Jimmy Geoghegan: Cortown man's leading role in famed Twickenham triumph

On Saturday much of the country will come to a halt to watch the England v Ireland clash in the Six Nations. The game is in Twickenham but the Irish will travel there with a very decent chance of carving out a victory. Why not? With the current team anything is possible.

It was all very different in 1929 when the Irish travelled over to the bear's den to take on the team in white. Ireland had never beaten England in Twickers. They had first played there in 1910 and drew - but a succession of defeats followed. Then in '29 the breakthrough was made. Ireland caused a shock, winning 6-5 in a contest that subsequently became known as 'The Battle of the Cushions.'

There won't be any Meathmen involved in Saturday's game but there was when the countries met in 1929. Among the Irish pack in the victory that year was Jimmy Farrell from Cortown. We have referred to Jimmy before in the Meath Chronicle but his exploits deserved to be highlighted again.

More than that they should be commemorated in some way or other out in his native Cortown because he had an extraordinary career which is told in the splendidly-produced book 'Memories and Recollections Vol 1' which was brought out by the St Ultan's Historical Society a few years ago.

He played for Bective Rangers and made his debut for Ireland against France in 1926. He played 29 consecutive internationals until 1932. Standing six feet tall Jimmy was a powerful figure in the Irish pack, a man who had heft but footballing skills as well.

In the days when there was no such thing as an international training camp (hardly any collective training at all) it was said Jimmy kept himself fit partly through work he did on his family's farm in Cookstown, Cortown or runs around the local roads.

Whatever strategy he used to keep himself fit Jimmy certainly made his mark on the rugby pitches of the world. He was selected on the British & Irish Lions squad that toured Argentina in 1927 and New Zealand in 1930.

All those games must have been special but the victory in Twickenham in 1929 was certainly memorable with the Irish players heroically withstanding sustained pressue from the home side to hang onto their slender lead. The Irish supporters were so delighted with the win they flung their seat cushions into the air - at least those priviliged enough to have seat cushions. From then on it was known as the 'Battle of the Cushions.'

Ireland have won in Twickenham from time to time since. Let's hope they do it again this Saturday.