Lorrha's Six Senior Hurling Titles
North Division S.H. Final Program, Aug. 19, 1984
Lorrha succeeded in winning the North Tipperary Senior hurling championship on six occasions, 1905, 1914, 1924, 1948, 1956 and 1966.
The club's first participation in the county championship was in 1889. The club first played in the North championship in 1903. They achieved their first success in 1905 when they defeated De Wets 3-5 to 2-1.
From start to finish Lorrha held the lead, their opponents not heing able to equalise at any point of the game, and the conclusion was received with amazement, by De Wets more than anybody else. On their way to the final Lorrha accounted for Toomevara, Youghalarra and Templederry. The final was played at Terryglass on April 8, 1906. De Wets had won the North fimal since it began and were quite confident of victory. The Lorrha team, according to a contemporary photograph, was as follows: Jack Burke, Dick Gardiner, Jack Carroll, Paddy 0' Meara, Pat O'Meara, Jim Hogan, Major Sammon, Michael O'Donoghue, Paddy Hogan, Tom O'Donoghue, Bill Bollard, John Lambe, Joe Sammon, Pat Sammon, T. F. O'Meara. (capt.) , Jim O'Meara, John Quirke.
Lorrha didn't affiliate any team in the senior championsnip for the three years prior to 1914. The club got a bye into the second round of that year's championship and played Borrisokane in the semi-final. The match was played at Terryglass on October 11 and seldom have spectators seen such a brilliant display of the caman. The result was 2-2 to 0-2 in favour of Lorrha. The North final was played at Ardcroney on November 22 and Lorrha's opponents were Templederry. There was a fine crowd but the game did not live up to expectations. At half-time Lorrha were ahead by 2-2 to nil and went on to win by 4-2 to 1-0. In winning this championship Lorrha interrupted Toomevara's sequence of victories just as they had done with De Wets in 1905. The winning team was: M. O'Donoghue (capt.), F.X. Cronin, Tom Duffy, John Lambe, Pat O'Meara, T. F. O'Meara, J. J. Madden, Con Sherlock, Mick Needham, Tim Sullivan, Jack Carroll, Joe Carroll, Tom Burke, William Harding, Jack Dillon. There are also claims for the inclusion of Johnny Gaynor in the team.
Ten years later Lorrha won their next senior championship. This time their opponents in the final were Nenagh. They defeated Ballymackey and Cloughjordan in earlier rounds and had a convincing win of 7-3 to 0-3 in the final at Terryglass on September 25. Jim (the Private) O'Meara played for Nenagh that day and his brother, Bill, played for Lorrha. No Lorrha lineout was given with the report of the game but the probable team is as follow: Paddy Gaynor, Johnny Gaynor, Mick O'Meara, Dinny O'Meara, Bill O'Meara, Tom Burke, Bob Young, Jack Kennedy, Mick Cronin, Paddy Hogan, Dan O'Donoghue, Willie Carroll, Nick Forde, Con Sherlock, and Tom Duffy.
Twenty-four years were to elapse before Lorrha were to capture the senior title again. The final was played at Nenagh on August 22 before a crowd of 8,000 people in appalling weather. Their opponents were Borrisoleigh and Lorrha won by 5-4 to 2-4 on a day when Tony Reddin had an outstanding game. On their path to the final Lorrha defeated Borrisokane, Roscrea and Kiladangan. The lineout was as follows: Tony Reddin, Paddy O'Sullivan, Dan O'Donoghue, Michael O'Meara (Lisballyard), Tom Lambe, Mick Brophy, Jim O'Meara, Eugene O'Meara, Paddy Guinan, Mick O'Meara (Blakefield), Tommy Ryan, Dan O'Meara( capt.), Brendan O'Donoghue, Michael O'Meara (Roughan), Billy Hogan.
Lorrha won their fifth title in 1956 when they defeated Borrisoleigh at Nenagh on September 9 by 4-8 to 0-18. The score itself tells a tale of the loser's respect for Tony Reddin's goalkeeping ability. Lorrha lost the first round against Kilruane when they were defeated 1-14 to 1-2 at Borrisokane on May 13. Entering the loser's group they accounted for Moneygall and Toomevara on their way to the final against Borrisoleigh. The team for the final was: Tony Reddin, Seamus King, Paul Slevin, Billy Hogan, Johnny Larkin, Davy O'Sullivan, Paddy O'Meara, Hubie Hogan, Phil McIntyre, Eugene 0'Meara, Mick Brophy (capt.), Sean O'Meara, Paddy Madden, Paddy Guinan, John Moloney.
Lorrha's last senior title was in 1966 when they defeated Toomevara by the minimum of margins, 3-11 to 2-13, on August 28. Toomevara led by 2-7 to 1-5 at half-time. This was the first time the Frank McGrath cup was won by Lorrha. They had an interesting path to the final that year. They beat St. Flannan's, a combination of Kildangan and Shannon Rovers, in the first round. They took three matches to defeat Eire Óg, before overcoming Kilruane MacDonaghs in the semi-final. The Lorrha divisional champions, that year were: Gerry Moylan, Michael Liffey, Paddy O'Meara, Seamus O'Meara, Liam King, Sean O'Meara, Michael Gleeson, Wilsy Morris, Jim Lane, Noel Lane, Jim Ryan, Peter Hogan, Paddy Madden, Michael Doyle, Michael 0' Meara.