for €20 – with all profits going to Galway Hospice – is a treasure trove of old match reports, pictures and personal recollections of that success.

Photo: The groundbreaking Galway minor team of 1952 with management and officials, pictured on All-Ireland semi-final day before their win over Cork – no picture of the side was taken before the All-Ireland final. There are a number of insets in the photography to try and include all involved.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.