Burgess Capture County Intermediate Title in 1993

Tipperary County Hurling Final October 2018

Burgess won the county intermediate title in 1993 when they defeated Upperchurch-Drombane in the final at Templederry on November 7. It was their first victory since 1976, when they beat Eire Óg, Annacarty in a replay. The previous year, 1992, they had reached the final but were beaten by Kickhams.

Five teams affiliated in the 1993 North intermediate championship, Templederry, Shannon Rovers, Kildangan and Silvermines, as well as Burgess. The championship was played on a league basis with the top three to qualify for the knockout stage.

Burgess began their campaign against Templederry at Nenagh on July 3. Against a strong breeze they trailed by 2-10 to 0-5 at the break but put up a good second-half performance to draw by 1-17 to 2-14. Their next game was against Shannon Rovers on July 16 and they came through this contest by 0-19 to 2-10. A week later they defeated Silvermines by 2-13 to 1-9 at Nenagh. This was a tough encounter, which saw both sides reduced to thirteen players during the game. On August 22, Burgess cleared the final hurdle when they defeated Kildangan by 3-14 to 3-8 at Cloughjordan.

They emerged top of the group with seven points and qualified for the final. The second and third teams, Templederry and Shannon Rovers, qualified for a semi-final, which was won by Templederry at Nenagh on September 29 by 1-10 to 1-8.

The stage was no set for the final, which was fixed for MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on October 3. Burgess retained their title by accounting for Templederry by 3-12 to 1-9. The Guardian reported the match thus: ‘Weather conditions were atrocious, but credit to both sides for their efforts to provide a splendid game. The scoreline is a bit hard on Templederry, who lived with their opponents for the first half, but when Burgess turned on the power in the second half, they were unable to withstand it. But they battled gamely to the end. The opening five minutes of the second half were critical in deciding the game, as Burgess hit a goal and two points that put them in a commanding position. This Burgess team shows promise of future greatness. The foundation of victory was laid on a solid half-back line.’

The North intermediate champions were: David Ryan, Shane Ryan, John Flannery, Kevin Cooney, John McKenna (0-3), Colm McDonnell, Tony Gregan, John Joe Ryan, John Darcy (0-3), Denis Darcy, Liam McGrath (0-1), John Grace (1-0), Michael Kearns, Sean Nealon (1-5), Darrell Tucker (1-0). Subs: Eugene Hogan, Aidan McGrath.

John Darcy won the Guardian Player of the Week for his display in the final.

Referee: Michael Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs.

The County Championship

Burgess’s opponents in the county semi-final were West champions, Arravale Rovers. This game was played at Templederry on October 20 and the North champions came through by 1-13 to 0-13 in an absorbing encounter. Burgess were in disarray in the first half and appeared to be chasing the game, while Arravale were on top and led at the interval by 0-10 to 1-4. However, Burgess were a transformed side in the second half and served up an impressive performance to emerge impressive winners., Outstanding for the winners were Dinny Darcy and Sean Nealon, whose accuracy accounted for 10 points of the winners’ total.

The county final between Burgess and Upperchurch-Drombane was arranged for Templederry on November 7 at 12 noon. The heavens opened for the entire game and the conditions for playing hurling were as adverse as they could possibly be. However, the conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Burgess players, who overcame the stern challenge of the opposition by 0-11 to 0-7.

According to the match report in the Guardian ‘There were many reasons why Burgess won this thrilling game. They won because of the character and pride instilled in the side by trainer, Donie Nealon, and his selectors. They won because they had men like Liam McGrath and Dinny Darcy, who were prepared to run themselves to a standstill for the honour of the green and gold on their backs. They won because they had a set of backs and a goalkeeper, who blocked, hooked, chased and harried their opponents in an attempt to stave off wave after wave of Upperchurch attacks. But, most importantly, they won because they had fifteen men on the field who played as a team and were prepared to cross the pain barrier to satisfy the great hunger for success that had plagued the club for so many years at adult level. This victory, and the subsequent promotion to senior level for the 1994 season, is a just reward for the many months of toil and effort put in on the training field and if ever a side deserves its moment in the limelight, then surely this Burgess side does.’

The champions were: David Ryan, Shane Ryan, John Flannery, Kevin Cooney, John McKenna, Colm McDonnell, Tony Gregan, John Joe Ryan, John Darcy (0-2), Liam McGrath (0-2), Dinny Darcy, John Grace (0-1), Eugene Hogan, Sean Nealon (0-4), Darrell Tucker (0-2). Subs: Michael Kearns. Also: Aidan McGrath, John Maher, John Murray, Patrick Cooney, Darren Meaney, David McAuliffe, Donal Nealon, Timmy Maher, Eugene O’Brien, John Ryan, Seamus Slattery. Team management: Donie Nealon (manager), John Ryan (trainer), Kieran Hogan, Jack Maher, Mortimer Hogan.


Statistics: The team remained undefeated in their seven intermediate hurling championship matches. They scored 10 goals 99 points and conceded 8 goals and 70 points. Eighteen players took part, the starting fifteen plus Michael Kearns, John Maher and Aidan McGrath. Ten players scored in the campaign, Sean Nealon 4-43, Darrell Tucker 1-14, John Darcy 2-10, Liam McGrath 1-10, Michael Kearns 0-12, Denis Darcy 1-0, John Grace 1-1, Eugene Hogan 0-2, John McKenna 0-2, Shane Ryan 90-1. Burgess played all their seven game in their own division.