<span class="postTitle">The Senior Hurling Championship - 1993</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1993, pp 16-19

The Senior Hurling Championship - 1993

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1993, pp 16-19

Toomevara bridged a thirty-two year gap when they captured the Dan Breen Cup for the first time since 1960 in a thrilling county final replay at Semple Stadium on November 8. In doing so they beat their opponents of over three decades ago, Thurles Sarsfields, and took the premier hurling trophy to the north division for the first time since Borrisoleigh's triumph in 1986. It was Toomevara's eleventh senior title. 

The long wait had made victory all the sweeter and the success was greeted with an explosion of joy and celebration by the supporters at the game and later in the evening in a crowded village, where the formalities lasted for almost an hour. Among the many speakers was Neil Williams, who is regarded as having played a major part in the revival of hurling in the parish, which culminated in this great victory. In the course of his remarks he said: 'There was a warrant out for the arrest of Dan Breen and Toomevara executed that warrant. We'll keep him in captivity for quite some time. He's home to stay'. The tremendous spirit, skill and determination shown by the team, especially in the second half, and the fact that the elders on the team are a mere twenty-seven years of age, none of them having been born when the club had their previous victory, may well prove Neil to be prophetic. 

Divisional Finals

However, a year is a long time in hurling as Cashel found to its chagrin after scaling the heights in 1991. In the first of the divisional finals, played at Bansha on July 27, the 'Kings' failed to make it three-in-a-row before a spirited performance by a Declan Ryan-inspired Clonoulty-Rossmore, who went out easy winners by 2-15 to 1-11. 

The south final was played at CLonmel on August 16. On that day Ballingarry returned to the throne of south hurling for the first since 1987, when they defeated title holders and neighbours, Killenaule, by 2-12 to 1-10. Star of the encounter was captain and 'Man of the Match' award winner, Don Lyons, who had a spectacular game, scoring seven points from play for the winners. 

On the same day there was a replay of the mid final at Boherlahan. In this LoughmoreCastleiney staged a sensational recovery when they came back from ten points down with nine minutes to play and grabbed an injury-time equaliser to take the game to extra time. During the extra period they swept Thurles Sarsfields off their feet to win by 3-18 to 2-14. In the drawn game on the previous Sunday Thurles Sarsfields had survived by virtue of a last minute equaliser from centrefielder, Brendan Carroll to leave the scoreline Loughmore-Castleiney 1-9 Thurles Sarsfields 0-12. 

MacDonagh Park, Cloughjordan was the venue for the north fmal on August 30. Eire Og, Nenagh ended a twenty· year wait when they trounced a tired and ineffective Lorrha by 1-18 to 0-8. Toomevara, the Hogan League winners, qualified for second north spot in the county quarter-finals, when they recovered from a disastrous start which saw them trail by 3-3 to 0-1, to beat a hapless Lorrha side by 1-14 to 3-5 at Nenagh on September 9.

Plenty of Controversy

The first two quarter-final games, between the mid and the west representatives, were fixed for August 23, the Sunday after the replayed mid-final. Or so the advertisement for the game stated in the 'Tipperary Star'. At a meeting of the county fixtures committee on August 18 the representatives of the mid board claimed a provision was agreed to at a previous county fixtures meeting that the quarter final would go back to August 30 in the event of a draw. The claim was rejected by county chairman, Michael Maguire, and, after the mid delegates walked out, the fixture was re-affirmed for August 23. 

On the following day the two mid clubs secured eight signatures, as per rule to seek a full meeting of the county board to have their case heard. County chairman, Michael Maguire, turned down the request and the clubs decided to appeal his refusal to the Munster Coincil. On the Friday before August 23 fixture Loughmore-Castleiney and Thurles SarsfIelds announced they would not be fulilling the fixture. 

The mid board issued a detailed statement on the affair on August 24 in the course of which they reiterated their claim that a proviso was agreed, to put back the quarter-final games to August 30 " in the event of a mid draw, at the county fixtures meeting of July 28. On the night following the statement a meeting of the county fixtures meeting decided to throw the two clubs out of the county championship because of their failure to play the quarter-finals as fixed. 
 

Phoney War

After the events of August 24 a kind of phoney war developed. The mid teams were left is a limbo situation with an appeal to the Munster Council pending. Quite a lot of anti-county chairman propaganda emerged from scribes favourable to the mid stand. A county board meeting on September 14 did not discuss the matter. Instead it was announced that a special meeting of the board would take place the following Monday to deal with the matter. 

At the special meeting of the board on September 21 the two clubs were reinstated at a cost. Thurles Sarsfields and Loughmore-Castleiney were each fined £2,000 as was the mid board for allegedly misleading the clubs. During the course of a lengthy meeting chairman, Michael Maguire, continuously resisted impassioned pleas from several delegates to allow the mid clubs take part in the quarterfinals. Yet, he failed to bite the bullet but instead kept coming back to the delegates in the hope of finding a way around such an unpopular decision. Eventually after a recess and continued pleaing, he left the decision to a vote by the members. The result was a narrow 35-32 vote to allow the mid clubs back in the competition and the vote in favour may hwe been achieved by a crucial intervention in favour of leniency by South secretary, Micheal O'Meara and chairman, Jimmy Collins, near the end of the discussion. Their intervention may have swung neutral south deleales in favour of reinstatement 

Many issues

The whole affair raised many issues. The most obvious one was the need to have minutes kept of the proceedings at county fixtures meetings. There was, of course, the flouting of the county board's authority and this was the third occasion that the offenders came from the mid division. What role did the mid board play in the affair? Did it "mislead" the clubs as Pat Cullen of Loughmore Castleiney seemed to imply. What part did personalities play in the affair and how big a part did the "I'll get you" mentality surface. But, there were even greater issues. The major one was the power of the club. In this case the clubs put the gun to the head of the county board - by withdrawing from the championship and left it in an extremely difficult position. Should it take firm action and dismiss the two teams or should it take the strength of the clubs' feelings on the matter into consideration? In this case the county chairman took firm action and then relented. As Noel Morris pointed out at the special board meeting Lorrha took similar action effectively in 1984. There is also the other side of this coin, the attitude of the clubs who will gain from the suspension of clubs. In the case of Clonoulty and Cashel there was an element of blackmail. It was hinted to them that if they took the games they would be going against tradition in the matter. In the event both sides decided to back the county chairman. Traditionally clubs have not taken games and this puts board decisions in an impossible position. 

Quarter-finals

The first of the quarter-finals were played at Semple Stadium on September 13 between the teams form the south and the north. The better of the two was the Toomevara-Ballingarry confrontation. The north side had qualified only four days previously when they beat Lorrha in the play-off between the league winners and the championship runners-up. They showed a lack of urgency in their play and whereas they were ahead for most of the game they could never shake off a determined Ballingarry side. Toomevara went ahead in the first quarter, were dragged back to level after twenty minutes but were in front by 2-4 to 0-6 at the interval. In the second half they continued in front despite some bad shooting and had five points to spare, 2-9 to 0-10 at the final whistle in spite of considerable late pressure from the south champions. 

The second game saw Eire og, Nenagh coast to an easy victory against a very poor Killenaule side. After some early difficulties the north side established their superiority, were in front by 1-8 to 0-2 at the interval and were easy winners by 3-14 to 0-7 in the end.

Mid v West

The other quarter-finals, delayed by controversy, were eventually played at Boherlahan on September 27. The two mid teams came to the fray with the support of a huge and partisan crowd that was going to give the west, and the chairman who came from there, the answer they deserved. 

On the day the displays of Thurles Sarsfields and Loughmore-Castleiney deserved the successes they won. In the first game Sarsfields were easily the better side in the first half but failed to translate their advantage into scores and at halftime the sides stood level at three points each. West champions, Clonoulty-Rossmore, were hoping to lift their game in the second half and looked placed to succeed but their forwards lacked penetration and they wasted possession just as the mid men had done in the first half. In the end there was only a point between the sides in a low scoreline of 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of Thurles. 

In the second game Loughmore-Castleiney gave a superb performance and defeated Cashel by six points in a scoreline of 2-12 to 2-6. The difference between the teams was the hunger and zest of the mid champions in contrast with the listless performance of the Cashel team. Loughmore hunted everything with a fierce appetite and harried their opponents at every opportunity. Within five minutes the mid team led by 1-2 to nil. 

Cashel came back to level by the twentieth minute but Loughmore were ahead by 1-5 to 1-3 at interval. With ten minutes to go Loughmore had stretched their lead to double scores, 2-10 1-5 but Cashel got 1-1 to their opponents 0-2 in the final minutes to give the scoreboard a more respectable look. In spite of Loughmore-Castleiney's super- iority Cashel could only regret their dismal failure from pIaced balls in the first half and their craze for futile solo running the second half when the quick delivery into the inside forward line might have paid greater dividends. 

The semi-finals

After a superb display at Boherlahan Loughmore-Castleiney must have gone into their semi-final game against Toomevara on October 11 at Semple Stadium with reasonable confidence. However, whatever happened during the intervening two weeks had something of a debilitating effect on the team because the sparkle was not in evidence and overall they gave extremely tame performance. In fact, it as a very poor game with the last minutes lifted a little by the excitement of Toomevara coming from level to win by two points in an exciting finish Loughmore had a two point advantage 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time. Toomevara levelled early in the second half and the sides were locked at nine points each with a few minutes to go. During the final minute Toomevara got two points to win by 0-11 to 0-9. 

The second semi-fmal was more exciting and saw Thurles Sarsfields came from three points down with about five minutes remaining to draw with Eire 6g on a scoreline of 1- 12 each . The north champions led by a point at the interval, 1-7 to 1-6 and played the better hurling for most of the second half only to lose their advantage in the closing minutes. 

The replay was at Cloughjordan on the following Sunday and from the throw-in to the final whistle Sarsfields superiority was never in doubt. They led by 1-8 to 1-2 at the interval, the Eire Og goal coming from a Michael Cleary penalty. The second half became a parade for Thurles and their nine point superiority, 2-15 to 2-6, at the final whistle was no less than they deserved. To underline the Thurles superiority Nenagh failed to score from play until ten minutes into the second half and their second goal also came from a penalty. 

The County final 

As a result of their spectacular victory over Eire 6g at Cloughjordan, Thurles Sarsfields were slight favourites going into the county final at Semple Stadium on November 1. It was an intriguing contest in many ways. not least of which was that neither team held divisional honours. On the other hard each side represented a proud hurling tradition in the county with the Blues and the Greyhounds among the finest hurling pedigrees. Toomevara were appearing in their first final since 1961 while Thurles last reached this stage in 1979. 

The crowd of about 10,000 did not get the kind of game they expected. The first half was a dull uninspiring contest at the end of which Sarsfields led by 0-4 to 0-3. In the second half Toomevara began to take control and not even a goal by Seamus Quinn in the ninth minute after the interval could halt their momentum and they scored five points without reply from Sarsfields. With three points up. the wind behind them and only eight minutes to go they appeared set for victory. But. inexplicably. they failed to drive home their advantage and Thurles came back to score three points in the final minutes and earn an unexpected draw. In the end it was a major disappointment for the north men to have apparent victory elude their grasp in the final minutes. The final score was Sarsfields 1-8 Toomevara 0-11. 

The Replay

To many experts it appeared as if the men from the north had let slip the opportunity of bridging a 32 year gap. However, Toomevara went into the replay a week later with an increased confidence in their ability and they expressed that confidence in a much improved display. Yet Sarsfields had a point to spare at the interval in a scoreline of 1-4 to 0-6. their goal a fortuitous one by Connie Maher from a melee in the front of the goal. In the second half Toomevara's superiority became more pronounced but they were never able to pull out of the danger zone chiefly due to a tenacious defence by the Thurles backline, especially Michael Maher. Seamus O'Shea and Seamus Maher, until he retired with an injury. In fact many believed that the performance of the veteran, Michael Maher, deserved the Man of the Match award. 

But there were sterling performances at the other end of the field also and as the game wore on we saw some superb defending by Declan O'Meara, George Friend and Man of the Match. Philip Shanahan, who was just half the age of the leading contender from the opposite side. The quality of the Toomevara defence can be seen in the paucity of Sarsfields' scores in the second half, a mere two points. The last ten minutes saw trojan efforts on both sides to gain the verdict and the excitement was intense up to final whistle, with only a puck of a bell between the sides, Toomevara 0-12 Thurles Sarsfields 1-6. It has been another day for defences and the game confirmed the low level of forward power in the county at the present. 

Teams:

Toomevara: Jody Grace, Pat Meagher, Rory Brisbane, Michael O'Meara (Capt.), George Friend, Declan O'Meara, Philip Shanahan, Pat King, Tony Delaney, Tommy Dunne, Michael Murphy. Terry Dunne, Liam Flaherty, Liam Nolan, Tommy Carroll. Subs: Michael Nolan for Flaherty, Kevin McCormack for Carroll. Also: Sean Nolan, Kenneth McDonnell, John Ryan, Jimmy Dunne. Brendan Spillane, Kevin Delaney, Owen Cuddihy. Selectors: Fr. Michael Casey, Jim McDonald, Frank Ryan. Coach: P.J. Whelehan. 

Thurles Sarsfields: Pat McCormack, Michael Maher, Tommy Maher, Michael Sparrow, Jim Moloney, Seamus O'Shea, Seamus Maher, John Dorney, Liam Duggan, Eamon Walshe (Cap.t), Brendan Carroll, Connie Maher. Ml McCormack, Paddy Maher, Seamus Quinn. Subs: Clive Hanrahan for Moloney. Graham O'Connor for Walshe, Michael Hanrahan for S. Maher. Also: Kieran Carroll, Lar Barrett, Tony Coman, Andy Rossiter, P. J. Kavanagh, Tony O'Meara, John Kennedy, Kevin Cummins. Selectors: Tom Barry (coach), Denis Maher, Liam O'Donnchu.

<span class="postTitle">From the Superintendent’s Eyrie</span> Irish Times Educational Supplement, June 14, 1993

From the Superintendent’s Eyrie

Irish Times Educational Supplement, June 14, 1993

One of the regulations laid down by the Department of Education in the General Instructions for Superintendents (Revised 1993) reminds superintendents to give their entire attention to the work of superintendence 'and that the reading of newspapers or books, making out advise notes or advise slips, writing letters, sewing, knitting, or engaging in any occupation other than superintendence, during the examination is incompatible with the proper discharge of their duties.' They are not allowed to bring into the centres any newspapers or books, presumably lest they be tempted. And, of course, they cannot smoke. The only thing not forbidden is the cup of coffee. But, I can see that going also: try taking your elevenses during maths exam and it definitely interferes with the insatiable demand for graph paper .

It's midway through the afternoon session and I'm beginning to wilt. The boiled bacon, cabbage and spuds tasted lovely but have begun to take their toll. The effects of the coffee and ginger snaps at three have quickly worn off. A terrible drow­siness has come over me, helped by the air made heavy with thunder. I could almost sleep on my feet.

The mind, almost consumed, is suddenly awakened. How many left-­handers among the forty candidates for Leaving Cert? The answer is eight. Twenty percent! Is this the national average? Has the number increased in recent years since people came to the conclusion that there is nothing sinister in writing with the left hand? Strange, that it is still held that left-handed golfers and hurlers never really make it. That is, of course, with such exceptions as Bob Charles and Jimmy Doyle.

Four of my boys wear earrings. Why do they? Why do the other thirty-six not? What does it tell us about either grouping? Five wear glasses. Is the national average for 17-18 year olds twelve and a half percent? And what about the four with pronounced acne? Are they also part of an average or are they telling me about their diets or sex lives?

I consider my group to be conservatively dressed. No less than thirty wear blue jeans. If jeans were a compulsory uniform in school would anyone be wearing them? And, because they are not : but a sign of liberation have we thirty conservatives slavishly imitating their peers? The remaining ten show a spot of independence: Oh, yes, they still wear different brands of jeans but the colours are other than blue.

A similar conservative outlook can be seen in their footwear. A majority, twenty-four, wear different makes of runners, Nike, Adidas, and rarer breeds. Usually on a hot day they stink but there are no odours emanating today. There are five pairs of Doc Martins and eleven pairs of assorted shoes. The Doc Martin is so eminently suited to schoolboys. And girls, for that matter .

Apart from my own there are only eight shirts in the room. They are of assorted colours and makes but recognisably shirts. The remainder are a rainbow coalition of tee-shirts, sweat-shirts and sports jerseys advertising a whole spectrum of goods and clubs and universities.
Only four are of the long-haired variety and even they reflect a conservative hirsute streak. One has a pony tail tying back shiny black hair a la Jerry Ryan as he used to be. The vast majority reveal a partiality to tidy locks, many even favouring close-cut concoctions.

As a result of this survey do I know anything more of my silently-working scholars? Can one judge the book by the cover? Are they any different to a similar group in the next town or city? If not, are they part of a vast amorphous mass being processed through the present secondary school system? Does the system and peer pressure stifle individuality?

Whatever it tells me the important thing is I'm awake and alive again and the clock is fast approaching the magical hour of five o'clock and the breakout into the refreshing air.

<span class="postTitle">G.A.A. Publications - 1992</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp. 157-158

G.A.A. Publications - 1992

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp. 157-158

By the time this Yearbook appears the history of Holycross-Ballycahill by Bob Stakelum will probably have made the shops. Or so Bob hopes. At the time of this writing the book is with the printers and it is intended to have it in the shops by Christmas. It will be about 400 pages long and will cost £10. There will be a print run of six hundred. Well done, Bob, but we shall have to wait until next year for a review. 

Another book that is in the offing is the history of Golden-Kilfeacle by Willie Ryan and a FAS team. I asked Willie recently would he have it out before Charlie goes and he told me he was in no rush. I'm not quite sure if he meant Charlie or the book! Good work, Willie. 

The Galtee Rovers' book, which has been in the pipeline for some time hasn't yet appeared. Initially I heard it was only a financial matter and as soon as the finances were right the book would appear. I hope so, because with author Seamus McCarthy the new manager of the county senior football team and hell bent to bring a Munster title to the county, there won't be much time for writing. 

The great hurling story of Thurles Sarsfields is also in a spot of bother. It was believed that the late Donie O'Gorman had all the work completed but it now transpires that such was not the case. Quite a bit of research and writing has to be completed before the book will see the light of day. The task is being undertaken by Liam O'Donnchu. 

Finally, on the county scene, the history of underage games in Tipperary should be out around Christmas. The book has been completed and is with the printers but whether it will make the shops by Christmas is not yet certain. It will contain over two hundred pages and about eighty photographs and it covers the organisation of juvenile games in the county since the first attempt in 1928 to organise them. 

The Hogan Stand

G.A.A. magazines don't have a long life, for some reason. There are a few notable exceptions, but, in general, there is not the same loyalty among young people to a G.A.A. magazine as there is to a soccer magazine like Shoot, for instance. Maybe it's the quality of the production and the stronger appeal of international sports stars. 

A new G.A.A. magazine hit the newstands on March 22 and it is still making G.A.A. deadlines. Called the Hogan Stand, it is subtitled 'Your Weekly G.A.A. Magazine' and it is published by Lynn Publications, Creevagh, Crossakiel, Kells, Co. Meath. It claimed to be the first weekly G.A.A. magazine and promsed to be regular, colourful and informative. 

Since the beginning it has given a good coverage of inter-county affairs and now, with the decline in inter-county activity, it is concentrating its attention to counties and schools and lesser areas of G.A.A. activity. Its chief contributor is Eugene McGee and it has a number of guest writers from different counties. One of the most regular is John McIntyre, the former Tipperary centre back. 

Overall it appears to be going okay with a plentiful supply of advertising, without which such productions cannot flourish. It gives a weekly results section and a good supply of pictures in colour and black and white. It sells for £1 and appears on Thursdays. 

Gael Sport was always a colourful and professionally produced annual for young people, which hits the shops at Christmas. Since October it has appeared as a monthly and quite attractive it looks. It appears to have the qualities that will appeal to younger people with the emphasis on colour, action shots, short pieces on players and excitement in general. There was a very big Tipperary focus in the first issue and camogie and Leitrim receive emphasis in the second production.

It should do well and is attractively priced at £1. However, it appears to have fallen down on distribution. The shops in Cashel hadn't heard of it. One magazine shop in Clonmel had heard of it but hadn't received it while a second had. If you're going to sell a magazine you should make it easy for the public to go and buy it. Another crib, I had to search the November issue to find our where it came from, who was the editor and information that should be slap bang inside the front cover. And, what really annoyed me was the civil service mentality of the following statement: 'Gael Sport is an official publication of C.L.G. but its published views are not necessarily those of the Association'. It reminds me of Dev sending the delegation to London as plenipotentiaries but insisting that they report back before they signed anything. 

Giants of the Ash

I bought my copy of this book by banker, Brendan Fullam, a couple of days ago and haven't had sufficient time to study it. Most of you have read the reviews and they have been many. The reason for the publicity may be because it's the first of its kind, seventy-five profiles of the greats in hurling based on interviews taken over a period of ten years. Tipperary is represented by Liam Devaney, Jim Devitt, John Doyle, Tommy Doyle, Martin Kennedy, John Maher, Michael Maher, Tony Reddin, Johnny Ryan, Pat Stakelum and Tommy Treacy. 

Each profile begins with quotations from the interview with the player. In the case of Jim Devitt it begins: 'The game of hurling is a noble art of the best field game, but I am sorry to say it has lost some of its basic skills, such as ground hurling, the drop puck, and the clash of the ash as the centrefields fought in the air for possession'. There is more and the account goes on to give Jim's career in hurling. 

Each piece is captioned by the name of the player, his years playing at inter-county level, the name of the player's club and county and the player's signature. This is a major work with black and white photographs of the players and some colour pictures as well. The book has been so well received that a sequel is planned which would include more contemporary players. For instance, Jimmy Doyle isn't included. My only crib is the price of the book, £15.95, which is a bit saucy, even if it is a well produced work of 254 pages by the Wolfhound Press. 

Have a good read! 

<span class="postTitle">Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook Comes of Age</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 140-141

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook Comes of Age

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 140-141

The 1991 Yearbook was the twenty-first edition of the publication to reach the public. Twenty of these have been produced by committees of the County Board. The exception was the 1978 edition which was produced by a commercial company for the County Board. The production evoked so much criticism that this method wasn't tried again. 

The first Yearbook appeared in 1970. Prior to that two editions of a commercial production came out in the 1960s. The 1970 Yearbook covered the events of that year and the same was the case for the 1971 Yearbook. 

The third edition was called the 1973 Yearbook and that has been the practice since then with the Yearbook recording the events of the previous year. The exception of this practice was in 1984. The 1984 Yearbook covered the events of 1983. 

When it came to the production of the Centenary Year book the committee decided it couldn't very well be called the 1985 Yearbook and called it the Centenary Yearbook. So if you are a collector there are no 1972 and 1985 Yearbooks. 

On the matter of collection, to be the owner of all twenty-one editions would be to have a very fine collection indeed. I know of three people with such a collection and if there are more they should cherish and mind the same. 

 
First Editor 

The first editor was Gerry Slevin of Borrisokane, then reporting Gaelic games for the "Guardian" and now the editor of that newspaper. The first edition cost 5/- or 25p. and had eighty-four pages. The 1991 Yearbook contained 184 pages and cost £4. 

Gerry Slevin continued to edit the Yearbook up to and including 1977 when he moved to the "Clare Champion". 

There was a problem with the 1978 edition and it was eventually produced commercially. 

As a result of the outcry against the 1978 edition the County Board set up a proper Yearbook Committee under the chairmanship of Seamus O'Riain and secretary, Martin O'Connor. (Seamus O'Riain had been the inspiration behind the first Yearbook, having been county chairman at that time). The joint editors were Bill O'Donnell (Divot) and John O'Grady (Culbaire). The remainder of the committee included present county chairmen, Mick McGuire, Patrick Mullins, Seamus Leahy and Patrick McLoughlin. The set-up established in that year has remained essentially the same to-the present. 

Printing

The first seven editions of the Yearbook were printed by the "Guardian" newspaper. The 1978 edition was printed in Dublin. Under the new Yearbook Committee the "Limerick Leader" did the printing in 1979 and 1980. There was a move to the Wellbrook Press, Freshford in 1981 and they printed the book until 1986. The latter year saw the first introduction of colour. There was a move to the "Kilkenny People" in 1987, when the Yearbook calendar made its first appearance, and the printing has been done there since. 

A Record

In his forword to the first edition, county chairman, Seamus O'Riain stated the aim of the Yearbook as follows: "In these pages we try to recall to our readers the highlights of the G.A.A. year in Tipperary". That aim remains essentially the same to this day. What the years have seen has been a more extensive coverage of these highlights. Many readers will recall the saturation coverage given to the All-Ireland victory in the 1990 edition. 

The coverage has also been extended to handball, camogie and Scor. It would be true to say that the Yearbook today is very much a comprehensive record of everything that took place in the county during the year. So much is done every year to improve the comprehensivenes of the production. The results section will be a valuable source of information for future historians. Another section that has grown in latter years is the obituary notices. In the 1991 edition there were no less than 27 entries. 

Special articles

Results and accounts of matches can be boring. Another aim of the committee is to include special articles on G.A.A. history and personalities from the past. In the 1991 edition there were articles on Jimmy Kennedy, the Walls of Carrick and two historical pieces on the election of Paddy O'Keeffe as Secretary of the G.A.A. in 1929 and on Emly men in Hayes's Hotel at the 1884 meeting. Such articles extend the appeal of the Yearbook and give it an extra value. 

Photographs

There is one aspect of the Yearbook that has improved out of all ends - the photographic coverage. The first edition in 1970 had twenty-four pictures in all, less than camogie alone received in the 1991 edition. The latter Yearbook has nearly 350 pictures, surely an incredible number. Whereas many of them are formal poses of teams, quite a number are delightfully informal. On page seven there is one of the three selectors, Donie, Babs and John O'Donoghue, staring at something with their mouths open. There's another of Nicky English and Fr. Mick O'Brien after the Munster final with Nicky very much in need of a tan. There's a great one of the Senator on page fifteen and one of a very perplexed senior football team on page twenty-five, and who would blame them! 

Finally, there's Sean O'Driscoll, that inimitable collector of G.A.A. bric a brac, who has been giving us bits from his collection for the past few years. He gives a decade by decade view of things G.A.A. For instance he tells us in the 1991 edition that the crossbar was lowered from ten feet to eight and throwing the hurley was made illegal in 1901. 

Overall, an emporium for the G.A.A. enthusiast, a collection of records for the future historian and a very healthy publication going on twenty two years old. 

<span class="postTitle">Feile na nGael - 1971-1991</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 83-84

Feile na nGael - 1971-1991

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 83-84

Feile na nGael came of age in 1991 and it was only fitting that the celebrations should be held in County Tipperary. It was here, twenty-one years before that the three men of foresight and vision, Tomas O Baroid, Seamus O Riain and Eamon de Stafort, thought up the idea of a festival of hurling for young people from all over the country.

The format of events on the weekend of June 21-23 was very similar to that of 1971, but the programme was more extensive over the previous two weeks. The first event was the official opening of the Feile Exhibition in Hayes's Hotel on June 8. It is worth noting that the co-ordinator of this project was Willie Corbett of Drombane, who had performed the same task back in 1971.

The official launch of Feile took place the following day and it was performed by Uachtaran C.L.G. Peadar O Cuinn. On Monday, June 10, the visitation of Primary Schools in the county by G.A.A. and R.T.E. personalities began and continued during the week. Tuesday saw the divisional finals of the Feile Skillstar Competition. On Sunday the All-Ireland final of the Feile Poc Fada competition and the Camogie County Skillstar Competition took place.

The number of events increased during the second week. Monday saw the county finals of the Tipperary Primary Schools Competition. On Tuesday the county final of the Skillstar Competition took place at Semple Stadium. There was a gala night for the Primary Schools at Hayes's Hotel on Wednesday with the final of the Table Quiz Competition. Thursday saw the arrival of teams and officials from all over Ireland to centres at Nenagh, Thurles, Tipperary, Cashel and Clonmel. There was a Golf Slogadh at Thurles Golf Club on Friday and the first round games got under way. The games continued through Saturday and the finals were played on Sunday.
 

No President
 

For the previous ten years President Hillery had never missed a Feile. Now in retirement he was invited for the official opening of the exhibition. President Robinson had been invited on the Sunday for the finals but had a previous engagement and was unable to attend. Without the presence of the President, the event lacked some of the pomp and circumstance of previous events.

Despite that Sunday, June 23 was a very successful day. All the teams and bands assembled at Semple Stadium on Sunday morning for Mass celebrated by Most Rev. Dr. Clifford. Afterwards there was the Féile Parade, which included over twenty bands, through the streets of the town. The teams then returned to Semple Stadium for the main events of the day, the finals. Before the games began, the assembled boys were addressed by Ard Stiuirthoir Liam O Maolmhichil. He told them that by their presence they were very important people as they were the representatives of over 200,000 young people who played our games in the four provinces. 'The disciplined, colourful and vibrant array is a source of satisfaction to all of us, but you mean more than that in that you symbolise our past, you represent the whole great Association of today and you are our future', he added.
 

Successful

Durlas Og were hoping to do well in Division I and repeat their victory of 1990 but they were beaten by Na Piarsaigh of Cork in their third match and failed to qualify. The Cork champions won out the division. Ballingarry performed very well before being beaten in the semi-final.

Borrisoleigh were beaten in the final of Division II. Tipperary teams were rather unlucky in this section, with no less than three of the semi-finalists coming from the county. The other two were St. Mary's and Arravale Rovers. After a promising opening half in the final Borrisoleigh succumbed to a much stronger, Horeswood, Co. Wexford side and were beaten by 2-7 to 1-2.

Division III provided an all-Tipperary final. Ballygalget, Cahir, Fethard and Cashel made it to the semi-finals with Cahir and Fethard coming through. This all-South final provided great excitement with Fethard winning decisively in the end by 4-3 to 0-5 and reversing the result in the south championship.

No Tipperary team reached the semi-final stage in Division IV but there was another all-Tipperary final in Division V. In this game Sean Treacy's proved too strong for Newcastle and won by 4-2 to 1-2.

Overall then a reasonably successful Feile for Tipperary teams. Not so much success in handball or camogie. In the former Silvermines were beaten in the final of Division 3 and Roscrea won Division 5 of the camogie competitions.
 

Some Bests

At the conclusion of the grand parade on the Sunday a number of prizes were awarded, Navan O'Mahony's were voted the best dressed hurling team. Loughmorc-Castleiney won the best banner in Tipperary and Birr got the best visiting banner. The best dressed team in camogie was won by Loughmore-Castleiney. The best banner in the county wait to Uppcrchurch-Drombane and the best visiting banner was won by Ballyboden-St. Enda's, Dublin.

The National Executive of Feile na nGael 1991 was as follows: chairman – Pádraig MacFloinn, Down, secretary, Pádraig P Guthrie, Clare, Donal Hickey, Dublin, Eamonn MacMahon, Antrim, John O'Connell, Cork, Jim Whelan, Wicklow.

The Tipperary Executive was: chairman, Donal Shanahan, Toomevara, secretary, Denis Floyd, Newport, programme, Seamus J. King, Cashel, parade, Liam Ó Donnchú, Thurles, fields/referees, Liam McGrath, Holycross-Ballycahill, schools, Eugene Ryan, Moneygall, skills, James Gleeson, Templederry, handball, Ken Conway, Clonmel, camogie, Marion Graham, Littleton, catering, Eleanor O'Connell, Thurles and P, J. Harrington, Upperchurch-Drombane, Tommy Kelly, Kickhams, museum, Willie Corbett, Upperchurch-Drombane.

<span class="postTitle">Pat Fox</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 17-18

Pat Fox

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1992, pp 17-18

The announcement in October that Pat Fox had been chosen as "Tipperary Person of the Year 1991" by the Tipperary Association in Dublin was received with much satisfaction by the vast number of people in the county. It was seen as a fitting recognition for a player who has given long and sterling service to Tipperary hurling in three decades.

The statement issued by the Tipperary Association said: "His marvellous displays in this year's Munster and All-Ireland hurling finals made him a person apart in the Premier County and a worthy recipient of the Tipperary Personality Award for 1991. Arguably the best hurling forward in 1991, his unique ability to conjure scores led Tipperary to its 24th All-Ireland senior hurling title."
 

A Culmination

To call this award a culmination is not to imply that Pat Fox is at the end of his days. Far from it! His dedication and commitment are such that one can safely bet that the thirty-year old Eire Og, Annacarty man has a number of years of hurling left in him for the nineties. But, the award must surely be seen as a high point in the recognition of a hurling wizard, who has been honoured in many ways over many years.

He has been the recipient of virtually all the awards that can come the way of a top class hurler. He was awarded the RTE 'Man of the Match' Award for his display in the 1991 All-Ireland. This display, which saw him score five points, was no flash in the pan. He was also voted the Most Consistent Player of the Year for 1991. He has also at different times received the Player of the Month Award, Jury's Player of the Week and the Man of the Match Award. He received two Cidona Awards in 1981 and 1989 and got All-Star Awards in 1987 and 1989. There is probably no greater racing certainty than that Pat will pick up a third All-Star Award this year. Some of his admirers would like to see him end the year with the most prestigious of all awards, the Texaco Award. He is probably a short odds favourite for that also.
 

Three Decades
 

Pat's hurling career stretches over three decades and he has won All-Irelands in the seventies, eighties and nineties. Over that time he has played in a variety of positions. When he played minor for the county for the first time in 1978 it was at left corner-forward. Tipperary were beaten 1-14 to 3-6 by Cork in the Munster final. Two other survivors from that team are Bobby Ryan and Donie O'Connell.

Still a minor the following year, Pat played at centre-forward on the team that lost to Cork by 1-8 to 2-4 at the semi-final stage. So Pat came through the inter-county minor grade without a Munster or All-Ireland medal. He had some consolation for these years when he won a county junior hurling medal with Eire Og and an under-21 hurling medal with Cappawhite/Eire Óg in 1977.
 

Under-21

Pat came on to the under-21 panel in 1979 and was to be on it for four years and three All-Irelands. A sub during the earlier stages of the championship, he played centrefield against Galway in the All-Ireland final at Portlaoise and won his first All-Ireland in a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-9. Flowery Ryan was his partner and Michael Doyle was at full-forward.

Two more All-Irelands were to follow in 1980 and 1981. The first of these two was won against Kilkenny at Waterford in a score of 2-9 to 0-14. Pat was now at corner back and at full was Cormac Bonnar. Bobby Ryan was centre forward and Donie O'Connell was full. Pat was in the same position in 1981 when Kilkenny were beaten once again at Waterford, this time by 2-16 to 1-10. Bobby Ryan and Donie O'Connell were in the same positions as in the previous year and Nicky English was wing-forward.

To have won three consecutive All-Irelands was a most satisfactory achievement. To throw away the chance of a fourth in 1982 was a big disappointment for Pat. He was again at corner back and the team included no less than eleven of the 1981 All-Ireland winning side. As well, no less than seven players were on the senior team. Plenty of preparation was made for the first championship outing against Limerick on June 25 and all was set for what was thought to be an easy victory.

From the beginning of the game problems abounded, especially in attack. Tipperary were behind by 1-6 to 0-4 at the interval and went further behind in the third quarter. By the time they got their act together towards the end it was too late and Limerick ran out easy winners by 2-12 to 1-7.
 

Senior Debut

Pat had already made his senior debut as early as 1979 when he was drafted on to the National League panel and played a couple of challenge games. For the championship in 1980, when Tipperary were beaten by Cork in the Munster semi-­final at Thurles, Pat partnered Gerry Stapleton at centrefield.

The following year he played corner-forward on the side that was beaten by Limerick in the replayed Munster semi-­final. Michael Maher was a selector that year and maintained it was Pat's best position. One of Pat's older brothers, Kevin, was also on that team. Both of them were on again on the side beaten in the first round of the 1982 Munster championship by Cork. Pat was back at centrefield for this game.

The same year saw the beginning of Pat's knee problem. Playing inter-firm at Cashel he tore the ligaments in his knee and didn't take the proper care of the injury. The result was that he missed out on everything in 1983. He came back as a junior in 1984 and played cornerback on the side beaten by Cork in the Munster final.

Back on the senior side in 1985 he was at cornerback when Tipperary went down by 4-17 to 4-11 to Cork in the Munster final. For the debacle at Ennis in 1986 Pat was a sub and watched their stunning 2-10 to 1-11 defeat by Clare from the sideline.
 

Recovery

After the great successes of the under-21 years, Pat must have felt that his chances of senior success were slowly slipping away in the aftermath of the 1986 championship. Little did he envisage the achievements of the following years. The new management took over and things began to look up again.

Pat lacked confidence in his knee and played indifferently in the early stages of the 1986-87 league. He is grateful to Babs for sticking with him and he has missed no championship game since then. Ironically, when he was taken off in the Munster final in 1990 it was the first time ever he was taken off in a championship game, whether at minor, under-21, junior or senior level.

He considers the success of Babs as due to a number of factors. Luck had a part to play in it. So had the Supporters' Club and the money they raised which enabled the players to be treated better, so that they responded better. Babs also brought considerable experience to the job. He has absolutely no bitterness towards Babs for taking him off in that final.

Pat's contribution to the recovery of Tipperary's hurling fortunes has been significant. He got the winning point which put the team into the 1987 league semi-final. He won the Man of the Match Award for his display against Kerry in the first round of the 1987 championship. He got the two points which gave us a draw against Cork in the Munster final. His contribution to our success in Killarney was enormous. In fact, he remembers that game as his greatest and, with this year's All-Ireland, the game that gave him the greatest satisfaction.
 

All-Irelands

The story of Pat's success in the last few years has been well documented. After the defeat in the 1987 All-Ireland semi-final, came the league victory of 1988 and the defeat in the All-Ireland of that year. Against Galway he found Ollie Kilkenny a tough opponent.

He has an interesting comment on all opponents. He reckons he has beaten them all and has been beaten by all. He prefers to mark a hurler that's tough and skilful. This may come as a surprise because many are of the impression that Pat is small in stature. He is, in fact, five foot eight inches and weighs twelve stone. He has a low centre of gravity and is a very difficult player to push out of the way.

What he may lack in height he makes up in skill and aggression. He can fight tenaciously for possession and then has the skill to put it to good use. On the top of that is his enormous experience. To date he has played inter-county hurling for all of thirteen years and has gained a wealth of experience over that period.

Another interesting fact about his playing career is that it has been significantly devoid of injuries. Apart from his knee, Pat has escaped all but superficial injuries. He has never broken a bone and has never had to retire because of injury.

The highpoint of his success was the All-Ireland senior hurling medal in 1989. A player has finally arrived when he has won this honour and all previous accomplishments are mere milestones on the journey. Pat's display may have been overshadowed by Nicky English's 2-12 but his contribution in the four championship games was vital and he was an essential link in a most impressive full-forward line. He shared in the euphoria of victory and the end of the long 18 year famine.

He shared the disappointment of defeat in the 1990 Munster final and the frustration of having been replaced at half-time. However, 1991 was to give him sweet revenge and his brilliant championship campaign was to erase the memory.

His goal in the drawn Munster final was a gem of purest ray serene and a classic example of his opportunism and his knowledge of back play as well as forward play. That goal was part of the 2-12 he scored in the three championship games leading to the All-Ireland when he crowned an outstanding year by adding a further five points and winning the Man of the Match Award.

Equally important for him was to have beaten Kilkenny in a final. The sceptics had said 1989 was no victory despite having beaten Limerick, Cork and Galway along the way. To have added Kilkenny to that list of hurling scalps in 1991 put paid to these petty protestations.
 

Club and Family

At the time Pat Fox won the 1989 All-Ireland he was one of the few members of the team to be married. In 1985, when he was making his way back from the doldrums of injury, he married Marita Heffernan of Dundrum and she has shared his successes and failures since then. The couple have two children.

Pat himself was the fifth of a family of six boys. His father died earlier this year and his mother is still alive and well. Four of the brothers played on the Eire Og team that captured the west championship in 1981. Pat won a second senior medal in 1986 and has Crosco Cup medals as well. Seamus has an All-Ireland junior medal from 1989 and Kevin has an All-Ireland inter-firm medal.

Latterly Pat has developed an interest in golf and is enjoying the game. It has had one good effect on his hurling because it has improved the flexibility of his right side and given him another option in tight situations.

Pat is shy and unassuming and while glad of the great honour the Tipperary Association has conferred on him dreads the thought of having to make an acceptance speech.

He is also an extremely courteous and helpful individual and everyone who knows him wishes him the best of luck in his hurling and business career.

<span class="postTitle">Cashel King Cormac's</span> All-Ireland Club Hurling Quarter-Final, London, February 2, 1992

Cashel King Cormac's

All-Ireland Club Hurling Quarter-Final, London, February 2, 1992

When Cashel won the county senior hurling championship of Tipperary in 1991 it was the first time the club achieved this honour in its 101 years history. During that long period it contested four other finals. Three of these were played in 1937, 1939 and 1940, and the fourth in 1989. 

A team from Cashel did contest a county final before 1937.  This was in 1910 when a team from the parish, Racecourse, beat Toomevara in the county final by 3-0 to 2-2.  The losers objected and Racecourse counter-objected.  Eventually it was decided that the final be replayed and Racecourse decisively won by 5-2 to 0-3. Toomevara again objected, claiming that no fewer than seven of the Racecourse team had played with other teams in the 1910 championship. The north side were awarded the match but the verdict wasn't well received in Cashel, where Toomevara were referred to as the 'paper champions.'

The Cashel Gaelic Club  was founded in 1888 after a few abortive earlier attempts. The first chairman was Dr. Tom Wood, the father of the present chairman of the Cashel U.D.C., Richard Wood. One of the rules of the new club was that the members pay one penny per week to meet the expenses.

Since the west division in the county wasn't formed until 1930, Cashel played either in the south or the mid divisional championships. The club won the south senior hurling championship in 1913 and 1914, and a junior hurling championship in 1924.  In the latter year Cashel also won a mid junior football championship.  The west division came into existence in 1930 and since then the club has won 14 senior divisional championships in hurling.  Leading the roll of honour with seven senior medals is Mickey 'The Dasher' Murphy. 

The first players from the club to win All-Ireland medals were Mick Devitt, Tom Connors and Mick Dargan. They were on the Tipperary team that won the first junior football All-Ireland in 1912.  Tom Connors son, Michael, has spent the last 40 years of his life in England and is presently living in Didcot.  He is the proud possessor of his father's medal.

The first All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner was Jimmy Hickey, who was on the Boherlahan selection in 1925, having won a junior medal the previous year.  Later winners were Jack Gleeson in 1937, Jim Devitt in 1945 and 1949, Peter O'Sullivan in 1964, 1965 and 1971, and the Bonnar brothers in 1989 and 1991.

Probably the greatest period of success in the club's history, before the present time, was in the seventies, when there was tremendous success at underage level.  For some reason this never translated into senior success until the present and it is significant that six of the current panel first achieved success at county level over twenty years ago.  At the present time the club has won county titles in all grades except in intermediate and senior football.

<span class="postTitle">A Cashel London Connection - Jack Gleeson</span> All-Ireland Club S.H. Championship Quarter-Final Program, Ruislip, London, Feb. 9, 1992

A Cashel London Connection - Jack Gleeson

All-Ireland Club S.H. Championship Quarter-Final Program, Ruislip, London, Feb. 9, 1992

London won their first junior All-Ireland in 1938 when they beat Cork in the junior hurling final. The game was played at Harrow Meadow, Eltham, London on October 30. Cork came to London with tradition and an impressive championship campaign behind them, which included victories over Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Offaly and Antrim. However, there was a shock in store for them as they were defeated by 4-4 to 4-1 in a game that finished in semi-darkness. 

The main reason for London's success was the quality of the players on the team. They benefitted from having four or five players who were obviously above junior standard. They included 'lovely Johnny Dunne' who had scored the winning goal for Kilkenny versus Limerick in the 1932 All-Ireland senior final, and Jack Gleeson, who played centrefield for Tipperary in the All-Ireland final at Killarney the previous year. The 1938 victory gave him the chance of putting two AlI-lrelands, a senior and a junior, back to back. 

Mention of Jack Gleeson brings up the Cashel connection. He was born at Shanballa, three miles from Cashel in 1910. His sister Helena still lives in the home place. Jack started hurling with Rockwell Rovers but later transferred to Cashel where he won a junior divisional medal in 1933 and a senior in 1934. He transferred to Roscrea in 1936 when he went to work at Roscrea Meat Products and won a north divisional medal with the club 

in 1937. As luck would have it Cashel were west champions the same year and played Roscrea in the county semi-final at Borrisoleigh. Cashel were behind by nine points at half-time but came storming back to win by a goal. Gleeson got plenty of slagging from the Cashel supporters that day. In the same year Jack was picked for the county and won his All-Ireland senior medal when Tipperary beat Kilkenny by 3-11 to 0-3. According to one newspaper account Gleeson vindicated his selection at centrefield beside the more famous Jimmy Cooney. 'Perhaps too much was expected of Cooney but, whatever it was, Gleeson stole most of his thunder and justified the confidence of the selectors. A ragged rather than a spectacular worker, he revelled in the hard exchanges and staked a very strong claim to a permanent berth on the team. 

London 

Jack Gleeson didn't get a permanent place on the team because he emigrated to London at the end of 1937 and was, apparently, drafted into the London side for the All-Ireland junior championship. According to the report of the final London were well served by their county players, including Jim Shaughnessy of Cork and Jack Gleeson of Tipperary. The latter may not have started the game because the teams I have to hand does not include his name. It reads: J. Shaughnessy, J. Dunne, T. Walker, E. Eade, J. Hickey, E. Foulds, L. Moran, J. Dwyer (Capt.), J. Farrell, M. Regan, J. Hardiman, T. Reaney, B. Hickey, N. Noonan, D. Hoyne. That may have been the original selection and Gleeson may have started the game or come in early on. It is certain, however, that he played. 

There were two other Cashel men on that team, Batt and Johnny Hickey. Batt was one of the finest hurlers in Cashel in the thirties, playing junior and senior hurling with the club before emigrating in 1937. His usual position was in the backs. Johnny was a younger brother. They had a more famous older brother, Jimmy, who was at the height of career in the twenties. He won a junior All-Ireland with Tipperary in 1924 and was on the Boherlahan selection which won the senior All-Ireland in 1925 thus making him the first Cashel man to win an All-Ireland senior medal. Jimmy was a very tall man, about 6 I 4" and was reputed to jump his own height for the ball. His All-Ireland and Munster medals were in existence until a few years ago when his sister donated them to the Parish Priest of her parish in England to be used in the making of a chalice. 

But, to get back to the final! The match was of a very high standard although the pitch was slippery. After the victory the Michael Cusack Cup was presented to the London teams by Jack Shalloe, chairman of the Provincial Council of Britain. The Cork trainer, Jim Barry, admitted it was the best junior final he had ever seen. Finally, Eddie Foulds of Dagenham, the only Englishman on the London side, made a fine contribution to his side's victory.

<span class="postTitle">The Senior Hurling Championship (1991)</span> Tipperary GAA Yearbook 1992 pp 31-32

The Senior Hurling Championship (1991)

Tipperary GAA Yearbook 1992 pp 31-32 

Victory at last! was the cry and the sign of relief among Cashel King Cormac's supporters at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on November 10 when their team recorded a first ever victory in the county senior hurling championship.

It was the 101st county final to be played since the first in 1887 and it was the fifth time in that period for Cashel to reach the final stage. Previous involvements in 1937, 1939, 1940 and 1990 had ended in defeat. Three players from the earlier days, Michael Leamy, Mickey Murphy and Michael Burke, watched the glorious breakthrough from the VIP section of Ardan O Riain and savoured the sweets of victory that had eluded them.

In making the breakthrough Cashel joined a growing number of clubs which have won the ultimate honour in county hurling since the dominance of Thurles Sarsfields was ended in the mid-sixties.

During that time seven teams (eight if one includes Clonoulty-Rossmore, who won a first back in 1898) have won county senior hurling titles for the first time. They are Carrick Davins, Roscrea, MoyneTempletuohy, Moneygall, Kilruane-MacDonaghs, Cappawhite, Loughmore-Castleiney and, now Cashel. There are obviously other teams capable of making the breakthrough. One immediately thinks of Eire Og, Nenagh and Lorrha.

In contrast to the 1990 championship, Cashel had a tough passage through the west. Whereas Kickhams didn't providemuch opposition in the first round, a very determined Clonoulty-Rossmore had to be overcome in the semi-final. The final pairing with Cappawhite was a very difficult game.

The 1987 champions showed that they were no pushover and with a bit of luck might have got the verdict. In the end Cashel had four points to spare due mainly to the brilliant accuracy of Tommy Grogan, who scored ten of Cashel's twelve points from frees while Man of the Match, Jamesy O'Donoghue, got the other two scores from play.

Meanwhile, Holycross-Ballycahill were making snakelike progress through the mid division. Beating Gortnahoe in the first round they had to play Loughmore Castleiney twice before coming out on top. They beat Thurles Sarsfields in one game but needed two matches to overcome Moycarkey-Borris in the mid final. 

Toomevara, also, had a long trek through the north, beating Portroe, Roscrea and Lorrha on their way to the final. They drew with Eire Og in the final on the first day but had four points to
spare in the replay.

The earliest divisional final to be played was the south and it took place on the last Sunday in July. Killenaule won their fifteenth title when they beat Carrick Swans by two points on a scoreline of 0-15 to 1-10.

COUNTY QUARTER-FINALS

The first of the quarter-finals were played at Golden on September 29. In the first game Cappawhite had a comfortable win over Killenaule, winning by 2-18 to 0-13. The game was a close contest for three-quarters of the hour but then, in a sudden burst, Cappawhite shook off the opposition and pointed their way to victory with consumate ease. There were fine displays by Pa O'Neill, John 'Fox' O'Neill and Ger Ryan (B).

In the second game Cashel had a facile win over a desperately poor and disorganized Carrick Swan side. They led by 2-15 to 0-2 at half-time and strolled to victory by 4-18 to 1-7. Feature of the game was the perfect accuracy of Tommy Grogan, who scored ten points from placed balls and a brilliant display by Pa Fitzel at centre back.

The other two quarter-final games were played at Semple Stadium on October 13. In the first Toomevara had a dream start and were 2-2 up before Moycarkey had settled down. Gradually Moycarkey got to grips with the game and were only three points in arrears after twenty minutes. However, Toomevara stepped up their display once again and were in front by 2-7 to 1-5 at the interval. In the third quarter Moycarkey reduced the deficit to two points and seemed set to go into the lead. But Toomevara rallied and at the end of a very exciting final quarter had two points to spare at the final whistle in a score of 2-9 to 1-10.

The second match ended in a draw. Draw specialists Holycross withstood a great fight-back by Eire Og in the final quarter and survived by 2-3 to 0-9. The excitement in the closing stages went some way towards making amends for what had been largely a poor enough contest. Holycross had but one score, a point from a free by Declan Carr, in the first half-hour and were behind by 0-4 to 0-1 at the interval. However, they got two goals at vital stages, during the second half and survived the Eire Og rally by 2-3 to 0-9.  In the replay the following Saturday, Holycross snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to a last-minute goal by Tony Lanigan. It was a game that Nenagh looked like winning for most of the hour. Eight points clear after twenty minutes they led by 1-9 to 2-4 at the interval and were six points in front ten minutes into the second half.

Probably the turning point of the game was in the fifty-second minute. Michael Cleary had been fouled by Johnny Doyle on his way to the Holycross goal. Instead of getting a free, Cleary was penalised by referee Willie Barrett, for allegedly carrying the ball too far, and a free given to the champions. From that free Tony Lanigan picked up a short clearance from Nenagh goalkeeper Seamus Kennedy, passed to Tomas Fogarty, who rattled the net. This left only a point between the sides and, during the nail-biting closing stages, Philip Kennedy scored to give Nenagh a two point advantage. Then in the dying moments Pat Slattery's puck-out put Holycross into the attack and the Eire Og defence got badly caught out when Paul Slattery made the room for Tony Lanigan to score the vital goal from the edge of the square.

THE SEMI-FINALS

The semi-finals were played at Semple Stadium on October 27. Cashel and Toomevara opposed one another in the opening game, a repeat of their quarter final encounter the previous year. In a very close contest Cashel were never able to shake off a determined and fighting Toomevara. The west champions led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the interval and looked as if they would win comfortably. However, Toomevara came at them during the third quarter and the verdict was in doubt until Cormac Bonnar scored his second goal at the beginning of the third quarter. For the final quarter Cashel held the initiative but they could never be comfortable against an opposition that refused to die. Had the north champions taken their opportunities from the placed ball the result might very well have been different.

In the second semi-final Holycross survived a strong Cappawhite challenge by the minimum margin in a score of 1-17 to 3-10. For much of the game the men from the west looked like bringing Holycross's reign to an end. They hurled with great zeal and proved themselves undeserving of their underdog tag. However, they were never able to get the vital scores when they most needed them. Cappawhite led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the interval.

With the wind in their favour Holycross reduced the deficit and went into a three point lead. It seemed as if they would coast away. But Cappawhite struck back with two goals to go into a three-point lead. This setback seemed to stimulate the mid men who struck back with five points to be two points in front going into the last five minutes. During these minutes Cappawhite tried desperately to get the goal that would give them victory. But all they could secure was a point and they were behind by the mininlum of margins when referee Michael Cahill sounded the final whistle.

THE FINAL

The final at Semple Stadium on November 10 was looked forward to with great expectation. Holycross, on the basis of their third final appearance and their ability to survive against great odds during their earlier games, were the slightest of favourites at about 9 / 8. They also had a new coach in Francis Loughnane. Cashel, on the other hand, were determined to reverse the previous year's defeat. They had in their favour the immeasurable services of Justin McCarthy's coaching and the value of three tough encounters, with Clonoulty, Cappawhite and Toomevara, on their way to the final. Above all, they had a fierce determination to become the first Cashel team to win a senior hurling final.

An estimated crowd of twelve thousand was present when Johnny MacDonnell of Roscrea threw in the ball to begin the 101st county final. Holycross had a strong wind in their favour and, within two minutes of the start they should have had a goal up when Paul Slattery blazed the ball over the bar from less than ten yards with only the goalie, John Ryan, to beat. Cashel replied with points from a Tommy Grogan free and a mighty effort by T.J. Connolly from under the new stand. Then disaster struck Cashel when goalie John Ryan, with apparently all the
time in the world to dear his lines, fumbled the ball and Pat Cahill pounced to put the ball away for a Holycross goal. But Cashel came back and were unlucky when a fine effort by Ailbe Bonnar in the 16th minute was saved by the woodwork.  Declan Carr got two points and Tommy Grogan one to leave the half-time score 1-4 to 0-4 in favour of the champions.

With the wind in Cashel's favour after the interval it looked as if it was to be their day. However, the third quarter was a tough and difficult time for the west men as the county champions refused to yield and put up the most determined resistance.

It took the full quarter for Cashel to draw level but then the turning point came in the sixteenth minute when Tommy Grogan netted to put Cashel two points ahead. Michael Doyle replied with a point, the only score by Holycross in the half, and, even though Cashel were dominant, the only reward they got was a 47th minute point by T.J. Connolly. However, five minutes from time, Cormac Bonnar clinched the title with a superb goal and this put paid to any chance that Holycross had of staging a Houdini revival in the last minute. The last word came from Jamesy O'Donoghue who had a point in the 59th minute to give Cashel a 2-8 to 1-5 win and their first county final victory.

Cormac Bonnar is congratulated. James O'Donoghue celebrates

And so it was that a new name was inscribed on the Dan Breen Cup, which was received amidst great excitement by Cashel captain Colm Bonnar, from county chairman Michael McGuire. It was a victory that was fully deserved and one to which all the team contributed handsomely but none more than Raymie Ryan, who won the Man of the Match Award presented by John Quirke of Cahir, Pat O'Donoghue, Conal Bonnar, Pat Fitzelle, Colm Bonnar and T.J. Connolly.
For Holycross their best performances came from Benjy Browne, Michael Doyle, T.J. Lanigan and Declan Carr.

Colm Bonnar raises the Dan Breen Cup following the county final

The victorious panel was as follows: John Ryan , Michael Perdue, Pat O'Donoghue, Tony Slattery, Raymie Ryan, Pa Fitzelle, Conal Bonnar, Colm Bonnar, Willie Fitzelle, Jamesy O'Donoghue, T.J. Connolly, John Grogan, Tommy Grogan, Cormac Bonnar, Ailbe Bonnar. Sub: Timmy Moloney for Ailbe Bonnar. Also: Joe Minogue, Declan McGrath, Seanie Barron, Sean Slattery, Sean O'Donoghue, Joe O'Leary, Peter Fitzelle, Ger Slattery, Sean Morrissey, Liam Devitt, Don Higgins. Selectors: Justin McCarthy (coach), Brendan Bonnar, Aonghus Ryan, John Darmody.

The Holycross-Ballycahill side was as follows: Pat Slattery, Johnny Doyle, Tom Dwyer, Ruairi Dwan, Phil Dwyer, Michael Doyle, Benjy Browne, Dedan Carr, P.J. Lanigan, Paddy Dwan, Paul Slattery, Paul Maher, Tony Lanigan, Tomas Fogarty, Pat Cahill. Subs: Ciaran Carroll for Paddy Dwan; William Ryan for Tomas Fogarty. Also: Donal Ryan, Robert Stakelum, Jim Butler, Timmy Gleeson, Paddy Browne.
Selectors: Michael Ryan, Seamus Mackey, Phil Lowry, Francis Loughnane (coach).

COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP 1991 RESULTS

COUNTY FINAL - Semple Sodium, Thurles, November 10:
Cashel King Cormacs 2-8; Holycross-Ballycahill 1-5.
Ref: Johnny McDonnell (Roscrea).

COUNTY SEMI-FINALS- Semple Sodium, Thurles, October 27:
Cashel King Cormacs 2-10; Toomevara 0-13.
Referee: Michael Greene (Uppcrchurch -Drombane).
Holycross-Ballycahill 1-17; Cappawhite 3-10.
Referee : Michael Cahill (Kilruanc-MacDonaghs).

COUNTY QUARTER-FINALS- Semple Sodium, Thurles, October 13:
Toomevara 2-9; Moycarkey-Borris 1-10.
Referee : Tommy Lonergan (Kilsheelan).
Holycross -Ballycahill 2-3; Eire Og, Nenagh 0-9.
Referee : Willie: Barrett (Ardfinnan ).
REPLAY: Semple Stadium, ,Thurles, October 19
Holycross -Ballycahill 4-6; Eire Og, Nenagh 1-14.
Golden, September 29:
Cappawhite 2 -18; Killenaule 0 -13.
Referee: Johnny McDonnell (Roscrea).
Cashel King Cormac 4-18; Carrick Swans 1-7.
Referee: P. J. Kelly Ballinahinch.

<span class="postTitle">Jack McKenna</span> Nenagh Guardian, January 26, 1991

Jack McKenna

The Nenagh Guardian, January 26, 1991

In the official photograph of the 1930 All-Ireland senior hurling champions, Jim Lanigan and Jack T McKenna are kneeling side by side on the right of the middle row. They are the only remaining survivors of the victor­ious Tipperary team that included such stalwarts as Phil Cahill, Tommy Treacy, John Maher, captain Joby Callanan, Martin Kennedy and Mick Cronin. The manager was Johnny Leahy and there was a second McKenna on the panel, Paul, who was to die in New York in 1956.

Jim Lanigan was to go on and win a second senior medal in Killarney in 1937 but 1930 was the high point of Jack KcKenna's hurling career. The medals he won that year were cherished possessions for nearly sixty years until they were stolen in 1988. His daughter, Jean, was the proud wearer of his All-Ireland medal until it was taken in a house robbery at her hone in Kill, Co. Klldare in October 1988. A month later Jack's remaining two medals from that year, a Munster and a Thomond Shield, were stolen in a break-in at his residence at Hillside, Birr. So, in the course of a month and at two different locations the malevolent hands of thieves took from him some of his cherished possessions.

Borrisokane

The McKennas are a great Borrisokane family. The father of them all, Michael, originally from Ardcroney, ran a pub in the town and was married to a Ryan from nearby. The couple reared seven boys and four girls. The oldest of them, Michael, was born in 1881 and was Clerk of the Union in the town. Mary Anne came next and in the course of time married and became the mother of Dinny Doorley. Malachy followed and became the father of Mackey and Tony of hurling fame, and Ger of greyhound greatness. Joe was on the Toomevara selection defeated by Kilkenny in the 1913 All-Ireland. Three girls, Kit, Gret and Bride, followed and then came the remaining four boys, Tim, who played hurling for Borrisokane, Jack and Paul who won All-Irelands in 1930 and Frank, the youngest, who became the father of Joe of Offaly and and Limerick fame.

Shinrone
 

Jack started hurling with Shinrone, which requires some explanation. In 1912 the father handed over the pub to Malachy and bought Hazelfort farm in Knockshegowna . Because there was no team there at the time the lads decided to play with Shinrone, which was the other half of the parish and situated in Co. Offaly. This injection of talent was enough to enable Shinrone to win the Offaly junior hurling championship in 1923, beating Tullamore in the final. The following year saw Jack play senior hurling with Offaly in the Leinster championship.

However, the Offaly sojourn did not last long. In 1925 Jack. Paul, Tim and Frank transferred to Borrisokane and were to give sterling service to that club for the next decade. The highlight of this involvement came, undoubtedly, in 1933 when the club won two North hurling titles on the same day, October 22. The senior hurlers defeated nighty Toomevara, who had won 17 divisional titles since 1910, and the junior hurlers from Bawnmore made it an historic day by beating Kilruane. Toomevara had a sizable lead, 2-2 to O-3, at half time. Borrisokane made a couple of switches, including bringing .Frank McKenna to partner Jack at centrefield and this proved a winning combination. They provided a good supply of the ball to their forwards and when the final whistle sounded Borrisokane were ahead by 2-7 to 2-2.
 

Training

Jack's memories of playing in those days are happy ones although conditions would be regarded as primitive by today's standards. Hurling was the main leisure activity. There was nothing else to do and nowhere to go. 'Hurling was our life,' according to Jack. "We had no money, could afford nothing else.' They trained an awful lot, perhaps much too much. A typical day was to farm from eight in the morning to six in the evening have a light tea, get into the togs and go to the training field where three or four hours hurling would not be exceptional. There could be fif­teen to twenty in the field on the evening and, perhaps, twice that number on Sundays when they hurled the whole day. After a session they would lie down in their sweat to rest, cool down and have a chat. 'Do you have any arthritis from these days?' 'None,' he replies.

County Team

When he was on the county team he travelled to Thurles to train. Jack played junior hurling with Tipperary in 1928 and 1929 and graduated to senior ranks in 1930. Centrefield was his position where he occasionally partnered Tommy Treacy. The road to the All-Ireland began at Dungarvan, where there was an easy victory over Waterford. Clare, who surpr­ised Cork in the other semi-final, were their opponents in the final played at Cork. Tipperary won by eight points. The All-Ireland semi-final was played at Birr and there was a comprehensive victory over Galway. In the final against Dublin Tipperary were ahead by a point at the interval but went on to win comfortably by double scores. The same year the minors and juniors won All-Irelands so 1930 came to be known as the 'Triple Crown' year. Later in the year at a gala day at Thurles Sportsfield, Archbishop Harty distributed no fewer than 130 gold medals to the winners and an his­toric photograph of the three teams was taken.
 

America Tour

County chairman, Rev. J. J. Meagher offered a prize of £5 for the best poem to commemorate the year and the prize-winning effort came from the pen of Tom Keating, N.T. , Cloneen. One verse was as follows:
 

Fling the news on the breeze, let it ring o'er the seas,
On the moorland and wild mountain blue,
That the boys on the field forces all rivals to yield,
With the crv: 'Tiobraid Arann Abu'.

The fame of the county was carried 'o'er the seas' the following year when a great tour of the U.S. was undertaken in September. The man most­ly responsible for this undertaken was the redoubtable Dan Breen, then running a liquor business in New York at a time when the sale of alcohol was prohibited. He was responsible for the 'surging mass of admirers' that welcomed the visitors on their arrival in New York and their drive to the City Hall in decorated automobiles, headed by a motor cycle escort of police. Mayor McKee was there to receive and welcome them. Games were played in New York, twice, Boston, Detroit, Chicago and San Francisco. In the latter place the game was played under floodlights in the presence of 10,000 spectators. Thirty thousand attended the first game at the Polo Grounds in New York.

Jack McKenna recalls getting £10 before departure to outfit himself for the journey. After that the players got ten dollars a week from Dan Breen, 'who ran the whole thing'. It was during the depression and the party saw many signs of destitution and poverty. In contrast they were treated very well, staying always in the best of hotels. As far as he can recall Breen paid for it out of the gates taken at the six matches. He could have made money or lost a fortune. Since there were no official pubs, because of prohibition, the players went at night to the "speak­easies' and returned to the hotel later with drink in jam jars! Jack didn't take a drink at the time and neither did Tommy O'Meara. It was a memorable trip and the party didn't return to Ireland until the end of November.
 

Knookshegovna

Jack's hurling career with the county came to an end in 1931. He contin­ued to play with Borrisokane for a number of years winning his highest club honour with the North championship success in 1933. He finished his hurling days with Knockshegowna , where a junior club had been formed, and thus returned to the parish where he had started over a decade previously.
Jack must be the last of the old I.R.A. to win an All-Ireland senior hurling medal. His first real initiation to the movement came during an argument between his brother, Joe, and a neighbour, Tommy Culligan, over the executions that followed the 1916 Rising. One statement from that argument that kept ringing in his ears was: 'What could you expect to get from England?' He was later involved in the burning of the barracks in Borrisokane. When an ambush was planned in Ballingarry on a despatch truck that travelled daily from Birr to Nenagh the local I.R.A. column stayed in a loft at Hazelfort the night before. In the morning Jack led the group by a hidden route to where the ambush was to be launched. For some unknown reason the lorry never travelled that day and the plan was in vain. After the Modereeny ambush the Tans burned a number of houses nearly in Knocknaree. They came to Hazelfort to do the same thing, but were prevented from doing so by a friendly R.I.C. man from Borrisokane, named John Dinan. On the same day Jack's sister, was getting married and the wedding was being held in the house. At the time of the Truce there were about 20 in the column but many joined between then and the Treaty. When the column voted on the Treaty these new recruits swung the vote in its favour, much to Jack's regret.
 

Birr

Jack fell in love with in 1942 and moved to Birr, where he has resided since. He has been involved in the cattle business all his life and experienced the changeover from the old style fair, when hundreds of cattle used to be shipped out from Birr station, and the modern cattle mart. His family, four girls and a boy, are all done for and he resides at Hillside with his wife. When he steps out his front door he can see Knockshegovna hill before him and the sight keeps the memories of the early days alive. Jack will be 90 on May 8 and he's still amazingly healthy for a man of his years, driving the car downtown every morning and going out for the odd drink during the week. May he long continue to enjoy life so.

<span class="postTitle">Féile na nGael - 1990</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 133-135

Féile na nGael - 1990

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 133-135

When the Feile na nGael initiative became a reality nearly two decades ago, under the guiding influence of Tipperary men Seamus O' Riain, Tomás O'Bar6id and Eamon de Stafort, few could have envisaged its impact on the ancient game of hurling, and the progress it achieved, according to G.A.A. President, John Dowling, when he spoke at the official launch of the 20th Feile in Thurles on June 16th. Feile had grown from a noble and ambitious ideal to become a major national movement. 

Feile na nGael, the Coca Cola sponsored festival of hurling, camogie and handball for the under-14s, was returning to the place of its birth in 1971 for the first time. The work of organising this major event was shared by a National Executive under the chairmanship of Padraig Mac Floinn of Co. Down and secretary, Padraig P. Guthrie of Co. Clare and a County Executive, under the chairmanship of Donal Shanahan of Toomevara and secretary, Denis Royd, of Newport. The other members were Seamus J. King, Cashel, Liam O'Donnchu of Thurles Sarsfields, Liam McGrath of Holycross-Ballycahill, Eugene Ryan of Moneygall, James Gleeson of Templederry, Ken Conway of Clonmel, Marion Graham of Littleton, Eleanor O'Connell of Thurles and P. J. Harrington of Upperchurch. 

Five Divisions

The County Executive had the task of organising the advent of under-14 teams from 31 counties and having them hosted by clubs in the county. Because 49 teams from within the county were participating in the festival of hurling 9 of them had to be hosted also. The 80 teams were graded into 5 divisions. In addition sixteen camogie teams, 17 handball teams and a number of skills representatives had to be accommodated. 

The actual competitions began on Friday evening, continued through Saturday and the finals were played on Sunday. However, earlier, in the week, beginning on Monday, June 18, visitations were made to about fifty primary schools in the county by well-known G.A.A. and media personalities such as John Dowling, Liam O'Maolmhichil, Michael 0 Muircheartaigh and Mick Dunne. The highlight of these visits, for many of the youngsters, was the gift pack each boy and girl received, compliments of Coca Cola. Another event was a Golf Slogadh, organised on the Thursday at Thurles Gold Club, in which 55 teams of four participated. The proceeds from this event are to help finance the special celebrations for the 21st in 1991. 

First Victory

In all the years of Feile a Tipperary team has never won Division 1. This year the county celebrated its first victory when Durlas Óg were triumphant. In winning the Christy Ring trophy for the premier event they beat another Tipperary team, Kilruane MacDonaghs, by 2-4 to 1-4. A Tipperary team also featured in the Division II final, Boherlahan-Dualla, who went down to Rathnure from Co. Wexford 2-3 to 2-1. There was another Tipperary victory in Division III when Loughmore-Castleiney got the better of Antrim champions, Loughgiel-Shamrocks by 1-3 to 1-1. The final of Division IV for the Dr. Birch trophy was contested by Louth and Kerry with the Leinster side successful. Both the contestants in Division V were also from Tipperary, with Fr. Sheehy's defeating Aherlow by 2-4 to 2-1. Both teams fielded a girl in the final. Overall a very satisfactory weekend for Tipperary hurling with no less than six of the ten finalists coming from the county. 

Parade

One of the highlights of the final day was the grand parade through the town. This was a colourful and enjoyable spectacle which saw 112 clubs from all over the country marching in club colours and behind their club banners. They marched past a reviewing stand in Liberty Square where President Hillery, who was attending his tenth and final Feile, and G.A.A. and Civic dignitaries were seated. 

The parade assembled at Semple Stadium after a special open air Mass at which the Patron of the G.A.A., Most Rev. Dr. Dermot Clifford, was principal concelebrant, and with twenty marching bands to liven up proceedings, they left the Stadium going to Liberty Square via Parnell Street, past the reviewing stand in the Square and back to the Stadium via Friar Street. The impressive array of colour, sound and movement took over an hour to pass the reviewing stand. 

At the conclusion of the parade prizes were awarded as follows: Hurling: Best dressed team - Lorrha. Best Tippeary banner - Marlfield. Best visiting banner - Loughgiel Shamrocks, Antrim. Camogie: Best dressed team - Durlas Og. Best Tipperary banner - Burgess. Best visiting banner - Oisin's Glenariffe, Co. Antrim. 

On their return to Semple Stadium the participants were addressed by President Hillery prior to the commencement of the final. 

Success

The event was a major success with a couple of exceptions. Conspicuously absent was any appreciable publicity from the national media. The weekend brought 3,000 hurlers, camogie players and handballers together for a weekend in exciting competition and yet the scale of the organisation and participation scarcely merited a mention in the daily newspapers or R.T.E. Equally disappointing was the poor turnout in the streets of Thurles for the parade. The only thing one can say about the attendance is that it was a little bit better than the miserable turnout for the Centenary Parade in 1984. 

These criticisms don't in any way take from the continued success and essential health of Feile na nGael. The enthusiasm and excitement of the under-fourteens over the four days was infectious. The vision and foresight of the three founding fathers was again realised. It was only fitting then that the three, Seamus O'Riain, Eamon de Stafort and Tomas Ó Bar6id, should have been honoured by a Civic Reception by Thurles Urban Council on the Thursday night. Later in the year they were also honoured by the Tipperary County Board. It was a small way of saying ,'Thank You' to three visionaries who thought up a brilliant idea nearly two decades ago and saw it go from success to success. 

<span class="postTitle">Jimmy Kennedy</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 78-79

Jimmy Kennedy

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 78-79

One of the swiftest rises to hurling stardom in Tipperary must surely have been that of Jimmy Kennedy of Kildangan. He made his debut for the county in the Thomond Tournament against Clare on May 8, 1949 and scored seven points. According to 'Wintergreen' in the 'Tipperary Star' the week following the game: 'Jimmy Kennedy possesses rare pace, has a delightful speed when cornered and an uncanny knowledge of just where the goalposts are.' Three weeks later he played in the first championship outing against Cork and scored 1-4 in a game that ended in a draw. The replay was at Limerick on June 26 and Tipperary won by 2-8 to 1-9 after extra time. In the first hour he was the only forward to shine and he scored all his side's 1-5, including a spectacular goal in the last minute to earn extra time. He went off injured during that period but came back before the end to score a point. By then he was a hero. He played his final game for the county in the 1951 Munster final and was a sub on the winning All-Ireland side. He was then 25 years of age and had never played the full hour on a losing Tipperary side! 

Early Promise

Of course Jimmy Kennedy did not spring full-blown into hurling stardom in that summer of '49. He had a very respectable apprenticeship over the previous five or six years. As long as his memory serves him he recalls hitting a hurling ball about but he did not play for a team until he went to St. Flannan's College, Ennis in 1940. In 1944 he helped the College team to win the Harty Cup, Munster Cup, the All-Ireland Individual College title and the Interprovincial Colleges' title. When St. Flannan's played Thurles C.B.S. that year the Tipperary school included Pat Stakelum, Tommy Ryan and Seamus Bannon. Jimmy recalls playing the Interprovincial in Kilkenny and meeting Jim Langton as they took a stroll in the town on the Sunday morning. 'We met him on the street and he stopped to talk to us. He stayed chatting to us for half an hour and he treated us as equals. We were tremendously impressed.' He gives great credit to Tull Considine for the success of the 1944 team. The President of the College, Canon Quinn, brought in the former Clare star. According to Jimmy he was one of the greatest trainers and was brilliant at assessing a player's potential. When he took over the team he began playing players in positions they had never been in before. He insisted on ground hurling and crossing the ball. By this stage Jimmy had most of the hurling skills and had perfected the art of picking the ball off the ground easily and quickly. But he learned his team experience in Flannan's. 

U.C.D.

After receiving his Leaving Certificate Jimmy Kennedy went to U.C.D. to study Agricultural Science. There was no inter-county minor championship in 1944 - it had been suspended during the war years - and so missed the chance of playing with the county. He had some consolation because in that year he won his only title in Tipperary, the North Divisional Junior championship, with Kildangan. Jimmy was to leave university without taking a degree and in 1950 took up the job as assistant to the Manager of Minch Norton Maltings, based in Nenagh. His job involved selling fertilizers to farmers, buying malting barley, etc. He had a car which was a fine perk with the job in those days. He stayed until 1961 when he was appointed Manager at Goresbridge. Three years later he went to Guinness Maltings at Midleton and remained there until 1971. In that year he came to Thurles to take over the well-known business of J.K. Moloney's in Liberty Square. In the meantime he had married Rita MCormack and they had five children. The most famous of the latter is Louise, who won the overall Designer of the Year Award in 1989. Susan runs the Kilkenny School of Beauty Therapy, Rosemary lives in St. Louis, Caroline works as a producer with Century Radio and Christopher is in the family business. His wife died in 1983. 

Jimmy Kennedy had a very successful hurling career at U.C.D. which included winning' a coveted Fitzgibbon medal and two Dublin county finals in 1947 and 1948. There was some fine talent in the college at the time like Dick Stokes, Pierce Thornton, Des Dillon, Jody Maher, Jack Rice, Luke Sullivan, Ned Daly and more. Presiding over the lot was the great Mick Darcy, who was full of enthusiasm for the game of hurling. To win the county finals required great ability because the competition was cut-throat from teams of the calibre of Faughs, Young Irelands and St. Vincents. There was tremendous interest and crowds as great as twenty thousand turned up for finals. 

With Dublin

Jimmy Kennedy's talent soon became known to the Dublin selectors and he made his debut with the team in a match against Antrim at Belfast in the winter of 1946. He hardly got a puck of the ball until the final quarter. However, on his way back in the train he was relieved to be told by selector, Jerry O'Connor, that he wouldn't be dropped on the basis of that display. His next match was against Tipperary in Dublin in 1947. He was playing on Micheal Maher and again hardly got a puck of the ball. He found the pace of the game much faster than he was used to. In another county he might have been dropped but he was given time to settle and is very thankful for getting the opportunity to do so due to the generosity of the Dublin selectors. He believes that some players are discarded too easily and too quickly and should be given a longer chance. 

He played his first inter-county championship in the summer of 1947 and got to the Leinster final against Kilkenny at Portlaoise. Kilkenny had Diamond Hayden, Terry Leahy and Jim Langton and beat Dublin well. Jimmy held his place on the Dublin team and achieved success in the 1948 championship They beat Wexford in the semi-final and when word came to them in the dressing room that Laois had beaten Kilkenny in the other semi there was a great cheer. They went on to beat Laois in the final at Tullamore but lost to Waterford in the All-Ireland No less than seven, Jimmy Kennedy, Mick Hassett, Frank Cummins, Dave Walsh, Johnny O'Connor, Mick Feeney and Ned Daly, of the U.C.D. team played on opposite sides in tha All-Ireland. Jimmy's growing stature as a player was recognised the following spring when he was captain of the Leinster side in the Railway Cup. This brought him to the attention of the Tipperary selectors. 

Sometime in February Phil Purcell, the Tipperary County Secretary, sent declaration forms to Jimmy and to Joe Butler who was from Clonmel and who also played with Dublin in the 1948 All-Ireland. Jimmy takes up the story. 

'Joe and I had a long chat on the matter. We were going well with Dublin and were having a good time playing around the country in tournaments. The Dublin County Board were very good to us. As well we were uncertain as to how we'd get on with Tipp. We knew that many players, who had got trials, had been taken off after ten minutes because they hadn't been performing to an expected standard. Maybe the same would be our fate and what would we do then? So, we tore up the forms.' 

'On Easter Saturday I came back to my digs in Leinster Road where there was a message awaiting me: I was to go to Barry's Hotel. I made my way there to find my father, Phil Purcell, Fr Johnny Minihan, Dinny Costello and Seamus Gardiner present. 'I sent you a declaration form,' said Purcell, 'and you never returned it.' I told him my reason. They took me into a room and gave me a long chat. I said I couldn't go without Joe Butler. I was informed he wasn't necessary as Tipperary had enough backs. I told them I wouldn't do anything until I spoke to Mick Darcy. 

'It was now 9.30 and at that time declaration had to be made before 12pm on Easter Saturday night. Seamus Gardiner offered to drive me out to Mick Darcy, who lived in Merrion. Mick was an out and out Tipperary man but didn't like to give me advice. He advised me to talk to Joe Stewart, who was in charge of the Dublin team. Darcy's final word to me was: 'You know, they (Tipperary) are a hard lot to please.' 

'I was driven to Joe Stewart's place. We had a chat. He dissuaded me from leaving Dublin. He said: 'you'd be mad to declare, we're going well. We'll see you tomorrow for the game with Kilkenny. You'll stay with us.' 'I came back to Barry's and told Purcell of my decision to stay with Dublin. It was now 11.30. Purcell took me into a room and began to work on me. He hammered home to me the greatness of Tipperary, the land of Knocknagow and Slievenamon. He told me they'd be no danger of being dropped. He even promised any position in the forward line, with the exception of full-forward. After two hours of this barracking I gave in and signed the form at 1.30 amidst major misgivings. I don't know how the 12 o'clock rule was got over but it was obviously surmounted. I have never regretted that decision." 

As stated above Jimmy Kennedy made his debut in the Thomond Tournament. He recalls driving down from Dublin and meeting the team at Sadleir's Hotel in Limerick. He didn't know anybody and there was a bit of awkwardness until Pat Stakelum came over to greet him and welcome him to the team. In his short career he was to win three All-Irelands, one National League and a couple of Thomond Tournament and Monaghan Cup medals. 

Contribution

His contribution to Tipperary's success in the 1949 championship was major. Again and again he is mentioned as the key man in the team's attack. In the course of the six games up to and including the All-Ireland he scored 6 goals and 37 points. In the five games of the 1950 championship his tally was 4 goals and 23 points, which was a higher percentage of Tipperary's total score than in the previous year. His most brilliant display in 1950 was in the first round against Limerick. One commentator had this to say: 'Tipperary's success was due in the main to her defenders and to the genius of Jimmy Kennedy. The Puckane's man's total of 3-6 was, to say the least, amazing. The most talked of goal of the match came from the stick of this scoring wizard. The ball sailed in from fifty yards out. Tipperary attackers and Limerick defenders watched its flight as it seemed to sail over the crossbar when, to the 'amazement of attackers and defenders alike, like a guided missile, it curved into the net for an astonishing goal. That wasn't Kennedy's best score. He struck a ball from within ten yards of the right-hand corner flag, which sped like an arrow between the posts, a miracle score if ever there was one.' 

Technique 

Jimmy Kennedy disdains the notion that he was some kind of technical wizard with the hurling stick. Instead he would subscribe to the adage that 'Trifles make perfection and perfection is no trifle.' To an obvious natural athletic ability he added many hours of skill learning as he pucked the ball around the village of Puckane during his early years. Playing the ball against a wall and picking it smartly as it rebounded was part of this learning process. I have already drawn attention to the teachings of Tull Considine and the team learning he acquired at Flannan's. The kind of hurley he used was most important and he never brought fewer than two to any game. On that visit to Kilkenny mentioned above he 'discovered' the Neary hurley and never used anything else after that. Tom Neary was a famous Kilkenny hurley maker and for Jimmy his type of hurley was the answer to his needs. It had a wide pole, great balance and unerring accuracy. He could recognise a Neary hurley with his eyes closed. 

His free-taking was practised until it was perfect. Basic things like stance and angle were worked on until his shooting became unerring. When taking a free he stood back from the ball and walked up to it at a right angle to an imaginary line between the ball and the centre of the crossbar. When lifting the ball he stood very much over it with the handle of the hurley coming back between his legs. In this way he achieved perfect balance during the lifting and striking movement. He raised the ball above the head but hit it at knee height. The follow through was most important as it contributed to the accuracy of the stroke. All of this practice developed his confidence and confidence produced even greater accuracy. Jimmy is convinced that at the height of his form he had the confidence to go for scores from any angle, and get them. 

Last Year

Tipperary played Waterford in the first round of the 1951 championship and just got there by 2-10 to 1-10. Jimmy Kennedy scored 1-3. The selectors sprang a big surprise by dropping him for the semi-final against Limerick and replacing him by Tim Ryan of Borrisoleigh. The latter were the new county champions. Jimmy was very disappointed at being dropped because he believed that he was still maturing as a player. The occasion was also Tipperary's first championship appearance at Thurles since 1945 and he would have loved to be on. He made a late appearance in the game and got a tremendous ovation from the fans as he came onto the field. 

He was recalled for the Munster final against Cork on July 29. 

He had a most unfortunate hour when nothing would go right for him and it was the first hour in which he failed to score. There was a reason for the poor display. He had cracked two ribs in training and was advised by his doctor not to play. But, he was so delighted at being restored to the team that he foolishly determined to play. Because he was well strapped up his movements were very restricted during the game. He was dropped for the All-Ireland final, in which Tipperary beat Wexford by 7-7 to 3-9. 

There were twenty-one medals for the twenty-two players on the panel. The first fifteen on All-Ireland day were obvious choices but, when it came to distributing the remaining six, Jimmy was excluded. Understandably he was very upset. He would have loved to have the medal to put with the other two as it was a unique achievement to win three-in-a-row. He was picked to travel for the Oireachtas game against Kilkenny on October 7 but wrote to Phil Purcell to say he didn't wish to be considered any more. He was 25 years of age. He continued to hurl at club level until 1954 when he married and called it a day. He didn't involve himself after that with the exception of 1955 when he helped Eire Og, Nenagh minor hurling team prepare for a county final. 

A Major Injustice

The decision to leave Jimmy Kennedy out of the medals was a major injustice and even worse than that to leave selector, Joby Callanan, out of the trip to the U .S. with the league team in September 1950. Jimmy had made a major contribution to Tipperary's successes in the 1949 and 1950 All-Irelands and had played two championship games in 1951. In contrast five of the subs had played no championship game that year! No wonder he was upset and called it a day. 

His decision to quit was a major loss to Tipperary. He was only 25 years of age and, in his own opinion, was still maturing as a hurler. Admittedly he wasn't playing as effectively as in the previous year but there was no reason why he wouldn't bounce back to brilliance once again. How many good players go through bad patches and crises of confidence? 

Perhaps his decision to quit was precipitate. Maybe he should have stuck it out and played his way back on to the team. He was only 25 years of age and, if we are to take his own word, not yet at his prime. It is arguable that had he been there in the follpwing years Tipperary's three-in-a-row might have become the elusive four or even five-in-a-row. Who knows? We can only speculate. The only certainty we have is that those of us who were privileged to see him play saw one of the most graceful movers, the most brilliant strikers and. the most accurate of scorers that ever wore the blue and gold. 

<span class="postTitle">G.A.A. Publications - 1990</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 32-33

G.A.A. Publications - 1990

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp 32-33

The year saw the publication of two more club histories, bringing to 22 the number written to date. I'm including in that selection a production from 1978 entitled: 'Kilcommon My Home: Mountainy Men at Play', which is as much a short social history of the Sean Treacy's country as a history of the G.A.A. in the area. 

Roscrea are also included even though they haven't a club history as such but they have two written accounts of events in the club's history. In 1980, a commemorative programme was produced in honour of the new developments in St. Cronan's Park. It contained 112 pages of essays on the club's history and was edited by George Cunningham and Tom McCarthy. Four years later Seamus O'Doherty produced a 32 page magazine effort, devoted to the club's juvenile success in the eighties. Boherlahan also, have two productions: Philip Ryan published the 'Tubberadora-Boherlahan Story 1885-1975' in the mid-seventies and then combined with John Maher to write 'Boherlahan and Dualla: A Century of Gaelic Games' in 1987. 

Cappawhite

The 'Cappawhite G.A.A. Story, 1886-1989' was launched in the Parochial Hall by Archbishop Clifford, Patron of the G.A.A. on December 18, 1989. It was the culmination of nearly four years work under History Chairman, John Kelly, former county senior hurler and headmaster of Cappawhite V.S. Initially, the research was done by a number of club members and particularly Tom O'Shaugnnesssy, who spent a day or two weekly, reading back numbers of 'The Nationalist' in Clonmel. Then in July 1987 a Teamwork Project of six people, under John Kelly, was commenced and they bought the book to completion. 

The book contains 368 pages and was published in a hardcover edition of 1,000 copies. It has a dustcover in the club's colours. It sells for £10 and over half the copies have been sold. 

The book covers the history of the club on a year by year basis. The opening chapter gives an interesting account of Cappawhite at the time of the foundation of the G.A.A. The population of the parish in 1880 was 2,461. The club came into existence in 1886. There was a major tournament in the parish in September, 1887 and about 10,000 people attended. The first photograph to appear is of Dr. J. Fitzgerald. He was President of the 'Cappawhite Bicycle Races and Athletic Sports' held in 1895 under G.A.A. Rules. 

As the book progresses accounts become more detailed, reflecting the greater coverage of G.A.A. affairs as we get well into the twentieth century. Whereas 1953 gets half a page, 1987, when the club made the great breakthrough to win the county senior hurling championship, is given nine pages. The photographic coverage improves greatly as the book progresses, with the eighties being particularly good. 

For a person from outside the club the statistical section at the end of the book is particularly satisfying. This includes a very comprehensive Roll of Honour, lists of club officers, championship final results, etc. A fascinating section is simply entitled, 'Snippets', covering unusual things about people and events and extending for 16 pages. There are sections on camogie, the Vocational School, Cappawhite Tennis Club and athletics, with a profile of international athlete, Liam Hennessy. Overall, a very comprehensive account of the club and the G.A.A. and the people who made it all happen over 100 years. The book is a credit to the research team and to John Kelly. The club can feel justly proud of this production and happy that the work was undertaken. 

St. Mary's Hurling Club

A different kind of production is 'St. Mary's Hurling Club, Clonmel, 1929-89' by Sean O'Donnell. This saw the light of day on May 11,1990 when it was launched by County Board P.R.O., Liz Howard at the G.A.A. Centre, Clonmel. 

This book is completely the work of Westmeath born, Sean O'Donnell, who has lived in Clonmel for nearly thirty years and teaches in Rockwell College. Its publication coincided with the sixtieth birthday of the St. Mary's Club but the author does not confine his attentions to that period. In an opening chapter, covering over twenty pages, he gives a general account of the G.A.A. in the town, prior to the formation of the club. During that period football was the predominant game. At one stage, in 1897, there were. no less than seven football clubs in the town. One of these was the famous Clonmel Shamrocks, who were suspended by the G.A.A. in a dispute over expenses. 

Even more fascinating is the account of the famous Clonmel man, William Prendergast, secretary of the G.A.A. and chief organiser of the American Invasion. The author corrects the general impression that Prendergast remained in the U.S. after the 'invasion', informing us that he arrived back with the main party after the invasion. He later returned to New York, became prominent in the G.A.A. and was involved in the development of Gaelic Park in New York. 

But the book is predominantly about the St. Mary's club and its fortunes over sixty years. Whereas success wasn't generous to the club it did have its moments. One of these was in 1936 when it won its first championship, the south junior hurling title. A south intermediate title came in 1972 and the much desired senior championship in 1981. In between and since, there were lesser successes, especially in the juvenile grade. Also, at minor and under-21. 

Sean O'Donnell peppers his story with the portraits of personalities and one of the most interesting must surely be Joe Butler, who played for St. Mary's between 1939 - 43. One of the most itinerant of hurlers he played for five counties and for two provinces and played in an All-Ireland senior hurling final. 

One of the unusual aspects of this book is the appendix of names at the back. Nothing unusual about an appendix, but it is in a G.A.A. book. Naturally, the book is all the better for it. The book is divided up into 16 chapters which reflect the rise and fall and rise again of the club's fortunes .through the years. There are also four appendices on Championship titles, Tipperary County Players, Feile na nGael, and other county players. The photographic content is impressive and the reproduction of the pictures, in a wideformat book, is very good. As well as the content the production of the book is very good with very clear print and good headings. 

Sean O'Donnell can be proud of his production and the St. Mary's club are lucky to have had a man of his calibre to undertake the task of producing this book. Anyone who has got a copy should hold on to it because it is already a collector's item. The print run of 500 copies is completely sold out which is as good an indication as any of the quality of the product. 

Rockwell Rovers

In 1988 sporting arrangements were organised between Rockwell Rovers and St. Davogs, Aghyaran, Co. Tyrone. In that year both teams were intermediate football champions in their respective counties and the connection was established by John McHugh, an Aghyaran man living in New Inn. St. Davog's visited New Inn, Rockwell Rovers returned the visit in 1989 and St. Davog's returned to New Inn again this year. In honour of the occasion the local club produced a souvenir programme, which contains many interesting pieces on the history of the game in Rockwell Rovers including their history in the Rural Schools Hurling in 1955, their first county junior football title in 1963 and their great Centenary Year in 1987 when they amassed two county titles. Much of the material is taken from work in progress on the club's history by Tom O'Connor and the booklet can be had from club officials for £2, as long as copies remain. 

Two Kerry Books

I would like to draw your attention to two new G.A.A. books from Kerry which made their appearance in the past year. Many of you will be familiar with one of them, the biography of Mick O'Dwyer by Owen McCrohan, available at £7.95. This is a very fine account of one of the greatest G.A.A. personalities of this century. The second book is called 'Trail Blazers - A century of Laune Rangers, 1888-1988' by Pat O'Shea. It covers the history of the G.A.A. in the Killorglin area, where football reigns supreme. However, there is a tiny hurling interest in the club being cultivated by one Bill Herene, who works in Africa for six week periods and during his spells at home brings teams of young lads to the hurling heartlands of Tipperary. 

Centrefield

In conclusion I should like to tell you about two publications from the Centrefield Research Unit in Thurles. Part of Centrefield Museum, this unit, under the direction of Josephine Quinn of Clonoulty, has been beavering away at G.A.A. records for the past eighteen months. It has now made a list of and collected information on all All-Ireland players in the country. This material is being compiled county by county and Limerick and Tipperary are the first two to be completed. So, if you want a book that will tell you the name of every All-Ireland player in the county, where he was born, his date of birth and his roll of honour, you should get a copy of this production. It will put an end to all the usual pub arguments of when and where he won the All-Ireland. 

<span class="postTitle">The County Senior Hurling Championship - 1990</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp18-19

The County Senior Hurling Championship - 1990

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1991, pp18-19

'We stand in an historic place on an historic evening', said Holycross-Ballycahill chairman, John Ryan, to a huge roar of approval from an enthusiastic crowd gathered in the village green of Holycross on the evening of October 14, after the club's success against Cashel in the County senior hurling final. It was the realisation of a thirty-six year dream and it brought them their fourth county final in six appearances. For Cashel it was the end of a dream of winning their first senior hurling title and they now find themselves sharing the unenviable top spot in the league of losing finalists: with Lorrha they have appeared in and lost five county senior hurling finals! 

In the beginning of the year the conversation was about Clonoulty-Rossmore's chances of retaining their title. They had the talent and the experience and the assistance of Len Gaynor and a reasonabJy easy first round encounter against Eire Og. Victory put them through to a semi-final against Cappawhite at the revamped Sean Treacy Park which they won without impressing. In the meantime Kilruane-MacDonaghs had qualified in the north and Len Gaynor terminated his contract with them. So, they went into the west final at Golden on August 12 without his guidance or any other replacement. Their opponents were Cashel, who had a new purpose and direction as a result of securing the services of Justin McCarthy as coach. The game was a close and enthralling contest which was clinched in Cashel's favour by a Cormac Bonnar goal five minutes from time. The final score was Cashel 2-11 Clonoulty-Rossmore 0-15. 

The north final was played at Nenagh on July 29 and Toomevara were Kilruane-MacDonagh's opponents. The game was one of the worst finals for years, filled with fouls, low scoring and frequent stoppages. At the end of the hour Kilruane MacDonaghs were ahead by 2-7 to 0-5. Three weeks later the south final was played at Clonmel between Carrick Swans and Killenaule. It was a game of two halves with Killenaule dominating the first and leading by eight points at half-time before Carrick switched it on after the interval and were in front by 3-7 to 2-7 at the final whistle. 

The last of the four divisional finals to be played was the mid. This did not take place until August 26 when HolycrossBallycahill and Loughmore-Castleiney faced each other at Boherlahan. John Cormack got a point thirty seconds into injury time to snatch a draw for Loughmore-Castleiney in a score of 1-10 all. The replay was at Semple Stadium on September 8 and it lasted 90 minutes. At half-time the sides were level at 1-5 to 0- 8. In the opening exchanges Holycross were well on top and had 1-4 on the score-board to a mere point for Loughmore after ten minutes. However, the latter made a few switches and scored five points in the next eleven minutes. In the second half Loughmore took the initiative and were five points up with five minutes of ordinary time remaining. Holycross came back with a string of four points, Loughmore went ahead again and, in the fifth minute of injury time Tony Lanigan got the equaliser for Holycross to leave the full-time score 1-11 each. In the extra time the game remained extremely even but Holycross had the edge in the final minutes and a goal in the last minute by Stephen Dwan clinched the issue at 2-19 to 1-18 in their favour. It was a great win for Holycross and one which tested their resolve to the last. 

County Quarter Finals

The county quarter-finals were played on the weekend of the football All-Ireland. Not a very satisfactory situation but one that arises yearly with a glut of fixtures for too few dates. Two of the games were played at Leahy Park, Cashel on September 15 and 16 and the remaining two at Semple Stadium on the 16th. 

The mid and south divisions met at Cashel. On Saturday evening the south champions, Carrick Swans, played the mid runners-up, Loughmore-Castliney. The Swans went into the game as outsiders in most people's reckoning but they carried the game to Loughmore and for a time in the first half appeared capable of causing an upset. They led by 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time as a result of a Tom Waters goal in the 24th minute. In fact Waters had a second chance shortly before half-time but it was stopped by Eamon Sweeney. Swans stayed with the mid men for a short time after the interval but then Loughmore pulled away and were ahead by 0-17 to 1-8 when Johnny McDonnell blew the final whistle 

The second contest at Cashel was played on Sunday evening. The final result might give the impression that the mid champions, Holycross-Ballycahill had it all their own way against the south runners-up, Killenaule, but it wouldn't be a complete picture of what happened. Slow to get going Holycross had three goals scored before Killenaule got going their first poirit coming in the fourteenth minute. However, they clawed their way back and gave a fine display especially in the third quarter when they reduced the lead to a mere three points. Even then they could have been better positioned but for many missed opportunities. In the end the mid men were comfortable winners by 4-17 to 3-9 with impressive scoring performances by Declan Carr, 7 and Stephen Dwan, 2-5. 

Earlier in the day the other two quarter-finals were played at Semple Stadium. Cashel King Cormac's and Toomevara were first on the field with a one o'clock start. The north runners-up fielded completely reshuffled line out from their north championship campaign whereas the west champions had to play without an injured Pa Fitzell, who did, however make his appearance before the game was over. On the run of play there was little or nothing between the sides and had Toomevara been more disciplined in their approach the result might well have been different. In the event Toomevara had more scores from play than Cashel but they paid the price for committing needless fouls by being punished by unerring accuracy of Tommy Grogan, who found his mark ten times out of ten and gave Cashel victory by 0-16 to 1-5.

The second game turned out to be a great disappointment. County champions, Clonoulty Rossmore, surrendered their title in a most disappointing fashion to north title holders, Kilruane MacDonaghs. Much was expected of the champions but they failed to lift themselves to any great heights and several members of the side played well below form. Kilruane were hungrier and sharper and their centreback, Joe Banaghan, gave a fine display. The north champions led by 2-5 to 0-6 at the interval and were ahead by 3-8 to 0-9 at the final whistle. 

County Semi-Finals

The two mid teams were guarded for the semi-final pairings and the draw pitted Cashel against Loughmore-Castleiney and Holycross-Ballycahill against Kilruane MacDonaghs. Both games were played at Semple Stadium on October September 23 with Cashel and Loughmore providing the curtain-raiser. The west champions bridged a fifty-year gap when the qualified for their first county final since 1940 by beating the mid men 1-8 to 0-8. Playing with the wind in the first half Loughmore squandered many chances by going for goals when points were going abegging. Then John Grogan got a vital goal for Cashel five minutes before the interval to leave the half-time score 0-5 to 1-1. With the strong wind in their favour after the interval it appeared that Cashel should have the whipband. But the defences continued to reign supreme and it was only in the final quarter that Cashel pulled away to win by three points. 

The second game ended in a draw. Far from being a classic it reached an exciting climax as Holycross-Ballycahill came from behind to level and then missed two great chances of outright victory in a hectic last five minutes. The sides were deadlocked six points each at the interval. In the second half Holycross went into a three point lead before Philip Quinlan levelled with a goal in the twelfth minute and then Jerry Williams got two points to put Kilruane into a match-winning position. However, the mid men came back to achieve an exciting draw. 

The replay took place at the same venue a week later. Kilruane were eight points ahead after twenty minutes and seemed set for victory. But Holycross gradually came into the game and had cut the deficit, back to four points, 2-5 to 0-7 at the interval. They had the wind in their favour in the second half and a fine Stephen Dwan goal, nineteen minutes into the second half, put them in front for the first time. They stayed in that position and were three points ahead, 1-16 to 2-10, when referee, John Moloney, blew the final whistle. 

The County Final

Holycross-Ballycahill had now played four Sundays in a row and sought a postponement of the county final, fixed for October 7. A special meeting of the Fixtures and Finance Committee was called and, as a result of a two-thirds majority, re-fixed the game for Saturday, October 13 - Sunday was out because Tipperary were scheduled to play their first league game against Limerick on that day. There was uproar at the news in Cashel and a decision taken not to play on Saturday. A further meeting of the Fixtures and Finance Committee was held and unanimously agreed to play the game at four o'clock on Sunday. In the meantime the league game was postponed and the late start was to accommodate patrons who wished to attend the senior football final at Cashel on the same day. 

It was a most interesting pairing for a final. Holycross-Ballycahill, with three senior hurling titles to their credit were seeking their first victory since 1954. They were also striving to compensate for their defeat by Clonoulty-Rossmore in 1989. Cashel were going for their first ever senior hurling title and were appearing in a county final for the first time in fifty years. 

A fine crowd of 12,000 turned up for the occasion and were warmed up by a great display of hurling in the minor final in which north champions, Erin's Hope, defeated Holycross-Ballycahill. All was in preparation for an epic encounter in the senior game when, about ten minutes before the throw-in, the heavens opened and the rain came down unrelentingly for the hour. With a strong swirling wind as well conditions were well nigh impossible and yet the players served up a remarkable display of hurling. The game was a closely contested affair in which defences dominated and the greater experience and maturity of Holycross won out in the end. The mid men seemed able to make better use of their opportunities and were more economical in their use of the ball while Cashel had to work extremely hard for all their scores. There were two points between the sides at half-time with Holycross ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 and, when Cashel drew level with eight minutes to go, it seemed as though they had the initiative. But Holycross threw in a sparkling finish with three brilliant points by Tony Lanigan and gave them victory by 0-13 to 0-10. 

It was a well-deserved success by Holycross-Ballycahill. Great credit is due to a team that came back from last year's defeat and got through two draws on the way to achieving this victory. For Cashel it was a story of what might have been. Particularly galling was the disallowed goal in the twenty-second minute of the game, when a grand forward movement was finished to the net by Tommy Grogan, only to have play called back for a free. Also a talking point was the rain which slowed the game down and deprived the Cashel forwards of the fast breaking ball in which they revelled. But, when these considerations are trotted out they have to be balanced against the fact that Cashel scored only four points in the course of the hour and were it not for Tommy Grogan's excellent free-taking, a wider margin might have separated the sides at the end. 

Teams

Holycross-Ballycahill: Pat Slattery, Johnny Doyle, Tom Dwyer, Ruari Dwan, Phil Cahill, Michael Doyle, Phil Dwyer, Declan Carr (Capt.), Pat Lanigan, Paddy Dwan, Stephen Dwan, Tony Lanigan, Paul Slattery, Robert Stakelum, Paul Maher. Subs: Gerry Fennessy for Phil Cahill. 

Cashel King Cormacs: John Ryan, T. J. Connolly, Pat O'Donoghue, Joe Minogue, Conal Bonnar, Pat Fitzell, Tony Slattery, Colm Bonnar, Willie Fitzell, Ramie "Ryan, Cormac Bonnar (Capt.), James O'Donoghue, Ailbe Bonnar, John Crogan, Tommy Grogan. Subs: Michael Perdue for Joe Minogue; Sean Slattery for John Grogan. 

Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan).

Man of the Match Award: Stephen Dwan. 

Results at a Glance

Sept. 15: County Quarter-Final (Leahy Park, Cashel):

Loughmore-Castleiney 0-17 Carrick Swans 1-8. Referee: Johnny McDonnell (Roscrea) 

Sept. 16: County Quarter-Final (Semple Stadium, Thurles):

Cashel King Cormac's 0-16 Toomevara 1-9. Referee: Phil Cahill (Holycross-Ballycahill).

Kilruane-MacDonaghs 3-8 Clonoulty-Rossmore 0-9. Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan) 

County Quarter-Final (Leahy Park, Cashel):

Holycross-Ballycahill 4-17 Killenaule 3-9. Referee: Paddy Lonergan (Galtee Rovers). 

Sept. 23: County Semi-Finals (Semple Stadium, Thurles):

Cashel King Cormac's 1-8 Loughmore-Castleiney 0-8. Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan)

Holycross-Ballycahill 0-12 Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-9. Referee: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers) 

Sept. 30: County Semi-Final Replay (Semple Stadium, Thurles):

Holycross-Ballycahill 1-16 Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-10. Referee: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers) 

Oct. 14: County Final (Semple Stadium, Thurles):

Holycross-Ballycahill 0-13 Cashel King Cormacs 0-10. Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan) 

<span class="postTitle">Paul Delaney</span> Hogan Stand, July 19, 1991

Paul Delaney

Hogan Stand, July 19, 1991

Paul Delaney

One of the most memorable moments in the recent drawn Munster hurling final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh was the re-action of the crowd to John Fitzgibbon's goal, the fourth for Cork, in the 54th minute of the game. Viewed from the Covered Stand the effect on the supporters at the Blackrock end and in the Uncovered Stand was incredible. It was as if a bomb had gone off and the crowd became airborne so great was the eruption of bodies.

From a Cork point of view it was a marvellous moment and surely a nail in the coffin of Tipperary hopes. It was a tremendous goal, one in a million, hit with speed and strength and it rattled the net to the consternation of the Tipperary defence. It was a typically Cork goal, in the mould of a John Fenton or a Jimmy Barry-Murphy, a goal that a backline and goalie are unprepared for because it is unexpected.

The goal resulted from poor defensive work on the part of the Tipperary backs, particularly John Madden, who took a swipe at the ball across the goal immediately beforehand and failed to connect. It came outside the square to the waiting John Fitzgibbon, who hit it on his left to the back of the net. As it made its way to the net it passed through the legs of the advancing Paul Delaney. How did it feel? 'Not very good. It was a major blow and it put them seven points ahead. But we didn't let out heads drop like we did last year. We were determined to come back, and we did.'

The Tipperary full-back line didn't have the happiest of games on the day. Paul admits that they were very edgy in the opening minutes and that the early goals prevented them from settling down. 'If we had got ten minutes or so, w'ed have found our feet and we mightn't have given away so much.' In fact, Paul did settle down in the second quarter and played an effective game for the remainder of the match. He admits that he had a tough game on John Fitzgibbon and that the player is quite tricky to look after. Other observers of Fitzgibbon would regard him as the smartest attacker that Cork have.
 

Skill and Intelligence

If John Fitzgibbon is a smart forward it is probably true to say that in Paul Delaney he is up against a very smart defender. He is a player with many strengths and few weaknesses. He is a very athletic player, exceptionally good on his feet and with a good sidestep. Not very big in size - he is a little taller than Tadgh O'Connor, after whom he seems to have modelled his play - he makes up for the disadvantage with his dash and his burst of speed. He is a good reader of the game and very able at anticipating the break of the ball. He is keen, a good attender at training sessions and, though he takes a drink, is well able to get into shape. Not only is he a skilful hurler but he is also a very able footballer, which he plays predominantly for pleasure and relaxation even though, if he turned his full attention to it, he could make it in that game also. Latterly, he has taken up golf at which he is improving and growing in confidence.

His lack of height is a handicap rather than a weakness. There's a bit of Jim Devitt in his play, in his ability to strike quickly and well in a small area. He's a deceptive player. He plays hurling all the time and yet his opponents will admit that he can tackle as hard and as tenaciously as most. He seems to be able to play well without apparently putting a great deal into the game.
 

Motivation

On the field of play Paul Delaney reveals skill, ability and intelligence. There is no way an unintelligent player could play as well as he does. Also he is highly motivated, good to train and committed to his fellow players. One thing that worries his admirers is his failure to carry that motivation and intelligence into his working life. Unemployed at the moment and the holder of a number of jobs in the past it appears that some of his attitude is wrong. Paul answers his critics by stating that the proper opportunity for a steady job hasn't arisen. He has worked with Roscrea Meats but much of the work is seasonal. He has held other jobs and recently spent eight months in the U.S. This aspect of his life and his dropping from the county panel prior to the All-Ireland in 1989 makes Paul a 'controversial' figure in some people's eyes.

The 1989 episode centred around his playing with a London club without being properly transferred to do so. Was he bitter about the episode? 'Yes, at the time I was. I felt that Tony Keady and I were treated as scapegoats. Hundreds of players were going across to play with English clubs and none of them was properly transferred. Why pick on the two of us? It was very unfair. However, his attitude has mellowed in the meantime and the bitterness is no longer there. I suppose he was millified by getting an All-Ireland medal despite being dropped from the panel.
 

Corner Back

Today Paul Delaney has an established position at right corner back. His is miscast in this position. His proper place is left half-back and he played all his hurling up to 1988 either in that position or at centreback. In fact he is playing centrefield for his club, Roscrea, at the present. He would prefer the position outside. According to him there is more freedom in the half-back line. One can get more involved in the game and one can contribute to the forwards by moving up the field. One can enjoy the game more on the wing. In contrast the corner position is more of a stopping role. One has to mark closely and watch the corner-forward closely. There is less opportunity to contribute. He is still learning the corner position but has accepted it as his place in the future.

Babs Keating has informed him that he is needed in there and he accepts that. The attitude contrasts with his reaction to Babs telling him to move back there in the 1987 All-Ireland semi-final. He didn't like the request and reacted strongly against it. Yet, he played a good game on Eanna Ryan. Talking of Eanna Ryan Paul regards him as one of his most skilful opponents. Another is Michael McGrath. An interesting comment on the strength of Galway hurling. The player he admires most is Nicky English. He loves to see him play. He was disappointed with his inaccuracy in the drawn game but can't see him as bad again.

Asked about this greatest games he remembers two with pleasure. The first of these was the 1988 All-Ireland in which Tipperary had the edge in numbers and in fervour but Galway got the result that mattered. The second display he remembers with relish was that against Waterford in the 1989 championship.
 

Achievements

1989 should have been the glory year for Paul Delaney but his dropping from the panel after the semi-final against Galway prevented that. His position had been queried through a Press item soon after the Galway game and the selectors deemed it better to drop him from the panel. However, he got his All-Ireland medal to add to his Munster victories in 1987 and 1988. In the latter year he also won a National League medal. He had made his appearance at the senior grade in the 1986-87 league and had established himself as a regular by the time the '87 championship Before graduating to senior ranks he played under-21 for three years. In 1985 he won All-Ireland honours but Limerick prevented Tipperary getting out of Munster in the next two years. In 1984 he played on the minor team that lost to a hard-hitting and most determined Limerick side, which went on to take All-Ireland honours. In the same year Paul captained Roscrea to win the county minor final against Kickhams. In the previous year he was centreback on the side that was beaten by Moycarkey-Borris in a replayed county final. He came on to the Roscrea senior side in 1985 and suffered defeat in both the divisional and county finals at the hands of Kilruane-MacDonaghs, who went on to win the club All-Ireland.

His ambition is to win a county senior final with Roscrea. To do so this year would be even better, since he is captain of the team. He is still a young player, 24 years old last November. Recently, he married an American-born girl, Kathleen Quinn, whose father hails from Bansha. He is hopeful of winning the replay on Sunday and believes they will be able to eliminate some of the errors in the drawn game. He hopes to be sharper and crisper in his play and to win his fourth Munster senior hurling final.

<span class="postTitle">Hurling, South-East Galway and the First All-Ireland</span> Talk given to History Society, Eyrecourt, circa 1991

Hurling, South-East Galway and the First All-Ireland

Talk given to History Society, Eyrecourt, circa 1991

It was only to be expected that a team from Galway should participate in the first All-Ireland championship. The game of hurling was played there from time immemorial and, in the nineteenth century, was particularly strong in the south and east of the county. Teams from Meelick and Kill­imor crossed the Shannon to play against the men of Tipperary and Offaly. In a letter to the editor of the 'lrish World' on September 15, 1888 'A Galway Man' had this to say about the area: 'Many readers of the 'Irish World', residing in this country, can call up pleasant memories of hard­-fought games some 30 or 40 years ago between the men of Tipperary and Galway on the verdant sod of Shannon's banks, stretching from Portumna to Meelick, having for a background the ancient Castle of Redwood, standing out in bold relief against the green hillsides of noble Tipperary.' 

Michael Cusack had learned of this hurling tradition in south-east Galway from his early teaching days in Lough Cutra school not far from Gort. Later, in 1883, when he began to re-organise athletics in the country, so that they would be open to everyone, his call was answered in the town of Killimor through the exertions of F. W. Lynch and Patrick Larkin and a few others and the game of hurling was organised in the area. When Cusack founded the Metropolitan hurling club in Dublin the Gaels of east Galway issued a challenge to the Dublin men. The 'Galway Manl, mentioned above, takes up the story in his very colourful way: 

'Mr. Lynch, acting with great spirit, hastened to the neighbouring town of Ballinasloe and put the matter before a few Nationalists there, among whom was the then secretary of the Land League. With a right good will the Ballinasloe men went to work,' and despite the warnings and intimidations of every hire1ing and supporter of Dublin Castle living in the town, the inhabitants subscribed a very elegant challenge cup, which gave Captain Lynch great joy, for then he was in a position to invite Mr. Cusack and his picked team of athletes to try friendly conclusions with his own trusted men for the coveted prize. The trysting place selected for the struggle was the historic Fair Green of Ballinasloe. 

'But here again the domineering way of the tyrant was. made. manifest, for did not one of Ireland's accursed absentee vampires, Clancarty, hold illegal possesion of the township property. Notice was served on the Secretary of the League, who was also custodian of the cup, by the bloated representative of this rack-renting landlord, informing him that the awful riotous game of hurling would not.be allowed to be played within th limit of the Fair Green. But this piece of bombast reckoned without his host. The edict of him and his kind was only jeered at. The teaching of lreland's leaders predominated and this same autocrat was answered back that no riotous game was about to be launched, only the game which our fathers gloried in and which their children were going to practice. Seeing that the people were determined to have their wishes accomplished this tyrant thought discretion the better past of valour by consenting to the Fair Green being taken possession-of by the hurlers but as one of her Majesty'e Justices of the Peace, holding the Legal Secretary responsible for any breeches of the peace that might occur. What an inbecile warning!' 

When the game was advertised to be held on a given day, Captain Cusack brought down his team and, in the presence o£ thousands of people, crossed sticks with Captain Lynch's plucky warriors. Goal posts pitched, judges placed, the ball was raised and,as if by magic, a cheer given three times three went up which made the very grounds vibrate. What a magnificent send-off for the national game! With a will as of manor born those splendid specimens of Irish athletes fought for the coveted honour of becoming winners of Ireland's first prize in hurling. Both teams worked determinedly but, withal, brotherly, and after a long and arduous tussle, Captain Cusack's men were obliged to retire from the field of friendly battle defeated but not dishonoured. Great was the joy of Captain Lynch when th judges' fiat was given - Killimor team 1 to Dublin nil.' 

Gaelic Athletic Association

In the following year, when Cusack began to lay plans for the founding of tho Gaelic Athletic Association, he saw the need for support from leaders of Church and State. From his association with south-east Galway he knew of the sterling qualities of the Bishop of Clonfert, Dr. Patrick Duggan. 

He therefore wrote to William J. Duffy of Loughrea, whom he had befriended while the latter was holidaying in Dublin a few years before, and asked him to arrange a deputation to call on Dr. Duggan and ask him to become a patron of the new association. The arrangements -were made and on August 15 a deputation, consisting of Michael Cusack, three Loughrea men, William J. Duffy,_ John P. McCarthy, John Sweeney and Peter J. Kelly of KiLleen­adeema and Michael Gleenon of Kilchreest called on his Lordship. Dr. Duggan was then seventy-one years of age, was in rather poor health and had al­ready offered his resignation to the Pope. However, he was delighted to hear of the founding of th association and promised to do all h could to promote its success. But, he delcined to act as patron and advised them to ask Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel, 'a fine Gael, young, vigorous and energetic' to become the first patron of the new body. And, so, Cusack came to Thurles and the rest is history.

First All-Ireland 

For the first three years the activities of the new Association were con­fined to tournament and challenge games. Not until 1887 was the first All-­Ireland hurling championship organised. Twelve counties entered but only five contested the championship. Tipperary, represented by Thurles, beat Clare (Smith O'Brien's) and Kilkenny (Tullaroan). Galway, represented by Meelick, defeated Wexford (Castlebridge) on July 24 at Elm Park. More than lO,0OO people watched the match. A reporter wrote: 'There was a good deal of heated temper on both sides. The conduct of the Wexford men was severe­ly censured by most of those present. One incidsnt of the day's proceedings cannot be too highly valued. Lord Ffrench, when he heard of the great victory of Galway, directed his steward, Mr. Balfe, to go to the Midland Hotel and hand from him £3 to treat the team and also £2 to be given to one of the men, who lost two teeth with the blow of a hurl. Wexford had got the first goal but Meelick beat them by eight goals after. To cover the expenses of the trip to Dublin the parish priest, Fr. Kirwan, gave £14 to the team.

The final wasn't played until April 1, 1888. The venue was Hoare's field in Birr, quite close to the present hurling field, and the referee was Patrick White from the town, but originally from the parish of Toomevara.

The Meelick team consisted of twelve men from Meelick and nine from Killimor. The two parishes had joined up as a result of three games they had played against one another the year before in the championship. These games were played in Greenfield, which belonged to Ryders and had ended in a draw. Since they couldn't beat one another they decided to join together. In the 1887 Galway championship they beat Kilbecanty in the semi-final and Ardrahan in the final. The score in the latter was 2-6 to 2-3.

The Meelick men on the team were Pat Madden, who was the captain and one of the famous Maddens of the area, Patrick Cullen, Mike Manning, John Colohan, John Scally, Willie Madden, Tom Hanley, James Kelly, Pat Manning, Jim Connolly, John Cosgrove and Arthur Cosgrove. The Killimor men were John Lowry, John Callinan, Pat Haverty, Tom Foley, Owen Griffin, Patrick Larkin, John Manning, Charlie Melody and John Sanders. According to local tradition only Fenians could get on the team. There was one fine player in the area, named Burke, who failed to get selected because he wasn't a Fenian.

There are three nephews of Patrick Cullen still living and they relate how the hurleys for the final were made on their kitchen floor. They recall hearing stories of mounds of timber shavings! Patrick Cullen was a carpenter and skipped it to America later as a result of land trouble in the locality. He never returned.

Birr by Brake

All the team, with the exception of John Lowry, who walked all the way from Killimor to Birr, went by McIntyre's brake to the final. When they arrived in the town they heard that Tipperary weren't going to appear. Some say this was a rumour put out by the Tipperary men themselves to get Meelick off guard, but it may have been due to a disagreement which did occur in the Tipperary camp. Whatever the cause the Galway men went for some drink and, while they were indulging, heard that Tipperary were ready.

Both teams togged out in Cunningham's Hotel and then marched to the field. Togging out is probably a misnomer as it is generally accepted that the Galway men played in their shirts and trousers. Each player wore a green knitted cap with a tassel on it. Meelick were led by their non-playing captain, James Lynam, who held the military rank of captain, having fought in the American civil war. Although a noted pugilist, he was regarded as a nice quiet man. His fanily came from Rahan in Co. Offaly and he had a farm in Eyrecourt. Later, in the 1890s, he was to contest unsuccessfully the East Galway seat in the Parnellite interest against John Roche, M.P.

The first All-Ireland final was fought at a fierce pace. One of the Thurles players got a blow on the nose and had to be carried off. As a result of this incident, John Lowry, the man who walked from Killimor and who played at fullback, was taken off by Captain Lynam. He was none too pleased with the decision because, for some time thereafter, until he was warned by the referee, he would dart on to the field and take part in the play.

Meelick were defeated by a goal and a point and one forfeit point to nil. They have never since been listed as Galway county senior hurling champions. But, because of their historic participation in the first All-Ireland, the name of the small village on the west bank of the River Shannon and the tradition it represented in south-east Galway will live for ever in the annals of the G.A.A.

<span class="postTitle">The Story of James M. Ryan of Ballyslateen – World High Jump Champion</span> Supplement Nationalist Centenary 1890-1990, p 76

The Story of James M. Ryan of Ballyslateen – World High Jump Champion

Supplement Nationalist Centenary 1890-1990, p 76

August 19, 1895 was the outstanding day in the life of J. M. Ryan. At the first sports meeting held in Tipperary town for eight yerrs, before an attendance estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000, he soared over 6' 41/2'' on his third attempt to wipe out the world record held by the Irish-American, Michael F. Sweeney. The 'Nationalist' report of the event was sober and brief: 'At Tipperary Sports yesterday, J. M. Ryan, the well-known athlete, raised the world's record by clearing the bar at 6 feet 4 and a half inches. The ground was tested by levels and every precaution taken to ensure its acceptance as a record.' 

The report didn't do justice to the excitement of the occasion. In another account we read: 'The good people of Tipperary, doing honour to their idol, may have umwittingly prevented him from negotiating an inch higher. When he had cleared his extraordinary jump, a rush was made by the spectators and J. M. was carried, shoulder high around the enclosure. It was only after a lapse of about ten minutes that he extricated himself' from their attentions to resume operations at 6' 51/2", all but succeeding, having gone over and landed when one end of the bar fell off the pegs. 

Six Feet

Up to 20 years previously the 6' high jump was regarded beyond the scope of human endeavour. But, in 1876, M. J. Brooks of Oxford University topped 6' 21/2'' at Lillie Brdige. Within four years one of the famous Davin brothers of Carrick-on-Suir, Pat, cleared 6' 23/4'' in his native town for a fresh world record. This record, beaten by M. F. Sweeney in 1892, was to last as Irish record until 1893, when J. M. Ryan jumped 6' 31/2'' at Nenagh. When Pat Davin heard who had done it, he declared his delight 'that it took another Tipp man to beat him.' J. M. went on to beat Sweeney's record at Tipperary.

Ballyslateen

Who was this world champion? James Mary Ryan was born in Ballyslateen in the parish of New Inn on April 3, 1871. His father, Michael, better know as 'Little Mick' had the distinstion of being able to jump into an ordinary barrel from a standing position, and out again!

This skill was to be passed on to J. M. and his sister, Katie. Both were capable of jumping over the two-sided, five-foot high, iron gate leading into their homestead, from a standing position on one of the gate piers. When it is realised that Katie died at the age of 16 years, the schievement is all the more remarkable!

There was a family of six. Michael, junior died at the age of 32 years. Katie and Mary died in one month from diphteria, aged 16 and 13 years respectively. William left home as a young man, qualified as an engineer in London and went to the U.S. John took up farming and lived at Rathgallon, after the Ballyslateen farm was sold early in the new century. James M. became a teacher.

St Patrick's Training College

James M. spent two years, l890-92, as a Queen's Scholar in St. Patrick's Training College. One of seven training colleges the students were officially known as Queen's (or King's) scholars and age limits for entrance were l8 to 35 years. Entry was confined almost entirely to ex-monitors and ex-pupil teachers. Monitors could he appointed in any suitable national school. They were selected from promising pupils in the higher classes and appointed by the manager, on the recommendation of the inspector for the district. The age limit for appointment was 12 to 16 years. If successful at an examination, held by the Board at the end of the third year, the monitor was con­tinued for two additional years, when a further examination was held which, in practice, was a competitive examination for entrance to a training college. 

A trained teacher was obliged to serve a two year's probationary per­iod, before being awarded the final training diploma. No increment was paid him until after the receipt of the diploma. James M. Ryan received his diploma on December 21, 1894 and it reads: 'Having ful­filled the prescribed conditions, including that of satisfactory probation as teacher in a Public Elementary School,(James M. Ryan) is awarded this Training Diploma of the First Grade.' 

Coolderry

It seems fairly certain that J.N. spent his two years probationary period in Coolderry N.S., and may have spent some time after that. 

In 1893, after winning the I. A. A. A. championship with a jump of 6' 11/8'' a profile stated that 'he lives the quietest of quiet lives in the prettiest part of the King's County, Coolderry. Here he industriously labours as head teacher of the National School. This little instit­ution has, under his energetic direction, grown into a flourishing concern and its success has earned for it the name of Ryan's Academy. Master and pupils are mutually proud of each other and so well they may, as many of the boys who have been finished off by the athletic pedagogue have secured good positions in business, while the discip­line maintained is so firmly estab1ished that the dreaded cane is an unknown qantity in the schoolroom paraphernalia.' 

However, in l895, after setting up his world record in Tipperary, we read that he was then teaching at Mount Bruis, two miles from Tipperary Town. On the day following his feat, in celebration of his winning jump, his pupils showed their appreciation of his efforts when they chaired him around the school. 

It was reported in the 'Nationalist' of Saturday, July 24,1965 that the house in which James Ryan had resided still stood in Davitt street, Tipperary and it was stated to have undergone very little change since he had lived there. The area where he had practised for many a long hour was located only eighty yards or so from his home and had been built on by the late William G. Evans, who was also a very leading light in the sports world of bygone days. 

Style

Ryan didn't look like a high jumper. He stood at 5' 10'' and weighed 178 pounds, quite a weight for a man of his stature to take over the bar. According to the 'Referee', reporting on the English Athletic Championships held at Northampton on July 1, 1893: 'Since Davin no such perfect a jumper has been seen; he clears a bar with a perfectly clear leap without the slightest scrambling manoeuvre common to our jumpers.' And another commentator said of him: 'J. M. Ryan took a jump as a youth would take a hedge or a railing, his only change from the perpendicular in mid-air being a tucking up of his knees. He used neither kick, twist or turn and it can truly be said that the world has seldom seen his like.'

Jim, as he was popularly known, first came to prominence as a nine­teen year old by jumping 6' 11/2" at the Limerick G.A.A. Sports of September l890. He was to be one of the three best jumpers in the world of the early and middle nineties, the other two being Michael F. Sweeney, who was born in Kerry a year later than Ryan and left Ireland for the U.S. at the age of 8 years, and Murty O'Brien of Twopothouse, Buttevant. Sweeney took the lead with a jump of' 6' 41/4'' for,a world record at the New York Athletic Club's games in September 1892. Ryan was beaten by O'Brien the same year at the Clonmel Sports and they were to remain keen rivals for the next four years, with Ryan triumph­ing in the end.

Progress 

Ryan's progress to his world record at Val McGrath's field, as the Tipperary Sportsfield was better known, was steady and inevitable over the next three years. In July 1893 he cleared 6' 21/2'' in the English championships. In August he broke Davin's 13 year old Irish record at Nenagh, where he jumped like a world beater, not touching the lath up to and including 6' 31/8''. Two years later he broke the Scottish record and in the following month smashed the English record with a jump of 6' 31/2'' at Clogheen Sports. Ryan then attempted the world record and virtually got over 6' 41/2", but barely displaced the bar descending. 

Less than three weeks later he was to succeed with his jump at the Tipperary Sports. The G. A. A. awarded him their official gold medal in recognition of his remarkable achievement.

Testimonial 

Within a few days of his success there was a public meeting in Dobbyn's Hotel, Tipperary to present a National Testimonial to the world champion. The attendance was very large and representative and £20 was subscribed in the room. A month later there was a letter to the 'Nationalist' from T.S. O'Dwyer, N.T., Kilmoyler, Cahir pro­posing that the National Teachers of Ireland support the J.M. Ryan Testimonial to the tune of 2/6 per head. I:f everybody responded a sum of £1,500 would he raised. Soon after the Birr branch of the I.N.T.O. at their meeting, criticised the idea of putting a limit to the amount any member should contribute to the Testimonial. The Archbishop of Cashel, Dr. Croke, gave his support to the project and senk two guineas to the fund.

Death 

The Tipperary event was the peak of J. M. Ryan' s career. Hi s world record did not last long. Nine days later M. F. Sween­ey topped 6' 5" at Travers Island, New York. There was a dispute ahout its legality because it was set up in an exhibition and, it was claimed, exhibitions did not count for world records. Mr. W. H. Carroll, President of the Tipperary Athletic Club, in a letter to the press, claimed that Ryan had actually jumped 6' 6'' outside of competition. Sweeney, however, clinched the issue by attaining 6' 51/8" on September 2 and 6' 55/8" three weeks later on the occasion of the London and New York International match. 

J. M. never achieved these heights and his other rival, Murty O'Brien took the English championship off him in 1896. His athletic career seems to have come to an end in that year. Perhaps his delicate health, which he had despite his robust constitution, was the cause. In spite of his widespread fame he was essentially a shy man. He retired from teaching at Mount Bruis on March 16, 1900 and died exact­ly three months later at the young age of 29 years. The papers said it was the result of a lingering illness. His niece, Mrs. Kitty Hogan of Carron, Cashel believes it was heart failure, which may have been caused by excessive physical exertion in his earlier years. 

Not only was J. M. a high jumper, he also distinguished himself at the long jump, the hop, step and jump and the 14 pound weight. He was even a reputable sprinter! His funeral was one of the biggest witnessed in Tipperary Town for some time and, after Requiem Mass at nine o'clock on Monday, June 18, he was buried in Ballintemple cemetery, Dundrum. 

<span class="postTitle">The Cashel Extension Railway</span> Supplement Nationalist Centenary 1890-1990, pp 110-112

The Cashel Extension Railway

Supplement Nationalist Centenary 1890-1990, pp 110-112

There's excitement now in Cashel, 
For the railway soon will run.
There's commotion in the city,
For the line is nearly done.
There's signs and preparations
That were never seen before,
And the rising generations
Sees prosperity in store.

So Francis Phillips, the Cashel bard. wrote in 1904 in anticipation of the opening of the Cashel branch line on Monday, December 19, 1904.

The opening of the Cashel Extension Railway was a great day for the town.  The occasion was used to unveil the memorial fountain at Lowergate erected to commemorate the great services of the Very Rev. Dean Kinane, PP. VG in connection with the Cashel railway project.  In the course of his remarks the chairman of the urban district council, Michael Devitt, thanked the people for giving him the honour of unveiling the memorial.  It was due to the Dean’s energy and perseverance that they had succeeded in getting the extension.  As a result of the extension Cashel would become as prosperous as ever.

There were many historic fights for a railway to Cashel.  On one occasion when the Privy Council rejected the application of Cashel for a guarantee, a riot took place in the streets of the town.  After than many vain attempts were made to obtain railway accommodation.  Then in 1901 Dean Kinane, together with some of the citizens, assisted by Very Rev. Dean White and Rev. Fr. Brenan, C.S.Sp., president of Rockwell College, resolved to approach the popularly elected representatives of the county council.

At that time, the Great Southern and Western Railway Company were undertaking a project of considerable magnitude involving the amalgamation of the Waterford and Limerick system with their own, and the citizens of Cashel pointed out that it would be of considerable public benefit to the town and district and to the South Riding also if a line were constructed to Cashel.

The GS & WR Company considered the matter carefully and promised that if the Amalgamation Bill passed through parliament they would do all in their power to carry out the projected line to Cashel.  In return for this the people of Cashel supported the Amalgamation Bill and on the 11th February, 1901 the county council was approached for a limited guarantee of 4% on a sum of £35.000. The area proposed to be charged in the event of the guarantee coming into operation was the South Riding of Tipperary with the exception of the municipal borough of Clonmel and the urban districts of Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary. Cashel and Rockwell College estate undertook to pay, if necessary, a tax of 1/-2 in the pound. The result was that the county council granted the guarantee by 15 votes to 9 and the Cashel Extension Railway became a possibility.

Earlier Efforts

Of course Cashel should have had a railway at a much earlier date.  The town was to have been served by a branch from the Waterford / Limerick line planned in 1826.  Then 18 years later the first Act for the Great Southern and Western Railway authorized the main line to go to Cashel.  Later the route was changed but the original intention was retained in the name 'Cashel's,' given to GS & WR ordinary stock on the Dublin Stock Exchange.

Why was the decision made to take a more westerly route to Cork?  A number of reasons is given. In the local folklore there is a belief that the town fathers turned down the idea of the line passing Cashel. It is stated that their reasons were aesthetic: the train was a dirty, noisy monster and the town would be downgraded by its presence. Another version of this story is that some believed that the presence of the line in the neighbourhood would be dangerous for the Rock: the vibration might cause the edifice to collapse?

However there are more practical and credible reasons.  A survey of the original route revealed problems. If the route came by Cashel a bridge would have to be built over the Suir at Ardmayle. The town would also become the junction for Limerick and this would have involved a viaduct at Mantlehill.

Political Clout

A more important reason was the political clout of Maude, Lord Hawarden of Dundrum.  He gave free right to the GS & WR to build the railway through his land.  This was an offer difficult to refuse.  At the same time Cashel’s political clout was weak. As a result of an enquiry into the running of the Cashel Corporation in the late 1830's it was discovered. that the town was in the hands of the Pennyfeathers and their friends and that they had misappropriated public funds. The town lost its chartered status and the·Corporation was replaced by the Town Commission. Michael Doheny was prominent in righting the wrongs done to the people of. Cashel by the Pennyfeathers and their cronies. Through his efforts the family was forced to repay £6,000 to the Town Commissioners.

These matters were agitating the town when the decision was taken to change the route of the proposed railways to Cork to a more westerly one.  The people of Cashel decided to fight the change and they gave Michael Doheny £20 pounds to go to London to fight their case.  However such efforts were in vain. Lord Hawarden got the line through Dundrum and ia station close to his residence. When the station was completed it contained a special waiting room for the Maudes.   Also the signaling system was connected with Dundrum House. When a train left Gouldscross the Maudes, as well as the Dundrum stationmaster, were alerted.  John Knightly recalls using the station in 1949 after coming to Cashel to teach. The Maude waiting room was still in existence, locked and kept in waiting for members of the family if they ever returned.

The Construction

The 5 3/4 mile line from Gouldscross to Cashel was the last branch line to be built by the Great Southern and Western Railway. It was, fittingly, Dean Kinane who ceremoniously dug the first sod at Gouldscross on March 4, 1903. The tracks, ties and other components for the new line were not new but had come from the main Dublin / Cork line at Sallins, part of which had been dismantled in 1900. The biggest engineering feat was the construction of the metal bridge which spanned the Suir between Kilbreedy and Clonmore.  Ardmayle was an intermediate station and there were two level crossings, one that Camas about a quarter-mile from Cashel and a second beside the station at Ardmayle.

Things didn’t go smoothly during the construction. There were labour troubles. The 'Cashel Sentinel' reported on June 20, 1903:  "For the second time the labourers engaged in working on the new railway works from Gouldscross to Cashel have gone out on strike for higher wages. In  the previous strike their wages were increased from three pence to three and a half pence an hour. It was hoped that this would have brought peace but on Wednesday, June 17, they struck again for another halfpenny and invaded the streets of Cashel. Over one hundred and fifty men were involved and they grumbled that the work was too hard and the pay too little." They gained their extra half-penny and went ahead to finish the work.

At the time of the opening the railway had cost £41,602-19-10. It was estimated that further expenditure would amount to £10,500.  The cost of the one rail motor carriage was £1,500-6-6. In 1953 during a tribunal hearing on the future of the branch line the initial cost was given at £58,773.

The Opening

On October 12, 1904, in anticipation of the opening of the railway, a new corn market was opened in the town. Six days before opening day the line was inspected and passed for public use by Col Vandarop, an inspector from The Board of Trade. On the morning of the opening the first train arrived at CasheJ at 8.45 am. It had on board Mr. Bell, the superintendent of the GS & WR; Mr. Cooper Chadwick; Mr. Sides. District engineer; Mr. Bayly, engineer and Mr. Galway, the contractor's engineer.

The platform was crowded, all eager to board the first train and, on its return to Gouldscross, large numbers took a spin there and back. Among the passengers were Very Rev. Dean Kinane, PP, VG; Very Rev. N. J. Brennan, C.S.Sp., Rockwell College; Mr. A. P. Spain, accountant. National Bank; Mr. J. J. Connol1y. agent, Cashel U DC; Thomas Walsh, 'Cashel Sentinel'; Philip Ryan, The Central Hotel; Denis Maher. NT and other notables.

Later that evening after the unveiling of the memorial fountain and the presentation of the address, Dean Kinane told the crowd: "This fountain will remind posterity of the noble feelings of their fathers who erected this monument to a 'Soggarth Aman', who did little but yet did his very best, to improve the temporal as well as the spiritual condition of the people ....' He went on to inform his listeners that he had travelled on the new railway to Gouldscross that day and while in Gouldscross met some navvies who asked him to give them drink. He told them to go to Cashel and they could have plenty of it. They asked him the name of the public house and he told them 'The Gouts' (a watering hole for horses on the Clonmel road) so if any of those present now felt thirsty they could go to 'The Gouts' also.

Francis Phillips caught some of the mood with a poem composed specially for the opening:

Get your tickets on this day
From Thomas J. McQuaid
For the railway will begin
before the dawn.
They'll be crobars in
the air
Picks and shovels everywhere
And the Cashel men will play
tbe 'Rocks of Ban'.

Early Days

The chairman of the UDC, Michael Devitt, prophesiscd at the unveiling of the memorial fountain that Cashel would become a prosperous place as a result of the extension. But his prophesy could not be said to have been fulfilled and the railway, which was never more than a lame duck in the finances of the GS & WR, closed down during the Second World War, resumed partial services in 1947 and was officially closed on January 1, 1954.

Two passenger trains ran daily to and from Cashel and one passenger-cum-goods train, all stopping at Ardmayle. In addition special goods trains were run monthly to coincide with the Fair of Cashel and special excursion trains were run to hurling matches in Thurles and beyond. The timetable for 1947 shows three trains each way on the Cashel branch: way on the Cashel branch: Gouldscross-Cashel at 12.30, 2.30 and 5.00; Cashel Gouldscross at 11.15. 1.30 and 4.00.

Most of these services were hauled by a team engine called locomotive No. 74, which was one of the '47' Class designed at Inchicare. Built in 1887 it was typical of the tank locos which worked many GS & WR branches around the turn of the century. Loco 74 was to serve the Cashel branch line far most of its history. It was replaced by a steam railcar, which seated six first-class and forty-eight third-class but it did not provide for extra passengers when necessary and was transferred to the Drumcondra Link Line. After its departure Cashel trains were usually worked by small 0-4-4Ts or by the ubiquitous standard 0-6-0.

Unusual feature

An unusual feature of Cashel station was its two storey corrugated iron station building. Although the GS & WR favoured this material for building on its branches in Kerry. single-storey structures were more common. In fact the building was temporary because there was a suggestion that the line might be extended to Cahir. It was. however, never replaced by anything more permanent during the life of the branch.

Why wasn't the line a success? Perhaps the obvious reason was that there were never enough people travelling on it and the volume of goods was never satisfactory.  A second problem was a troublesome water' supply. Although there was a permanent water tank at the station an old engine tender and a hand-operated pump were also provided to ease the situation.

John Knightly has an interesting theory on the relative failure of the railway to generate business. He believes it was built at the wrong side of the town and went in the wrong direction! According to this theory the trade and traffic from Cashel traditionally went down the Suir valley to Waterford. For instance, when McCluskeys were at their peak they exported pigs, butter, chickens, even cream, to London via Waterford.

Snippets of History

It is not possible to give the history of almost fifty years in the course of a short article. All that is possible is a few glimpses of the happenings over the period.

1910: the timetable shows an unbalanced service of five trains daily in one direction and six in the other!

1914: for the Munster final at Thurles between Clare and Cork on September 13 there was a special train from Cashel al 12.45 on October 24 of the same year it was reported in 'The Nationalist' that there was a good supply of corn on offer at the weekly corn market. Owing to the depression in the trade, prices were not as high as formerly. However, for barley delivered at Cashel station the quotations were from 13/-9 to 14/-3 per barrel.

1925: All railway companies in south Ireland were amalgamated in one company, the Great Southern Railway. GSW in short. (nicknamed the Great Sourfaced Railway by D.P. Moran). In the same year the 'Handbook On Railway Stations' gave the following information on Cashel - 'Crane power I ton 10 cwts. Accomodation includes goods station,  passenger and parcel station, livestock. horseboxes and prize cattle vans.'

1929: A special train came for the Mass on the Rock of Cashel on the centenary of Catholic Emancipation. John McCormack sang on that famous occasion but refused the Presentation nuns request to sing in the parlour when he paid them a visit. He gave a blank cheque to Dean Innocent Ryan for the.restoration of the Rock, which had to be returned later.

1930's Thomas Rosney, father of Mrs. Lil Burke. was the stationmaster. He came from Claremorris in 1917. Tom Arnold was the scorekeeper and he lived at the Camas level crossing. His wife was killed by a train as she was letting someone over the crossing. Dan Taylor was in the parcels office. Davy Ryan and George Allison were drivers, Eddie Bowen and Jack Ryan, firemen. According to Peter Meskell, Cashel station employed a stationmaster, a platform porter, two goods porters, one checker. one cleaner, one steam riser, two firemen, two drivers and two guards.

1936: For the Munster senior hurling championship at Thurles there was a special from Cashel at 1.30 pm. There was a single fare regardless of whether you boarded at Cashel, Ardmayle or Gouldscross.

The Mystery Tours

1939: During the inter-war years, to cater for the large section of the public for whom the motor car was as yet an expensive luxury, the GSR Company ran a wide range of special trains from Dublin. Particularly popular were the mystery tours and a photograph of such a mystery train was taken in Cashel in May. 1939.

1942: a great shortage of coal led to some branch lines being closed for indefinite periods. In Cashel's case services were drastically reduced.

1946: a report in 'The Nationalist' claimed that there were strong rumours in Cashel that train services would be improved in the near future. This was attributed to the important lobbying done by the Trades Association and the senior curate. Rev. W. English.

1947: The rumour proved unfounded. Because of the fuel crisis the Cashel line was closed completely to traffic on January 27.

1948: this was the year of the ' Blackberry Express', the name the locals gave to the special excursion train for the county senior hurling semi -final between Cashel and Lorrha at Thurles. Dixon Connors was paying 4 / - a stone for blackberries that year and for weeks before the match the locals were out gathering blackberries to make the price of the fare. Neddy Doheny recalls that you could spot a Cashel man anywhere that day because of the blackberry dye on his hands!

1950: services had not been restored. In a report in 'The Nationalist' on March 18 the town clerk reminded the council that as March 26 would fall on a Sunday it would be advisable to have an order made fixing the following day for the old fair. He thought it would also be necessary to remind CIE of the date and of the necessity of providing special train facilities. In April there were excursion trains to Thurles for the semifinals and final of a "hurling tournament for 20 best Blarney No. I worsted suit lengths.' The fare was 2/6. In the following month the Thurles CBS hurling tournament was held and upwards of 500 people travelled in a special from Cashel for the final, which attracted an official attendance of 8,578. Because the special train for the all-Ireland final on September 3 was leaving at 7.10 am, Very Rev Dean O'Donnell arranged for Mass at 6 am summer time.

The Coal Shortage

Another memory from those post-war years was the shortage of coal for the steam engines and the poor substitute turf proved to be. In some cases not enough a steam could be raised to power the engine. Mick Keating remembers the engine failing to make the hill between Ardmayle and Gouldscross on the excursion. The passengers got off and pushed the train to the top. On another occasion, a Munster senior hurling championship game at Limerick, the engine broke down and the passengers didn't get back to Cashel until 1.30 in the morning.

The End

This sporadic service of passenger and cattle specials continued until June 25. 1953 when a tribunal was held at the courthouse Cashel to pronounce on the future of the Cashel branch line. Fr. McAssey. C.S.Sp., bursar. Rockwell College; John Feehan, Maurice O'Connor, John L. Buckley and A.G. Caldwell, the manager of Going and Smith Ltd gave cogent reasons why the service should continue. Mr. D. Stewart, traffic manager, CIE, argued in favour of the closure of the line and staled that the estimated cost of restoring the service would be £6.335.

The findings of the tribunal which was chaired by Dr. Beddy,  appeared in the form of a public notice in the newspapers in December :  'Take notice that on the 15th day of December, 1953 the transport tribunal, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by Section 55 of the Transport Act. 1950, make  the above-mentioned order to come into operation on the 31st day of December, 1953 whereby CIE is exempted from the obligation to operate all services of special trains for passengers and merchandise on the railway line between Gouldscross and Cashel in the county of Tipperary which were in operation immediately before the first day of June, 1950 and whereby CIE is also exempted from the obligation to restore all or any services of trains for passengers and merchandise on the said railway line, which were temporarily discontinued under the Emergency Powers (CrE) Reduction of Railway Services Order, 1944.'

Cattle Specials

Despite the order of closure trains continued to use the line for some while longer. The Cashel correspondent of the 'Nationalist' reported on July 3, 1954: 'Although the branch line between the town and Gouldscross has been officially declared closed, it has, within the past number of months, been opened on a few occasions. At the request of the Cashel Tostal Council, CIE ran a special from Dublin on May 16, the concluding day of the festival. On Monday last Messrs Maurice O'Connor and Sons got a special for the conveyance of a big consignment of cattle to the North Wall. It is understood that other cattle specials are to follow.'

In fact both cattle and passenger specials did follow until July 25. On that day a special to Templemore departed at Ipm for the Mid senior hurling championship game between Boherlahan and Holy Cross. The price was 3/9. It was poorly supported because of a clash with the West senior hurling final at Cashe!. This may have been the last train from Cashel. The local newspapers reveal no more advertisements for them, not even on October 3, when the county finals were played at Thurles. On that day there were specials from Waterford, Nenagh and Cahir but none from Cashel.

And so Cashel's rail link with the rest of the country came to an end almost fifty years after it was opened with such fanfare and promise. The dream of Francis Phillips was unrealised:

And tourists in the summer
on recreation bent
And every ardent lover from
the ancient Orient
Will come and pay's a visit,
and note among the things
A railway line to Cashel,
Old Cashel of the Kings.

Councillor Joe Byrne took a sanguine view of the closure. At the January, 1954 meeting of the  UDC he suggested that in view of the closure the council should get in touch with CIE with a view to purchasing the lavatories at the station, which would be useful if the council should erect a public lavatory. They could be kept until the council decided on a site!

The final chapter of the Cashel Branch Line story was written in 1959-60 when the tracks and bridges were removed. This operation cost more than the original laying of the line. Some years later Cashel station was sold to a Dutch textile company and converted into a factory.
 

Come down and see the station,
see what labour can control
Hydraulic power and pressure
will bring us to the goal.
With constructive minds and
methods we mastered everyplan,
A pity to prevent us, we'd
railroad Hindoostan.

Appendix

Report on the Proposed Line of Railway from Dublin to Cashel by John MacNeill, Civil Engineer, 1843 (download PDF file)

<span class="postTitle">G.A.A. Publications - 1989</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1990, p 149

G.A.A. Publications - 1989

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1990, p 149

Not very much to report in the line of new club histories in the county for 1989. Pride of place must go to 'Centenary G.A.A. Story, 1887-1987, Fethard, Coolmoyne & Killusty', which made its appearance with suitable pomp and cirucumstance in the Abbeymill Theatre, Fethard, on May 27. 

The events of the evening were chaired that well-known G.A.A. personality, Dick Cummins, and the book was launched by Monsignor Christopher Lee, who first came to Fethard as a curate in 1942 and became Parish Priest in 1960. Other dignatories to grace the occasion were Munster Council Chairman, Michael Maher, former County Chairman, Michael Frawley, Football Board Chairman, Hugh Kennedy, South Board Chairman, Con Hogan, Fr. James Power, P.P., and community leaders. 

Impressive Work

This book of 426 pages is a comprehensive record of football, hurling, camogie, handball and G.A.A. activity in general in the parish. The book was edited Michael Ahearne, a native of the parish, who lives in Dublin, and the work of research was done locally by a Centenary Committee under the chairmanship of Dick Cummins. 

Nearly 250 pages of the book are devoted to the history of football, with comprehensive coverage of all grades. A section entitled 'There were Seven Green Fields' informs the reader of the seven playing fields used at different times in the parish. 

The section on hurling begins with the first senior team to be fielded, Fethard Burkes, in May 1912, and goes on to record the arrival of Coolmoyne on the scene twelve years later. It is related how game against Boherlahan in the 1926 South final was called off with ten minutes to go because of a row and how, as a result the match being awarded to Boherlahan, hurling was given a terrible setback in Coolmoyne and a senior team wasn't affiliated again until 1935. High point for the hurlers of Coolmoyne was winning the south senior hurling championship in 1951. 

A Number of Firsts

Fethard won the first county senior football championship and leads the conty roll of honour with 17 titles. Dick Cummins (snr.) was the first chairman of the Munster Council. The Fethard club is the only one in the south division to have won titles, under-21 hurling excepted, in all grades of hurling and football. The most famous hurler from the parish must be Liam Connolly, who won an All-Ireland senior hurling medal in 1958. 

The book is full of interesting detail and fine photographs and the production is a credit to the printers, The Kilkenny People. The book is unusual in that it is the first club history in the county in latter years to be a sellout. Five hundred copies, 300 hardback and 200 softback, were printed and, if you're lucky enough to have got a copy, hold on to it for dear life because it's already a collector's item. Well done, Fethard!

Ros Review

Another interesting development during the year was the 'Ros Review' a bulletin to the members of the Roscea Club. The brainchild of Seamus O'Doherty, this four sheet production was sent to every club member about four times during the year and kept him up to­date with club developments. So many of us talk of the need for communication within clubs and this is a practical example of what can be done. 
 

In the Offering

A number of club histories are on the verge of publication. The nearest to that date is the Cappawhite club history. Liam Treacy has informed me they're hopeful of making the Christmas market. A committee has been appointed at Thurles Sarsfields to bring to fruition the work of the late Donie O'Gorman. It is hoped to have that book published during the year. I haven't heard any word of the Galtee Rovers' book which, I understood, was to appear this year and can only hope we shall see it completed by this time twelve months.

R.I.P.

Mention of Donie O'Gorman recalls his untimely death last May. For a good number of years he was producing programmes of the highest quality at Semple Stadium and setting standards for other venues. His death was untimely and his loss a major one, not only to programme making at our premier venue but also for the publication of the Thurles Sarsfields story. His job at Semple Stadium has been taken over by John McCormack and he is filling his footsteps impressively. 

Press Coverage

During the year the Tipperary Star continued to give excellent coverage to G.A.A. affairs in the county. One of the most welcome developments was the increased coverage by the Nationalist. For the past few years we complained about the sloppy coverage of our affairs in that paper. But, as if aroused from slumber the paper has given an outstanding treatment over the past year. Each week it appears to send out a race of reporters to report on our games and give us columns of coverage and plenty of photographs to keep us entertained in the next edition. But, the Guardian stole a march on all the local papers with its coverage of the All Ireland. On its front page it gave us a magnificent picture of the All Ireland Senior Hurling champions in full living colour! It was a fine tribute to our senior hurlers and we owe a big 'thank you' to the new editor, Gerry Slevin, who figured so prominently in the early years of this Yearbook.

<span class="postTitle">Three Bonnars</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1990, pp 18-19

Three Bonnars

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1990, pp 18-19

One of the most unusual aspects of the Tipperary senior hurling team for the 1989 All-Ireland final was the inclusion of three brothers, Cormac, Colm and Conal Bonnar from the Cashel King Cormac's club. Con Houlihan had this to say about them in his 'Evening Press" column of September 4:

"Bobby Roche, M.P. for Tralee in Grattan's Parliament, was a dab hand at the Kerryman joke - now read on. 

Once upon a time - perhaps even twice - he said: "Nobody can be in two places at the one time unless he be a bird." A stranger in Croke Park yesterday might have thought that for once the good man was wrong. Hardly a minute went by without such shouts as "Come on Bonnar" and "Good man Bonnar" and "Good on you Bonnar". 

Our stranger would have wondered how this man Bonnar could be in defence and in midfield and in attack. The team sheet would have solved the puzzle: there were three Bonnars - and they all played well. I have yet to see a tiger hurl but I doubt if any member of the species could have done as well as Conal did at right half-back. In the first fifteen minutes when Tipperary were obviously stricken with tension, he was the man who played as if he knew that this would be his day. 

In midfield Colm played solidly all through, producing the quartz from which his comrades up in front distilled the gold. The third brother, full-forward Cormac, didn't get on the scorers' list - but his presence gave great room to corner-forwards Pat Fox and Nicholas English." 

By winning the All-Ireland, the Bonnars joined the ranks of other illustrious hurling families from Tipperary, the Leahys of Tubberadora, the Kennys of Borrisileigh and the Ryans of Moycarkey­Borris. But they also joined an exclusive club confined to those who played in and won All-Irelands on the same day. In this distinguished company they stand shoulder to shoulder with the Rackards of Wexford, who set up the club in 1956, and the Connollys of Galway, who joined it in 1980. 

The brothers have another, and most unusual distinction to their credit: the oldest, Cormac, and the youngest, Conal, were the oldest and youngest member respectively of the Tipperary team on September 3. 

Cormac 

For the oldest of the brothers, winning the All-Ireland was an unexpected bonus to a distinguished career in hurling. It was unexpected in that he had decided to quit after the 1988 west championship. The decision was taken, not because he was tired of hurling, but because of the travelling involved. Living in Limerick with his wife, Nesta, a native of Mitchelstown and with no hurling connection, the 72 mile round trip to Cashel for training and matches had become a drag. So, at the end of the 1987 championship he made a decision to go at the end of 1988. 

The rest is history now. Cashel played Clonoulty in the first round of the west in 1988 and, against all the predictions, beat them and went all the way to the county semi-final. Cormac impressed the county selectors and was called up for the Munster final against Cork. Tipperary led by 1-13 to 0-5 at the interval but Cork had rallied and reduced the lead to two points in the third quarter. Cormac was introduced and was in the right place five minutes later when a Paul Delaney free dropped behind the Cork defence and he was on the spot to steer it to the net. It was a crucial score and halted the Cork rally in its tracks. 

Philosophical 

Was he excited about being introduced in that game? "Well, I was more philosophical than anything else. You see I had come on before in the championship and the memory was an unhappy one. In 1983 I had played in the league and had impressed enough to be drafted on to the panel for the championship. I was brought in sometime during the game but was replaced again after ten minutes. I wasn't playing well. Part of my difficulty was converting from a back to a forward, and I hadn't yet adjusted. But, to be replaced so quickly was extremely difficult to take and the memory crossed my mind when I came on in '88". 

But he wasn't replaced and came on in the All-Ireland semi-final and final. He became a regular during the league campaign and impressed in the final against Galway last April. It took a while for the selectors to recognise that he was the obvious choice for the full-forward berth and the perfect complement to Fox and English on the inside line. 

Mention of adjusting brings to mind Cormac's earlier career which was always in the back line. There he won two Under­21 All-Ireland medals in 1979 and 1980. However, the winning medals he cherishes most are those he won at the minor level. He played minor with Cashel in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, winning west medals in the first three years and county championships in '75 and '76. The latter year has abiding memoryies for him. As well as a county minor medal he won a football medal as well and his school, Cashel C.B.S. won the Corn Phadraig, the Kinane and the Croke cups. 

Looking back to those days, in an interview in May 1980, he had this to say: 

"We had exceptional teams and we won too easily. We were also too clean. We never had to mix it physically. Some of us are only now learning to use our bodies. ' 

Criticism 

Some of Cormac's critics would claim that he never did learn to use his fine physique (6'2" x 14 stone) sufficiently and that he remains a gentle giant on the field. Cormac would disagree and so would many a backman who came up against him in full flight. 

A more common observation made of the player is that he lacks confidence and that he is inclined to pass on scoring opportunities to players with inferior chances to his own. "It may have been the case in the past, "he replies, "but it's no longer so. I have developed my skills greatly in the past twelve months. I must thank John Leamy a lot for that. He has come out regularly with me in Limerick to practice. I now have much greater confidence in my ability and I do take my chances. But I would consider myself a team player. I don't give a damn who gets the score as long as it's registered for us on the scoreboard. I'm a bit of a socialist in hurling in that we must be all for one and one for all." 

In putting emphasis on the Indian summer of Cormac's career, and it can be a long summer with few if any contenders for the full-forward position he has made so much his own in the past year, one is inclined to forget his many earlier achieve­ments. As well as those mentioned above he won Fitzgibbon Cup medals in 1977 and 1978. But he also played on the Sigerson Cup team with U.C.D. where he studied History and Mathematics. He played county minor hurling in 1977 and was on the Under-21 county football team for three years. He also played county senior football. 

All in all then a career chockful of athletic accomplishments and with no sight of it coming to an end. If the journeys to Cashel were long in the past those to Thurles are longer. For the AIl-Ireland this year there were 43 sessions of an hour and a half under Philip Conway and Cormac missed only one of them. His dedication to fitness is complete. Who will forget the turn of speed he showed in the first game of the year at Clonmel last January! Some believe he wouldn't have it on the harder ground of summer but he had and plenty to spare over other players. And, as he adjusted in the past from a back to a forward, we can anticipate similar adjustment in the future if the hand pass goal is voted out of existence next Easter. 

Colm 

When Cork beat Tipperary in the league game at Thurles on October 29 it was the first time Colm Bonnar experienced defeat at the hands of the Rebel County. Since he first wore the county colours in 1982 as a minor he has been on successful county teams against teams from Munster, with one exception, the senior Munster championship game against Clare at Ennis in 1986. 

He has an extraordinary record. He's been playing with the county for eight years and he has eight Munster medals to his credit! The record is as follows: minor - 1982; under-21 - 1983, 1984, 1985; junior - 1985; senior - 1987, 1988, 1989. So, 1986 is the only blot in a very impressive sequence of victories. That defeat in Ennis in 1986 led to a re-think in the method of preparing county teams and the appointment of Babs, Theo and Donie to take charge. 

During the same period Colm played in seven All-Irelands, winning in 1982, under­21 in 1985 and 1989. The losses were in 1983 and 1984, junior in 1985 and senior in 1988. In retrospect, the most galling of these has to be the loss of the junior All­-Ireland in 1985. Playing against the breeze in the first half against Wexford at Kilkenny they led by two points at half- time and seemed set for victory but they changed their tactics in the second half and were behind two points at the final whistle. The chances of Colm ever getting so near an All-Ireland junior medal in the future are indeed slim and the possession of one would have given him a unique collection. 

These eight years with the county were preceded with intensive involvement in games at Cashel C.B.S. During his stint there he won Croke, Fitzgerald and McGabhann Cup medals but pride of place must go to his two All-Ireland '8' hurling medals. These were won in 1980 and 1982 and John Kennedy also won both. Joe Hayes played on the 1980 team and John Leamy on the 1982. So all of these lads learnt success at an early age. 

Up to the age of thirteen Colm played left hand over right and, on the instructions of his coach changed over to the orthodox way. Close observers of his game will notice how he sometimes fumbles catching the ball because his best catching hand is still his right. Even still he occasionally catches the ball in his right hand and has then to transfer it to his left. 

This difficulty may account for another anomaly in his play, his delivery of the ball. It is never as crip and as long as one would expect from a player of his strength. The thought arises if the change were well-advised and if reversion to this original style were possible. 

During the past summer there was an opinion abroad that Colm had gone stale and that his game was suffering as a result. He would disagree and claims that Phll Conway worked wonders with the team, getting them mentally prepared for the game so that they would all be well able to last the seventy minutes. 

However, the nature of Colm's occupation may be a contributory factor. A P.E. instructor with Waterford R.T.C. he is full-time involved with hurling, football and camogie. For five days a week he works with teams until seven o'clock in the evening and always has a hurley in his hand. This kind of involvement can kill some of the enthusiasm for getting out to hurl oneself 

Colm's contribution to Tipperary hurling has been tremendous. In the past three years he has been an important link in the chain of success. He holds a record for 33 successive appearances in league and championship over a thirty-month period and the highlight of that run must have been the 'Man of the Match Award~ for the 1988 Munster final. Such a contribution is a tribute to the fitness of the man and his hurling ability and was properly recognised when he became one of the 1988 All-Star!;. The fact that he is still only twenty-five years of age must give us reason to believe that he will continue to be a force in Tipperary and Cashel hurling for many years to come. 

Conal 

One might be inclined to regard Conal as the Banjamin of the bunch but that would suggest someone in need of care and protection. Such would, indeed be furthest from the truth, because Conal is very much his own man and has an impressive record of achievements for one who celebrated his twentieth birthday on October 13. 

Conal was drafted into the Tipperary senior panel for the 1988 AlI-Ireland. The event attracted plenty of attention because he became a third Bonnar on the panel and, to be drafted in at that stage of the championship was an indication of the potential of the player. 

Conal first hit the county headlines in 1986 when he was picked wing-back for the minors. With five of the previous year's panel Tipperary were expected to do well and fulfilled that expectation in defeating Clare. The Munster final was in Killarney and ended in a draw and Conal had to experience the pangs of defeat to Cork in the replay in Kilmallock eleven days later. Playing at centreback in 1987, Conal experienced similar agony at the ultimate stage. The Munster championship was won with victories over Limerick and Cork, the AII-Ireland semi-final impressively against Galway, and hopes were high against Offaly in the All-Ireland. But, defeat was his lot by two points. 

School 

Conal came on the county minor team following an impressive career at Cashel CB.S. during which time he won two Croke Cup medals, two Fitzgerald, one McGabhann and he captained the Kinane Cup team to victory in 1986. He was also captain of the Cashel King Cormac's minor team which won the west in 1987 

A third year commerce student at U.C.D.  he  travels to Thurles during the week to train with the team. On such a day he will leave Belfield at 3 p.m. and cycle home to his flat in Ranelagh. He collects his gear and travels over by bus to Bab's place in Castleknock for the trip to Thurles.  After an hour and a half training he returns to Dublin.  

After being on the losing side in 1987 and 1988, Colm eventually struck gold on September 3 this year. Playing at wing­back he performed impressvely and seems a natural in that position. On the following Sunday at Portlaoise he hit the jackpot a second time when winning an under-21 medal. Both victories helped to erase the memories of the 1987 and 1988 defeats.

Conal is modest about his achievements. He considers he got a number of lucky breaks which gave him opportunities he exploited to the fullest extent. But observers give him more than luck. He impressed them with his anticipation on the field, his burst of speed and his expert delivery. In a very short inter­county career he has impressed many, who see a long and brilliant future ahead for him.