<span class="postTitle">The County Senior Hurling Championship 2010</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2011

The County Senior Hurling Championship 2010

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2011

Thurles Sarsfields justified their favourite's tag with a comprehensive win over Clonoulty-Rossmore in the county senior hurling final played in murky and damp conditions at Semple Stadium on October 31. The smallness of the crowd, the second lowest in twenty years, was an indication of how the general public expected things to go. Clonoulty had done nothing during the year to indicate that they would pose a serious problem to the star-studded Sarsfields side. The only hope for them was to produce the top class performance that the team seemed capable of but hadn't delivered during the year. As it turned out there was no inspirational performance and, apart from the ten minutes before half-time, Clonoulty did not threaten the Sarsfields, whose four county senior players delivered fine performances on the day. The game itself never reached any great heights of enjoyment and the subdued crowd were probably happy when the final whistle sounded.

Similar Format to Last year

The format of the county senior hurling championship remained essentially the same in 2010 as it had been in 2009. There were a number of voices raised against the increase in the number of senior teams in the county but they didn't carry much volume. The championship was divided into two competitions, the Dan Breen Cup and the O Riain Cup. All teams that made it to the divisional semi-finals qualified for the former while all the remaining teams took part in the latter competition.

There was a bit of variation on 2009 with thirty-two rather than thirty teams taking part, as 2009 intermediate champions, Carrick Davins, and new combination team, Galtee Rovers/Sean Treacys, were added. The voices raised against this format wondered where it would all stop as the number of senior teams increased every year and the number of intermediate teams declined. The option open to any senior team to relegate to intermediate level, which was allowed in the 2008 format, wasn't taken up by any club.

The granting of entry to the Dan Breen Cup to the finalists of the O Riain Cup continued. Nenagh Eire Óg and Loughmore-Castleiney were the two clubs involved. In order to accommodate them, they were allowed in at Round 2. Round 1 brought together the eight beaten divisional semi-finalists and the four beaten finalists in a playoff of six games. The six winners were joined by the two O Riain Cup finalists in Round 2 to produce four winners. The four winners played the four division champions in Round 3 to produce the semi-finalists.

As stated above thirty-two teams in all participated in the senior hurling championship 11 from the North, 8 from the Mid, 7 from the West and 6 from the South. The sixteen teams who didn't qualify for the divisional semi-finals entered the O Riain Cup, Round 1

The teams that qualified for Round 1 of the McCarthy Cup were the eight beaten divisional semi-finalists and the four beaten finalists. The losing semi-finalists were Kickhams and Galtee/Treasys from the west, Mullinahone and Carrick Davins from the south, Upperchurch-Drombane and Holycross-Ballycahill from the mid, and Burgess and Kildangan from the north.

Beaten Divisional Finalists

The beaten finalists in the south were Killenaule, who lost, 1-16 to 2-11, to Carrick Swan. The latter bridged a ten-year gap to claim their 22nd South senior hurling final in an exciting encounter at Fethard on August 22. Killenaule led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break but the Swan had the greater reserves in the second half and deserved their two-point victory.

Eire Óg lost out to Clonoulty Rossmore in the West final, played at Sean Treacy Park on the same day. Clonoulty had nine points to spare at the end, having led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval, and thoroughly deserved their victory, which gave them a fourth-in-a-row title. Defending champions Drom Inch lost to Thurles Sarsfields by 1-16 to 2-11 in the Mid final at Templemore on September 19. Sarsfields led by 1-10 to 1-6 at half-time in a tight encounter, which went down to the wire before they could claim their 41st title.

Borris-Ileigh went down to Toomevara by 1-12 to 0-13 in the north final, played at Nenagh on September 19. This was a close game in which Borris-Ileigh held a one point lead, on a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-5, at the interval but Toomevara just about deserved their two-point victory in the end.

Round 1

Four of the Round 1 games were played on the weekend of September 18/19 and two on September 23. There was a double bill at Boherlahan on the 18th in which Galtee/Treacys defeated Carrick Davins by 1-13 to 1-9 and Upperchuch-Drombane had an easy win over Killenaule by 1-19 to 0-9. On the following day at Holycross, Kildangan defeated Eire Óg Annacarty by 3-13 to 1-15, while Burgess defeated Holycross-Ballycahill by 1-20 to 0-15 at Borris-Ileigh.

The two games on the 23rd were played under lights at Semple Stadium. In the first game Borris-Ileigh proved too good for Kickhams, defeating them by 1-20 to 0-8, while Mullinahone had a good victory over Drom Inch by 2-15 to 1-12.

Round 2

The six winners in Round 1 were joined by the finalists in the O Riain Cup, Nenagh Éire Óg and Loughmore/Castleiney, to produce four games in Round 2. These games were played on the weekend of September 26/27. The two games on Saturday were played at Templemore. Kildangan came out on top by 3-15 to 2-13 against Galtee/Treacys. Burgess got the better of Upperchurch-Drombane by 1-21 to 0-14.

The two games on Sunday were played at Semple Stadium. Mullinahone took another important scalp when they defeated Nenagh Eire Óg by 2-15 to 1-15, while Loughmore-Castleiney got the better of neighbours, Borris-Ileigh, by 1-16 to 1-13.

Quarter-Finals

All was now set for the quarter-finals of the championship with the four winners of Round 2 facing the four divisional champions, The four games were played at Semple Stadium on the weekend of 2/3 October.

On Saturday Carrick Swans played Kildangan. A 59th minute goal by sub Brian Kelly helped the North side to a 1-14 to 1-9 win over the south champions. Kildangan led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval and just kept in front during the second-half but a Danny O'Hanlon goal for the Swans in the 57th minute left only a point between the sides. However, in a dramatic finish Kelly turned a Tommy Connor delivery into the net to clinch Kildangan's place in the last four.

The second quarter-final was a much more one-sided affair. In this game a Timmy Hammersley inspired Clonoulty-Rossmore had an easy win by 2-21 to 1-13 over Burgess. Hammersley scored 1-11, 1-9 from play, as the winners recovered from a bad start to finish in style. Burgess led by 1-7 to 0-4 after Damien O'Brien's 17th minute goal. This score inspired Clonoulty rather than Burgess and goals by Tom Butler in the 19th minute and Hammersley five minutes later helped Clonoulty to a 2-9 to 1-7 interval lead. There was only one team in the second half with the outstanding Hammersley scoring eight points to help Clonoulty to a comfortable victory.

On Sunday Toomevara faced Mullinahone in the first of the remaining quarter-finals. Mullinahone came into the game with expectations on the back of impressive victories over Drom Inch and Nenagh Eire Óg. However, they were a disappointment on the day and failed to match Toomevara in most facets of the game. In the end Tommevara well deserved their sixteen point victory on a scoreline of 1-26 to 0-13.

Despite trailing 0-3 to 0-1 in the opening minutes, Toomevara upped gears and led by five points, 0-12 to 0-7, at the break. Within four minutes of the restart they led by double scores and even though Mullinahone fought back to trail by four, it was all in vain.

Toomevara raised the pace and struck ten points to Mullinahone's two before Willie Ryan sealed their victory with a fine goal in the 29th minute. One of the stars of Toom's victory was midfielder, Ken Dunne, who hit eight points in the course of the hour.

In the last quarter-final Thurles Sarsfields defeated Loughmore-Castleiney by 2-19 to 2-13. Sarsfields were four points adrift after five minutes but improved considerably after a slow start and led by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval. Denis Maher was excellent, grabbing four points from play and he was ably assisted by and impressive Ger 'Redser' O'Grady.

Sarsfields hit the net within two minutes of the re-start when Lar Corbett finished off some good work by Pa Bourke. Loughmore hit back with a Liam McGrath goal but Sarsfields held a six-point advantage with ten minutes remaining, and the game appeared very much in Sarsfields hands.

A Johnny Campion goal gave Loughmore-Castleiney hope but then Sarsfields hit back quickly when Richie Ruth netted following a build-up involving Michael Cahill and Lar Corbett. In the end it was the winner's superiority in attack which was the difference between the sides.

Semi-Finals

As a result of the quarter-finals Sarsfields and Toomevara were installed as having the better chances of winning out so the draws were looked forward to with interest. As it was an open draw the two couldn't be separated and when the draw took place on the Monday after the quarter finals the two were drawn againt one another and Clonoulty-Rossmore and Kildangan were drawn in the second semi-final.

The semis were played at Semple Stadium on October 17 and expectations came to nought as the whole afternoon was a disappointment to the expectant crowd. Probably the only real excitement was reserved for the final minute of the second game, when Pa Bourke converted a controversial 20-metre free to give Thurles Sarsfields victory by one point over Toomevara, who were leading by two points at that stage. Following the score a melee erupted in the middle of the field as the tension between the sides, which had erupted twice in the course of the hour, found more ugly expression. It contrasted with the united euphoria which had enveloped the county following the double All-Ireland victory in September.

In the first game Clonoulty-Rossmore claimed the spoils by 1-19 to 1-16 despite having played second fiddle to Kildangan for long spells. The latter, All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2005, who had never won a senior title and had last qualified for one in 1938, raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead after five minutes, the goal from Eoin Gleeson Kildangan went further into the lead but were gradually hauled back to two points, 1-9 to 0-10, by half-time. Clonoulty had taken a long time to get into any kind of scoring rhythm but scored five crucial points during the last seven minutes of the half.

Kildangan resumed as they had during the opening of the first half and looked impressive as they went into a five-point lead. But Clonoulty dug deep and improved performances by John Heffernan and John Devane closed off Kildangan's route to goals. By the 48th minute Kildangan were still in front by 1-13 to 0-13 but then a super leap by Fiachra O'Keeffe in a crowded square, to grab a perfect delivery by John O'Neill, and finish to the net with a one-hand flick had the sides level. Building on that goal Clonoulty went on to win getting six points to Kildangan's three during the remaining minutes to leave the final score 1-19 to 1-16 at the final whistle. Clonoulty can thank goalkeeper Declan O'Dwyer who, following one slip, went on to perform extremely well making some key saves during the remainder of the game. Another major contributor to the victory was John O'Neill, who returned to some of his former glory with a dazzling display that produced four points from play.

Sarsfields Just Make It

Thurles Sarsfields qualified for the final by the minimum of margins over Toomevara on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-16. Sarsfields were favourites going into the game and justified the tag with a good start, which saw them lead by 0-7 to 0-3 after the first quarter.. Four players contributed to Sarsfields total while Kenny Dunne had done all the scoring for Toomevara. The latter had the better of the second quarter, during which Dunne added five more points to Sarsfields two to leave only a point between the sides, 0-9 to 0-8, at the interval. It was a poor game livened up only by virtue of a couple of skirmishes, which resulted in several yellow cards.

Toomevara resumed better and had gone into a 0-11 to 0-9 lead within five minutes. The introduction of Eoin Brislane at full-forward improved their chances and they began to play long and direct ball up the middle. He was off target with a number of shots initially and during this period Sarsfields had re-established their momentum and retaken the lead, 0-15 to 0-13, by the 48th minute. At this point Brislane collected a long delivery from Benny Dunne before coolly finishing to the net. It put Toomevara back in front but crucially it led to the red-carding of Redser O'Grady as a result of an incident following the goal. Everything seemed set up for a Toomevara march to victory. However,Thurles retained their composure and with Pa Bourke, Michael Gleeson, Michael Cahill and Padraic Maher driving things on, they levelled matters twice in the remaining minutes. Then in the 59th minute John O'Brien gave Toomevara the lead point and Brislane landed another on the hour mark. Toomevara were denied a likely victory when in the 63rd minute Denis Maher was deemed to be fouled and from the resultant 20-metre free Pa Bourke grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat for Sarsfields and gave them the chance of retaining their title. Toomevara did have one final opportunity to rescue the game when Paddy O'Brien hit a wonderful sideline puck from fifty-five metres but Paraic Maher cleared the danger and the final whistle blew seconds later.

Thurles Retain Title

Thurles Sarsfields won back-to-back county senior titles for the first time since 1965 when they defeated Clonoulty-Rossmore by 1-16 to 1-7 at Semple Stadium on October 31. Sarsfields were out of traps very quickly and were six points to nil in front after thirteen minutes. Their forwards had the Clonoulty backs at sixes and sevens and it looked as if Sarsfields were going to win in a canter. However, Clonoulty eventually got their show on the road with the inspiration coming from captain and wing-forward, Tom Butler, who hit over a hat-trick of points. Timmy Hammersley added a point and, in the 29th minute, John O'Neill goaled from a twenty-metre free to leave just two points between the sides, 0-9 to 1-4, at half-time. It should have been closer but for poor free-taking by Clonoulty.

Any hope that Clonoulty were about to create a surprise evaporated early in the second half. A great block by Padraig Heffernan, denied Lar Corbett a certain goal. Denis Maher, who had moved in centreforward, began to impose himself on the game and hit three fine points. Aidan McCormack, who came on as a sub, added two more and then in the 46th minute, centrefield Gleeson, hit a pin point accurate shot into the hand of Corbett, who duly finished it to the net. The score put Sarsfields practically out of sight at 1-14 to 1-5. However, Clonoulty did not die easily. They created three goal-scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the game. A combination of good goal-keeping and great defence contrived to prevent a last minute shock and when the final whistle sounded Sarsfields had nine points to spare on a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-7.

Sarsfields have a good outfit with a lot of talent round the field and they will go into the Munster championship with the confidence to go one better than they have before. If they have a problem it's the tendency to go out of games in which they seem to have total control and they fail to put teams away when they're on top. It was a frustrating final for Clonoulty. They too have a lot of talent but they failed to deliver to their true potential during the year and failed again in the final.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack,Michael Cahill, Kevin O'Gorman, David Maher, Barry O'Dwyer, Padraic Maher, David Kennedy, Michael Gleeson, Alan Kennedy, Stephen Lillis (0-2), Lar Corbett (1-0), Denis Maher (0-4), Richie Ruth (0-2), Pa Bourke (0-4), Johnny Enright (0-2). Subs: Alan McCormack (0-2) for Johnny Enright, Jim Corbett for Alan Kennedy, John Joe Burke for for Richie Ruth, Michael O'Brien for David Maher, Patrick Leahy for Barry O'Dwyer. Others: Bill McCormack, Garry Mernagh, Stephen Maher, John Maher, Tony Ruth, Philip O'Dwyer, John Lawlor, Eoin Russell, David O'Dwyer, Michael Collins, Michael Russell, Pa Dunne, Rory O'Shea.

Clonoulty-Rossmore: Declan O'Dwyer, Liam Devane, John Heffernan, Kevin Horan, Joey O'Keeffe, John Devane, Padraig Heffernan, Sean O'Connor, John O'Keeffe, Tom Butler (capt.) (0-3), Michael Heffernan, Timmy Hammersley (0-3), Fiachra O'Keeffe, Thomas Butler, John O'Neill (1-1). Subs: Anthony Kearney for Liam Devane, Paudie White for Sean O'Connor, Conor Ryan for Michael Heffernan, Sean O'Connor for Fiachra O'Keeffe. Others: Diarmuid Cullen, Jason Forrestal, Micheal Coen, Martin Sadlier, Conor Hammersley, Brian Ryan, Paddy Ryan, John Heffernan, Andrew Quirke, Niall Shanahan, Donncha Ryan, Kieran Ryan, Aaron Ryan, Kieran Hammersley, Aidan White, Davy White, Jamie Moloney, Seamus Carew.

Referee: Keith Delahunty (Moyle Rovers)

Man of the Match Award: Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

Attendance: 6,224.

Seamus Ó Riain Cup

Sixteen teams qualified for the Seamus Ó Riain Cup as a result of their failure to qualify for the semi-finals in their respective divisions. There were seven teams from the north, Roscrea, Monegall, Nenagh Eire Óg, Templederry, Kilruane-MacDonaghs, Lorrha, Portroe. The south had two qualifiers, Ballingarry and Ballybacon-Grange. There were four from the mid, J. K. Brackens, Loughmore-Castleiney, Boherlahan-Dualla and Moycarkey-Borris, and three from the west, Cappawhite, Cashel King-Cormacs and Golden-Kilfeacle.

As a matter of interest six of the seven north teams survived the first round, the only failure was Moneygall who were beaten by Loughmore-Castleiney. Of the four mid teams Loughmore-Castleiney was the only survivor. Neither of the two south teams made it to the second round and Cashel King Cormacs was the only team from the three from the west.

The first round games were played over the period July 16 to August 2. The eight teams that came through were Roscrea, Cashel King Cormacs, Loughmore-Castleiney. Nenagh Eire Óg, Templederry Kenyons, Kilruane MacDonaghs, Lorrha and Portroe. There was an open draw for the quarter-finals, which were played on Monday and Tuesday, 13/14 September. All the games were played at Semple Stadium.

Quarter-Finals

On a miserable Monday evening Templederry scored a comprehensive win over Portroe by 2-24 to 2-12. Star of the winner's performance was Eanna Murray, who scored 0-13 of his side's tally. It was an even game in the first half and Portroe led by a point at the interval, 1-9 to 0-11, but Templederry took over in the second half and deserved their comprehensive victory.

In the second game on the same evening Nenagh Eire Óg strolled to victory over an out-of-depth Lorrha. They led by 1-11 to 0-3 at half-time and blew Lorrha away in the second half, adding 3-8 to Lorrha's 0-1. Kevin Tucker scored 0-11 for the winners.

None of the newspapers carried reports of the remaining two quarter-final games, which took place on the following night. They weren't in time for the September 16 edition of the papers and since the semi-finals were to follow at the weekend they would have been appearing at the same time as the semi-final reports. So, a most unusual situation of two senior hurling games not reported. In the first of these Loughmore-Castleiney had a comprehensive victory over Cashel King Cormacs of 5-22 to 0-20 and, in the second, Roscrea surprised Kilruane MacDonaghs, defeating them by 2-19 to 1-11.

Semi-Finals

The semi-finals were played at separate venues on September 19. Loughmore-Castleiney defeated Roscrea by 2-13 to 2-13 at Toomevara. The winners were five points behind with fourteen minutes remaining but they put in a storming finish with goals from Noel McGrath and Cian Hennessy to claim a place in the final. Roscrea led by 1-7 to 1-6 at the interval and had pushed on to lead by 2-9 to 1-7 as a result of their second goal in the 46th minute, but they were outscored by 2-6 to 0-4 in the last quarter of the game.

The second semi-final between Nenagh Éire Óg and Templederry Kenyons, which was played at Dolla, was in no way as exciting. In fact Nenagh had a clearcut win by 0-24 to 1-6. Nenagh's victory was facilitated by the dismissal of the Templederry corner-back, Paudie Ryan, after twenty-six minutes. The winners led by 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time. Templederry got some hope when Matthew Ryan converted a penalty in the 48th minute but it was Nenagh who pushed on to a facile victory by fifteen points.

The Final

Some might claim that this competition was debased by giving the finalists entre to the Dan Breen Cup rather than allowing it to stand on its own strength. It was further debased by the decision of Loughmore-Castleiney to field a depleted side on the day, giving priority to their date with Aherlow in the senior football final the following Sunday.

As the curtain-raiser to the Dan Breen final it provided little in the way of entertainment for a sparse crowd as a rampant Nenagh Eire Óg easily overcame the feeble challenge of the Mid representatives. After a dominant first quarter, Nenagh Eire Óg relaxed a bit but still led by double scores, 2-8 to 1-4, at the interval. The supremacy of Nenagh was even more pronounced in the second half as they added 1-9 to Loughmore's 0-2 and finished a non-event on a scoreline of 3-17 to 1-6.

Nenagh Éire Óg: Willie Bolger, Daire Quinn, Shane Maher, Mark Flannery, Hugh Flannery, Richie Flannery, Noel Moloney, John Flannery Alan Kelly, Paul Ryan (1-4), Hugh Moloney (capt.), 0-2, Michael Heffernan (0-1), Kevin Tucker (0-3), John Slattery, Pearse Morris (2-1). Subs: Brian Quinn for Hugh Flannery, Thomas Heffernan (0-1) for Kevin Tucker, Mark Tuite (0-1) for Hugh Moloney, Eoin Fitzgibbon for John Flannery, John Brennan (0-1) for John Slattery. Others: Michael McNamara, Michael Hynes, Eddie Tucker, Brian Maxwell, Stephen Ryan, Sean Geaney, Sean Healy, David Cleary, Mark Grace, Donncha Heffernan, Joe Geaney, Edward Darcy.

Loughmore Castleiney: Shane Nolan, Kevin Johnson, Eoin Ryan, Martin Ryan, Dara Butler, John Meagher, Henry Maher, Paddy Moynihan (1-0), Eamon Connolly (0-1), Martin Gleeson, Seamus Bohan (0-4), Shane Hennessy, Darren Danagher, James Connolly Johnny Campion (0-1). Subs: Ger Morris for Darren Danagher, Pauric Egan for Johnny Campion, Brian McGrath for Shane Hennessy, Kieran Kiely for James Connolly. Others: Kevin Stapleton, Thomas Quinn, Richard Maher, Eamonn McGrath, Kevin O'Connell, Craig Cleary.

Referee: Phil Ryan (Kickhams)

Man of the Match: Daire Quinn (Nenagh Eire Óg).

Co. Senior Hurling Championship 2010 at a Glance

Round 1

18/09/2010 Boherlahan Galtee / Treacys 1.13 Carrick Davins 1.09 Denis Curtis

18/09/2010 Boherlahan Upperchurch Drombane 1.19 Killenaule 0.09 Ger Fitzpatrick

19/09/2010 Holycross Kildangan 3.13 Éire Óg Anacarty 1.15 Keith Delahunty

19/09/2010 Borrisoleigh Burgess 1.20 Holycross Ballycahill 0.15 Sean Bradshaw

23/09/2010 S Stadium Borris-Ileigh 1.20 Knockavilla Kickhams 0.08 Johnny Ryan

23/09/2010 S Stadium Mullinahone 2.15 Drom & Inch 1.12 Richie Barry Round 2

26/09/2010 Templemore Kildangan 3.15 Galtee / Treacys 2.13 Pat Ivors

26/09/2010 Templemore Burgess 1.21 Upperchurch Drombane 0.14 Noel Cosgrave

27/09/2010 S Stadium Mullinahone 2.15 Nenagh Eire Óg 1.15 Fergal Horgan

27/09/2010 S Stadium Loughmore Castleiney 1.16 Borris-Ileigh 1.13 Seamus Roche

Quarter Finals

02/10/2010 S Stadium Kildangan 1.14 Carrick Swans 1.09 Johnny Ryan

02/10/2010 S Stadium Clonoulty Rossmore 2.21 Burgess 1.13 Noel Cosgrave

03/10/2010 S Stadium Toomevara 1.26 Mullinahone 0.13 Richie Barry

03/10/2010 S Stadium Thurles Sarsfields 2.19 Loughmore Castleiney 2.13 Tommy Ryan

Semi Finals

17/10/2010 S Stadium Clonoulty-Rossmore 1-19 Kildangan 1-16 W Clohessy

17/10/2010 S Stadium Thurles Sarsfields 1-17 Toomevara 1-16 Seamus Roche

Final

S. Stadium Thurles 1-16 Clonoulty-Rossmore 1-7 Keith Delahunty

Seamus Ó Riain Cup 2010 at a Glance

Round 1

16/07/2010 The Ragg Roscrea 1.18 Cappawhite 2.10 Noel Cosgrave

18/07/2010 Holycross Cashel King Cormacs 3.16 JK Brackens 1.20 TP Sullivan

30/07/2010 Borrisoleigh Loughmore Castleiney 4.18 Moneygall 3.10 Sean Bradshaw

30/07/2010 Drombane Nenagh Éire Óg 4.30 Golden Kilfeacle 2.04 Tommy Ryan

01/08/2010 Templemore Ballingarry 1.14 Templederry 1.17 Richie Barry

01/08/2010 Templemore Kilruane MacDonaghs 4.20 Boherlahan Dualla 3.17 John O'Brien

01/08/2010 The Ragg Ballybacon G 1.13 Lorrha Dorrha 2.11 Martin Ryan

02/08/2010 Templederry Portroe 1.21 Moycarkey Borris 1.19 Ger Fitzpatrick

Quarter Final

13/09/2010 Semple Stadium Templederry Kenyons 2.24 Portroe 2.12 Seamus Roche

13/09/2010 Semple Stadium Nenagh Éire Óg 4.19 Lorrha 0.04 John O'Brien

14/09/2010 Semple Stadium Loughmore Castleiney 5.22 Cashel King Cormacs 0.20 Pat Gibson

14/09/2010 Semple Stadium Roscrea 2.19 Kilruane MacDonaghs 1.11 Phil Ryan

Semi Final

19/09/2010 Toomevara Loughmore Castleiney 3.13 Roscrea 2.13 Fergal Horgan

19/09/2010 Dolla Nenagh Éire Óg 0.25 Templederry Kenyons 1.06 Noel Cosgrave

Final

Semple Stadium Nenagh Éire Óg 3-18 Loughmore Castleiney 1-6 Phil Ryan

<span class="postTitle">Recent and Forthcoming Publications - 2011</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2011, pp 104-107

Recent and Forthcoming Publications - 2011

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2011, pp 104-107

Local G.A.A. publications are scarce on the ground this year. Jimmy Morris got the ball rolling with the launch of The Morris Code at the Hibernian Hotel, Nenagh on September 30 with no less an eminence that the president of the association, Christy Cooney, to do the honours. Born in Borrisokane, Jimmy immersed himself in the G.A.A. in his native parish, first as a player and later as an administrator before moving to Nenagh in 1964 where he continued his involvement with the Eire Óg club. Throwing in his lot with his new club was natural because, as he says in the book 'Nenagh would now be my home and I felt it only right and proper that whatever I had to contribute, be it little or great, should be given to the club attached to the town where I now lived.' This personal memoir is about Jimmy's attachment to the G.A.A. over many years – he is now 81 years of age – but it's also about what the G.A.A. has done for people and communities all over Ireland.

This book is a lively read, written in conjunction with Gerry Slevin, it started out as an article and evolved into a book and is on sale for €20. It is published by the Nenagh Guardian.

A significant publication is the history of the the Galtee Rovers/St. Peacaun's Club, which was launched on December 4. Too late to review for this publication, it is the work of Seamus McCarthy and Liam Bergin. The significance of this book is that it includes portraits of a number of national figures, such as St. George McCarthy, who was one of the founders of the G.A.A.. William Cullinane, who was an M.P. and an early referee in the G.A.A., Darby Ryan the Bansha Bard, etc. The club is also the home of the famous referee, John Moloney, and the recently retired Governor of Mountjoy Jail, John Lonergan. As well the model for the Tipperary Hurler, the famous painting by Sean Keating, is none other than Ben O'Hickey, also from the parish. We look forward to the book.

On Friday, 11th December, 2009, too late for the 2010 Yearbook, the Cahir G.A.A. Club held the launch of its club history entitled Memories and Achievements, 124 years of the G.A.A. in Cahir. The launch was performed by Sean Kelly M.E.P and former G.A.A. President. A large crowd of present and past club members supported the function. There was a special welcome for John F. O'Donnell who had played such an important role in the revival of the club in the 1940s and had as a player and officer of the club made a lifetime's contribution to the club. His fellow life president Willie Kiely was also present. Willie also had played a significant role in club administration over many decades. Tom Kelly who was on the club's first championship winning team, i.e. the minor footballers of 1943, was also present. Indeed every decade of the club's history was represented by former players from the late 1930s to the present. The night was kindly sponsored by Gerry Enright, of Eurospar, Dungarvan. Gerry was a former club player and had also represented Tipperary in all grades of football and indeed was a Munster Railway Cup player.

The book was compiled by Colm O'Flaherty and Mattie Hussey from a variety of sources e.g. press-cuttings, minute books etc. Extensive use was made of the Thurles library local-studies facilities, where extracts from past local newspapers were accessed. The book also contained almost 300 photographs. However, a unique feature of the book was the contribution from captains of county winning teams. This ranged from John O'Meara, captain of the county minor winning team of 1953 to Liam Meehan captain of the county minor winning team of 2008. All these contributions were unique in their style and content and gave an insight into life during each period recalled.

The McNamee Award

The value of the club's history was recognised at national level, with the award for "the best G.A.A. history publication 2009" As 2009 was the 125th anniversary of the founding of the G.A.A., there were significantly more entries in this category, so the award was all the more meritorious. The citation for the award was as follows

"As well as the men who wrote the background of the story of the presence of the G.A.A. in Cahir most recent decades were illuminated by the contribution of successive generations of players and officials."

From the lovely piece written by John O'Meara (who was born in 1936) to the brilliant funny gossipy contribution on the 2003 Tipperary senior football winning team, there is a wonderful chorus of opinions" it concluded.

Club representatives attended the awards night function in Croke Park, which was hosted by the G.A.A. President Christy Cooney. Club representatives were also guests of the G.A.A. at the inter-county games in Croke Park i.e. Dublin versus Louth and Kildare V Derry.

Secrets of Kerry . . . A Captain's Story: Celebrating almost a Century of Kerry All Ireland Triumphs 1903 – 2009 is a DVD rather than a book and that fact may make it all the more interesting.

For the past two and a half years, one of Ireland's most knowledgeable GAA experts, Award Winning Radio Kerry Broadcaster Weeshie Fogarty, together with close friend Christy Riordan, C/R Videos Caherciveen, have been working on a major project, the biggest GAA project of its kind, documenting the triumphs and near misses of Kerry's journeys to Croke Park since 1903, when Kerry won it's very first All-Ireland championship.

The project, a DVD set called Secrets of Kerry . . . A Captain's Story is now completed and was launched in Cáitíns Pub, Kells on Friday 22nd October and at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney Tuesday 26th October.

Each of the 36 Kerry wins and some of the near misses have been documented by the captains of the Kerry teams – in their own words – or in the words of their closest living relatives in a 4 hour documentary, that spans 2 DVD's of the highest quality production. The project includes some amazing stories with over 100 interviews in total – tales never heard before, well known legends brought to life and behind the scene dramas of the various journeys to the All Ireland, the battle on the pitch and what happened to the various captains after the cup was lifted, including the desolation of the near misses since 1903.

Fogarty and Riordan trace each of the 32 winning captains, 16 of whom are still alive. Of the captains that have passed on, their relatives recount their story after each of their famous wins.

Updating Club Histories

There has never been a better time for updating club histories. Many existing histories were written during the eighties and need updating badly. Toomevara are already engaged in updating their history which was brought out in 1986. So also are St. Mary's, Clonmel.

What makes the work so much easier today are the outstanding records that are available. Three of the divisions now have histories and they give the general picture of the story of Gaelic Games in their areas. They include the achievements of every club in a general way. The next important source are divisional reports, compiled by secretaries at convention time. They contain a wealth of information on games played in the division during the previous year. Of particular importance are the dates of games, which allow the researcher to go directly to the match report in the local newspaper. There are the local newspapers, whose coverage of games has expanded dramatically and, whereas every game won't be covered in detail, there will be some reference to every game. All adult games are covered in detail. Then there is the County G.A.A. Yearbook, which strives annually to give as comprehensive coverage as possible to all G.A.A. activity in the county.. Many clubs will have efficient secretaries who will keep a detailed account of what transpired during the year, but will also produce a comprehensive record of the club's achievements at convention time. Such reports can be another valuable resource. Since we live in a visual age any club history must include plenty of pictures. The club may be lucky to have a good snapper, who attends most of its games. If they are not so lucky we are blessed with many photographers in every division, who have comprehensive collections of photographs. Overall then the material for club histories is there in abundance. All that is required is someone with the ability to bring it all together in a decent club history. This might be the time to look around to see if you have such a person in your midst. There are many educated people around and some of them are unemployed.

Other Publications

One of the most important contributions to our knowledge of what is happening in the hurling world is The Agony and the Ecstasy by Damien Tiernan. This book provides an account of the emergence of Waterford as a major hurling force in the late 1990s and the endeavours of the county's hurlers to win an All-Ireland over the last decade. This is a tale of a team that produced outstanding displays, usually one a year, but were usually denied crucial victories by the narrowest of margins. Many may well believe now that some of the greatest hurlers of our generation may never win the elusive Celtic Cross. Tiernan's book recounts the many selectorial blunders, organisational cock-ups, misunderstandings, misfortune and inability to learn, which dogged the team. Because the book is based predominantly on the testimony of players, there are contradictory versions of events. What comes across is the sheer difficulty team management faces in melding into a single fighting unit the great variety of individuals who make up a county senior panel – people who differ in terms of age, experience, ability, personality, education, social background and urban/rural upbringing. The book seems to indicate that Justin McCarthy failed in this very task concentrating on what he regarded as his primary duty getting the players to master the skills of the game and performing them to the best of their abilities on the day of a match.

A related book is If you Don't Know Me, Don't Judge Me by Dan Shanahan. Dan Shanahan is a legend in modern hurling, a three-time All Star and winner of 'Player of the Year' in 2007. His time as an inter-county senior hurler coincided with the remarkable revival in Waterford's fortunes, which saw them win the Munster final four times in the last decade. He's probably best remembered for his refusal to shake Justin McCarthy's hand after being taken off in the Munster championship of 2008, though that episode me be eclipsed by his goal in extra time in the 2010 Munster final. The title of the book is taken from a tatoo on Dan's arm.

Another Waterford book is My Father: A Hurling Revolutionary by Conor Power. This is a biography of one of the greatest goalkeepers from one of the most golden eras of hurling, written from the perspective of his son, the journalist Conor Power. Many readers will recall seeing that great photograph of Ned Power overleaping Christy Ring to grab the ball in the 1959 Munster championship. Having played at the highest level from 1957 until 1966, Ned Power won one All-Ireland medal, three Munster medals, an Oireachtas medal and a National League medal with his native Waterford. But it was as a skills coach and motivator that he made a lasting impact on the hurling scene. From the very beginnings of formal coaching at Gormanstown in the mid-1960s, Ned was a revolutionary bringing change firstly and most dramatically to his native Tallow and then to many more places he visited.

More Books

Other books of interest include My Club by Christy O'Connor who followed St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield for a season in 2009 as they looked to re-establish themselves as force in Clare hurling. One of Clare's finest hurlers Tony Griffin tells his remarkable story and his gruelling charity cycle across Canada in Screaming at the Sky. 100 G.A.A. Greats by John Scally celebrates the most significant players the Gaelic games have brought us in their 125-year history. He selects those footballers, hurlers, managers and camogie players who have lit up Irish sport, becoming national treasures in the process, and highlights their remarkable skills.

For 16 years, Darragh Ó Se has worn the number 8 jersey for Gaelic football's most celebrated county. With six All-Ireland medals, he is the most decorated of the present batch of Kerry footballers. Darragh's name is synonymous with his county's unrelenting appetite for success, but throughout his illustrious career he has held his counsel, allowing his football to do the talking. He now claims to reveal all that his tight lips kept quiet over his playing career in Darragh: My Story.

Voices from Croke Park by Sean Potts is a series of articles by leading G.A.A. writers on great hurlers and footballers, who have exhibited their talents in the great arena. The emphasis is more on football and there is no Tipperary representative.

A special word of praise for Ger Corbett and company, who excelled themselves once again with their programme for the county senior hurling final. This publication gets better by the year and is a wonderful keepsake for the winners, Thurles Sarsfields.

Finally, many readers will be interested in GAA Gold, an important archive of All-Ireland hurling finals from the 1950s, which has been compiled by the Irish Film Institute from a series of films shot by the National Film Institute for distribution to cinemas.

The original films have been digitised and the sound clarified. The DVD will be of particular interest to Tipperary people as it contains four All-Irelands featuring Tipperary in the period covered, 1948 to 1959. This is the first of GAA highlights releases, and an equivalent DVD featuring football finals is due next year followed by similar discs covering the 1960s. GAA Gold is available from the IFI shop and all leading DVD retailers, priced €19.99.

A handy present for Dad or Grandad!

<span class="postTitle">Wild Duck and Their Pursuit - Douglas Butler (Book Review)</span> The Nationalist, December 9, 2010

Wild Duck and Their Pursuit - Douglas Butler (Book Review)

The Nationalist, December 9, 2010

There are many stimulating books that come one's way but one of the most satisfying to come into my possession for some time has to be Wild Duck and Their Pursuit by Douglas Butler. This lively and informative book looks at the natural history, the populations, the movements and the behaviour of wild duck in order to help the sportsman better to understand his quarry.
 
What makes this book special is the fact that the author is an enthusiast about his subject. Douglas Butler is a professional zoologist with a particular interest in wildfowl. His liftime interest in the subject began when he shot his first mallard at the age of eight and he has been an avid duck hunter ever since.

In chapter two he tells us everything there is to know about ducks. He is detailed about the difference in male and female plumage. We are taken through their nesting places, the nesting season and the number of eggs. We're also given a profile of the selfish drake who 'takes no part in the tedious business of incubation.' We're informed that there are in excess of 140 species of ducks, geese and swans on earth and the author here, as in other places in the book, gives us a European and American perspective on the subject. Since the duck is meant for eating the author tells us of its performance on the dinner table. He states that as a general rule 'the taste and texture of meat reflects the feeding habit of the animal from which it is obtained. The flesh of herbivores is more palatable than that of carnivores. . . .'

There is a fascinating chapter on 'Residents, Migrants and the Numbers Game' in which the distinction between resident and migrant is addressed and the migratory routes of wildfowl are described. The author emphasises the need for more accurate information on figures for wildfowl. From his experience he harbours 'a deep vein of cynicism when it comes to published figures.'. He is particularly sceptical of figures published on this side of the Atlantic but has considerably more faith in those for North America. The reason he wants accurate information is that 'As a hunter . . . I want to know the size of quarry populations so that I can then make an informed judgement about what is realistic in terms of taking a harvest.'

The author has a chapter highlighting lead poisoning as a mortality factor in wildfowl populations. The problem arises because when shot pellets are fired at a bird, only a tiny number of them hit the target while the rest are dispersed into the environment and those that fall in water may well be ingested by wildfowl. The evidence from America suggests that a considerable number of widfowl die off as a result while in Europe far fewer deaths are recorded. As a result legislation has been introduced in America, England and Scotland against the use of lead in these countries. The author would not agree with this prohibition because 'no one really knows whether the problem of lead poisoning is significant or not.' He is glad there is no such legislation in Ireland.

There's a whole chapter devoted to regulations in place for the shooting of duck. While the Americans have hours during which it is permissible to shoot wildfowl and the number of birds that may be killed in a day, no such restrictions exist in Britain and Ireland. Here, we can shoot ducks throughout the 24 hours. Dusk and dawn are the most favoured periods. 'Indeed it is more or less certain that the greater part of the annual bag is taken at the hour of dusk.'

A number of chapters in the book deal with the activity of shooting. One is on the subject of 'Walking Up Ducks', a term used to describe the shooting of game which the guns themselves have flushed with or without the assistance of dogs. Another deals with 'Flighting', which means lying in wait for the ducks, mainly in the twilight hours, as they go about their business. Here the author brings his lifelong experience to the subject and the chapters teem with information gleaned from long hours over many days and years: 'The man who knows his fowl will have spotted a few feathers washed into the edge or signs that pondweeds have been disturbed. And he will have spent the day in eager anticipation of the good things that may happen at dusk.'
 
The chapters are peppered with personal experiences across Tipperary and beyond, in England, Scotland, Europe and even further afield, bringing to the reader a wealth of experience gleaned from long hours in the open at dawn and dusk in the depths of winter, in all kinds of weather. Wildfowling is a largely solitary pusuit as the author tells us: 'Whilst all sports have a social element, hunting as much as any other, there are times when, selfishly, I much prefer to be on my own or with a single companion. Evening flight is one such time. Most of my flighting haunts are relatively small and can be adequately covered by a single gun. Since ducks can come in from any angle, sometimes with very little prior warning, it is much easier to be fully relaxed knowing that there is no danger to anyone else when one takes a shot. And, as every hunter knows, we only shoot really well when we are fully relaxed. I am personally very conscious of the fact that when I am shooting in close proximity to another gun, I shoot less well.'
 
This is the first book for many years to focus exclusively on duck shooting and it will appeal to ornithologists and conservationists, as well as those who shoot duck. Douglas Butler brings to the subject an impressive knowledge that comes not only from his academic background but also from the wisdom gained from a life of field experience. It's an unbeatable combination that has given us an instructive and lively publication.

The book was published by Merlin Unwin Books in September, contains 224 pages with many black and white illustrations most of which were supplied by the author himself. It retails for £20 and is available in most good bookshops.

<span class="postTitle">Mick Bennett (1924-2010)</span> Tipperary Star, April 22, 2010

Mick Bennett (1924-2010)

Tipperary Star, April 22, 2010

Mick Bennett of Rathordan, Cashel passed away on April 1 after a short illness following a car accident. He would have been 86 years of age on April 5, the day after he was buried.

Mick was a big man, who towered over most of us, and he had a personality to fill his huge frame. Tug-of-war was his game as a younger man, about which more later.

Mick, who was one of seven children, was born in Sleaveen, Clonakilty, where he farmed difficult land. There were a lot of hills and slopes on it and it made it unsuitable for tractor work. It was also beside the sea. At some stage he made a decision to sell and buy a replacement farm somewhere else. It could be inside Cork or in any county, he didn't mind.

He bid on a number of places but was unsuccessful. The place he eventually bought in Rathordan, on the Clonmel Road, he had bid for unsuccessfully two years previously. He eventually got it in 1981.

Mick was fifty-eight years of age at the time and it was a big decision to make at that stage in his life. However, because of his determination to leave, it didn't cause such a major wrench in his life.

His Family

The move involved not only himself but also his wife, Eileen (nee Coakley from Dunmanaway), and their five children, Mary, Ger, Eleanor, John and Therina, plus brother Finbarr. The oldest child, Anna, had died from leukemia in 1972. Mick and Eileen had married on November 25, 1963, the very day that President John F. Kennedy was buried. (Eileen passed away three years ago.)

Prior to coming to Cashel Mick had taken part in the sport of tug-a-war. Not for him the games of hurling and football but, from an early age, pulling the rope was part of his life. He was the perfect speciman of a man to anchor a tug-of-war team He continued in the sport until he was nearly fifty years of age. His son, Ger, remembers as a kid being bundled into a lorry to travel to some championship or tournament.

Tug-of-War

Mick obviously excelled in the sport and won four All-Irelands with Killbree in the 120 stone catagory between 1963-1966. There are eight members on a team and a game consists of three pulls. In order to win a team must pull the opposing side the distance of four meters.

On one occasion at a tournament in Tipperary Town Mick's team was defeated by a side that included many McCormacks of hurling fame from the Kickhams club. What was memorable about this contest was the length of time it took for one pull in the three-pull match, one and a quarter hours to pull the opposing side the equivalent of four metres!

Mick was well past his tug-of-war best by the time he came to live in Cashel. The farm he bought had been a stud farm and there was quite an amount of work converting it to a dairy spread. He was well received by the neighbours and soon established good relations with Jim Devitt and Dan Grogan, among others. Tom Horan, who came into the area in 1987 recalls being welcomed by Mick soon after arriving, a Cork man welcoming a Tipperary man to a part of Tipperary!

Sociable and Friendly

That kind of gesture was the essence of the man. Mick was a most sociable and friendly man and as helpful a neighbour you could wish to have down the road. He just loved meeting people and this desire took him to all kinds of meeting places, fairs, hurling and football matches, funerals, or just travelling around the country.

He had friends all over the country, not only Cork friends in Cork, but Tipperary friends in remote parts of Tipperary, Wexford friends, Waterford friends. Tom Horan recalls when he was canvassing for Michael Slattery for NFA office, Mick came along to Cork and other places to give them the lie of the land and the people to call on. He had contacts everywhere.

Mick was always a Cork man and a great supporter of Cork hurling and football. He was extremely well-informed on new players breaking on to the scene. His gospel was 'De Paper', which he bought daily and read from cover to cover. He always started at the back with the deaths, continued into sport and eventually got to the news.

Attending Matches

He was an inveterate attender at hurling and football matches of all descriptions. It is estimated he attended four or five games a week during the summer time. A match couldn't be bad enough for him to attend! It wasn't only the game he enjoyed, surveying the skills on display with a trained eye, but the camaraderie and sociability of the occasion.

In his moving address at the funeral Mass in Rosegreen Church, Fr. Jim Purcell, spoke of Mick's love of travel and his legendary knowledge of places, far and wide: 'Mick has been described as the original 'Sat Nav' - - - he loved to travel, and only last weekend he made the regular pilgrimage to his roots, completing the journey by stopping off with Mary in Middleton. As said, he lived in his car, the Vento'.

Mick had strong religious beliefs and the practice of his religion was as important as eating his dinner. He may have been disturbed with the recent developments in the Church but they didn't weaken his faith one jot.

Mick made his mark on life, whether pulling the rope with his tug-of-war team, farming in Cork and Tipperary, raising his family, being a good neighbour and bringing joy and fellowship to all he met. It was a privilege to have known him.

<span class="postTitle">Patrick Darcy</span> The Nationalist, February 18, 2010

Patrick Darcy

The Nationalist, February 18, 2010

Patrick Darcy may be slowing down on the legs but he's still very sprightly mentally. In fact for a man in his ninetieth year, having been born on February 12, 1920, he has a wonderful memory that can stretch back over the nine decades.

He remembers going to his first match at Thurles in 1928 at the age of eight years. Clare beat Tipperary that day but he remembers the treat he got from his father, a bar of 'Half-Time, Jimmy' which was made by Urneys at the time. His father and the 'Bear' Parsons retired to Mickey Bowe's pub for a couple of pints and they brought out the chocolate to Patrick, his brother, Danny, and Johnny Parsons.

Another long memory goes back to 1931 and the first minor hurling championship in the West. Cashel beat Arravale Rovers, Clonoulty and Annacarty along the way. Patrick, who came on as a sub in the final at the age of eleven years, believes the game was played at Cooper's field at Killenure. He is still bitter at the failure of the board to provide medals for the winners.

A Handy Hurler

Patrick must have been a handy hurler to get his place on the team so young and could have played minor for another seven years. Cashel minors didn't have much success in the following years and lost a number of matches because of overage players. There is a reference to a juvenile league in 1933 in which Cashel beat Fethard but lost the game beause of illegal players. Patrick was on the team. He does remember playing with the C.B.S. and beating Templemore C.B.S. but losing to Thurles in the final. As well as hurling they used to do gymnastics in the school and they put on a display in the hurling field once a year.

His hurling was curtailed when he emigrated to England in 1936 at the age of sixteen years. He was to remain there until the war broke out in 1939, when he returned to Cashel. He worked on the buildings and had his first drink there. Later in life he used to enjoy a drink in Lonergan's on a Monday night in the company of the 'Dasher' Lonergan.

When he returned from England in 1939 he resumed hurling and played junior for a number of years. He recalls the setting up of the Abbey Rangers in 1940 and believes the reason they broke from the Cashel King Cormac's was a perception among some players that they weren't getting a fair crack of the whip in team selection.

Divisional Senior Medals

Patrick was on the Cashel senior team that won the west final in 1945. He played in the full-forward line with Michael Burke and Charlie Power. They beat Kickhams by 4-5 to 1-3 in the final on a day when Jim and Pat Devitt were in sparkling form. They lost the county semi-final at Thurles to Roscrea. The only survivors of that team are Patrick and Jackie Corcoran.

The hurling field in these years was on the Ardmayle Road and Patrick believes the team was trained for one of the finals by Arthur Donnelly's brother from Boherlahan. They used to puck the ball about and have sprinting and running during these training sessions.

Patrick won his second senior divisional medal in 1948 when Cashel again beat Kickhams in the final. On this occasion the match was much closer. Kickhams led by four points at half-time but Cashel fought back to win by two points on a scoreline of 3-6 to 3-4. They lost by a point to Lorrha in the county semi-final. Again there are only two survivors of this team, Patrick and Jackie Corcoran.

He continued to play for Cashel for the next three years, losing to Kickhams every year, twice in finals and once in a semi-final. In January 1952 he emigrated once again to England and remained there until 1956. During his time in England he didn't play hurling.

Returning to Cashel he worked with the contractor, Paddy Murphy of Bohermore, and was involved in the building of the tower in Rockwell College. He used to walk to work there and had to be on the job at eight o'clock.

Board of Works

He went back to England once again for a couple of years in the sixties and when he returned he was involved in the building of the Cashel Motor Inn late in the same decade. He continued to work for local contractors until he joined the Board of Works in 1974 and he remained with them until he retired in 1986.

Today as he reminisces on his long existence he can look back on a life of variety that spans nine decades with a high level of satisfaction in the knowledge that he has enoyed a greater slice of life than many of his fellow men.

<span class="postTitle">A Team of All the Ryans</span> Clonoulty-Rossmore Vintage Rally brochure, August 2010, pp. 31-34

A Team of All the Ryans

Clonoulty-Rossmore Vintage Rally brochure, August 2010, pp. 31-34

Mike and Jack Ryan (Rockwell's Famous Internationals)

It was an unusual idea and it was used by Cashel Rugby Club to get their 1956/57 season off with a wave of publicity. A team of all the Ryans was to challenge a team of all the Rest, made of players of the non-Ryan variety from Cashel, Clanwilliam, Clonmel, Garryowen and Young Munster.

Since you could cut a Ryan in any ditch in Tipperary there was no problem in getting fifteen to fill the positions on the team. Although hurling was the predominant game in the county and many Ryans, such as Sweeper and his brothers, had become famous playing for Tipperary there were other Ryans who had excelled on the rugby field.

The most famous, Mick and Jack, came from the Racecourse, which was in the parish of Cashel

They were legends in their own lifetimes and the legend hasn't faded in the meantime. Mike was capped 17 times for Ireland between 1897 and 1904 and Jack 14 times over the same period. Mike was chosen in 1905 but refused to play because Jack wasn't picked. Mike didn't begin to play rugby until he was 24 years old and brother Jack was already playing. Both started off as backs but soon changed to the forwards. Both played on the Triple Crown team in 1899 when Ireland defeated England, Scotland and Wales for the first time. 

Press accounts of the Triple Crown matches gave prominence to the contribution of the Ryans. In every second line we find the same note. "Mike Ryan came through on a couple of occasions in grand style". "The Ryans put in a lot of work and were assisted by Ahern and McCoull". "Of the forwards Mike Ryan and Jack were far and away the best, the elder brother being always on the ball". "Mick Ryan's play was brilliant, especially in the second half, when he knocked the English backs about like nine pins. He was simply irresistible and the soft surface of the field bore a deep impression of many a Saxon's form that Mick laid low".

The Scottish Match

Against Scotland the well-publicised incident happened: Mike Ryan slung the biggest Scottish man, McEwan, into the spectators. "He was playing a great game. Now, from our twenty-five he meant to get through, I saw him coming, teeth bared, jaw set, determination written all over him. Five yards from me he hurled himself for me. I got one arm well round him, swung around with him and let go; he sailed out into the crowd. There was a great hush for a moment in which you would have heard a pin drop. It was looked on as a prodigious feat of strength, but it was his own size and speed that helped me. He resumed the game nothing the worse".

Only five players played in all three matches - Louis Magee, James Sealy, Billy Byron, and the two Ryans. "Jack and I returned home. At the Racecourse Cross we were held up by all Rockwell. To a man they had turned out to welcome us. They took the horse from between the shafts and insisted on pulling us all the way to the college we loved, though our hands ached from all the fierce handclasps we received."

Jakes McCarthy, an outstanding sportswriter of the time, once described a famous try by Mike Ryan with the memorable phrase "crossing the line, his frame festooned by Saxons". The Ryans dined in Rockwell twice a week and played rugby with the boys. They were known for their gentleness and never hurt a student. Mike was particularly popular and Jack was the orator. Jack is remembered starting a speech in his good Tipperary accent: "There are moments in life . .." and the crowd applauding so much that he had to begin three times. Mike played for Bective at the time because a player could play for two teams in different provinces. Bective was one of a small number of Catholic clubs.

Last Game

Mike played his last game of rugby 1912 for a wager. He hadn't played for years: "Mr. O'Flaherty, Science Professor in Rockwell, laid me a wager that if I played in Rockwell I would not score. I took him on. Rockwell boys on the touchline made almost as much noise as all the spectators at an international. I had put on a good deal of avoirdupois and did not feel quite up to international form. I am afraid that the winning of the wager did not seem a possibility. However I kept going. About five minutes from the end my chance came. One of our centres cut through nicely. I think he could have got over on his own, but he elected to send to me. I took the pass somehow and attained the line. It was the most memorable and, I think, the most applauded score of my life, but nothing would induce me to accept another wager".

From the time the Cashel Rugby Club was revived in 1952 there was a preponderence of Ryans on the team. These included six brothers, named Eddie, Gerry, Tony, Dick, John and Donie. It was no surprise then that someone came up with the idea of the Ryans versus the Rest. The idea was unique and investigations carried out in Ireland, England Scotland and Wales at the time, failed to find any team made up of fifteen players with the same surname. So, it was a great way of generating publicity for the club.

Ryans versus the Rest was played in the Cashel Club grounds at Spafield on September 9. The Ryan team was as follows. At full-back was Donal Ryan, Solicitor, Ladyswell Street, Cashel. The threequarters line included John Ryan, Fethard, Tony Ryan, Cashel, John Ryan, Cashel, and M. Ryan, Clanwilliam. The outhalf was Benny Ryan, Cashel and the scrumhalf was P. D. Ryan, Clanwilliam. The forward line included Paddy Ryan, Templemore, P. V. Ryan, Clanwilliam, and Jim Ryan Hanna, Clonoulty, Pat Ryan, Clanwilliam, Eddie Ryan, Cashel, Matty Ryan, Cashel, Denis Ryan, Cashel, John Ryan, Clanwilliam.

There were a further three Ryans on the sideline that day: Jack Ryan of Clonmel, Dick Ryan (C) of Cashel and Johnny Ryan, Cashel.

The Rest won by 12-11. Cashel had the first score, a penalty from 45 yards out, converted by a notable point scorer, Denis Ryan, who was also captain of the side. In the course of the game Denis had to retire from the pack to the three-quarter line with a knee injury. Shortly after the penalty, from a line-out near the Rest line, Paddy Ryan burst over for a great try, which Denis Ryan converted and, just on half-time the latter scored again from a penalty in front of the Rest posts, to give Cashel a half-time lead of 11-0.

If Cashel had the better of the exchanges in the first half, the Rest made up for it after the interval. Seven minutes after the resumption Timmy O'Dwyer landed a good penalty for the Rest. The play swung from 25 to 25 and, about midway through the half, O'Dwyer had another penalty for the Rest. The latter continued to harass the Ryan lines and a fine burst by Coffey from a loose maul sent O'Brien away to score near the corner about ten minutes from time. The conversion failed. There were now only two points between the sides and the Rest snatched victory near the closing stages when Kennedy, receiving from a set scrum on the 25, cut through a gap in the Ryans defence before sending O'Brien over to score again. At the final whistle the Ryans were trying desperately to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat but failed on the scoreline of 11-12.

The Rest: A. Ellard (Clan), M. Gilligan (Clan), J. O'Brien (Clan), D. Kennedy (Clan), J. O'Connor (Cashel), M. Thompson (Cashel), F. Dwyer (Cashel), S. Quinlan (Clan), F. Kent (Clonmel), B. Boles (Cashel), T. Dwyer (Clan), W. Burke (Templemore), D. B. Rodgers (Cashel), D. Spearman (Cashel), T. Coffey (Garryowen).

Referee: Tommy O'Connor (Cashel)

Revival of the Club

There was a report in the Nationalist in February 1952 of a general meeting of Cashel Rugby Football Club. It appears that the game was dead in the town for just ten years, the last report of activity having been defeat in the Mansergh Cup final on May 3, 1942.

The general meeting elected the following officers: president ˆ W. P. Ryan, vice-presidents ˆ Rev. Dean Wyse Jackson and James Phelan, treasurer ˆ Frank Rhatigan, secretary ˆ Benny Ryan, captain ˆ Tommy O'Connor, vice-captain ˆ Con Hewitt. The selection committee included Dan Devitt, Richie Ryan and Jim Hannigan.

The report on the meeting was as follows: 'After a lapse of several years, a rugby football club has been established in the town. Its immediate predecessor, dating back a score or more years, was able to hold its own with the very best in the county. Although the present season is well advanced and the remaining few weeks do not permit much time for training and practising, still the fact of renewing a link with the past should encourage the club members to emulate the very creditable record of those who originally intorduced the game to Cashel and set a fine example of sportmanship on and off the field.' 

The revived Cashel club's first outing was against Rockwell College on February 10 at Cashel. The result was 10-9 in favour of Cashel and more important than the result is the team that won. It was as follows: T. Ryan, B. Rogers, J. Ryan, T. McGovern, P. J. Davern, T. O'Connor, Con Hewitt, D. Dwyer, M. Davitt, L. Tuohy, D. Looby, P. Donoghue, B. Ryan, D. Ryan, D. Williams. Cashel's two tries were scored by Tommy O'Connor and Mick Devitt and both were converted by Denis Ryan. According to the match report he 'showed rare skill, especially on the second occasion, when he goaled from the sideline.'

Conditions Bordering on the Primitive

Denis Ryan, mentioned above, has vivid memories of the early days. 'None of us knew anything about rugby,' he claims but they took to it like ducks do to water.

Tommy O'Connor (Dal) was their trainer and their basic training was running out as far as Camas Bridge which Denis remembers as a great load of craic. Fr. Meaney, C.S.Sp. of Rockwell College used to give them some rugby coaching.

The ball at the time was a bladder enclosed in a case of laced leather, and it was very difficult to kick. Denis should know, being an outstanding kicker. His technique was a straight run-up to the ball, no coming at it from an angle. He scored 102 points in the 1954-55 season. The boots weren't very good either and he had to buy a new pair every year.

Players looked after their own jerseys to the extent of taking them home after the match and washing them, Washing after matches left a lot to be desired. No hot showers like the players of today enjoy. Instead they had a barrel of water put at their disposal to wash the dirt off them. They had no fancy towels either but usually dried themselves with their jerseys! Denis recalls having to break the ice on the barrel in Nenagh after one match.

Fields could be very bad during the season, areas of mud with water running through them. Cashel were extremely lucky to get the use of their Spafield venue from Jim Phelan. Their first clubhouse was a converted cowshed. Denis recalls spending time improving it. Involved in the electric side of things, he made an important contribution. Others helped out with cement, plastering, painting, etc.

Transport was anything but plentiful at the time. A number of players had cars and they helped with the transport. Joe O'Connor had his butcher's van and this was also drafted in to bring players to games. Denis recalls how it was used for poker games on longer journeys.

Plenty of Success

Cashel started out as a Seconds team and the won the Evans Cup their first year, beating Roscrea in the final at Roscrea in the 1952/53 season. They advanced to first level the following season and won the Garryowen Cup and were beaten in the final of the Junior Cup by Shannon. They retained the Garryowen Cup in 1955 and 1956, surely extraordinary success in such a short period of time. There were also a couple of Mansergh Cup victories.

Clonoulty Connection

One doesn't associate rugby very much with the parish of Clonoulty-Rossmore. An important connection with the Team of All the Ryans was the late Jim Ryan Hanna, for many years a stalwart of the hurling fields of West Tipperary, who completed his sporting life on the rugby pitch.In all he played for about eight years and was one of the few to wear a scrum cap. Other contemporaries from the parish who played rugby during this period were John Bourke of Clune, Eddie and Jimmy Fryday, and Tom Ryan.

There's another rugby connection with the parish from a somewhat earlier period. The Pikes were born in Srahavarrella, Clonoulty West in the beginning of the twentieth century, the sons of clergyman, William Pike, and his wife Harriett Florence. The older, Theodore Ouseley, was born in 1905 and was capped for Ireland 8 times. We know he played for Ireland against England at Twickenham on February 12th, 1927. He ended up a Governor of Somaliland from 1954-1959 and he died in Guilford in 1987.

The second son was Victor Joseph, who was born in 1907 and died in 1986. He played for Ireland but we're not sure how many caps he won. His position was hooker and he definitely played against England at Twickenham on February 14, 1931. He spent a long time as a chaplain in the British Armed Forces, rising eventually to become Chaplain General. He ended up as Anglican Bishop of Sherborne.

<span class="postTitle">The County Senior Hurling Championship - 2009</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 41-47

The County Senior Hurling Championship - 2009

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 41-47

The Dan Breen Cup

Thurles Sarsfields won their thirtieth county senior hurling title when they defeated Drom Inch by 0-14 to 0-5 in the final at Semple Stadium on October 18. Drom Inch, who were appearing in their third final, suffered their third defeat since 2005

It was expected to be a great final, with two Mid teams contesting it. Thurles Sarsfields may have been slight favourites, some of the thinking behind it based on their superior fire power. On the other hand Drom Inch were given a chance based mainly on their impressive defeat of Toomevara in the semi-final. As well it was their third final so any first-time nerves should be absent.It was expected to be a good game with free-flowing play and a feast of scores.

In stead it was one of the worst finals for years, a game that never sprang to life. Drom Inch were dreadful and Thurles Sarsfields not much better. Most of the players, bar Padraic Maher and Michael Cahill, seem to have been inhibited by the occasion. Sarsfields adopted the tactic of a hectic workrate that closed down the opposition and gave them neither time not space to hurl at ease. This was exemplified in the play of Michael Cahill, who stuck to Seamus Callanan like a leech and prevented him from performing. Since Callanan was the main hope on which a Drom Inch victory rested, preventing him from playing was the greatest contribution to a Sarsfields victory. On this basis Cahill probably deserved the Man of the Match, doing more than anyone on the field to prevent Drom winning.

At the end of the day the quality of the game didn't make a bit of difference to the Sarsfields players. Whereas playing the game and performing well may be the noble ideal, winning is why players go out to play and in the vast number of cases it doesn't make much difference to them whether it was pretty or not.

Winning captain Johnny Enright, touched on these matters in his speech afterwards. He had no argument about it being a poor final, but there was no apology either. 
He said: "It was, but I still felt our work-rate was phenomenal, we closed them down. We missed chances, they missed chances, but it’s all about getting that cup and taking the next step forward. We lost enough good finals – I remember one that finished 3-19 to 3-16, played great and lost. You win whatever way you can, and I thought our attitude and our work-rate was fantastic today. We felt if we could match them on work-rate we had the hurlers to come through, and that’s how it turned out. This one was huge for Thurles; everyone was talking about Drom & Inch having lost in 05 and 07, no title won yet, but we lost six finals this decade, four-in-a-row early on and then last year again, so this was as important to us as it was to them, though I know the pain they’re feeling now." 

Similar Format as in 2008

The format of the county senior hurling championship remained essentially the same in 2009 as it had been in 2008. It was divided into two competitions, the Dan Breen Cup and the Seamus Ó Riain Cup. All teams that made it to the divisional semi-finals qualifed for the former while all the remaining teams took part in the latter competition.

There was a bit of variation on 2008 with thirty rather than twenty-nine teams taking part, as 2008 intermediate champions, Templederry Kenyons, joined the senior ranks. Under the new structures brought in in 2008 any club had the right to enter the senior hurling championship. With the intermediate winners advancing to senior ranks every year there may come a day when there won't any longer be an intermediate grade! On the other hand any senior team had the right to be relegated intermediate if it felt it wasn't strong enough to be in senior ranks. As of yet there are no takers of this option.

Another change from 2008 was the granting of entry to the Dan Breen Cup to the finalists of the Ó Riain Cup. This was done in order to give greater stature to the Ó Riain Cup even though there was a belief in many quarters that the competition had proven itself in 2008 and Carrick Swans' success and the euphoria it generated had established the competition as capable of standing by itself, without the prop of qualification to the Dan Breen Cup.

As a result of this change it was necessary to find a way to bring the two Ó Riain Cup finalists into the Dan Breen Cup. In 2008 the eight beaten divisional semi-finalists played the eight divisional finalists in the first round of the Dan Breen Cup. The change made in 2009, in order to allow the entry of the Ó Riain finalists, was to give recognition to the divisional winners by excluding them from rounds 1 and 2 of the Dan Breen Cup. Round 1 therefore brought together the eight beaten divisional semi-finalists and the four beaten finalists in a playoff of six games. The six winners were joined by the two Ó Riain Cup finalists in Round 2 to produce four winners. The four winners played the four division winners in Round 3 to produce the semi-finalists.

As stated above thirty teams in all participated in the senior hurling championship 11 from the North, 8 from the Mid, 6 from the West and 5 from the South. The fourteen teams who didn't qualify for the divisional semi-finals entered the Ó Riain Cup.

First Round

The first round of the Dan Breen Cup was played on the weekend of the 12/13 September. Two games were played at Boherlahan on September 12 and resulted in victories for the two North teams over two from the South. Portroe defeated Ballybacon-Grange by 3-13 to 0-19 and Toomevara defeated Carrick Swans by 3-20 to 1-10.

Four games were played on September 13, two at Templemore and two at Cashel. At Templemore Upperchurch-Drombane defeated Cappawhite by 2-18 to 0-17, and Borrisoleigh defeated neighbours and rivals, Loughmore-Castleiney by 1-20 to 0-14. At Cashel, Killenaule proved too good for Golden-Kilfeacle on a scoreline of 1-21 to 0-11. while Thurles Sarsfields defeated Kickhams by 0-18 to 1-8.

Second Round

The six winners joined the finalists in the Ó Riain Cup, Kilruane MacDonaghs and Lorrha, for the second round and this produced four games. Two of these were played at Templemore on September 19. Upperchurch-Drombane defeated Portroe by 1-16 to 0-11, and Toomevara overcame Killenaule by 4-16 to 1-14. The other two games were played on September 20. At Dolla Thurles Sarsfields defeated Kilruane MacDonaghs by 2-22 to 1-10, and Borrisoleigh defeated Lorrha by 2-16 to 1-13 at Nenagh.

Quarter-Finals

All was now set for the quarter-finals in which the winners of round two played the four divisional champions. All the divisional finals were played on August 23. In the Mid final at Holycross Drom-Inch retained their title when they weathered a great challenge from Upperchurch-Drombane, who were appearing in their first ever senior final, to win by 2-11 to 0-14 in one of the best finals of recent times.

There was also a first in the North final at Nenagh where Portroe were playing in their first North senior final. There was no dream ending for them as Nenagh Éire Óg bridged and eight-year gap to take the title comfortably on a scoreline of 2-24 to 2-12.

In the South final at Kilsheelan, Killenaule were dreaming of a third-in-a-row but had victory snatched from them in the final minute when Mullinahone sub, Donal Cody, sent over the bar for the winning point on a scorline of 1-17 to 1-16.

In the West final at Golden Clonoulty-Rossmore completed a hat-trick of titles, when they defeated Cappawhite by 2-11 to 0-12 in a game that appeared to be going Cappa's way at the interval, when they led by ten points to four.

Only one divisional champion came through the quarter-finals, which were played at Semple Stadium on the weekend of September 26/27. On the 26th Thurles Sarsfields defeated Nenagh by 1-18 to 0-18, chiefly through the good marksmanship of Pa Bourke, who hit ten points, six from play. Nenagh Éire Óg had the better of the exchanges in the first half, leading by 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval and looked likely to win, but Thurles were the superior outfit in the second-half.

Drom Inch were the only divisional champions to make it through to the semi-finals. It didn't look likely after forty-five minutes when their opponents and near neighbours, Borrisoleigh, led by 0-15 to 1-9 and looked poised for victory. But Drom Inch levelled with a goal soon after and Seamus Callanan's ability to get points when they mattered, helped them on to a 2-15 to 0-19 victory.

Toomevara proved too good for Clonoulty-Rossmore in their quarter-final. In a classy display they led by 1-10 to 1-5 at the interval, went further ahead on the resumption, were hauled back to level following a couple of goals by Clonoulty, but then reeled off some fantastic points to win comfortably by 1-24 to 4-8.

Upperchurch-Drombane made no mistake when they defeated Mullinahone by 3-23 to 3-17 to qualify for their first senior semi-final in history. It did take extra time after the sides finished 3-12 to 2-15 in normal time but Upperchurch came on strongly in the second period of extra time to run out deserved six-point winners.

Semi-Finals

The county semi-finals were played as a double-header at Semple Stadium on October 3. Drom-Inch drew the county champions, Toomevara, and went into the game as underdogs, on the basis of the brilliance shown by the North side the previous Sunday. However, the mid champions, the only divisional champions still in contention, proved themselves powerful contenders for ultimate honours by taking the scalp of the Greyhounds.

They led by 2 points at the interval, 0-10 to 1-5 and put in a great performance in the second-half to keep the county champions at bay. They fully deserved their 4-point victory on a scoreline of 0-19 to 1-12. The major contributor to the victory, as he was the previous Sunday, was Seamus Callanan, who contributed twelve points of the total, five of them from play.

The second semi-final was less gripping as Thurles Sarsfields showed too much class for Upperchurch-Drombane, who had shocked them in the Mid semi-final. Sarsfields led by 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval and were well ahead by 2-17 to 0-10 at the final whistle. Pa Bourke, with nine points, played a leading role for the winners..

The Final

And so it was on to the final at Semple Stadium on October 18, 2009. A crowd of close to 10,000 turned up for the occasion. The day was fine but dull and there was an expectation in the air that this might be a special final, because of the number of talented players on the field.

The tension between the sides broke out in a bit of argy-bargy between two of the centrefield players even before the ball was thrown in. And, eventually the game was on its way.

It never really took off. Drom never got moving. By the twelfth minute Sarsfields were 5 points to nil in front. Drom got their first score in the fourteenth minute. They made something of a fightback in the second quarter if you could term three points a fightback, but Thurles had four themselves to lead by 0-9 to 0-3 at the interval.

The second half brought no great change. The sides shared two points in a very poor third quarter and another two over the next ten minutes. Ger 'Redser' O'Grady, whose year had been dogged by injury, came off the bench in the closing stages to grab two great points for Sarsfields and give a lift to a very flat game.

Thurles finished nine points to the good. They had two stars in Padraic Maher and Michael Cahill, while Johnny Enright, Pa Bourke and Denis Maher deserve mention. It was a game that Drom Inch will want to forget as there wasn't a single memory from it that they will want to remember.

Thurles Sarsfields: Patrick McCormack, Kevin O'Gorman, Padraic Maher, Barry O'Dwyer, Liam Cahill, Michael Cahill, Stephen Lillis, Alan Kennedy, Michael Gleeson (0-1), Pa Bourke (0-4), Shane Ryan, Denis Maher (0-1), Richie Ruth (0-1), Lar Corbett, Johnny Enright (capt.), 0-5. Subs: David Kennedy for Shane Ryan, Ger O'Grady (0-2) for Richie Ruth, John Lalor for Liam Cahill, David O'Dwyer for Alan Kennedy, Michael Collins for Kevin O'Gorman. Also: Bill McCormack, Colm Rourke, John Maher, Patrick Leahy, Eoin Russell, Tommy Collins, Stephen Mason, Wayne Cully, Jim Corbett, Tony Ruth, Garry Mernagh, John Connors.

Drom Inch: Damien Young, Matin Butler, Edward Costello, Michael Costello, Donncha Kennedy, Paul Stapleton, Micheál Butler, James Woodlock (capt.), Seamus Butler, Eric Woodlock, Seamus Callanan (0-2), John Kennedy (0-1), David Butler, Michael Long, Johnny Ryan (0-2). Subs; Eamonn Buckey for Paul Stapleton, Declan Ryan for Michael Long, Matthew Ryan for Eric Woodlock, David Collins for Declan Ryan, James Ryan for James Woodlock. Also: Ciarán Hassett, Liam Ryan, Paddy Kennedy, John Lillis, Shane Delaney, Paul Collins, Philip Looby, Enda Walsh, Michael Everard, Tom Cantwell, Padraig Butler, Matthew McGrath, Paul Connors, Brian Costello, Kevin Butler, Paul Ryan.

Man of the Match Award: Padraic Maher.

Referee: Sean Bradshaw (Kickhams).

Attendance: Approx. 10,000

Country Senior Hurling Championship

Round 1

12/09/2009 Boherlahan Portroe 3.13 Ballybacon G 0.19 John Ryan Bob

12/09/2009 Boherlahan Toomevara 3.20 Carrick Swans 1.10 Richie Barry

13/09/2009 Templemore Upperchurch D 2.18 Cappawhite 0.17 Ger Fitzpatrick

13/09/2009 Templemore Borrisoleigh 1.20 Loughmore C 0.14 Noel Cosgrave

13/09/2009 Cashel Killenaule 1.21 Golden Kilfeacle 0.11 John Cleary

13/09/2009 Cashel Thurles Sarsfields 0.18 Knockavilla K 1.08 Seamus Roche

19/09/2009 Templemore Upperchurch D 1.16 Portroe 0.11 Keith Delahunty

19/09/2009 Templemore Toomevara 4.16 Killenaule 1.14 Johnny Ryan

20/09/2009 Dolla Thurles Sarsfields 2.22 Kilruane MacD 1.10 Paddy Russell

20/09/2009 Nenagh Borrisileigh 2.16 Lorrha Dorrha 1.13 Seamus Roche

Quarter Finals

26/09/2009 S Stadium Thurles Sarsfields 1.18 Nenagh Eire Óg 0.18 Seamus Roche

26/09/2009 S Stadium Upperchurch D 3.23 Mullinahone 3.17 Tommy Ryan AET

27/09/2009 S Stadium Drom & Inch 2.15 Borrisoleigh 0.19 Sean Bradshaw

27/09/2009 S Stadium Toomevara 1.24 Clonoulty Rossmore 4.08 Noel Cosgrave

Semi Finals

04/10/2009 S Stadium Thurles Sarsfields 2.17 Upperchurch D 0.10 John Cleary

04/10/2009 S Stadium Drom & Inch 0.19 Toomevara 1.12 Seamus Roche

Final

18/10/2009 S Stadium Thurles Sarsfields 0.14 Drom & Inch 0.05 Sean Bradshaw

Seamus O Riain Cup

As stated above all teams that failed to make their divisional semi-finals qualified for the Seamus Ó Riain Cup, fourteen in all. Two teams, Moycarkey-Borris and Kilruane MacDonaghs, got byes to the quarter-finals, while the remaining twelve played first round games. These games were played earlier than in 2008 because of the need to have the finalsits ready to join the Dan Breen Cup in the third round.

Five games in the first round of the Ó Riain Cup were played on the weekend of July 18/19. Boherlahan-Dualla defeated Ballingarry by 1-16 to 0-10 at Cashel on the 18th. Two games were played at Templemore on the 19th. Moneygall defeated Holycross-Ballycahill by 1-16 to 2-8 and Lorrha defeated Cashel King Cormacs by 3-17 to 1-9. The remaining two games were played on the same day. At Nenagh Roscrea defeated Burgess by 1-10 to 1-7 and at the Ragg J. K. Brackens defeated Templederry Kenyons by 0-17 to 1-12.

The final game in the first round was played at Boherlahan on July 26 when Kildangan defeated Eire Óg by 1-15 to 2-9.

Quarter-Finals

Three weeks separated the quarter-finals. Two games were played on August 1 and were won by 1-point margins. At Toomevara Roscrea defeated Moneygall by 4-8 to 1-16 and Kilruane-MacDonaghs defeated Moycarkey-Borris by 1-13 to 1-12 at Templemore.

The remaining two quarter-finals were played on August 22. Kildangan defeated J. K. Brackens by 1-12 to 0-12 at Toomevara, and Lorrha defeated Boherlahan-Dualla by 0-26 to 2-4 at Moneygall.

Semi-Finals

The stage was now set for the semi-finals, which were played on the weekend of September 12/13. At Toomevara Kilruane-MacDonaghs had little difficulty in disposing of Roscrea by 3-14 to 1-8. Three first-half goals gave Kilruane a 3-9 to 0-6 lead at the break and though Roscrea fought back well in the second-half they found it difficult to get through the stout defending of Seamus Hennessy at centre-back.

There was a lot of tension in the second semi-final between Lorrha and Kildangan over a refusal by Kildangan to accede to a Lorrha request to put back the starting time in order to allow three of the panel to return from a family wedding in Spain. As it was they returned early and missed the wedding. Lorrha had the better of the exchanges in the first half and led by 1-8 to 0-5 at the break. Lorrha went further ahead in the third quarter but Kildangan fought back and only three points separated the sides at the final whistle, Lorrha 1-16 Kildangan 0-16.

Final

It was a case of second time lucky for Kilruane-MacDonaghs when they defeated Lorrha by 1-21 to 0-17 in the final of the Ó Riain Cup, which was played ar Borrisokane on October 11. In the previous year's final they lost to Carrick Swan. However, it was Lorrha who got off to the better start and were six points clear after ten minutes but some poor marking allowed Kilruane back into the game and they led by 1-10 to 0-11 at the interval. Kilruane confirmed their superiority in the second half, when Lorrha could only score six points. Many good point opportunities were wasted as players tried for goals. Kilruane thoroughly deserved their seven-point victory after a very impressive display.

Kilruane MacDonaghs: David Reddan, Brian Gaynor, Stephen Murphy, Gavin McAvinchy, Liam Gibson, Seamus Hennessy (capt.),0-1, Niall O'Meara (0-1), Mark O'Leary (0-2), Ray Moloughney (0-4), Kevin Quinlan (0-2), Brian O'Meara (0-6), Jonathon Cahill, Darren Killackey (0-1), Shane Quinlan (0-2). Subs: Diarmuid Cahill for Jonathon Cahill, Declan Barrett for Darren Killackey,, Denis Cahill for Shane Quinlan. 

Lorrha: Kevin Hough, Graham Houlihan, Rory Coen, Tadhg Nevin, Ciaran Hough, Stephen Hogan, Kevin Maher, Patrick Maher, Noel Hogan (capt.) 0-6, Michael Cleary (0-1), Ronan O'Meara (0-6), William Maher (0-2), Cian Hogan, Trevor Hogan, Ciaran Duggan (0-2). Subs: William Hough for Trevor Hogan, Donal Kennedy for Stephen Hogan.

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).

Seamus O'Rian Cup

18/07/2009 Cashel Boherlahan Dualla 1.16 Ballingarry 0.10 Richie Barry 

19/07/2009 Templemore Moneygall 2.18 Holycross Ballycahill 1.16 Phil Ryan

19/07/2009 Templemore Lorrha Dorrha 3.17 Cashel King Cormacs 1.09 Tom McGrath

19/07/2009 Nenagh Roscrea 1.10 Burgess 1.07 Michael Cahill

19/07/2009 The Ragg JK Brackens 0.17 Templederry K 1.12 Keith Delahunty

26/07/2009 Boherlahan Kildangan 1.15 Eire Óg Anacarty 2.09 Martin Ryan

Quarter Finals

01/08/2009 Toomevara Moneygall 1.16 Roscrea 4.08 Willie Clohessy

01/08/2009 Templemore Kilruane MacD 1.13 Moycarkey Borris 1.12 Seamus Roche

22/08/2009 Toomevara Kildangan 1.12 JK Brackens 0.12 Seamus Roche

22/08/2009 Moneygall Lorrha D 0.26 Boherlahan Dualla 2.04 Paddy Russell

Semi Finals

12/09/2009 Toomevara Kilruane MacD 3.14 Roscrea 1.08 Sean Bradshaw

13/09/2009 Nenagh Lorrha 1.17 Kildangan 0.16 Johnny Ryan

Final

11/10/2009 Borrisokane Kilruane MacD 1.22 Lorrha Dorrha 0.17 Johnny Ryan

<span class="postTitle">Recent G.A.A. Publications</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 92-93

Recent G.A.A. Publications

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 92-93

First of all I should like to address publications within the county. The good news is that two more club histories are nearing completion. The most immediate is the Newcastle club history, which is due for publication at the Park Hotel, Clonmel on November 28. I haven't seen the book but understand it contains about 300 pages and is a comprehensive history of the club in the Newcastle area since it was founded in the late 1920s.

The second history is of the Cahir club and it isn't clear yet whether it will be ready this side of Christmas. Colm Ó Flaherty and Mattie Hussey have been working away on this work for some time. Mattie Hussey is a distinguished ex-patriate of the town, living in Dublin, and has numerous books to his credit so we can expect a high standard with this publication.

The county 125 committee exhorted clubs during the year to get working on their club histories where these didn't exist or, where they were written around the time of the Centenary Year, to update them. Sean O'Donnell is working away on an update of the history of St. Mary's. The original volume covered the first sixty years of the club, 1929 to 1989, and Sean is covering the next twenty years. He hopes to have it completed during 2010.

Another update is the Toomevara club history, which appeared first in 1985. Paddy O'Brien and a team of researches are working on this. The work involved on such updates is made easier by the availability of records and published material now, in contrast to the early years of a club. In some cases this ease is offset by the sheer number of competitions being played.

Work in Progress

Work is in progresss on a number of publications. Liam Ó Donnchú is hoping that the first volume of the Thurles Sarsfields story will see the light of day during 2010. Liam has been somewhat derailed from his task by the publication of the history of Pouldine National School, which is due for completion this year.

P. J. Maxwell, who has contributed so much to research into the G.A.A. in the county, is working on the Nenagh Eire Óg history. This is a big story and P. J. is hoping it will be published by the end of 2010. Ardfinnan G.A.A. Club have also started work on their history and have drafted in former South Board secretary, Micheal Ó Meara to write it up.The Galtee Rovers club are hoping their history will see the light of day next year, which will be the 125th year of the club's existence.

Martin Burke's monumental volume 2 of the Mid board pictorial history is due for publication at the Templemore Arms on November 21. Everyone familiar with volume 1 will know what a comprehensive visual record this will be. Martin has been an indefatigable researcher of pictures from the past and he has done the Mid and the county some service in this publication. The textual history of the board will be commenced in the New Year and is expected to take two years to complete.

On a much smaller scale but instilled with a lot of local pride and belief in one's club is a booklet entitled Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the G.A.A. 1884-2009 and published by the Clonoulty-Rossmore G.A.A. Club. The club didn't get round to doing anything for Lá na gClub in May but had their own special Lá na gClub in October. They decided to produce a booklet telling about their achievements in the past and the present. And, because the club is so much a part of the parish and so many parishioners are part of the club, the achievements are as much about the parish as they are of the club. So, the booklet invites the people of Clonoulty-Rossmore to be proud of their achievements and with this in mind a copy of the booklet was distributed to every household in the parish. There is also a longer aim in producing the booklet, that it may whet the members' appetite for a fully-fledged history of the club. The booklet is available from the secretary of Clonoulty-Rossmore for •5 (plus postage).

Without a doubt The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884-2009, a collection of fourteen essays edited by Mike Cronin, Paul Rouse and William Murphy, is a major contribution to the 125th Anniversary of the foundation of the G.A.A.

Apart from the intrinsic worth of each essay and its contribution to the history of the G.A.A. over 125 years, the book brings together a collection of eminent historians, who turn their attention to an organisation, which has been a pivotal force in Irish life since its foundation, and yet has been ignored by cultural historians, who have always believed that the interests and pursuits of the hoi polloi in society are of more importance than the occupations of the masses, of which sport is an example per excellence.

It is not the intention of this review to give detailed comment on the essays. Suffice it is to say that Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh has a must-read piece 'The G.A.A. as a force in Irish Society'. If you want Michael Cusack in concise form, read Paul Rouse, who spoke at the Grangemockler weekend. American academic, Angie Gleason, has a challenging piece on 'Hurling in Medieval Ireland'. There are more, such as 'Gaelic Games and the Movies', most of them stimulating, and all of them readable. The book, published by the Irish Academic Press, retails at •29.95, but can be got for less.

A companion to the above work is The G.A.A.: A People's History by two of the above authors, Mike Cronin and Paul Rouse, together with Mark Duncan, and published by the Collins Press at •29.99. Containing over 400 pages it reflects the diversity, the passion and the sheer fascination of 125 years of G.A.A. history. Lavishly illustrated and including photographs that have never appeared in print before, the book outlines how Gaelic games and the scoial world which revolves around the Gaelic Athletic Association, has shaped the lives of generations of Irish people at home and abroad. From parades and ballads to epic journeys across land and sea, this history of the G.A.A. is as much about what happened off the field as what happened on it. As the cover sleeve caption puts it 'this book is about how generations pf Irish people have spent their time in the hours between work and sleep, in thrall to their games and the Association that organises them.'

Related thematically to the above and covering much of the ground is An Illustrated History of the G.A.A. by Eoghan Corry, published by Gill & Macmillan for •16.99. It traces the history of the Gaeilc Athletic Association in pictures from it foundation in the late nineteenth century through to its continuing success at the heart of sporting culture in Ireland. Again it includes some very rare photographs.

Serving its purpose in a different way is The Liam MacCarthy Cup by Sean Óg Ó Ceallacháin and Owen McCann, which deals with the famous cup from the year it was first presented to Limerick captain, Bob McConkey, after winning the 1921 All-Ireland, which wasn't played until 1923. Did you know that more goals were scored by Limerick in that final, eight, than by any other team in all the finals since? A number have scored seven, including Tipperary in their 1951 win over Wexford. Another point the authors are at pains to emphasise is that his name is MacCarthy and not McCarthy, which has been used for so long. As well as giving short accounts of each final (and O'Ceallaghan attended his first in 1932) there are a number of appendixes giving facts and figures, scorers and teams, the winning captains and winning rankings.

The only disappointing thing about the book is the use of the initials rather than the full first names of the players. In the light of the wonderful research that P. J. Maxwell has done in including the full christian names of all 17,000 players who have played for Tipperary in hurling and foootball championships in all grades, the omission of full Christian names is a glaring one. The book, which is published by Gill and Macmillan and costs €21.99, was launched in the old House of Lords in the Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin. It was ironic to see King Billy on horseback staring down on the proceedings from one of the fine tapestries on the wall.

It's been getting better by the year but this year's county senior hurling final program excels anything that went before it. A lavish production of sixty-four pages, it has everything and is a credit to programme editor, Ger Corbett. I would go so far as to call it a mini-Yearbook, including as it does even an obituary section! The quality of the pictures is outstanding, the amount of information is phenomenal. Nobody involved is forgotten and the previews of the two games are extensive. A lovely section is called County Final Memories in which players from different clubs recall their first county final. As a gesture to the 125 Anniversary of the G.A.A. there is a fine appreciation of the oldest surviving All-Ireland senior player in the county, Jimmy Butler Coffey by P. J. Maxwell, as well as some pitures out of the past. There's a six-page spread on the Borrisoleigh teams of 1981, 1983 and 1986, who were honoured on the day. Definitely deserving a McNamee Award!

There's an article in the Tipperary Historical Journal 2009 that everyone should read. It's a socio-economic profile of Tipperary Hurlers, 1895-1900 and its done by County Waterford man, Tom Hunt, who is a teacher at Mullingar and who has done similar studies of sports, including G.A.A. in County Westmeath. Players and officials from Tubberadora, Suir View Rangers, Horse and Jockey and Two Mile Borris were used in the analysis, 96 players in all.

It's not the usual kind of analysis we get in G.A.A. books as it investigates the social background, occupations and family ties of the men who played Gaelic Games in these clubs.

And what does the study tell us? The men who played hurling were 19-30 years of age and only 6% of them were married. Most of then, 83.3% were involved in agricultural pursuits with the vast number of them from the bigger farms. Farm labourers were under-represented. While they were represented 2-1 in rural society they were only 3.4 to 1 on the teams. Just as most of the players came from bigger farms, they also lived in the better houses. Houses were divided into four classes and most of the players resided in class 2 houses. Well worth a read. The report concludes:

'The G.A.A. in mid-Tipperary in the 1890s attracted its support mainly from the farming community but all classes of rural society involved themselves in the association. The G.A.A. thus provided those who were previously recreationally disenfranchised with an outlet for sporting involvement. No other sporting organisation of the day promoted a similar inclusiveness. The organisation gained its greatest strength from the more substantial farmers in the region.'

From across the border in Limerick comes a very controversial book which sets out to examine the inside story of Limerick hurling. One All-Ireland since 1940 is something that all true followers of the game in the county find it difficult to swallow. What is the reason? Unlimited Heartbreak by Henry Martin, published by the Collins Press for €19.95 looks for the answers through interviews with over 100 passionate players, dedicated mentors and officials, who witnessed everything first-hand and have a story to tell. The interviews provide a unique perspective on victories, defeats, controversies, rows and had-luck stories of what went wrong and where it went wrong. The prone form of Dave Clarke stretched on the gress at Semple Stadium after Limerick's shock defeat by Clare in the 1995 Munster senior hurling final, which illustrates the cover, says a lot about the theme of the book.

Finally I want to mention two more books, Brian Cody's and Donal Óg Cusack's autobiographies, both of which are immensely interesting. The Cody book is ghost written by Martin Breheny and retails at €19.95. The Cusack book has got huge publicity because of the revelation of his sexual orientation, while the book has so much more to say. It is ghost written by Tom Humphries.

<span class="postTitle">Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of CLG in County Tipperary</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 64-65

Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of CLG in County Tipperary

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 64-65

The Tipperary county board took seriously the request from Croke Park that each county celebratethe 125th anniversary of the foundation of the G.A.A. in a fitting manner. A committee was set up to investigate appropriate ways in which the event could be honoured. The committee consisted of chairman, Seamus J. King, secretary, Liam Ó Donnchú and committee members John Costigan, Ed Donnelly, Sean Nugent, Seamus O'Doherty and Denis Floyd. At different times county chairman, Barry O'Brien, county secretary, Tim Floyd, and county P.R.O., Ger Ryan, sat in on discussions. On a couple of occasions chairman of the National 125 Committee, Jarlath Burns, and chairman of the Munster 125 Committee, Jim Forbes, attended.

The committee drew up a number of planned events for the year, the first of which took place on Saturday, February 14 This day commenced with an historic meeting of Coiste Bainistí in Hayes's Hotel at 9 am. It was followed by an Árd Comhairle meeting in the Davin Room of the hotel at 2.30pm. The Davin Room was decorated with items from the Lár na Páirce Collection There was a reception for the visiting dignitaries in the Dome at Semple Stadium at 5 pm and this was followed at 6.45 pm by the official opening of the newly-refurbished Semple Stadium and the turning-on of the floodlights by An t-Uachtaran, after which the National Hurling League game between Tipperary and Cork was played. The Thurles Gospel Choir provided entertainment at half-time. It was a very successful event with close to 10,000 people in attendance enjoying the novelty of hurling under lights on a clear, crisp night.

Lá na gClub

The clubs in the county were exhorted to remember the 125 anniversary in their own way by holding events on Lá na gClub, Sunday, May 10. The day was left clear of any interclub engagements so that clubs could hold a special celebratory day for their members.

One club, Grangemockler, had flagged their intention from very early on to celebrate the event in a very special way. The home of Michael Hogan of Bloody Sunday fame, the club organised a series of events on the weekend of May 16/17. Included was a wreath laying ceremony, the unveiling of a memorial to Michael Hogan by Christy Cooney, a lecture by Paul Rouse and Mark Duncan, a Bloody Sunday exhibition and an inter-county tournament with a hurling game between Tipperary and Kilkenny, and a football game between Kerry and Dublin. Unfortunately the events, speerheaded by Mick Pendar and an enthusiastic local committee, were severely hit by most unseasonable weather. The unveiling ceremony was postponed but was eventually performed on November 1. A full house attended the lecture but the matches had to be called off.

As a result of the county board making successful representations to Munster Council to have the senior hurling final played at Semple Stadium, regardless of the teams involved, the 125 committee set about building a number of events around the weekend of July 10/12. Thurles Town Council hosted a civic reception for Munster Council and Tipperary County Board members in the Tipperary Institute on Friday evening and this was followed by an Historical Presentation, chaired by Dr. Willie Nolan, in which Seamus Leahy gave a Personal Perspective on the Founding Members of the G.A.A., Corkman, John Arnold, spoke of Different G.A.A. Rivalries between the Counties of Munster, and Damian Cullen spoke of the Treatment of Hurling in Film.

Night at the Dogs

On Saturday there was a juvenile hurling blitz, a long puck competition and a special Mass. As well there was a Night at the Dogs, which included four races with a Munster hurling flavour and an inter-county dimension. At the same time there was a gig rig in Liberty Square.

One of the most exciting events was a torch run from the home of Michael Cusack in Carron, Co. Clare which started on Saturday with the torch borne by club members through the parishes between Carron and Thurles. The Clare clubs handed over to Limerick at the edge of the city and they in turn passed it on the the Tipperary clubs when they reached the county boundary. The torch arrived in Liberty Square on Saturday evening and the run continued from Hayes's Hotel to Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon, arriving at 3-15 pm and the torch was carried into the stadium by Jimmy Doyle. The Munster final followed, before which the captains of the winning teams of the past twenty-five years were introduced to the crowd. The Artane School of Music was in attendance and provided entertainment at half-time. Earlier in the day they had played in Liberty Square. It added to the success of the weekend that Tipperary won.

The Mighty Blue and Gold

One of the most unusual events planned around the 125 celebrations was a song contest to find a new song to represent Tipperary, not necessarily to replace the inimitable Slievenamon, but to give a greater choice to the Tipperary supporter. In conjunction with Fran Curry and Tipp FM a good interest was generated, the entries were aired on the station, a short list of nine songs was agreed and the grand final was held in the Premier Hall at Thurles. The Roscrea song, The Mighty Blue and Gold by Seamus Doran, a rousing ballad, was declared the winner of the special prize of •1,000.

Probably the most lasting project of the 125 committee was the setting up of the Tipperary G.A.A. Archives Website, www.tippgaaarchives.com <http://www.tippgaaarchives.com/> Three people were responsible for this outstanding contribution to the G.A.A. in County Tipperary, P. J. Maxwell, Ed Donnelly and Mark O'Leary. P. J. Maxwell compiled a list of over 17,000 players, who have represented the county at championship level in hurling and football in all grades since 1886. The huge merit of this compilation is that it includes full christian names and club identification of all the players involved. Ed Donnelly compiled a list of Club Champions and Captains, which includes the divisional and county championship Roll of Honour for all grades in hurling and football from minor C to senior since each competition began. The name of the winning captain is included for over 75% of all county champions. Mark O'Leary set up the website and supporting database to make all this information easily accessible. The use of modern technology will ensure that not only can the information be easily searched online, the website can be updated in real-time and includes all teams and champions for 2009 to date.

Sean Gaeil Awards

The concluding events of the year included a wreath-laying ceremony at the Archbishop Croke Memorial in Liberty Square, Thurles and a speech by G.A.A. President, Christy Cooney, on November day. This was preceded by a special Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Clifford at Thurles Cathedral, and a parade of dignitories to the Croke Memorial. The presentations to the 2009 recipients of the Sean Gael awards were made in the Dome with an t-Uachtaran as guest speaker. On the evening before the postponed football match, between Cork and Tipperary, from the Grangemockler weekend was played under lights at Semple Stadium.

The final event was the laying of a wreath at the grave of Maurice Davin on November 26. This was done in comjunction with the Munster Council and included an oration delivered by Jack Ryan, the son of Seamus, who wrote the acclaimed biography of the first President of the G.A.A. The Munster Council used the occasion to heolf their mionthly meeting in the town.

Other events during the year organised by the committee included a Primary Schools ground hurling blitz in the Spring.The 125 committee also encouraged every club in the county to set up its own website. At the beginning of the year twenty-nine clubs had websites and Ed Donnelly made a template available to the remaining clubs so that they could set them up. As well clubs were encouraged to include their information on the club database in Croke Park. Twenty-seven clubs had provided data and the remaining clubs were to be targeted. Finally clubs were exhorted to get their histories written and, where they already existed, to have them updated in 2009.

Conclusion

At the end of the year the committee looked back with a certain amount of satisfaction at the success of their initiatives to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the G.A.A. Whereas it was difficult to assess the impact the events had on the public at large, there was a strong belief that most people in the county had at least heard of the 125th anniversary. The variety of events focused in different ways on the past, the present and the future of the Gaelic Athletic Association in the county. 

There was an understandable emphasis on the origins of the association with the Torch Run from Michael Cusack's home in Carron, through the reading of Croke's letter to Cusack by Maurice Davin's nephew, Pat Walsh, at the Croke Memorial in Thurles and the wreath-laying and oration at the grave of Davin at Churchtown, Carrick-on-Suir. The Grangemockler Weekend also looked back to the past and the place of their native son, Michael Hogan, in the history of the G.A.A. while the lectures and talks sought to put the G.A.A. into perspective in the context of Irish society.

The celebrations were also very much about the present in the switching on of the lights at Semple Stadium in February with the first National Hurling League game, the Primary Schools' hurling blitz, Lá na gClub, when each club celebrated their achievements in their own parishes, the Munster final and the events surrounding the weekend, the hosting the first round of the Munster Club hurling championship at Semple Stadium and the presentation of the Sean Gael awards in the Dome.

And the future wasn't forgotten. Towards the end of the year the county board were drawing up the strategic plan for the future of the G.A.A. in the county over the next decade.The setting up of the extended Tipperary G.A.A. Archives website ensures that the achievements of the past will not be forgotten but will be available through modern technology to be accessed in the future by the public at large. The creation of club websites and the writing or updating of club histories will ensure that the achievements of the past will be available to club members in the future and, the existence of the Mighty Blue and Gold , will allow us to express in a new way our loyalty to the county in the years to come. 

<span class="postTitle">Tom Lambe - A Hurler of Note</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 170-173

Tom Lambe - A Hurler of Note

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2010, pp. 170-173

Tom Lambe of Redwood, Lorrha was one of thirty-four recipients of Sean Gael awards from G.A.A. President, Christy Cooney, at the Dome, Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday, November 1. Ninety-one years of age, having been born on August 24, 1918. he walked up to the podium to collect his presentation without any of the afflictions to his body that one might expect so many years to bring: he was sprightly and moved with ease.

Watching him I recalled to myself a summer's day in 1948 or 1949 when I was bringing home a load of turf from Redwood bog.  I had a full load of black, stone turf and I was sitting on the top of the creel driving the horse and following my father who was on the front load.  As I was passing Lambe's, or Bill Kennedy's house as it was still called, Tom came out and stopped us.  He had a hurley in his hand and handed it up to me: 'Take that, it should suit you', he said, or something to that effect.

It was the first decent hurley stick I ever had.  It made a strong impression on me because I can recall the occasion sixty years later as vividly as on the day.  I can see us stopping, Tom coming out and reaching the hurley up to me.  I don't  remember what went before or after, the filling of the load in the bog or throwing it into the shed later.  It was a special moment in my life and the sun was shining also.

I suppose it wasn't only the hurl that made the occasion special but the man from whom it came.  Tom was a special player on the Lorrha senior team that won the North Tipperary senior hurling championship in 1948 and went on to lose to Holycross-Ballycahill in the county final.  Tony Reddin had made his name that year against Borrisoleigh in the North final and if he was my God, Tom Lambe was next to him, playing at wingback.

All these thoughts came winging back to me in the Dome and I got a great desire to have a decent chat with the man, when we had time on our side. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him about life in Redwood and his own background in hurling as he grew up in the shadow of Redwood Castle.  So I went to visit him in Coorless, Rathcabbin, where he has lived since he married Nancy Sherlock in August 1949.

Tom was the second of a family of six, four boys and two girls born to Bill Lambe and Margaret Kennedy.  His earliest memory goes back to the Civil War.  He recalls Free State soldiers crossing the fields to his home and inquiring for Sommerville's Pub.  Ned Mannion. originally from Portumna, was hiding out there and the Free State had got word of it.  Later in the day the soldiers passed back with the arrested Ned in tow.  They were heading back to the Shannon to board the boat that had brought them into the neighbourhood. Tom is of the belief that more of the people in the neighbourhood were Republican than Free Stater.

It was understandable that the Free Staters would have come into the area by boat. Not only were the roads dangerous for lorry loads of soldiers but the road around Redwood at the time wasn't much more than a dirt track.  The road as such finished at Loughmane's gate beyond Killycross at one side and at Bill Kennedy's house down from Redwood Castle on the other.  In between was a partly gravel track with plenty of potholes.  In fact the road at Bill Kennedy's used to continue down to the Shannon and was kept in repair by the County Council.  Local landlord, Trench, had land down to the river bank and the road provided access.

National School

Tom went to school at the age of five years to the local national school, which was beside Redwood Castle.  It was a two-storey building that had been converted to a school at some stage. Believed to have been a 'seat of learning' in the past, it later served as a police barrack, and eventually a school. Interestingly, Tom's father remembers four different schools in the area as he grew up. He went to a hedge school, which was located in Gleeson's field behind Redwood Chapel. The master was Brian Carroll from Curragha and the twelve scholars paid one penny per day to be taught. 

Tom's teachers were Miss Kelly in charge of juniors, who used to stay at Ryans in Ballea, and Mrs. Grogan, who came originally from Whitegate, Co. Clare, and who lived at Grange. She was extremely cross. Tom remembers getting lots of stick, plenty of beatings while in school. He believed Mrs. Crogan had a set on him though at the same time he admitted that he was a bit of a leader among the boys and up to all kinds of devilment. As a result it was many a time he got the stick, not only on the hands, but across the bare legs as well. On numerous occasions he went home with red weals to show for the beatings he received. He believed the teachers had favourites and that fact, plus the beatings turned him against school. His feelings were such that he recalls when Mrs. Grogan, who had been in ill-health, died in 1928, the children cheered!

The roof of the Castle school was in bad repair and began to let in the rain. It was decided to build a new school at Kilmurray, between the Castle and Redwood Church. The site of the new school had been a graveyard at some stage. (Kill, in the name suggests a church and it probably had a graveyard beside it.) At any rate Tom recalls bones being thrown up when the foundations were being dug. The boys and girls moved into the new two-teacher school in 1926.

It wasn't all bad memories for Tom at primary school. Hurling made him forget the worst aspects of schooling. There was a bit of a field in the front of the school where the boys played at lunch time and after school as well. They organised games among themselves. Tom remembers the great amount of talent at the time with the Sullivans, Kennedys, Brownes, Lambs and Guinans. They had no difficulty getting a team together. Major (He wasn't a real major but given the title because of his fine physique) Sammon, a farmer up the road, who had much more interest in hurling than in farming, used to come to the school to referee their games. Games were also organised with the other schools in the parish and played on a Sunday afternnoon. Tom recalls that they beat Rathcabbin and Lorrha schools for three years running. They had to negotiate a venue for the games with some farmer, usually halfways between the schools. Paddy Sullivan's field in the Lordspark was a venue for one of the games with Rathcabbin. They had no jerseys to wear and used a variety of hurleys, from crooked stick to the real thing. Interestingly there was no such thing as football.

According to Eugene O'Meara, who was a few years younger than Tom and attended Lorrha school, Tom was the star hurler in the parish as a juvenile. He was head and shoulders over all around him and dominated the middle of the field. There were no interclub juvenile competitions at the time and Lorrha didn't enter a minor competition until 1941. The result was that Tom had no platform outside the parish to show off his hurling skills

Tom had left school by 1939 when the present Redwood National School was opened. Asked why another new school was built so soon after Kilmurray, Tom said that Canon Moloney had sold the priest's field in Rathcabbin and decided to build three new schools in the parish with the proceeds and Redwood was the first.

In fact Tom stayed at school until he was fifteen years of age. He had to wait until then to get confirmed and Dr. Fogarty did the honours. While he was in the school he, and the rest of the boys and girls, had to bring a sod of turf a day to heat the school. Tom used to serve Mass for Fr. O'Flynn, who died in 1935. Fr. O'Flynn had a habit of hitting the boys on the altar whenever he wanted anything done. The result was that they gave him a wide berth. Asked what he did when he left school Tom said he went home to wheel turf in the bog. He had no more formal schooling but he picked up the ways of farming from his father and from him he also learned building skills, which stood him in good stead during his farming life.

Social Life

There wasn't much in the line of social activities for someone growing up in Redwood in the nineteen- thirties. The main recreation was hurling and with many young lads of the same age around there were plenty of opportunities. Tom recalls that Bonfire Night on June 21 was a big night in the area. The bonfire was lit outside Guinan's gate and Thomas Moran and Tom Kennedy used to provide the music with their melodeons.

Fair days also provided some relief from the monotony of daily life. There were fairs at Birr and Portumna. August 15 was a very big day in Portumna. Of course agricultural life was fairly depressed during the thirties with very poor prices for products. Tom recalls driving four cattle to Birr in 1932 and missing a sale at £7 each. The cattle were driven home, fed for the winter and sold to a butcher at the end of the spring for £8 each.

Of course it was cheap to live. Skerries Champions were the main potato and a great source of nourishment. Tom recalls his mother used to boil a pot of potatoes in the evening and turn them out on the the table with butter and salt. He remembers going to bed with a swoollen stomach on many occasions. They killed their own meat, made their own butter and had little resource to the shops except for a few things like tea.

Tom started dancing about twenty years of age and most of the dances were house dances. He remembers they used to go over to Thomas Moran's to listen to the gramaphone. He was one of the few who had one and it contained the big horn for the projection of sound. One great side effect of these visits was that Mrs. Moran used to make a pot of rice and they filled their bellies as well as listened to the music.

Hurling Life

Tom started playing senior hurling in 1938, following two unsuccessful years in the junior ranks. It wasn't a very auspicious start as Lorrha were beaten 11-3 to 1-0 by Roscrea with Tom playing at right corner forward. There's a picture of him on a seven-a-side team in the gold medal tournament at Woodford in 1939. There were a number of junior teams in the parish during this period, including one in Redwood. In fact there was a long tradition of hurling in Redwood, going back to the early days of the Association, and before. Teams from Redwood used to cross the Shannon to play Meelick and Tiernascragh, and vice versa. Rathcabbin had the pick of the parish team. There was general dissatisfaction with their picking method as they were very slow to pick anyone from Redwood. Lorrha were relegated to intermediate in 1940. 

Generally the parish was divided and failed to deliver on its true potential. It took the arrival oif Fr. Paddy O'Meara in 1946 to bang heads together and get a unified team from the parish. Before this happened Tom played intermediate and used to play wing- and centreforward. He reckons he played his best hurling at this time and he preferred playing in the forwards to the backs, where he was to end his career. The fact that there was no intercounty junior championship between 1942 and 1945 inclusive may explain why Tom never played with the county. Already during the thirties he started running cross-country which was a huge participatory sport at the time. He won a county junior title in 1944. He is of the opinion that such running wasn't much good for hurling, slowing you down rather than anything else.

Once the parish was united success came. Lorrha won the county intermediate title in 1946 after a tough encounter against Maycarkey-Borris at Gaile, and went senior. Divisional senior success followed in 1948 before defeat by Holycross-Ballycahill in the county final. Asked if Lorrha were overtrained for the final, Tom is very definite: 'No, not overtrained, but overpowered.' According to him they came up against a much superior team on the day. The Holycross forwards were very good and their backs, particularly John Doyle and Pat Stakelum, were much too good for them. He makes the interesting point that many of the Lorrha lads had gone past their best at that stage, were in fact thirty years and over. Also, some key players did not perform well on the day.

Tom, himself was thirty years old in that final. He married Nancy Sherlock, whose father had won two divisional titles with Lorrha in 1914 and 1924 ˆ he was captain in 1924 - , in 1949 and retired in 1951. Ironically, he got a call-up for a county trial the same year and went to Ennis for a match against Clare, but was never called off the bench. He made one return to the game, in 1959, as full-back on the junior team and had as company, three other oldies, Billy and Hubie Hogan and Mick Brophy, plus a number of good minors. They had some success and there's a photograph of the team in the Lorrha G.A.A. history. Tom served as a selector on the senior team will Billy Hogan for a couple of years around 1970 

Tom was one of the best hurlers ever in the parish. As a juvenile he was head and shoulders over the opposition. He was unfortunate to reach maturity at a time when Lorrha were relegated to intermediate level. Equally so, in the absence of an intercounty junior championship during the war years, he never got recognition on the bigger stage. Seven-a-Side tournaments were quite common at the time and Tom was always an automatic choice on the Lorrha side. As well as being a good hurler, he had a high level of fitness that resulted from life on the farm but also a life style that excluded smoking and drinking. He was always lean and hard, a formidable opponent and a courageous player, who stood back from nothing.

<span class="postTitle">Golden Jubilee Presentation of the Annerville Awards to the 2008 Tipperary Sports Stars</span> January 2009

Golden Jubilee Presentation of the Annerville Awards to the 2008 Tipperary Sports Stars

January 2009

Click here to view PDF booklet

<span class="postTitle">History of United Sports Panel 1959-2009</span> Golden Jubilee Presentation Booklet, January 31, 2009

History of United Sports Panel 1959-2009

Golden Jubilee Presentation Booklet, January 31, 2009

When the original members of the United Sports Panel first met they had, in fact, no name. They met in the Slievenamon Hotel, Parnell Street on Saturday, December 12, 1959. When they met a week later to pick their Stars it was unanimously decided on the proposition of Sean Barlow, seconded by Eddie O'Neill, to adopt the name United Sports Panel.'

At their second meeting the panel elected the Sports Stars for 1959 by secret ballot. In the early years the trophies were presented by various business premises in the county but with the introduction of the much-appreciated sponsorship of Messrs Showerings (Ireland) Limited came the introduction of the Cidona Awards. The Panel was the first of its kind to be formed outside Dublin.

The members of the first panel were Sean Cleary (chairman), Sean Lyons (organising secretary), Sean Barlow, Bill Hyland, Christy Mulcahy, Eddie O'Neill, Bill O'Brien, Paddy Cummins, Ken Hogan, Tom Halpin and Ted Dillon. 

The presentation of the awards was made at the Tipperary County Basketball Board's ceili in St. Patrick's Hall, Clonmel on Sunday, January 17, 1960. The recipients were presented in apparent random order. The sports honoured were Camogie, Soccer, Table Tennis, Sports Executive, Athletics, Cycling, Hurling, Boxing, Basketball and Gaelic Football. A photograph of the receipients appeared on the front page of the following week's Nationalist.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Clonmel, Councillor Maurice Slator, and all ten recipients were in attendance. Each was cheered to the echo as he/she received the award. One of the biggest receptions of the night was reserved for John Doyle, the hurling award winner. Each winner was presented with a cup.

Sean Lyons introduced the various stars, thanked them for coming, and also thanked all those who had donated trophies.

Handball and Pitch & Putt were honoured in 1960 in place of Sports Executive and Boxing. In the report in The Nationalist on the 1961 Sports Stars we are told that the Stars were chosen by ballot at a meeting in the Slievenamon Hotel, Clonmel. Seven awards, all of the same design, were to be presented early in the New Year.

The report goes on to state: 'Stars considered by the panel were those who participated in Tipperary amateur sports during the year, or who represented the county in any of the sports mentioned.'

The report continued: 'The panel was first formed in 1959 when ten awards were made. Last year the panel again decided to choose ten sports, but when the members met this year it was agreed that the number should be reduced by three. Knocked off the list were basketball, soccer and tennis.'

The 1962 Awards were presented at a special dance in the Collins Hall, Clonmel on January 20, 1963.One important addition to the awards was the Knocknagow Award, which was presented to honour an outstanding Tipperary sportsperson from the past. The first recipient was athlete, J. J. Ryan of Cordangan, Tipperary. Also making its first appearance in the awards in that year was weight-lifting.

The United Sports Panel picked eight stars plus the Knocknagow Award in 1963. The awards were presented in the Collins Ballroom, Clonmel on Sunday, January 26, 1964 and the presentations were made at 10 pm by the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr. M. Kilkelly, P.C.

The four-page program listed the Honorary Members of the U.S.P. They included the Mayor, Christy Mulcahy, Tom Fitzgerald, Jack Pyke, Jim Power, Colm Ryan, Andy Hogan, Snr., Andy Hogan, Jnr., Garry Lonergan, Gerry Coffey, Michael Hogan (Dublin), Mrs. K. O'Flaheryy (Cahir), Paddy O'Loughlin, William Byrne, Michael O'Brien, Ned Gahan, Martin Cronin, Ald. Wm Corbett, Patrick O'Neill (Ardfinnan), John O'Neill, Tom Wall (Carrick-on-Suir), Ald, Sean Treacy, T.D., William Caulfield, Bill Devereux, Senator Wm Ryan (Kilfeacle), Elmville Camogie Club, Con O'Donovan, M.C.C. (Ballyporeen), Ald, John Kennedy, M.C.C., Matt Kennedy, D.P. Honan, M.C.C. (Ennis).

There was a major development when the Clonmel United Sports Panel announced the 1964 Awards. They announced that the Irish Cider and Perry Company was sponsoring the awards and that the trophies would henceforth be known as the Cidona Trophies. Also for the first time there would be a dinner-dance in connection with the presentations and it was scheduled to be held in the Ormonde Hotel on Sunday, January 31, 1965.

A large advertisement appeared in The Nationalist underneath the report of the announcement of the awards and the sponsorship. It stated: 'The Irish Cider & Perry Company Ltd. Salute The Tipperary Sports Stars of 1964 and are pleased to sponsor the Cidona Trophies. Happy Christmas to all Sportsmen and Sportswomen.'

The panel in charge of the presentation was as follows: Tom Halpin, chairman, Sean Barlow, vice-chairman, Sean Lyons, secretary, John Boyle, M.C.C., Bill O'Brien, Bill Hyland, Tom Carroll, Paddy Cummins, Eddie O'Neill, Michael O'Meara, Ted Dillon.

There was a preview of the 1965 awards in the 'Nationalist', the week before the announcement of the awards was made. Columnist Atlas stated that the awards would be presented in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on Sunday, January 23 and attendance would be limited to 200 patrons. It was hoped that the proceedings would be televised for subsequent showing. The Sports panel were pleased to announce that the Irish Cider and Perry Company Ltd. Of Annerville. Clonmel had again agreed to sponsor the awards presentation.

Atlas went on to describe how the sports stars were chosen. According to him any sport can be proposed for a ballot of the members so long 'as it's purely amateur in make-up and outlook. The sports that received 50 percent plus 1 of the panel's voting strength were automatically selected for producing a sports star. In the ballot for the Stars each panel member makes his choice and it has to receive 50 percent plus 1 of the votes to be selected. In the event of a tie or of no candidate reaching the 'quota', further ballots take place.

In answer to the question of influence or pull being used, Atlas stated: 'I have served on the panel since its foundation in 1959 and I can truthfully state that as far as human endeavour will allow, every selection of sports stars is fair, clearcut and above reproach. Maybe that's the secret of the panel's success and its extraordinary growth from year to year.'

The 1966 Awards, which were now called the Cidona Awards, were presented in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on January 29, 1967.

Three new sports, Ladies Athletics, Golf and Rugby, were honoured for the first time in the 1967 Awards. They were presented at a function in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on Saturday, January 20, 1968. Up to that year the Awards were presented on a Sunday night.

The 1968 Awards were presented at the Ormonde Hotel on the last Saturday in January, 1969. In a newspaper report on the selection of the Stars it was stated: 'Thanks to the untiring work by the panel members, the continuing support of the growing numbers of honorary members and, most important of all, to the commercial sponsorship extended to the panel by Messrs Showerings Ltd (Clonmel) without whose assistance USP could never survive in these costly times.'

The 1969 Awards were presented at Hearn's Hotel, Clonmel for the first time on January 16, 1970. The members of the panel were as follows: chairman, Sean Barlow, vice-chairman, Bill O'Brien, secretary, Tom Carroll, treasurer, Ald. Sean Lyons, John Boyle, Ted Dillon, Paddy Cummins, Bill Hyland, Ken Hogan, Michael O'Meara, Christy Mulcahy.

There was a new departure in the 1970 Awards when the Knocknagow Award was given to the eight survivors of the Tipperary team, which won the 1920 All-Ireland senior football title (played in 1922).

The 1971 Awards were presented at Hearn's Hotel on January 29, 1972. They were picked by the United Sports Panel at a meeting in Hearn's Hotel on December 18, 1971 and and history was made when one recipient, Michael Keating, received two awards, in hurling and football. Badminton was honoured for the first time.

The 1972 Awards were presented in the Clonmel Arms Hotel for the first time on Saturday, January 26, 1973. The event commenced at 7-30 pm and the music was by the Remo Quartet. Tickets were £2 each. Clay Bird Shooting was honoured for the first time.

There was an increase in the number of awards to thirteen announced in 1974 and they were presented at a function in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1975. Volleyball made its appearance for the first time and the Knocknagow Award winner was the well-known journalist and broadcaster, Tommy O'Brien, who was one of the finest billiard players in the county during the fifties. Brothers Jimmy and Paddy Doyle received awards in different sports.

The 1975 Awards were presented at a function in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1976. Rowing was awarded for the first time. 

The 1976 Awards were presented at a dinner oin the Clonmel Arms Hotel on Saturday, January 29, 1977. Equestrian, Sculling and Tennis were awarded for the first time.

The 1978 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 27, 1979. Darts were honoured for the first time.

The 1979 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel at the end of January 1980. History was made when the Knocknagow Award was won by a lady, former international hockey player, Jenny O'Donnell, for the first time. 

The souvenir program produced for the 1980 awards includes a greatly expanded list of Honorary Members, one hundred and seventy-six in all. Virtually every public representative and local councillor is included. Also included is a list of the officers to date. The chairmen included Sean Cleary (1960), Tom Halpin (1961-65), Sean Barlow (1966-68), Bill O'Brien (1969-71), Ken Hogan (1972-1974), Bill Hyland (1974), John Boyle (1975-78), Seamus O'Doherty (1979-81). The secretaries during the period were Sean Lyons (1960-65), Eddie O'Neill (1966-68), Tom Carroll (1969-72), Seamus O'Doherty (1973-74), Ken Hogan (1975-81). Sean Lyons took over as treasurer in 1966 and was still in the position in 1981.

The names of all the Stars and Knocknagow Award winners over the twenty-one years are included.

The officers are as follows: chairman, Seamus O'Doherty; vice-chairman, Ted Dillon; secretary, Ken Hogan; treasurer, Sean Lyons. The committee included John Boyle, Sean Barlow, Bill O'Brien, Johnny Ryan, Liam Delahunty, Johnny O'Loughlin, Jimmy Cooney. As many as fifteen Awards were made, with Shooting included for the first time.

The 1981 Awards included Powerlifting for the first time.

The 1982 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 29, 1983. Olympic gold medalists Dr. Pat O'Callaghan and Bob Tisdall, were selected for the Knocknagow Award. 

The 1984 Awards were the Silver Jubilee Awards of the United Sports Panel and they were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 26, 1985. In a press release in connection with the Awards, the panel outlined its distinguished history over twenty-five years and concluded by saying: 'In these times when a cynical approach to all games is growing and the less acceptable face of some facets of the game are hitting the headlines, the ideals for which the Panel was formed twenty-five years ago, to further sport for its own sake, is still laudable and worthy of support.'

The distinction between men's and ladies' athletics was abolished and athletics became one award, open to men and women.

The 1985 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 25, 1986. Rallying was honoured for the first time. Motor Sport made its first appearance in 1986

The United Sports Panel of 1987 was as follows: chairman, Liam Delahunty, vice-chairman, Johnny O'Loughlin, secretary, Seamus O'Doherty, treasurer, Sean Lyons; committee included Jimmy Cooney, Davy Hallinan, Peter Tobin, Sean Barlow, Ted Dillon, Michael Guinan, Johnny Ryan.

In the course of his remarks at the AGM the chairman said he would like to see a get-together of the Panel before Christmas. This would suggest that there wasn't a get-together the previous year. At the next meeting the treasurer reported there would be a get-together for the Panel at Cahir House on Sunday, January 3. Johnny O'Loughlin recalls a Chairman's Dinner from the time he joined, but believes it didn't take place one or two years because of financial constraints.

Two new sports, Judo and Raquetball, were honoured for the first time in 1989, and Canine Sports and Deep Sea Angling made their appearance in 1990.

A new spotlight was introduced for the presentation of the 1992 Awards in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1993. The chairman's dinner was held in Cahir House Hotel on Sunday, January 3.

More sports continued to make their appearance in the Awards. In 1995 there were three, Gymnastics, Hockey and Snooker. Swimming was honoured for the first time in 1996, as was Horse Racing in 1998. At the presentation dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 31, 1999 with 350 guests present, Johnny Ryan was presented with an inscribed silver tankard to honour twenty-five years of loyal service to the panel.

A sub-committee of the United Sports Panel was held in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on October 3, 1999 to discuss a special event to celebrate the Millennium Presentation Dinner. The following suggestions were agreed: a) selection of the outstanding sportsmen since the awards began; b) honour the surviving members of the 1959 Sports Stars; c) seek Showerings involvement; d) video the awards ceremony and seek exposure on Multichannel TV; e) produce a souvenier brochure, possibly in colour. 

After some years being held in Clonmel Arms Hotel the chairman's dinner was held in Cahir House Hotel. Showerings Ltd. gave a 'once off' subvention of £500 to the panel. Three hundred and seventeen people attended the Awards Dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 29, 2000. A presentation tankard was presented to Liam Delahunty to honour twenty-five years loyal service to the panel.

The chairman's dinner was held in Bailey's of Cashel in January 2002 and Johnny O'Loughlin and Jimmy Cooney were presented with mementoes for their 25 years of service to the panel.. There was a large crowd at the Presentation Dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 25, 2002, with 348 guests attending. Sailing was honoured for the first time.

Sean Lyons, a founder member, retired at the end of the year. As well as concieving the idea of the awards scheme, Sean was a driving force on the panel over the years and played a huge and pivotal role in its organisation and development. Unfortunately the year ended with the death of Sean, one of the founder members of the panel and for many years the inspiration behind its work. 

Martial Arts was recognised for the first time in the 2002 Awards.

At a meeting on November 9, 2004 it was agreed to name the Sports Executive Award the Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award. It was also agreed to inaugurate a new award, a Special Achievement Award, to be awarded to to athletes who were performaing with some deficiency.

At the November 9, 2005 meeting the members were informed that the Clonmel Arms Hotel was closing down. Seamus McCarthy offered the Bank of Ireland building in Parnell Street as a meeting place.

A new venue had to be found for the Presentation Dinner and the Hotel Minella was the choice for the meal on January 28, 2006. A letter was sent to Showerings re increase in sponsorship. In reply the company agreed to increase our sponsorship by •1,000 to cover the cost of our move to the Minella Hotel. The chairman's dinner was held in Legends, Cashel on January 14, 2006.

The AGM of 2006 was held in Mulcahy's Bar, Gladstone Street, Clonmel on October 23. It became the new location of the Panel meetings. Officers elected were as follows: chairman, James Holohan, vice-chairman, Cyril O'Flaherty; secretary, Seamus J. King, treasurer, Ken Conway. Members: Eamonn Wynne, Jimmy Cooney, Johnny O'Loughlin, Michael Guinan, Richie Blanche, Liam Ó Donnchú, Seamus McCarthy. The chairman's dinner was held in Lilli Mai's, Golden on January 20 and the Presentation Dinner was held in the Minella Hotel on January 27.

The biggest change in the 2007 Awards was in the change in the name of the Awards. The Cidona brand was no longer held by Showerings Limited so they could not retain the name for the Awards. A new name had to be found and the one chosen was Annerville, the name of the townsland where the company is located. So after forty-two years as the Cidona Awards they were called the Annerville Awards for 2007 and presented as such at the presentation dinner, in the Minella Hotel on February 2, 2008.

The 50th presentations of the awards took place in the Minella Hotel, Clonmel on January 21, 2009. Special guests at the dinner included past members of the panel as well as the survivors of the first awards. A special presentation booklet was produced for the occasion outlining the history of the awards and including the names of all the winners over fifty years. It also included the names of all the members of the United Sports Panel over the period as well as a representative selection of photgraphs.

The United Sports Panel Award Winners 1959-2008

1959: Camogie: Terry Griffin (Roscrea); Soccer: Pat Ward (Cahir); Table tennis: Kevin Pyke (Hillview); Sports Executive: Bill Hyland (Clonmel A. & C.C.); Athletics: Jack Lalor (Carrick); Cycling: Johnny Gearon (Clonmel); Hurling: John Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill); Boxing: Liam Ralph (Thurles); Basketball: Phil Fanning (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Leo Dooley (Roscrea). 

1960: Athletics: Jack Lalor (Carrick); Basketball: Timmy O'Dwyer (Clonmel); Hurling: Theo English (Marlfield); Camogie: Kitty O'Flaherty (Cahir); Handball: Con and Tom Cleere (Nenagh); Gaelic Football: Tony Newport (Fethard); Cycling: Patsy Wall (Carrick-on-Suir); Soccer: Mick Boyle (Cahir); Table Tennis: Kevin Pyke (Clonmel); Pitch & Putt: Liam Daly (Clonmel).

1961: Hurling: Liam Devaney (Borrisoleigh); Handball: John Cleary (Tipperary); Pitch and Putt: Eoin Morrissey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Babs Keating (Ardfinnan); Cycling: Patsy Wall (Carrick); Athletics: Liam F. Gleeson (Nenagh); Camogie: Honor Flynn (Tipperary).

1962: Hurling: Donie Nealon (Burgess); Gaelic Football: Babs Keating (Ardfinnan); Weight-Lifting: John Kirwan (Clonmel); Camogie: Nora Foley (Elmville); Cycling : Patsy Wall (Carrick); Athletics: Hugh O'Callaghan (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Gerry Doyle (Thurles); Handball : Paddy Hickey (Clogheen); Kncoknagow Award: J. J. Ryan (Tipperary).

1963: Hurling: Michael Maher (Holycross); Gaelic Football : Babs Keating (Ardfinnan); Sports Executive: Tommy Ryan (Clonmel); Cycling: John Lonergan (Ballylooby); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen); Athletics: Hugh O'Callaghan (Clonmel); Camogie: Kathleen Griffin (Roscrea); Soccer: Denis Halpin (Cahir); Knocknagow Award: Martin Kennedy (Toomevara).

1964: Hurling: Tony Wall (Thurles Sarsfields); Gaelic Football: Paddy Dawson (Emly); Sports Executive: Kitty O'Flaherty (Cahir); Camogie: Anne Carroll (Ballintaggart); Boxing: Robert Redmond (Clonmel); Athletics: Hugh O'Callaghan (Clonmel); Cycling: John Lonergan (Ballylooby); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Tommy O'Keeffe (Clonmel).

1965: Athletics: Michael Hickey (Dundrum A.C.); Boxing: Nicky Butler (Carrick-on-Suir); Camogie: Anne Carroll (St. Patrick's); Cycling: Johnny Lonergan (Clonmel A. & C.C.); Gaelic Football: Paddy O'Connell (Clonmel Commercials); Hurling: John McKenna (Borrisokane); Soccer: Buddy Anderson (Clonmel); Sports Executive: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Johnny Healy (Clonmel).

1966: Athletics: Liam Gleeson (Nenagh); Boxing: Bobbie Redmond (Ferryhouse); Camogie: Anne Carroll (St. Patrick's); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Burncourt); Hurling: Mick Roche (Carrick Davins); Soccer: Andy Hogan (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: F. W. C. Ruthledge (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Joe Butler (Cahir).

1967: Athletics: Michael O'Sullivan; Ladies Athletics: Kathleen Leane (Thurles); Boxing: Noel Connors (Thurles); Golf: John Carey (Roscrea); Hurling: Len Gaynor (Kilraune MacDonaghs); Soccer: Marty Hogan (Tipperary); Sports Executive: Liam Delahunty (Clonmel); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: John Ayres (Nenagh). 

1968: Ladies Athletics: Nuala Bowe (Moycarkey-Borris AC); Men's Athletics: Mick Hickey (Dundrum A.C.); Boxing: Jimmy Connors (Thurles BC); Cycling: Tony Ryan (Carrick Wheelers); Camogie: Beatrice Lawrence (Elmville); Gaelic Football: Johnny Cummins (Ardfinnan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen) and Connie Cleere (Nenagh); Hurling: Mick Roche (Carrick Davins); Rugby: Johnny Moroney (London-Irish); Soccer: Tom O'Flaherty (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Rev. Bro. J. C. Joyce (Nenagh CBS); Knocknagow Award: Dr. Paddy Stokes (Fethard).

1969: Ladies Athletics: Emily Hallinan (Newcastle A.C.); Men's Athletics: Christy Maher (Golden A.C.); Boxing: Frank Cahill (Mullinahone BC); Camogie: Sally Long (Thurles CC); Cycling: John Lonergan (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Mick Burns (Lattin-Cullen); Handball: Pat Davin (Kickham Barrack, Clonmel); Hurling: Jimmy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields); Soccer: Eddie O'Dwyer (St. Michael's, Tipperary); Sports Executive: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers); Knocknagow Award: Edward Beary (Clonmel).

1970: Athletics: Liam Spooner (Premier AC); Boxing: Bobby Redmond (Ferryhouse); Camogie: Margaret Cleary (Thurles); Cycling: Johnny Lonergan (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan); Handball: Willie Fitzgibbon (Tipperary); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Eddie Anderson (Clonmel); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Stephen Waters (Mullinahone BC); Knocknagow Award: Jim Ryan (Loughmore), Jim Moran (Mullinahone), Mick Nolan (Mullinahone), Dick Lanigan (Grangemockler), Mick Tobin (Grangemockler), Bill Ryan (Castleiney), Ned Cummins (Fethard), Tom Ryan (Clogheen).

1971: Ladies Athletics: Margaret Crosse (Donohill); Men's Athletics: Dessie O'Connor (Tipperary); Badminton: Kathleen Marks (Roscrea); Boxing: Eddie Madden (Mullinahone); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen); Hurling: Michael Keating (Ballybacon-Grange); Soccer: D. D. Cremmins (Tipperary); Sports Executive: J. P. McGowan (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Joe Bergin (Nenagh).

1972: Ladies Athletics: Freddie Cooney (St. Anthony's AC); Men's Athletics: Pat Healy (Coolcroo); Badminton (Mick Craddock (Thurles); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers Road Club); Clay Pigeon Shooting: Tony Sheehan (Killusty); Gaelic Football: Jim Kehoe (Kilsheelan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen & Connie Cleere (Nenagh); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Seanie Hogan (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Seamus Doherty (Premier); Knocknagow Award: Ned Tobin (Ballylooby).

1973: Ladies Athletics: Freddie Cooney (St. Anthony's AC); Men's Athletics: Liam Gleeson: Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Tony Fox (Terryglass BC); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers Road Club); Gaelic Football: Eddie Webster (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Willie Fitzgibbon (Tipperary); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Maurice Slater (Waterford AFC); Sports Executive: Rev. Nicholas Power (St. Mary's, Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Ormonde (Ballyporeen).

1974: Ladies Athletics: Freddie Cooney (Kilfeacle); Men's Athletics: Liam Hennessy (Cappawhite); Badminton: Paddy Doyle (Thurles); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Eamonn O'Gorman (Ardfinnan); Ladies Football: Lilian Gorey (Drangan); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jimmy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields);  Pitch & Putt: Nora Daly (Clonmel); Soccer: J. J., O'Dwyer (Tipperary); Sports Executive: Frank Kent (Clonmel); Volleyball: Mary Morrissey (Fethard); Knocknagow Award winner: Tommy O'Brien (Clonmel).

1975: Ladies Athletics: Mary Looby (Tipperary Town AC); Men's Athletics: Dick Fallon (Fethard); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Eddie Webster (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Tom Morrissey & Eddie Farrell (St. Mary's); Hurling: Tadhg O'Connor (Roscrea); Ladies Football: Eleanor Carroll (Ardfinnan); Rowing: Clonmel Maiden Fours Crew (Seamus Conway, stroke); Soccer: Timmy Hally (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Ned O'Shea (St, Mary's); Weightlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Tommy Treacy (Illeigh)

1976: Ladies Athletics: Nora O'Grady (Nenagh); Men's Athletics: Pat Fallon (Fethard); Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick-on-Suir); Gaelic Football: Vincent O'Donnell (Bansha); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Joe Hogan (Roscrea); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Sculling: Dermot Wall (Clonmel); Soccer: Eamon O'Meara (Nenagh); Tennis: Cyril Murphy (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Bro. M. V. O'Grady (Cashel); Knocknagow Award: John Joe Barry (The Commons).

1977: Ladies Athletics: Norah O'Grady (Nenagh AC); Men's Athletics: Dick Fallon (Clonmel AC); Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Gene McGrath (Commercials); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Kehoe (Carrick Swan); Pitch and Putt: Joan Fogarty (Hillview); Soccer: Sean Kiely (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Joe Holden (Clonmel AC) Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Mick Cahill (Mullinahone).

1978: Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh AC); Men's Athletics: Anthony Barrett (Killenaule); Camogie: Kay Maxwell (Cashel); Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick Wheelers CC); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Darts: Sean Norris (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Sean Moloney (Fethard); Golf: Clonmel Junior Cup Team; Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Keogh (Silvermines); Soccer: Simon Sunderland (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Sean Naughton (Nenagh); Weightlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Eddie Cantwell (Clonmel).

1979: Ladies Athletics: Margaret Crosse (Donohill); Men's Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles); Camogie: Deirdre Delaney (Ballycommon); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Noel & Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Pat McLoughney (Shannon Rovers); Soccer: Sean Kiely (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Tony Smith (Rockwell College); Knocknagow Award: Jenny O'Donnell (Kilsheelan).

1980: Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh); Men's Athletics: Denis Finnerty (Nenagh); Badminton: Con Redican (Monard & Golden); Camogie: Maureen Maher (Templemore); Cycling: Tony Ryan (Carrick Wheelers ICF); Gaelic Football: Michael Beston (Clogheen); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Maher (Loughmore-Castleiney); Ladies Football: Josephine Burke (Castleiney); Rowing: Paul McGrath (Clonmel); Shooting: Nicholas Cooney (Tipperary); Soccer: Paddy Ryan (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Liam Hennessy (Cappawhite); Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Surviving Members of Triple Crown Team 1930.

1981: Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh Olympic); Men's Athletics: Jim Sheehan (Nenagh Olympic); Cycling: Larry Power (Carrick Cidona Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Seamus McCarthy (Galtee Rovers); Handball: Pakie Mullins (Clonmel HC); Hurling: Pat Fox (Eire Óg); Pitch & Putt: Tipperary Inter-County Team; Soccer: Billy Lambe (Old Bridge AFA); Sports Executive: P. J. Kenny (Carrick-on-Suir); Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel WLC); Knocknagow Award: Michael Phelan (Clonmel).

1982: Ladies Athletics: Carmel Maher (Nenagh); Men's Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel); Boxing: Noel Guiry (Mullinahone); Cycling: Carrick Cidona Wheelers; Gaelic Football: Paudie O'Neill (Commercials); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: John Flanagan (Moycarkey-Borris); Soccer: P. J. O'Reilly (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Mick Tyrell (Clonmel); Powerlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Dr. Pat O'Callaghan and Bob Tisdall.

1983: Athletics: Mary Martin (Tipperary); Boxing: Noel Guiry (Mullinahone); Cycling: Stephen Spratt (Cidona Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Pat McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Nicky English (Lattin-Cullen); Powerlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Rugby: Rory Moroney (Clonmel); Soccer: Michael Bennett (Waterford FC); Sports Executive: Michael Guinan (Killenaule AC); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Smith (Clonmel).

1984: Athletics: Jacqueline Stokes (Fethard); Camogie: Deirdre Lane (Celtic, Dublin); Cycling: Anthony O'Gorman (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: The County Minor Football Team; Handball: Kevin Mullins (Clonmel & John O'Donoghue (Cashel); Hurling: John McIntyre (Lorrha); Rugby: Rory Moroney (Landsdowne); Soccer: Kevin Kelly (Carrick-on-Suir); Sports Executive: Fr. Pierce Duggan (Upperchurch); Weightlifting: Michael Collins (Clonmel PWLC); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Cummins (Clonmel).

1985: Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles Crokes AC); Boxing: Brendan St. John (Mullinahone AC); Cycling: Stephen Spratt (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Willie Crowe (Arravale Rovers); Golf: Clonmel GC ˆ Jimmy Bruen Shield Winners; Handball: John O'Donoghue (Cashel HC); Hurling: Nicky English (Lattin-Cullen); Rallying: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael's); Sports Executive: Billy Kennedy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Knocknagow Award: Surviving Members of County Senior Football Team 1935.

1986: Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles Crokes); Badminton: Michael O'Meara (Nenagh); Cycling: Anthony O'Gorman (Bianconi Wheelers, Clonmel); Equestrian: Eamon Hickey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: John Owens (Moyle Rovers); Hurling: Bobby Ryan (Borrisoleigh); Motor Sport: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Soccer: Billy Byrne (Clonmel Town AFC); Sports Executive: Mick McCarthy (Moyle Rovers); Knocknagow Award: Tommy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields).

1987: Athletics: Tom Moloney (Thurles Crokes); Badminton: Louise Hackett (Hillview); Cycling: Anthony O'Gorman (Clonmel); Equestrian: Eamon Hickey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Pat McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Conor O'Donovan (Eire Óg, Nenagh); Pitch & Putt: Breda Lonergan (Tipperary Hills); Sports Executive: Paddy Doyle; Soccer: Martin Quinlivan (Waterford); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Fahey (Coolcroo).

1988: Athletics: Terry McHugh (Nenagh & DCH); Badminton: Aidan Fogarty (Cashel); Cycling: Anthony O'Gorman (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Willie O'Meara (Fethard); Golf: Jimmy Bruen Winners (Clonmel Golf Club); Handball: Billy McCarthy (Clonmel); Hurling: Ken Hogan (Lorrha); Pitch & Putt: Eddie Lonergan (Tipperary Hills); Soccer: Stephen Napier (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Joe Mernagh (Dundrum); Rugby: John Lillis (Thurles RFC); Knocknagow Award: William 'Bunny' Lambe (Clonmel).

1989: Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel AC); Cycling: Denise White (Killy's Tipperary CC); Gaelic Football: John Costello (Cahir); Golf: Nenagh Golf Club; Handball: Billy McCarthy & Noel Ryan (Clonmel); Hurling: Pat Fox (Eire Óg); Judo: Valerie Colville (Fethard); Ladies Football: Ann Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbery); Raquetball: Teresa Kennedy (Templederry); Soccer: Seamus Strappe (Clonmel & Shelbourne); Sports Executive: Babs Keating, Donie Nealon, Theo English. Knocknagow Award: Paddy Berkery (Landsdowne & Ireland).

1990: Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel AC); Camogie: Jovita Delaney (Cashel); Canine Sports: Donal O'Sullivan (Clogheen); Deep Sea Angling: Des O'Connell (Killenaule); Gaelic Football: Franny Kelly (Commercials); Handball: John O'Donoghue & Eddie Corbett (Cashel & Ballyporeen); Hurling: Michael Cleary (Eire Óg, Nenagh); Pitch & Putt: County Ladies team; Racquetball: Michael Ryan (Tipperary Town); Rugby: Tony Cooney (Kilfeacle RFGC); Soccer: Louis Coen (Killusty); Sports Executive: John McNamara (Commercials); Tennis: Eddie Grimson (Hillview); Knocknagow Award: Bill Ryan (Laha).

1991:Athletics: Terry McHugh (Dublin City Harriers); Camogie: Kaiffe Moloney (Cashel); Cycling: Robert Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Equestrian Sports: Olivia Holohan (Killusty); Golf: Pierce Purcell Team (Nenagh Golf Club); Handball: John O'Donoghue & Eddie Corbett (Cashel & Ballyporeen); Hurling: John Leahy (Mullinahone); Racquetball: Bobbi Brennan (Fethard); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael's); Sports Executive: Sean Naughton (Nenagh Olympics); Knocknagow Award: Tom Healy (Coolcroo).

1992: Athletics: Neil Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Aidan Fogarty (Cashel); Camogie: Deirdre Huighes (Toomevara); Cycling: Michael Fitzgerald (Clonmel Cycling Club); Gaelic Football: Peter lambert (Nemo Rangers); Handball: David Moloney (Cashel); Hurling: George Friend (Toomevara); Motor Sport: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Racquetball: Christy Slattery (Templedery); Rugby: Kilfeacle Rugby Football Club; Soccer: Cyril Conran (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Bobby O'Brien (Thurles RFC); Knocknagow Award: Johnny Ryan (Moycarkey Borris).

1993: Athletics: Terry McHugh (Dublin City Harriers); Camogie: Mandy Quigley (Roscrea); Cycling: Michael Woods (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Brian Burke (Fethard); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Michael Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane); Pitch & Putt: Tipp Men's Intercounty Senior Team; Racquetball: Bobbi Holohan (Killusty); Rowing: Conor Fennessy (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Thurles Rugby Football Club; Soccer: Cyril Conran (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Michael Guinan (St. Catherine's AC); Volleyball: Presentation Senior A Team (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Edmund 'Bunny' O'Reilly (Clanwilliam RFC).

1994: Athletics: Michael Hassett (St. Catherine's AC); Badminton: Eimear Holohan (Killenaule BC); Gaelic Football: Philly Ryan (Commercials); Golf: Paul Byrne (Nenagh GC); Gymnastics: Mellisa Walsh (Clonmel Olympic Club); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Jodie Grace (Toomevara); Pitch & Putt: Brian Webster (Cashel); Rugby: Noel O'Meara (Young Munster RFC); Soccer: FAI Junior Cup Champions (Clonmel Town FC); Sports Executive: Tommy Lewis (Tipperary Southern and District League); Swimming: Marie Barry (Dolphin SC) Volleyball: Presentation Senior A Team (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Michael Dwan (Ballylooby & Dublin).

1995: Athletics: St. Catherine's AC (Killenaule); Cycling: Michael Fitzgerald (Cidona Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Derek Foley (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Dunhill Golf team (Cahir Park GC); Gymnastics: Mellisa Walsh (Clonmel Olympic Club); Handball: Carol Moloney (Cashel); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: Kevin Tucker (Nenagh Eire Óg); Motor Sports: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Pitch & Putt: Tipp Men's Senior Intercounty Team); Rugby: Pakie Hallissey (Kilfeacle RFC); Soccer: Yvonne Lyons (Ballyneale & Benefica LFC); Sports Executive: Michael O'Meara (Clonmel); Snooker: Tom Gleeson (Nenagh); Knocknagow Award: Willie Wall (Carrick Swans).

1996: Athletics: Gerry Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Brian Fogarty (Cashel); Basketball: Niamh O'Dwyer (Presentation Convent, Thurles); Gaelic Football (Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Jimmy Bruen Team (Thurles GC); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: County Minor Hurling All-Ireland Champions; Rowing: Audrey Phelan (Thurles & U.C.D.); Rugby: Brian Carey (Blackrock, Connaght & Clonmel); Soccer: Ollie Cahill; Sports Executive: Sean Lyons (Clonmel); Swimming: Loreto Secondary School Team (Clonmel); Tennis: Kieran Lovell (Rosanna Club, Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Tony Reddan (Lorrha).

1997: Athletics: Gerry Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Tipperary Intercounty Team; Basketball: Kieran Quinn (Cappawhite); Camogie: Noelle Kennedy (Toomevara); Cycling: Ray Clarke (Premier CC, Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Willie Morrissey (Fethard); Golf: Pearse Purcell Shield All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes (Thurles); Handball: Jackie Keating & Carol Moloney (Cashel); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: Declan Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Rugby: Alan Quinlan (Clanwilliam & Shannon); Snooker: Brendan O'Donoghue (Nenagh); Soccer: Stephen O'Neill (Clonmel Town FC); Sports Executive: John Freeman (Thurles); Swimming: Natalie Clooney (Olympic SC, Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Reardon (St. Mary's, Donore AC & Villanova, N.Y.

1998: Athletics: Orla Power (Carrick AC); Badminton: Brian Fogarty (Cashel); Basketball: Niamh O'Dwyer (Presentation, Thurles); Boxing: Stephen O'Brien (Mullinahone); Gaelic Football: Declan Browne; Golf: Perase Purcell Team (Nenagh GC); Gymnastics: Paula Dempsey & Christina Brunnock (Cahir) and Caitrions Cahill (Clonmel); Handball: Daragh Lyons (Clogheen) & Michael John Meany (Ballyporeen); Horse Racing: Seamus Durack (Clogheen); Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Rugby: Frank Roche (Thurles RFC); Sports Executive: Seamus McCarthy (Bansha); Soccer: Illie Cahill (Cork City FC); Tennis: Clodagh McMurrough (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Sean Cleary (Commercials). 

1999: Athletics: Tom Coman (Templemore SC); Boxing: Robert Ryan (Mullinahone); Camogie: Tipperary Senior Team All-Ireland Champions; Gaelic Football (Liam Cronin (Moyle Rovers); Golf: All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes Team (Templemore GC); Horse Racing: Paul Moloney (Lagganstown) & Philip Fenton (Ballynonty); Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Power-Lifting: Francis McGivney (Clonmel); Racquetball: Joan Kennedy (Nenagh); Rowing: Paul Fennessy & Brendan Wall (Clonmel RC); Rugby: John Fogarty (Cashel & Cork Con); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael's); Sports Executive: Biddy Phillips (Thurles); Knocknagow Award: Team of the Century Members, John Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Jimmy Finn, Tony Reddan..

2000: Athletics: Tom Coman (Templemore AC); Basketball: Presentation Secondary School (Thurles); Boxing: Jonathon Shaw (Clonmel); Camogie: Jovita Delaney (Cashel); Equestrian: Kevin Babington (Carrick & New Jersey); Gaelic Football: Moyle Rovers; Handball: Gerard Coonan (Ballina HC); Hurling: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange); Pitch & Putt: Jason McNamara (Hillview); Racquetball: Joan Kennedy (Dolla RC); Rugby: Nenagh Ormond; Soccer: Kevin O'Sullivan (St. Michael's); Sports Executive: Tommy Wade (Gouldscross); Tennis: Clodagh McMorrow (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Hannon (Coolcroo AC).

2001: Athletics: Mandy Crowe (Bansha); Basketball: Scoil Ruain Team (Killenaule); Camogie: Tipperary County Senior Team; Cycling: Gavin Pyke (Clonmel); Equestrian: Kevin Babington (Carrick); Gaelic Football: Willie Morrissey (Fethard); Golf: Thurles Golf Club; Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Motor Sport: Donie Keating (Cahir); Rowing: Andy Ryan & Paul Nugent (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Rockwell Senior team; Sailing: Peter Bayly & William Atkinson (Lough Derg YC); Soccer: Peake Villa (Thurles); Sports Executive: Tom Fennessy (Clonmel RC); Swimming: Will Carey (Nenagh); Tennis: Clodagh McMorrow (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Pake Brennan (Geraldines).

2002: Athletics: Margaret Danagher (Templemore AC); Basketball: Dearbhla Breen (UL); Boxing: Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Una O'Dwyer (Cashel); Cycling: Cidona Carrick Wheelers; Gaelic Football: Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Marian Riordan (Tipperary); Handball: Gerard Coonan (Ballina HC); Hockey: Susanne O'Connor (Cashel); Horse Racing: David Cross (Clonoulty); Hurling: Paul Kelly (Mullinahone); Ladies Football: County Junior Team; Martial Arts: Kayleigh Tynan (Nenagh); Raquetball: Joan Kennedy (Dolla RC); Rugby: Denis Leamy (Cashel RFC); Soccer: James Walsh (St. Michaels FC); Sports Executive: Michael Cleary (Nenagh); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Butler Coffey (Newport).

2003: Athletics: Templemore AC; Basketball: Grainne O'Dwyer (Presentation, Thurles); Boxing: Clonmel Boxing Club; Camogie: Eimear McDonnell (Burgess); Cycling: Raymond Clarke (Cycleways, Dublin); Gaelic Football: Cahir; Horse Racing: Alan Crowe (Bansha); Handball: Fergal Collins (Ballina); Hurling: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange); Snooker: Brendan O'Donoghue (Nenagh SC); Soccer: Kevin Blanche (Clonmel Town FC); Sports Executive: Martin O'Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Knocknagow Award: Theo English (Marlfield).

2004: Athletics: Ballynonty Athletic Club; Boxing: Clonmel Boxing Club; Camogie: Una O'Dwyer (Cashel); Cycling: Jeff Hanrahan (Clonmel CC); Gaelic Football: Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Harry Mulhare & Joe Irwin (Thurles GC); Hurling: Toomevara SH Team; Ladies Football: Under-14 Girls team (Cahir); Rugby: Denis Fogarty (Cashel & Cork Con); Rowing: Ailish Redmond & Linda Kennedy (Clonmel RC); Soccer: Carrick Utd. FC; Sean Lyons Sports Executive: Richard Power (T.S. & D.L.); Knocknagow Award; John Kelly (Loughmore); Special Achievement Award: Orla Hogan.

2005: Athletics: Thomas Chamney (Crusaders SC & Notre Dame, USA); Basketball: Loreto Secondary School (Clonmel); Boxing: Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Claire Grogan (Cashel); Cycling: Dan Morrissey (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Tipperary Senior Team; Handball: Martin McInerney (Ballina HC); Hurling: Ger 'Redser' O'Grady (Thurles sarsfields); Ladies Football: Angie McDermott (Cappawhite); Rowing: Women's Junior 8 Team (Clonmel); Rugby: Nenagh Ormond RC; Soccer: Under-12 Team (Clonmel Town); Sean Lyons Sports Executive: Seamus Roche (Kilsheelan); Knocknagow Award: Mickey Byrne (Thurles Sarsfields).

2006: Athletics: Keith Maher (Thurles Crokes AC); Basketball: Presentation Secondary School (Thurles); Boxing: Con Sheehan (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Cashel Camogie Club; Cycling: Ray Clarke (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Senior Football team (Aherlow); Handball: Fergal Collins (Ballina HC); Hurling: Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone); Ladies Football: Mairead Morrissey (Bansha); Pitch & Putt: James Cleary (Hillview); Rowing: Peter Heverin (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Tommy O'Donnell (Cahir); Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Pat Moroney (Aherlow); Soccer: Under-11 team (Clonmel Town); Swimming: Andrew Yates; Tennis: Hannah May Morrissey (Cashel); Knocknagow Award: Michael Arrigan (Clonmel).

2007: Athletics: Amanda Farrell (Borrisokane); Boxing: Dessie Fahey (Clonmel BC); Cycling: Sam Bennett (Carrick CC); Gaelic Football: James Williams (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Paul Mullins (Clonmel HC); Hurling: Senior Hurling Team (Loughmore-Castleiney); Pitch & Putt: Michelle McCarthy (Hillview); Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Tommy Toomey (Arravale Rovers); Soccer: James Walsh (St. Michael's FC); Special Achievement Award: Four Special Olympians: William Keane, Eddie Ryan, Julie McGrath, Siobhán McMahon; Knocknagow Award: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel).

2008: Athletics: Aoife Bartley (Carrick-on-Suir); Boxing: Con Sheehan (Clonmel); Camogie: Trisha O'Halloran (Portroe); Cycling: Sam Bennett (Carrick-on-Suir); Gaelic Football: Colin Morrissey (Galtee Rovers); Golf: Kieran Kennedy (Thurles); Handball: Ger Coonan & Martin McInerney (Ballina); Hurling: Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); Ladies Football: Tipperary Intermediate Team; Pitch & Putt: Paul O'Brien (Lakeside, Templemore); Rugby: Niamh Briggs & Kate O'Loughlin (Clonmel); Soccer: Carrick United F.C.; Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Martin Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Denis 'Sonny' O'Sullivan (Thurles).

Members of the United Sports Panel 1959-2009

(Current members in bold.) 

Sean Cleary (1959) 

Sean Lyons (1959-2001) RIP

Sean Barlow (1959-2000) 

Bill Hyland (1959-1977) RIP 

Christy Mulcahy (1959-1971) RIP

Eddie O'Neill (1959-1969)

Bill O'Brien (1959-1981) RIP

Paddy Cummins (1959 -1972) RIP

Ken Hogan (1959-1984)

Tom Halpin (1959-1965) RIP 

Ted Dillon (1959-1987) RIP

John Boyle (1960-1978) RIP

Tom Carroll (1961-1974)

Michael O'Meara (1963-1976)

Seamus O'Doherty (1972-1993) 

Johnny Ryan (1973-2001) 

Liam Delahunty (1973-2000) 

Johnny O'Loughlin (1976- )

Jimmy Cooney (1976- ) 

Phil Corby (1981-1986) 

Peter Tobin (1982-1989) RIP

Davy Hallinan (1986-2004) 

Michael Guinan (1986-2004)

Paddy Doyle (1989-2002) . 

Phil Lowry (1993-1997)

Eamonn Wynne (1993- ) 

John Quirke (1997-2005) 

Seamus J. King (2001- ) 

James Holohan (2001) 

James Hayden (2002-2005) 

Cyril O'Flaherty (2002-2008) RIP

Richie Blanche (2004-) 

Ken Conway (2004-) 

Seamus McCarthy (2005- )

Liam 6 Donnchu (2005- )

Davy Hallinan (2007- )

David Clancy (2008- )

Officers:

Chairmen:

Sean Cleary 1959-60

Tom Halpin 1960-66

Sean Barlow 1966-69

Bill O'Brien 1969-72

Ken Hogan 1972-75

Bill Hyland 1975-76

John Boyle 1976-79

Seamus O'Doherty 1979-82

Ted Dillon 1982-85

Liam Delahunty 1985-88

Johnny O'Loughlin 1988-91

Jimmy Cooney 1991-94

Dave Hallinan 1994-97

Paddy Doyle 1997-2000

Michael Guinan 2000-03

Eamonn Wynne 2003-06

James Holohan 2006-09

Secretaries:

Sean Lyons 1959-66

Eddie O'Neill 1966-69

Tom Carroll 1969-72

Seamus O'Doherty 1972-75

Ken Hogan 1975-86

Seamus O'Doherty 1986-94

Jimmy Cooney 1994-04

Seamus J. King 2004-09

Treasurers:

Sean Lyons 1966-2001

Jimmy Cooney 2002-06

Ken Conway 2006-09 

Forty Sports Honoured Over Fifty Years

When the first United Sports Panel met in 1959 the members chose ten sports to honour in the first year. These were Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Camogie, Cycling, Gaelic Football, Hurling, Soccer, Sports Executive and Table Tennis. Since then thirty more sports have been honoured in the annual awards

With the exception of Table Tennis, which has only been honoured twice over the fifty years, the other nine sports have been honoured regularly during the intervening years. Standing out above them all, and the only sports to be included in the awards every year, are hurling and athletics, which have 50 awards to date. The continued recognition of hurling is understandable in the light of its standing in the county. There is a strong tradition of athletics also, perhaps not as strong now as it was in the sixties and seventies. In fact from 1967 to 1982 there was double recognition for athletics, with Ladies Athletics and Men's Athletics treated as two distinct sports and each of them honoured annually. In 1983 the panel decided to amalgamate the two with men and women athletes given equal rights to be recognised and in the first two years, 1983 and 1984, the winners were women, Mary Martin of Tipperary and Jackie Stokes of Fethard respectively

Gaelic Football takes up third place with 48 awards. It missed out in 1967 and 1979 and it is probably unthinkable that it would miss out today when the panel members vote for sports. Soccer and Sports Excutive take up fourth and fifth positions with 46 awards each. The Sports Executive which, since 2004, is the Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award, named after founder member of the panel and early secretary and longtime treasurer, while mostly recognising managerial talent in sport, covers a range of performances.

Cycling has received 39 awards, a recognition of its strength especially in the south of the county. Handball, which was honoured for the first time in 1960, has received the same number of awards.

Next in line is camogie, which has received 30 awards and the sport got regular recognition with the rise of the Tipperary senior team in the nineties. Boxing has received 21 awards and basketball 11, the latter mostly honouring secondary school achievements. Pitch & Putt, which was also recognised for the first time in 1960, has won 14 awards.

Weightlifting came in in 1962, when it won its first award and it has now won 11 in all. A related form of the sport, Powerlifting, was honoured for the fust time in 1981 and has received two awards.

Three sports were honoured for the first time in 1967. As mentioned above Ladies Athletics was recognised as a separate sport in 1967 and until it was amalgamated with men's in 1982, was honoured with 15 Awards. In the same year Golf was honoured and has received 22 awards to date. Rugby was the third sport on the scene that year, perhaps a rather belated recognition of a popular sport but also reflecting its low profile in the county until then, and it has been honoured with 18 awards in the meantime.

Nine more sports were honoured during the seventies. Badminton was honoured in 1971 and has 12 awards to date. Clay Bird Shooting got its one and only recognition in 1972. Ladies football came in in 1974 and has received 9 awards. Volleyball was honoured the same year but has received only one award since. Rowing made its appearance in 1975 and has been honoured 9 times in all. Equestrian Sports were recognised in 1976 and has 9 awards to its credit. Sculling got its one and only award in the same year. Tennis was also recognised for the first time in 1976 and has been honoured 7 times in all. Darts received its first and only honour in 1978.

Six sports were honoured for the first time during the eighties. Shooting was honoured for the first and only time in 1980, as was rallying in 1985. Powerlifting was mentioned above. Motor Sport came on the scene in 1986 and has been honoured 4 times in all. Judo, with its first an only honour, was recognised in 1989. In the same year Raquetball made its appearance and has been honoured 8 times in all.

The nineties continued to recognise new sports. Two unusual ones were honoured for the first and only time in 1990, Canine Sports and Deep Sea Angling. In 1995 Gymnastics, Hockey and Snooker were honoured for the fIrst time. Gymnastics has been honured twice, Hockey 4 times and Snooker 3 times. Swimming got its fIrst of four honours in 1996 as did Horse racing in 1998.

Sailing made its first and only appearance in 2001 as did Martial Arts in 2002.

In a completely different category to anything before was the recognition in a Special Achievement Award of our 4 Special Olympians in the year 2007.

The great variety of sports that has been honoured in the awards over half-a-century is a very fine recognition of the openness of the members to new sports and their desire to promote them through their recognition in the awards. This work fulfils the purpose of the United Sports Panel which is to promote sport throughout County Tipperary by the annual presentation of the (Cidona) Annerville Awards to the selected stars. While constantly on the lookout for new sports to be recognised the panel have never forgotten the popular sports, which entertain the majority of people within the county, and these continue to be recognised and honoured also. 

The Knocknagow Award
 

The format of the United Sports Panel awards has remained fairly constant over the fifty years with the exception of one major addition in 1962, when the Knocknagow Award was added to the list of awards.

The intention behind the new award was to recognise a great sportsman of the past and the choice of name was most appropriate. The name Knocknagow resonates with so much in the minds of Tipperary people. At one level it recalls the name of Charles Kickhams' great novel about the ordinary people in the 19th century, written by one of themselves. At another level it stands for heroic effort and triumphing against the odds, the ability to rise above one's limitations for the credit of the little village. The name touches the heartstrings of every Tipperary man worth his salt, suggesting devotion to place and county, even to a greater patriotism. It was a most fitting name for an award honouring the greatest Tipperary sporting stars of the past.

It was only fItting that the fIrst award should go to an athlete, J. J. Ryan of Drumline, who ran over all kinds of distances from the mile to the marathon in the 1920s. He won a 5000 metres international event in Berlin in 1925 with some of the best middle distance runners in Europe trailing in his wake.

Many other athletes have been honoured since then including Ned Tobin, the track and fIeld star, and the Ballincurry Hare, J. J. Barry, Pat O'Callaghan and Bob Tisdall of Olympic fame, Paddy Fahey, Tom Healy and Jimmy Hannon, who shone for Coolcroo AC, as well as Jimmy Reardon, who was one of the fIrst Irish atthetes to get a scholarship to Villanova University, and power- and weight-lifting stars, Michael Arrigan and Frank Rothwell. The latest winner of the award is another athlete, Denis 'Sonny' O'Gorman, a Thurles man who represented the U.K. in the 1960 Olympics

Not surprisingly a number of hurlers have been honoured with the award. The fIrst was Martin Kennedy in 1963 and following him were Tommy Treacy, of Killea and Dublin fame, the surviving members of the 1930 Triple Crown championship winning teams, Tommy Doyle, Johnny Ryan, Willie Wall, Tony Reddin, the four players honoured by An Post for the Millennium, John Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Jimmy Finn and Tony Reddin, Jimmy 'Butler' Coffey, whose exploits stretch back to the 1920s and 1930s, Theo English and Mickey 'The Rattler' Byme.

Gaelic footballers also make the distinguished list, commencing with Tommy O'Keeffe in 1964, and including the surviving members of the 1920 All-Ireland championship winning side, Mick Cahill, the surviving members of the 1935 Munster champions, William 'Bunny' Lambe, Bill Ryan (Laha), Sean Cleary and Pake Brennan.

Johnny Healy of Clonmel was recognised in 1965 and two other boxers, Jimmy Smith and Eddie Cantwell have been recognised since.

Rugby has also been honoured three times in Dr. Paddy Stokes of Fethard, Paddy Berkery, who played for Landsdowne and Ireland, and Edmund 'Bunny' O'Rahilly of Clanwilliam.

Soccer has been honoured twice, with Joe Butler of Cahir getting his award in 1966 and P. J. Cumrnins of Clonmel in 1984. Handball has also been honoured twice with Joe Bergin of Nenagh getting the award in 1971 and Paddy Ormonde of Ballyporeen two years later.

A number of sports have received one award. Jack Ayres of Nenagh got the award for his achievements in billiards in 1967. Ed Beary of Clonmel got the award for rowing in 1969. Mick Phelan of Grange was honoured in 1981 for cycling. The famous Tommy O'Brien was awarded in 1974. The journalist and broadcaster was one ofthe finest billiard players in the country in the 1950s, winning three national amateur titles and reaching four other fInals.

The only woman ever to receive the award was Janet O'Donnell from Kilsheelan. She received her award in 1979 for hockey, having been an Irish international player in the late 1930s.

The recipients of the Knocknagow Awards are a very select bunch and to date have been chosen from fourteen different sports. The presentation of the award is the high point of the annual presentation dinner. There is usually a dramatic hush among the guests in expectation of the announcement and thunderous applause as the winner makes his way to the podium to receive the presentation. He is the most special person on the night.

<span class="postTitle">Through Memories Haze - by Gerry Slevin</span> The Nationalist, December 24th, 2009

Through Memories Haze - by Gerry Slevin

The Nationalist, December 24th, 2009

Whenever Borris went low, Reddin responded, inspiring those around him with such confident control. He was simply unbeatable that afternoon. As his great friend and solid defender in front of him in the Tipp colours, Mickey 'Rattler' Byrne, recalled in Frank Burke's magnificent 'Blue and Gold' CD/video 'he'd (Reddin) stop caraway seeds.'

The score at half-time was 3-3 to 0-7 and at full time it was 4-8 to 0-18. It refers to the North final between Lorrha and Borrisoleigh in 1956 and it's taken from Gerry Slevin's latest book in a chapter entitled 'A Tale of Two Goalkeepers', the second being Pat McLoughney.

This book of G.A.A. memories started out as a series of articles for The Guardian in the early months of 2007. They were based on memories gleaned in over four decades of writing in G.A.A. journalism, mostly hurling, first in The Midland Tribune in Birr, then in The Offaly Independent in Tullamore, next in The Guardian, then on to The Clare Champion in Ennis and then back home to Nenagh as Editor of The Guardian in 1989, a position he retired from in 2004 but to which he continues to contribute articles and reports on a regular basis.

The 2007 articles stretched over twenty-one weeks and when he came to put them together in book form they were revised and extended, in fact many of them re-written. Indeed, the process managed to unearth several more memories not included in the original series but fleshed out for inclusion in the book.

Borrisokane Abú!

The first memory in chapter 1 deals with one of the finest hours in Borrisokane hurling, which is but right and fitting since it is Gerry's native place. Borrisokane hadn't much success at senior grade, a single North title in 1933, but a conjunction of outstanding talent in that year, that included Sonny Fogarty, Tom McGarry, Ronnie Slevin and Mackey McKenna, among others, got them to the county semi-final against the famed Thurles Sarsfields. It took a Larry Keane goal in the dying minutes to rescue a draw for the Thurles men. Gerry describes the scene:

'A stunned silence pervaded the arena and the relief on the faces of the Thurles men and their supporters could hardly have found a starker contrast in the bewilderment that the Borris players and those of us looking on experienced. So near and yet so far hardly summed it up. It was more, much more than that because even though the Borris performance was such as to raise the pride of all of us, deep down, and probably in the players most of all, was the nagging feeling that second chances against teams of Sarsfields' calibre seldon bear the desired fruit.' And so it turned out to be the case with Sarsfields winning the replay on a scoreline of 7-9 to 3-4, which did scant justice to the Borris performance.

He describes his first trip to Croke Park on September 4th, 1949 and 'no matter how often I have been there, the experience neither has nor will ever compare with that.'

'And what a day it was for Tipperary hurling! The minors, led by John O'Grady, who would later become a G.A.A. columnist with the Tipperary Star, a position he still holds, captained the side to victory over Kilkenny. Just as the day coincided with the first issue of The Sunday Press, so too was it the first time the Irish Press Cup was presented for the All-Ireland minor championship.

'Laois were captained in the senior final by Paddy Rustchitzko, son of a Polish father and a Kilkenny mother. Oddly enough, Rusty, as he was familiarly called was also a man I would come to know in later years in a different context. Paddy was a fine singer and he took the lead in musicals which I attended when staged in Mountrath and Portlaoise. The White Horse Inn with Paddy singing Goodbye, the number made famous by Josef Locke, is well remembered.'

A Family Divided!

There's a fascinating chapter entitled 'A Family Divided' and the family in question is his own and it was divided in its hurling loyalty. As a result of having worked in Offaly and Clare, members of his family grew up supporting teams other that Tipperary. He recalls his experience in 1997:

'With family members still residing in Clare, visits there were quite frequent. I remember the first day I headed into Madden's Terrace in Clarecastle as the All-Ireland final build-up was starting and seeing all the flags and bunting displayed. As the area from which Clare team captain, Anthony Daly, originated and whose mother still lived there it was only to be expected that the residents of Madden's Terrace would pull out all the stops in tribute to one of their own. Madden's Terrace was indeed a veritable sea of colour, saffron and blue favours billowing in the gentle late August breeze. Most impressive it was and a clear indication of how wound up its residents were and how they felt about the up-coming final.

'I reached No 15 and out of an upstairs window a Clare flag took its place amid all the others. My daughter Niamh's house!!!

'Right next door to Mrs. Daly she lived. I stopped, I stared, and I shook my head. What could I say or do! She was entitled to make up her own mind as to whom she should support. After all she had spent almost twenty years in Clare. Clare had become her home, her county and probably always would be. But, boy! Was it hard to take! I couldn't force her to support Tipp or even appeal to what I might consider to be her better judgement. If I did she could come back at me and tell me she wasn't a native of Tipp either. True, she was born in Offaly and reneged on her native county two years earlier!'

Camogie Success

Gerry has always supported camogie ˆ I think it was he made the statement: Hurling is a beautiful game when played by women ˆ and one of the chapters is devoted to Tipperary's belated breakthrough to All-Ireland honours in 1999: 'So many Tipp players became household names, their contribution to the camogie scene with their distinctive style of play being something of a catalyst for the leap forward the game has taken this century. They won over a huge audience and it was great to see coach loads of young, enthusiastic supporters ferried to Croke Park on All-Ireland final days from all over the county.

'Camogie success arrived late in Tipperary but when it did it came with trumpet blast.'

There is much more in this collection of memories and the book is a wonderful tribute to the author.

He is generous in his appreciation of all those who have played for club and county and each chapter is an entity in its own right while contributing to the overall enjoyment of the book.

While bringing us his memories he is supporting the Tipperary Supporters Club because the proceeds of the book will go to the club after publication costs.

The book ws launched in the Yanks Bar, Main Street, Borrisokane by Marty Morrissey on November 27, 2008 and retails for €20. It's available in most bookshops in the county.

<span class="postTitle">Historic Croke Cup Remembered</span> The Nationalist, May 16th, 2009

Historic Croke Cup Remembered

The Nationalist, May 16th, 2009

The members of Cashel C.B.S. team, who won the Croke Cup for the first time in 1959, came together last weekend to celebrate the historic win against Thurles C.B.S. on May 6, 1959.

The Croke Cup competition was the first Tipperary post primary hurling competition for Christian Brothers Schools. It started in 1933 and catered for under-16 players.

The competition was dominated by Thurles C.B.S. and to a lesser extent by Nenagh C.B.S. during the early years. The Abbey School in Tipperary made a breakthrough in 1952 and won it again in 1955 and 1957. Cashel tasted their first success in 1959 and have won it eight times in all.

There have been a few changes in the competition down the years. It catered for players up to sixteen and a half years for a short period of time. In 1980 it was opened up to all post-primary schools in the county and about ten years ago the age qualification was reduced to under-15.

Prestigious Competition

The Croke Cup was the most prestigious schools' hurling competition in the county, after the Harty Cup, until the inauguration of the Fitzgerald Cup in 1971. The winning teams received a very fine trophy, which was a replica of the Ardagh Chalice.

Cashel lost out to Thurles C.B.S. in the 1958 final on a scoreline, 5-5 to 2-6, very similar, only in reverse order, to that when they won in 1959. The defeated side was as follows: Michael Fogarty, Jimmy Hickey. John Joe Moloney, Donal O'Dwyer, John O'Brien, Tommy Kelly, Billy Eakins, Albert McGovern, Jerry Purcell, Philip Maher, Tom Breen, Davy Ryan, Liam Hyland, Jimmy Davin, John Darmody. Before the final the Cashel C.B.S. Flageolet Band rendered the National Anthem and impressed all with their fine playing of Irish airs during the interval.

The report of the 1959 final that appeared in the 'Nationalist' was very brief, and even briefer in the 'Tipperary Star'. Maybe it was because Thurles were beaten!

According to the report Cashel led up to the fortieth minute, when Thurles drew level 'and looked as if they were going to add another trophy to their already imposing list.'

McGovern Outstanding

That was not to be for, at that vital stage, the Cashel boys rallied under their inspiring captain, Albert McGovern, who played a great game from start to finish.

'Picking up neatly within range of the Thurles goal, he judged accurately and sent the ball soaring gracefully over the bar to return the lead to his side.'

This was the turning point of the game. Soon after Albert was again to the fore, finishing off a great movement to the Thurles net. In the closing stages Cashel added two more points for a comprehensive win of 5-3 to 2-4.

The winning panel was as follows: Jimmy O'Sullivan (R.I.P.), Paddy Purtill, Jimmy Hickey, Paddy O'Leary, Philip Maher, Davy Ryan, John McGrath, Liam Hyland (1-0), Michael Fogarty, John Murphy (R.I.P.), Albert McGovern (capt.), 3-2, John Scott (0-1), John Darmody, Michael Purtill (1-0), Brian Sheridan, Tom Breen, Jimmy Wardick, Mickey O'Sullivan, Denis Ryan, Liam Fennell.

For the official photograph of the team, taken on the steps of the entrance to the C.B.S., the team wore the jerseys of the Cashel King Cormac's. Apparently there weren't enough jerseys in the C.B.S. set for the full panel. In the photograph of the seventeen taken the day of the match, the players are wearing the C.B.S. jerseys of green and gold. The trainer was Rev. Brother Boland, who didn't appear in the picture either.

The celebrations on the occasion were of a modest nature, a few bottles of Cidona and some biscuits supplied by team supporters Michael Davitt and John Joe Grogan.

The celebrations last weekend were of a more substantial kind with a dinner in the Cashel Palace Hotel, some stronger refreshments and a photograph on the steps of the old C.B.S., where they all posed proudly fifty years ago.

<span class="postTitle">Kilruane MacDonagh's Championship Sucess 1975</span> County Football Final program, October 25, 2009

Kilruane MacDonagh's Championship Sucess 1975

County Football Final program, October 25, 2009

As Kilruane MacDonaghs footballers began their 1975 football campaign few if any players harboured ambitions of ultimate success. The county senior football championship was played on an open draw and twenty teams participated.

The first round pitted Kilruane against southern kingpins Clonmel Commercials in Holycross. Scores were level four times in the first half but a John Quinlan goal gave MacDonaghs a two-point interval lead. Jim O Meara added a second goal in the 41st minute and four minutes later Kilruane moved the ball swiftly the full length of the field where full forward Sean O'Meara raised a third green flag. This crucial score spurred MacDonaghs on to record victory on a 3-7 to 1-9 scoreline, which was an upset for the books to say the least.

Seven times champions Fethard were to provide the opposition in the second round in Thurles. A brace of goals from Jim Williams and Sean O'Meara saw MacDonaghs take a three-point lead into the dressingroom at the break. On the resumption Fethard piled on the pressure but goalkeeper Tony Sheppard made some inspirational saves and Kilruane held out for a two-point win with the score 2-6 to 1-7 in their favour. 

In the quarter final they faced Fr. Sheehys of Clogheen at Holycross. The North team was always in control of this game and ran out comfortable winners on a 1-11 to 0-6 scoreline. 

County Semi-Final

The 1972 champions Kilsheelan-Kilcash blocked MacDonaghs path to the final. This was a tense low-scoring game, played at Cashel on August 10, with Kilruane leading I-4 to 1-2 at half time. Scores were even scarcer on the turnover but as time was running Kilsheelan edged a point ahead. Then Paddy Williams lofted a long range free into the Kilsheelan square where his brother Gilbert flicked the ball to the net. The score stood despite Kilsheelan protestations that it was a square ball. MacDonaghs added an insurance point to book a final spot on 2-5 to 1-5 scoreline. 

Against all the odds Kilruane MacDonaghs had reached the decider. The hurlers were also cutting a path to the final. All training was focused on the hurling but the week of the football final the small ball took a temporary backseat. 1973 champions and football specialists Loughmore Castleiney stood between the team and a fairytale ending. 

The newspaper pundits didn't give Kilruane much chance. One of them screamed: 'Loughmore-Castleiney set for County Football Title'. However, they were also covering their backs and one of them stated that 'the North Tipp side were outsiders in most of their games in the competition and didn't let that trouble them.' Another spoke of Kilruane's 'peak condition' and that they would have an advantage in their 'home ground' of Nenagh.

County Final

Few in the 4,000 attendance in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh ˆ the crowd was swelled by the county senior hurling semi-final between Moneygall and Moycarkey-Borris which preceded it - would have given Kilruane a chance at halftime. They had squandered innumerable opportunities in the first half and trailed by five points at the break with the score 1-7 to 1-2. 

The second half was a different story, however, as McDonaghs shed their inhibitions and thundered into the game. Just two minutes had elapsed when full-forward Sean O'Meara flicked the ball to the net and Kilruane were on their merry way. They had drawn level by the 58th minute and hit the front when Sean O'Meara passed the ball to substitute Noel (Sonny) Killackey who tucked it in the corner for the golden goal. Loughmore laid siege to the Kilruane goal in search of the equailser but had to be content with a point. MacDonaghs were not to be denied and were crowned champions on a scoreline of 3-6 to 1-10. Selectors Paddy Quinlan, Hughie McDonnell and Frank Brady had worked the oracle. 

The winning team was as follows: Tony Sheppard, Donnchadha Minogue, Denis O'Meara (capt.), Brian O'Reilly, John Kelly, Paddy William, Dinny Cahill, Tom Killackey (1-0), Phil Reddan, Seamus Hennessy (0-1), Jim Williams, Jim O'Meara, Gilbert Williams (0-1), Sean O'Meara (1-4), John Quinlan. Sub: Noel Killackey (1-0) for John Quinlan.

Referee: George Ryan (Lattin-Cullen)

It was the first time Kilruane had played in the senior football final and it was the first time in sixty years that a club team from the North division had been victorious.

Munster Club

Kilruane must have exhausted their effort in the county final. They had a bye to the semi-final of the Munster club football championship and played the Cork champions, Nemo Rangers, at Ballinlough on November 1st. The result was a massacre, 7-15 for Nemo and 0-3 for the Tipperary champions.

The North senior football championship was a separate competition to the county championship. Five teams affiliated., Kilruane played Silvermines in the semi-final on February 15, 1976 and were defeated.

<span class="postTitle">Borrisoleigh's Three County Senior Titles in the Eighties</span> County Hurling Final program, October 18, 2009

Borrisoleigh's Three County Senior Titles in the Eighties

County Hurling Final program, October 18, 2009

On this day we honour the Borrisoleigh teams who became county senior hurling champions in 1981, 1983 and 1986. The eighties were a great time for the club and when they won the county final in 1981 they were returing to the winners enclosure in senior hurling for the first time in twenty-eight years.

There were seven teams in the North senior hurling championship in 1981 and it was run on a league basis with six games for each team and the top four qualifying for the semi-finals. Borrisoleigh defeated Kilruane-MacDonaghs by 2-12 to 2-7 at Nenagh on August 8, and Roscrea defeated Lorrha by 3-10 to 2-10 at Borrisokane on the day after. In the final at Nenagh on September 27, Borrisoleigh toppled the champions, Roscrea, on a day when the ball was thrown in by the famous Tipperary full-forward, Martin Kennedy. 

Already the quarter-finals had been played at Thurles on August 30. Borrisoleigh defeated West champions, Eire Óg by 2-19 to 1-7, and went on to overcome Moycarkey-Borris by 1-15 to 3-8 in the semi-final at Templemore on October 4. Roscrea came through on the other side of the draw so that the two sides met in the final at Thurles on October 25. Borrisoleigh repeated the North result, on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-12, to take their first county final since 1953.

The victorious side was: Owen Walsh, Michael Ryan, T. F. Stapleton, Timmy Stapleton (capt.), Timmy Delaney, Gerry Stapleton, Francis Spillane, Timmy Ryan, Pat Ryan, Brendan Kenny, Bobby Ryan, Noel O'Dwyer, Michael Coen, Tommy O'Dwyer, Pat Kavanagh.

Great Euphoria

There was tremendous euphoria in the parish as a result of the victory and one of the biggest ever receptions was afforded to the team on their return to the town. However, the jubilation of the victory came to an abrupt end at Waterford six days later when they were beaten by Mount Sion, 2-12 to 0-12, in the first round of the Munster club championship.

Borrisoleigh appeared to be returning to their old ways in 1982 when they were defeated in the first round of the North championship by Silvermines. However, they returned to the kind of form, that had brought success in 1981, the following year. Seven teams affiliated in the 1983 North championship with the semi-finals played at Nenagh on July 24. Lorrha defeated Kilruane-MacDonaghs by 2-9 to 2-8, and Borrisoleigh defeated Eire Óg by 2-15 to 1-10. In the North final at Nenagh on August 14, Borrisoleigh defeated Lorrha by 1-11 to 2-6.

In the county quarter-final at Holycross on August 28, Borrisoleigh were convincing winners over Eire Óg, Ballingarry on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-6. Because of the re-development of Semple Stadium, it wasn't possible to play the semi-finals or finals there, and Borrisoleigh were severely tested before defeating Moycarkey-Borris by 1-13 to 1-12 at Cashel on September 25. The final was played at the same venue on October 30. Their opponents were Loughmore-Castleiney and nine members of the respective panels were members of Templemore C.B.S. All-Ireland Colleges champions team in 1978. The former school colleagues were rivals at Cashel and Borrisoleigh triumphed by three points, on a scoreline of 1-14 to 1-11.

The winning side was as follows: Owen Walsh, Mick Ryan, T. F. Stapleton, Timmy Delaney, Richard Stakelum. Gerry Stapleton, Noelie Maher, Timmy Ryan, John McGrath, Philip Kenny, Bobby Ryan, Aidan Ryan, Mick Coen, Timmy Stapleton, Noel O'Dwyer (capt.)*.

*Frank Spillane was team captain but didn't play on the day because of injury. Vice-captain, Noel O'Dwyer, substituted on the field but Frank came in to receive the trophy from county chairman, Mick Frawley, after the game.

Beaten in Replay

The winners were better prepared for the Munster club championship on this occasion. They had a bye in the first round and defeated Patrickswell by 2-6 to 0-11 at Kilmallock in the semi-final. In the final against Midleton at the same venue two weeks later, the Cork champions grabbed a draw with a 65 in the last minute of the game on a scoreline of 1-12 to 3-6. Borrisoleigh lost the replay by 1-14 to 1-11 on December 4, although leading by four points with a number of minutes to go.

Local poet Gerard Ryan celebrated Borrisoleigh's county final victory:

Once more the premier trophy returns to Borris town.

The vanguished have retreated, the victors won renown,

But all combined in sportsmanship a heritage to uphold,

A Gaelic pastime to renew, its pleasures to unfold

On wards, onwards men of Borrisoleigh, to the year of '84

Help restore Tipp to its rightful place, standard-bearers as before.

There was little joy for Borrisoleigh in 1984. Eight teams affiliated in the North senior championship and were divided into two groups with the top two in each qualifying for the semi-finals. Borrisoleigh failed to qualify. Nine teams affiliated in 1985 and were divided into two groups. Borrisoleigh qualified for the semi-final but were badly beaten by Kilruane-MacDonaghs.

Backdoor Entry

Borrisoleigh came back with a bang in 1986. Matters didn't look so good earlier in the year when they were defeated by Kilruane, 1-15 to 0-7, in the semi-final of the North championship, played at Nenagh on July 26. It looked as this was the end of the road for them once again. Kilruane went on to defeat Toomevara in the championship final.

However, Borrisoleigh had been runners-up in the Hogan Cup, which had been given a new status that year of allowing the winners to play the runners-up in the championship for the right to represent the division as the second team in the county championship. As Kilruane were championship and league winners, Borrisoleigh gained the right to play-off with the runners-up in the championship, Toomevara. The game was played at Roscrea on August 24 and resulted in a comprehensive win for Borrisoleigh of 3-19 to 2-9.

Borrisoleigh went on to defeat Carrick Swan by 3-17 to 5-3 in the county quarter-final at Boherlahan on August 31. They beat Holycross-Ballycahill by 3-10 to 1-7 at Templemore on September 14. Their opponents in the final at Semple Stadium on September 28 were Kilruane, who had defeated them twice already and were definite favourites to do so again, On one of the warmest days ever for a county final, the game was gripping all through but Borrisoleigh were the faster, hungrier and more determined team and won by 0-14 to 0-7, a big reverse on the results in the earlier matches, 0-14 to 2-6 in the North league, and 1-15 to 0-7 in the championship. Philip Kenny was the star of the success, scoring six points in all, and many gave great credit to trainer, Paddy Doyle, for Borrisoleigh's improved performances during the year. The mascot of the Borrisoleigh team, a cock, was in attendance, under the charge of Shane Tierney.

The team was: Noel Maher, Francis Spillane, Timmy Stapleton, Mick Ryan (capt.), Richard Stakelum, Gerry Stapleton, Bobby Ryan, Timmy Ryan, Francis Collins, Aidan Ryan, Noel O'Dwyer, Conor Stakelum, Michael Coen, Philip Kenny, John McGrath.

All-Ireland Glory

Borrisoleigh had a bye to the semi-final of the Munster club championship. They played Claughaun at Limerick on November 16 and won by 2-10 to 1-9. Their opponents in the final, played at Limerick on November 30, were Clarecastle. In a very disciplined performance they defeated the Clare champions by 1-13 to 1-9, to take their first Munster club title. The champions continued their good work into the new year with a 3-16 to 3-8 victory over Ballycastle-McQuillans at Thurles on February 8. The final was played at Croke Park on March 17 with Borrisoleigh gaining victory by 2-9 to 0-9 over Rathnure. 

The winning side was as follows: Noel Maher, Francis Spillane, Timmy Stapleton, Mick Ryan (capt.), Richard Stakelum, Gerry Stapleton, Bobby Ryan, Timmy Ryan, Francis Collins, Conor Stakelum, Noel O'Dwyer, John McGrath, Mick Coen, Philip Kenny, Aidan Ryan. Sub: Brian Kenny for Timmy Ryan. The other members of the panel were John Glasheen, Philip Delaney, Pat Ryan, Seamus Devaney, John Joe Maher, John Ryan, Joe Loughnane, Timmy Delaney.

Longest-Serving Member

Noel, or Noelie, Maher, who was a member of the three victorious county teams, is the longest serving senior hurler in the club. He came on the senior panel at the age of seventeen years and finished at forty-two years, a total of twenty-five years, two more than Noel O'Dwyer. During his career he played in goals for six years and outfield for eighteen years until his retirement in 1994.

He captained Borrisoleigh in 1987 when they won the Yoplait All-Ireland Hurling Sevens. Currently he is in his tenth year as secretary of the club.

The Borrioleigh Cock

The cock is synonymous with the Borrisoleigh club and occupies a prominent place on the club crest. There are a number of stories as to its origin. One is that on achieving unity in 1948 the Borris and Ileigh players were so proud that they would strut confidently, regardless of the opposition, on to the playing field like bantam cocks. Others point to a much older origin to the days of the faction fights. In the glory days of the early fifties Paddy D'Arcy of Ileigh used to sell the team colours on match days and he used to have as his 'assistant' the cock, resplendently dressed up in the club colours. With his business for the day complete, Paddy would attend the match parading around the field with the proud and colourful cock by his side.

<span class="postTitle">The Influence of the G.A.A. in Irish Society</span> Munster Hurling Final program, Semple Stadium, Thurles, July 12, 2009

The Influence of the G.A.A. in Irish Society

Munster Hurling Final program, Semple Stadium, Thurles, July 12, 2009

In a collection of essays published in connection with the 125 anniversary of the foundation of the G.A.A. (The Gaelic Athletic Association 1884-2009 (Dublin, 2009), NUIG Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, believes that significant progress has been made in recognising the importance of the G.A.A. in Irish society. However, he goes on to state that whereas the issue has been addressed in histories of the association, club histories and other specialist studies of the G.A.A.'s history, the social importance fo the G.A.A. 'remains curiously understated' in general histories of modern Ireland.

Ó Tuathaigh adds: 'This continuing under-valuing of the G.A.A.'s social influence may well be due to a general neglect until recent years in professional historical scholarship of the role of sport in Irish social and cultural history. But it is strange, nevertheless, that a more substantial body of work has not been published on an organisation that stands second only to the Churches, and perhaps the trade unions, as a force in the associational culture of Ireland for a century and a quarter. This may seem a large claim, but it can be supported.'

The G.A.A. has some 2,600 affiliated clubs dispersed across the island of Ireland with a further 242 clubs among the Irish diaspora overseas. Its active adult membership was estimated in 2004 at circa 300,000, with more than twice that number estimated as membership and active supporters combined. It has a larger membership than any other Irish sporting organisation, and its spread of membership across age groups and social classes is broader than any other sporting body. Over 40 per cent of all sports volunteers in Ireland are G.A.A. volunteers, with a relatively high percentage of active women volunteers, not only in the separate organisations concerned with camogie and ladies football, but in the core organisation dealing with male sports. The G.A.A. owns and has developed an impressive network of grounds and club facilities, and its national stadium – Croke Park, rebuilt at a cost of some €260 million between 1992 and 2005 – is among the finest in Europe. Over 60 per cent of the total attendance at sports fixtures in Ireland are accounted for by G.A.A. games.

The main Gaelic games – football and hurling and, increasingly, camogie and ladies football – enjoy extensive media coverage, print and broadcasting, at national and local level. The quality of its leadership and its general level of organisational competance is highly regarded by informed commentators on sports culture internationally. The leading senior players of the main games enjoy high public recognition and, in certain occupation categories with a prominent public relations dimension, enhanced employment and career prospects, while their G.A.A. background, as players or as high-profile officials, regularly serves as a promising launching pad for a career in politics, at local or national level.

Ó Tuathaigh goes on to discuss the question, is the G.A.A. an organisation or a movement?

'In truth, it is both,' he replies. 'It is clearly an organisation – and a highly efficient one – for the running of games, at all levels, combining a cohort of full-time, salaried professional administrators with an army of volunteers, giving their services freely (or with no more than modest expenses) out of commitment to the games and a love of the camaraderie of the social life that involvement in the association brings. But this latter socialising function is also part of what makes the G.A.A. a movement, in the sense that it seeks to embody a cultivate a sense of community loyalty and pride – at parish, county and national level – and deploy that 'community' sentiment in the creation of significant social capital, a network of community facilities and amenities, and a sense of discipline and civic responsibility as something to be valued by players and the wider membership. These virtues are, of course, espoused by most sporting organisations driven by idealistic volunteers; but the identity of the G.A.A.'s network of clubs throughout the island, at parish and local community level, gives it a particularly influential presences in Irish social life.'

Ó Tuathaigh concludes on a very optimistic note: 'In short, at the beginning of the twenty-first century the G.A.A. finds itself more broadly representative of all sections of Irish society and more highly regarded, for its organisational capacity, progressive leadership and dedication to community development, than in any previous era in its history. It has also substantially shed the rhetoric (and rules and regulations) of ethnic exclusivism which critics regularly emphasised in their explanations of their antipathy towards the association or their inability to participate (or to feel at home) in its activities. A more open attitude towards the complexity of cultural traditions and identities in Ireland, and a move towards engaging with versions of a more inclusive civic nationalism (without abandoning its own special commitment to distinctive forms of Irish cultural expression) together with a commitment to contributing to cross-community tolerance, respect and, in time, shared cultural activities, including cross-community participation in Gaelic games, leaves the G.A.A. well-positioned to prosper in the more pluralist Ireland that is emerging. At a time of unprecedented change in virtual every aspect of Irish social and cultural development, no other organisation has been as impressive as the G.A.A. in terms of its capacity to adapt and manage these changes in a manner that strengthens its own influence in Irish society.'

<span class="postTitle">Phil Shanahan - Toomevara</span> Munster Hurling Final program, Semple Stadium, Thurles, July 12, 2009

Phil Shanahan - Toomevara

Munster Hurling Final program. Semple Stadium, Thurles, July 12, 2009

When one mentions Phil Shanahan one is talking about one of the greatest centrefield players that the county has produced down the years. He was a commanding figure, a real Toomevara Greyhound, who could stay going all day, a man with a tremendous workrate. A powerful man, he could hold his own with the best and he was always in tip-top shape. He played at a time when centrefield play was much more vital in the scheme of hurling things than it is today.

He was centrefield on the three-in-a-row teams of 1949, 1950 and 1951, alongside different partners in each year, Sean Kenny, Seamus Bannon and fellow-Toomevara player, John Hough. He was one of eight players who played in the same position for the three championships.

Born in the parish of Toomevara in January 1928, Phil showed early promise making his debut at senior level with his club in the 1945 championship, while still only seventeen years of age. Toomevara were back in senior ranks for the first time since 1938, when they failed to field a team in the first round of the senior championship. In 1946 Phil won his first divisional medal when they defeated Roscrea in the North final, their first victory since 1931.

He made his county debut with the minors in 1946, losing the All-Ireland to Dublin as the result of a disputed goal. Phil’s first entry into senior ranks was to be selected on the 1948/49 National League team at centrefield and won the first of four league medals, the others coming in 1952, 1953 and 1957. 

It was the start of three glorious years with Tipperary during which Phil played a pivotal role at centrefield, winning three Munster finals and three All-Irelands. Other achievements from this period include an Oireachtas medal in 1949 and successive Monaghan Cup medals between 1949-1953. Thomond Feis medals were won in 1949 and 1951. He was on the successful Ireland teams in the Representative Games series in 1952 and 1953, winning the Sports Star of the Week award in 1952 for his display on Joe Salmon of Galway. Four Railway Cup medals were won in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953. He was long puck champion of Ireland in 1951.

Early in 1950 Phil left his father’s farm to work in Johnson Mooney and O’Brien bakery in Dublin and play hurling with the Young Irelands club. He continued playing for Tipperary until 1953, moving to centreforward in the latter year. He played for Dublin in 1954 and 1955, partnering Norman Allen in the former and Con Murphy in the latter year at centrefield. Dublin were beaten by Wexford in the 1954 Leinster final and by Kilkenny in the 1955 Leinster semi-final. 

In 1956 he returned to the county when he started working with Esso. He retired from inter-county hurling after returning from the league trip to the U.S. In 1957. Then began a very fruitful period of his career with Toomevara. He played in seven consecutive North finals from 1957-63, winning four and losing in 1957, 1959 and 1963. He captained the team in 1958. There were three county final appearances, with defeats in 1958 and 1961, and a great victory over Thurles Sarsfields in 1960, a victory that prevented the Thurles club winning six in a row.

Phil eventually retired from club hurling in 1966 after a career of over twenty years. He turned his attention to training and coaching. His training career began with Portlaoise, where he helped the club to five senior football titles between 1966 and 1971. He attained a coaching certificate in hurling in 1977. When he retired from Esso in 1982 he trained and coached Killenaule to win three South Tipperary intermediate championships in hurling, in 1983, 1985 and 1986.

During the past number of years Phil has been awarded a number of sporting honours, which are testament to his standing in the field of sport. He was selected on the North Tipperary Centenary Hurling Team in 2001. Early in 2004 he received the Hall of Fame award in the Roscrea Awards and was elected a member of Cumann na Sean Gael at the end of the same year. In March of this year he was given a Special Recognition Award in the Roscrea Awards for his part in the winning All-Ireland team of 1949.

Phil believes that Tipperary should beat Waterford today. They have a young team that's improving. However, he thinks they need more physical presence in the forward line. In fact he would see this lack of physical presence all over the field as the main failing of the team. He wishes every success to the team. He recognises the range of talents in the Waterford side, especially the danger posed by John Mullane.

<span class="postTitle">The First Clare Tipp Match</span> Munster Senior Hurling Semi-Final program, June 21, 2009

The First Clare Tipp Match

Munster Senior Hurling Semi-Final program, June 21, 2009

The first time Clare and Tipperary met in an intercounty game was at Nenagh on September 25, 1887. Clare were represented by Smith O'Briens, a team drawn from Garranboy, Killaloe and Bridgetown, and Tipperary by Thurles, who had a few imports from two neighbouring clubs.

Smith O'Briens, who wore green and gold, had beaten Ogonelloe by 0-3 to 0-1 in the county final, which was played in John McDonnell's place in Broadford, a kind of amphitheatre field, which was a famous venue at the time.

The game was played on July 17, 1887 and the captain of the Smith O'Briens was William Gunning of Kilbane. Gunning was, in fact, one of an estimated four Clare men who played on the Limerick Commercials team that won the first football All-Ireland. Incidentally, the captain of the Ogonelloe team was Dominick Stuart, the father of a later President of the G.A.A., Dr. J. J. Stuart. A grandson of Dominick, of the same name, continues to live in the area.

No Munster Championship

There was no Munster championship at the time but an open draw All-Ireland and Smith O'Briens, now representing Clare, were drawn against Wicklow in the first round, which was fixed for Athlone on July 19, only two days after the county final. Wicklow objected to the venue as unreasonable and were prepared 'at any time to meet Clare or any other county on reasonable terms.' The counties, accordingly, didn't meet and Clare advanced to the next round against Tipperary.

Tipperary also got a walkover. Drawn against Dublin in the first round, they were fixed to play at Mountrath on Saturday, July 30. Dublin looked for a postponement on the ground that a number of players were on holidays but the application was refused. Tipperary came up against Clare in the second round at Nenagh on September 25. They were fixed to play at the Markets Field, Limerick on September 4 but Clare wired that they couldn't field a team and the game was re-fixed for three weeks later.

Green Pantaloons

Earlier Thurles had become county champions of Tipperary when they beat North Tipperary by 3 points and 2 forfeit points to nil at Borrisoleigh. Only eight teams had participated in this first county championship, as against twenty-seven in Clare. Thurles had a definite advantage in the final since North Tipperary had to play their semi-final game against Holycross on the same day as the final. No wonder they began to weaken in the second half!

The Tipp-Clare game at Nenagh was played in a large field on Church Road, given for the purpose by local solicitor Mr. A. Nolan. Thurles wore green pantaloons on the occasion and admission was 6d. There isn't much information about the game except that Tipperary won by 1 goal and 8 points to 4 points.

We don't know the names of the Tipperary team other than the fact they they had fourteen players from Thurles, six from Two-Mile-Borris and one from the Ragg.

The Clare team was as follows: Matthew Crowe (capt.), Ned Scanlan (goal), Michael Crowe, Corney Hayes, Tim Crowe, Thomas Hayes, Paddy Smyth, John Hayes, Martin Crowe, Paddy Vaughan, James Nihill, Little Mike Ryan, Michael Pee-OL Ryan, Paddy O'Brien, Martin Dwyer, Michael Dwyer, Paddy Scanlan, James McKeogh, Michael McKeogh, Jack Molloy, William Scanlan, Jack Sheehy, Edmond Scanlan.

<span class="postTitle">Waving the Tipp Flag 60 Years Ago</span> Munster Senior Hurling Championship Program, Cork v Tipperary, at Semple Stadium, May 31, 2009

Waving the Tipp Flag 60 Years Ago

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Program, Cork v Tipperary, at Semple Stadium, May 31, 2009

Memories play as important a part in the lives of players and supporters as the immediate impact of games and one memory that is as fresh and vital as the day itself in the mind of Austin Crowe, the well-known proprietor of Dundrum House Hotel, is May 29 sixty years ago, when Cork and Tipperary drew in the first round of the 1949 Munster senior hurling championship.

Austin was a young sixteen year old, going on seventeen, in the Agricultural College, run by the Salesians at Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick.

He has fond memories of the year spent there, remembering it as a place where gaelic games were strongly promoted and where the boys were extremely well looked after by the religious order founded by St. John Bosco.

Hurling and football provided the boys with relief from class and study. In fact the Fathers gave the boys plenty of free time to listen to matches broadcast on Radio Eireann by Micheal O Hehir or to attend the games themselves. On these occasions the boys gave vent to their county loyalties

Tipp v Cork

One such game was the first round of the Munster championship between Cork and Tipperary in May 1949. As the game approached the rivalry and excitement between the supporters on both sides got keener. Unfortunately for Austin there were only fifteen Tipperary boys in the college as against about forty from Cork The rivalry found particular expression during practice sessions in the hurling field.

Austin's greatest support, verbally and physically, came from his best friend, Sean O'Brien, who hailed from Grawn, Toomevara. Neither he nor Sean were big men physically and had to take a lot of stick. Another supporter was Jim Lanigan, son of the famous Dick of Bloody Sunday fame, from Grangemockler.

One of the finest supporters of the games in the college was an Antrim man, Fr. Campbell, who tried to steer an impartial path between the Cork and Tipp rivalries coming up to the game. He must have concluded that support had skewed too far in favour of Cork.

On the morning of the match the boys had their usual two-hour study between breakfast and lunch and Austin was sitting in his desk dreaming of the match when next there was a peremptory call from Fr. Campbell, who was supervising.

'Mr. Crowe: Up to the desk!'

He answered the command and was ordered outside the door. Not knowing what he had done he slumped outside like the poor scholar.

Soon Fr. Campbell joined him. 

'You're going to get some doing today,' he said, 'the Cork boys are very well prepared. They have an effigy of Ring and all kinds of rattles and banners.'

'What can I do?' asked the bewildered Austin.

'Up to my room,' replied the priest.

Arriving in the room Fr. Campbell handed him two large curtains, one blue and the other yellow. 

'Here's a needle and thread, Stitch them together,' he said.

Austin set about the task and stitched them into the semblance of a flag. When Fr. Campbell returned he had a sweeping brush with him, from which he took the handle. They tacked the flag to it and rolled it up, leaving it behind the door.

After study the Cork boys started parading round the quadrangle. Austin had drafted in Sean O'Brien and told him of his 'secret weapon' and they bided their time.

The buses came in and as they did Austin and Sean collected the flag and unfurled it. They marched up the quad behind the flag and the other Tipp fellows fell in behind them. Some of the neutrals joined in also, particularly the Kerry fellows.

A Colour Party

They got on the bus and as it moved off they put the flag out the window and it created a great splash of colour along the side of the vehicle. They had another secret weapon, the college bell, which Sean had taken with him.

They arrived at their parking area in Limerick on the Docks and all alighted. They fell into two lines and marched side by side out to the Gaelic Grounds. As they crossed Sarsfields Bridge they made a very colourful sight, one group following the effigy of Ring and the second the large flag of Tipperary. The addition of the college bell gave the latter the edge in the noise stakes..

Austin remembers the excitement still, the beautiful day, the arrival at the pitch. Tipp's victory in the minor game, his pride in the senior team, particularly the four West men, Tony Brennan, Paddy Furlong, Willie Carroll and Jim Devitt. Even though the game ended in a draw he believed that Tipp shaded it on the day because of the victory of the minors.

And, of course, they did win the replay, which set up one of the glorious periods in Tipp's hurling history!