John O'Grady remembered it as a “might-have-been” final. He says Moycarkey had a battling team and remembers the defensive work of Gus Ryan, Paddy Bourke and Mick Lonergan, with Tom Burke, Pat Ryan and Tommy Lonergan also prominent. According to O'Grady, Moycarkey had been heavily beaten by Sarsfields in the Mid championship, but the county final was a completely different affair. Moycarkey had already overcome Toomevara, the 1960 champions and 1961 runners-up, on their route to the final. The second half O'Grady says: Moycarkey “got going properly in the second half”. They carried the fight to Sarsfields. Sarsfields were sufficiently under pressure that the injured Jimmy Doyle had to be brought into the game late. He also regarded Tony Wall's performance as crucial. O'Grady remembered one particular ball involving “Musha” Maher. From his position in goal, he felt that if he had got just a little more of his hurley to Maher's ground ball, it would at least have gone out for a seventy rather than contributing to the decisive passage of play. Then, right at the end, Donal Ryan had a free that could have levelled the game. O'Grady describes him as unlucky with it. It didn't go over, and Sarsfields held on 1-7 to 1-6.
Starting team / panel Joe Coman Tommy Lonergan Paddy Coman — vice-captain Pat Ryan — captain Donal Ryan John O'Grady Dick Fitzgerald T. K. Dwyer — official Billy Shanahan Tom Wright Liam Hennessy Gus Ryan Michael Lonergan Paddy Bourke Gerald Ryan Tom Burke Martin P. Corcoran The listed substitutes were Billy Ryan, John Ryan, Liam Ryan, John Coman, Tom Kelly, Michael Shanahan, Matty Fanning and Billy Nolan. The selectors were Tommy Kelly, John Bergin, Martin Corcoran, Johnny Ryan and John Flanagan.
Sarsfields team
M. Byrne Kevin Houlihan P. Dorney P. Doyle “Musha” Maher M. McElgunn (capt.) “Blackie” Keane R. Mockler Noel Murphy Larry Keane Sean McLoughlin Tom Walsh Tom Wall B. Maher Michael Murphy G. Doyle