1THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . WILLIE RYAN SCORED AN 'ILLEGAL' POINT WHEN 15 MARCH, 1896 The first-ever All Ireland football final played at Jones's Road finished like so many other games at the venue would - in controversy. Tipperary beat Meath, 0-4 to 0-3, in the 1895 decider, with all four points coming from Ryan who, for his third point, kicked one ball in the air, raced after it, caught it and kicked the equaliser. However, after the game, the referee wrote to the papers admitting one of Ryan's points shouldn't have counted because it was scored inside the 21. Meath didn't seek a replay though Central Council afforded them the chance to play for another set of medals. The teams drew but Tipp won the replay by 12 points.

Kieran Shannon

2THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . MICHAEL HOGAN LINED OUT FOR TIPPERARY AGAINST DUBLIN ON BLOODY SUNDAY WHEN 21 SEPTEMBER, 1920 A day tattooed onto the GAA's psyche even more so than it's hardwired into the national consciousness. Almost too familiar to recount, its blood-boltered events - Michael Collins's early-morning milk round that decapitated the Cairo Gang, the arrival of vengeance-seeking Black and Tans and Auxiliaries at a Dublin/Tipperary football match that afternoon, the indiscriminate and unreturned firing, the 13 corpses, among them those of the Tipperary captain Michael Hogan and three small boys from Dublin - produce an echo to this day.

More substance in our enmities than in our love? All those decades that Croke Park was closed to "foreign sports"? Here's why.

Enda McEvoy

3THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . EUROPE'S FIRST EVER LIVE SPORTS BROADCAST TOOK PLACE WHEN 29 AUGUST, 1926 Half an hour before the throw-in, Paddy Mehigan (the sportswriter known as Carbery) was shown the various wires 2RN (later to become Radio Eireann) had already put in place beneath the Hogan Stand. One cable led from there right up to a mahogany box in the press section, and that was where they told him to sit. Once in position, they put a leather contraption around his neck and told him to speak into the yellow brass tube once the signal came that he was on the air. With a sheet of paper in his hand, Mehigan began commentating on the 1926 All Ireland hurling semi-final between Galway and Kilkenny and making a little bit of history; the first live broadcast of a sports event ever in Europe. Dave Hannigan

4THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . THE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING FINAL WAS WON WHEN 3 SEPTEMBER, 1939 Britain had declared war on Germany following the invasion of Poland and the last 20 minutes - thunder, lightning, torrential rain - presaged the coming whirlwind. The scores were level at the death when Kilkenny, amid the downpour, took a 70 from their own 70-yard line. The ball landed 25 yards from the Cork uprights; Jimmy Kelly was first to the break, couldn't see the uprights through the rain, aimed for the red and white flags on the terrace and contrived to fire the winning point. A young bank clerk from Callan toasted the victory by candlelight in a pub in Drogheda that night. He was Tony O'Malley, subsequently one of the foremost Irish artists of the 20th century.

Enda McEvoy

5THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . CHRISTY RING WENT SUPERNOVA WHEN 1 SEPTEMBER, 1946 The day Ring became a superstar. Up to then he'd been a valued member of a highly successful Cork team; after it he was The Man, thanks in no small part to his famous goal shortly before half-time. Gaining possession about 70 yards out from the Canal End, Ring evaded a host of pursuers before eventually flicking home from around five yards. Or as he would put it 32 years later to a new generation of Cork hurlers: "I ran about 40 yards and then I had another look. I was still on my own. I crossed in and I hit the ball. The rainwater fell off the back of the net and I jumped in the air." Enda McEvoy

6THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . TERRY LEAHY ACHIEVED IMMORTALITY WHEN 7 SEPTEMBER, 1947 An encounter the Irish Press termed "as great an exhibition of hurling as has ever been seen at Croke Park" was entering injury time when Tom Mulcahy, the Cork goalie, fielded an incoming ball at the Railway End and cleared it out towards his left. But Terry Leahy, remembering the goalkeeping advice his brother Jerry had given him during their childish play at home in Urlingford ("Ter, when you stop the ball, hit it out into open space where there's nobody") was moving in the direction of Hill 16 almost before Mulcahy hit it. "The ball came straight towards me. I gathered it and shot." Over the bar and into hurling history.

Enda McEvoy

7THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . ART FOLEY DENIED CHRISTY RING WHEN 23 SEPTEMBER, 1956 The most celebrated save in the annals of the sport, even if revisionism suggests it was also the most exaggerated; Ring claimed he was knocked off balance by Paddy Barry just as he was about to pull the trigger, leaving Foley to make a routine save that kept Wexford two points ahead with three minutes left and clinched the All Ireland title. Ring, in a supremely unRinglike gesture, ran in to shake Foley's hand ("You little black bastard, you've beaten us!"), and at the final whistle Nick O'Donnell and Bobby Rackard put the maestro up on their shoulders. The gesture enshrined both Ring's legend and that Wexford team's sportsmanship.

Enda McEvoy

8THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . MUHAMMAD ALI BEAT AL 'BLUE' LEWIS WHEN 19 JULY, 1972 Shortly after The Dubliners and the Artane Boys' Band started a rousing pre-fight version of 'Amhrán na Bhfiann', so many non-paying customers came streaming through Hill 16 that one American observer compared it to the scene in Westerns where the Indians swarm over the horizon. Watched by an audience including Jose Torres, Billy Conn, Taoiseach Jack Lynch and Bishop Eamonn Casey, Ali took 11 rounds to see off the game but limited challenge of convicted murderer Al 'Blue' Lewis. On a glorious July evening, it took Ali nearly as long again to exit the ring when it was invaded by adoring fans at the finish. Dave Hannigan

9THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . MIKEY SHEEHY CHIPPED PADDY CULLEN WHEN 24 SEPTEMBER, 1978 Sometimes, says Mikey Sheehy, it's as if it's the only thing he ever did. Which is a shame really. No county has scored more goals in Gaelic football than Kerry and no player has scored more goals for Kerry than Sheehy; the man was an era, not a moment. But that moment was so defining - when Robbie Kelleher handed that ball over to Mikey, it turns out he was passing the torch and crown of the greatest team in football - and it was so spontaneous and bold and brilliant, there's a reason why we don't let you forget it, Mikey. You made it impossible for us to forget it too. Kieran Shannon

10THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . JOE CONNOLLY ADDRESSED THE PEOPLE OF GALWAY WHEN 7 SEPTEMBER, 1980 A day that the Lord had made. Galway won their first All Ireland senior title in 1923, the final being played in 1924; this was the day they won their second, beating Limerick by 2-15 to 3-9 in an exciting final. But long after most of the action has been forgotten, the winning captain's speech from the steps of the Hogan Stand, delivered off the top of his head and in fluent Gaeilge to "muintir na Gaillimhe ar fud an domhain", is remembered and treasured. Joe McDonagh, a Galway sub and future GAA president, followed it up with a blast of 'The West's Awake'. Not a dry eye from Camden Town to California.

Enda McEvoy

11THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . SEAMUS DARBY STOPPED KERRY'S FIVE-IN-A-ROW MARCH WHEN 19 SEPTEMBER, 1982 Sometimes we overlook the quality of that game, of that goal. It wasn't as if Offaly caught Kerry on a bad day, or Darby bundled it over the line; even Charlie Nelligan's dive looked great. But then there was the magnitude of that game and goal. None of us knew then that two years later Matt Connor would never walk again or that goal would make Kerry even greater by spawning another three-in-a-row. All we knew was the boys with the record had it got it wrong about the five-in-a-row and that �? Hehir had got it so right roaring, "There was a goal, there was a goal!" As a dream died, a moment would echo forever.

PJ Cunningham

12 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . JIMMY-BARRY MURPHY SCORED THAT GOAL WHEN 7 AUGUST, 1983 The assist was as gorgeous as the finishing touch. John Fenton uncorked one of those undeviating, chest-high scud missiles from midfield as only John Fenton could, a delivery percentaged in favour of his forwards rather than dropping from on high and thus favouring the defender. Conor Hayes took a couple of steps forward, leaving Jimmy Barry-Murphy, who would have much preferred to catch, with no option but to pull overhead. His timing was perfect. The net billowed. Thank goodness for the slow-motion TV replay, which did more justice to JBM's sleight of wrist and hand-eye co-ordination than the naked eye ever could have. Enda McEvoy

13 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . KEVIN FOLEY FINALLY TIPPED THE BALANCE IN DUBLIN/MEATH SAGA WHEN 6 JULY, 1991 The best goal ever scored in Croke Park, Liam Hayes declared, and 15 years on, he still has a case, as best team goal, anyway. It actually started at the other end of the field, on Meath's own endline, with Martin O'Connell. Eleven passes later, Kevin Foley had scored his first and last goal for Meath, and they were back on level terms with Dublin. That's the thing; it was David Beggy who kicked the winning score seconds later, yet when we think of that fourgame saga that gripped a nation's interest and broke a county's heart, what springs to mind is always that immaculate, measured build-up and its glorious and unlikely finish and finisher.

Kieran Shannon

14THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . BILLY DOOLEY PUT THE NAILS INTO LIMERICK'S COFFIN WHEN 4 SEPTEMBER, 1994 Depending on one's provenance, either a dramatic comeback or a high-definition car crash or both of them simultaneously. Limerick were five points ahead and five minutes away from their first McCarthy Cup triumph in 21 years when Johnny Dooley rattled in a close-range free. Pat O'Connor followed up with a goal as soon as Joe Quaid's puckout was returned and Billy Dooley promptly reeled off three points from the right wing as the roof fell in on the losers, Offaly hitting 2-5 without reply. If Brian Whelahan and co were far too talented not to have won an All Ireland in the mid-1990s, the neutral would nonetheless have had to possess a heart of granite not to bleed for Limerick - who, worse still, are still waiting for that McCarthy Cup. It's now 33 years and counting. PJ Cunningham

15THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . GER LOUGHNANE TOLD THE NATION THAT CLARE WOULD WIN WHEN 3 SEPTEMBER, 1995 Inconsequential compared to our other moments but a riveting piece of television nonetheless as Marty Morrissey collared Ger Loughnane coming out of the dressing room for the second half and asked "Do you think ye can do it?" Loughnane responded, "We're going to do it, " the zealot's gleam in his eye. Not a fortnight has gone by in the meantime without Morrissey being reminded, usually by complete strangers, of what a compelling moment it was. Watching at home in Shannon, Loughnane's GP was so alarmed by his patient's livid pallor that he ordered him in for a check-up.

Enda McEvoy

16 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . BARRY MURPHY HAD THE BALL WHEN JIMMY COONEY BLEW WHEN 22 AUGUST, 1998 GUBU with knobs on as Jimmy Cooney ended the All Ireland hurling semifinal replay two minutes early with Clare three points ahead. "All the years I played, it's the only thing I'm remembered for, " Barry Murphy reports wryly.

"I was about to go for a point when the whistle went and I assumed that we were through to the All Ireland final. The first I knew that we mightn't be was at 9.30 next morning, when Ger Loughnane rang my room in the Burlington and asked me what I would have done with the ball had the whistle not sounded. An hour later the phone rang again and we were told we were going training." Enda McEvoy

17 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . NELSON MANDELA OPENED THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WHEN 21 JUNE, 2003 This was the day when the GAA's gleaming new headquarters announced itself to a global audience as the opening ceremony of a Special Olympics World Summer Games was televised live for the first time. With a cross-pollination of personalties taking part in a spectacular ceremony including Muhammad Ali - returning to an unrecognisable arena 31 years after his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis - Arnold Scharzenegger, Bono and Roy Keane, who took the athletes' oath with one of the Special Olympians. It was left to Mandela to formally open the games, the world's largest sporting event in 2003.

Mark Jones

18 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . CONOR GORMLEY SAVED THE DAY WHEN 28 SEPTEMBER, 2003 It would be another two years before they'd serve up the classic their rivalry deserved, yet the first Armagh-Tyrone game and first all-Ulster All Ireland final did produce one epic moment. In the closing minutes and with just three points in it, Steven McDonnell was through on goal. There wasn't anyone else Joe Kernan would have wanted with that ball - McDonnell has been the greatest goalscorer of the last 20 years - and yet he was foiled. By Conor 'The Block' Gormley as he'll forever now be known. That day might be remembered as the day Peter met Sam but they might not have only for Stevie meeting The Block. Kieran

19 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . RULE 42 WAS AMENDED AT LAST WHEN 16 APRIL, 2005 Two and a half hours after the debate began on Level 5 of the Hogan Stand, Sligo's motion proposing to give Central Council the power to authorise the rent or leasing of Croke Park during the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road was carried by the necessary two-thirds majority, 227 to 97, following a secret ballot. A hand of friendship to other sports and, as Sligo had argued, an opportunity to show off the GAA's "pride and joy" to the nation at large? Or, in the words of former president Con Murphy, a decision marking "the formation of a new association that caters for everything and stands for nothing?" You choose.

Enda McEvoy

20 THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE. . . A NEW ERA BEGINS WHEN 11 FEBRUARY, 2007 At 3.00pm next Sunday Ronan O'Gara or his French counterpart (probably either Benjamin Boyet or David Skrela) will kick-off the first rugby game to be played at Croke Park. They won't be the first professional sportsmen to grace the field, being beaten to that honour by Australia's International Rules side, Muhammad Ali, Al 'Blue' Lewis and, curiously, the Chicago Bears and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Seventeen of our events here directly pertain to the GAA and its games, in years to come that ratio is likely to gradually change, just as the stadium itself has over the course of more than a hundred years.