<span class="postTitle">The Gardiner Connection</span> Munster S.H. Semi-final Replay, Cork, June 12, 1999

The Gardiner Connection

Munster S.H. Semi-final Replay, Cork, June 12, 1999

'Lisdoonl Lisdoon/ Lisdoonvarna/' hoarses Christy Moore in his inimitable way, and it's a long road, eighty winding miles, to Borrisokane, but there's an important G.A.A. link between the two places, Seamus Gardiner (1894-1976), one time chairman of the Munster Council, and President of the G.A.A. from 1943-46.

The future president was born in the west Clare town on July 17,1894. (He had a distinguished cousin, George Gardiner, who became world light-heavyweight champion in 1903, knocking out the Austrian champion, Jack Root, in the 12th round at Fort Erie, Canada.) He trained as a national teacher in De La Salle College, Waterford and went to U.C.D. to do his degree. His footballing prowess had already been recognised and he was made captain of the college Sigerson Cup team, and represented U.C.D. as a delegate to the Dublin county board. He got further recognition when he got his place on the Clare senior football team and was picked on the Munster provincial team which participated in an inter-provincial series in 1924 to pick a national team for the Tailteann Games.

In the same year he settled in Borrisokane as a teacher in the local boys' national school. Earlier he had spent some time teaching at Loughrea, where he served as a steward with the Irish Coursing Club. Having settled in Borrisokane he became involved in the local G.A.A. club and soon came to represent it at north board meetings. His talents were soon recognised and he succeeded Frank McGrath as chairman of the board in 1933, a position he was to hold until the end of 1938. Two years later he was elected vice-chairman of the Munster Council. In 1941 he succeeded Frank McGrath as chairman, as he had done in North Tipperary in 1933. He entered the G.A.A. presidential race in 1943 and defeated Dan O'Rourke, Roscommon for the highest office in the Association. Later, in 1967, another teacher, Seamus O Riain, who had started his teaching career in the boys' national school, Borrisokane, was also to become president of the Association!
The two major difficulties Seamus Gardiner had to contend with in office were the row with the army, where foreign games had been put on an equal footing with Gaelic games, and the row with the presidency of Ireland which had erupted in 1938 when Douglas Hyde had been removed as patron of the Association because he had attended a soccer match. The restrictions on travel, owing to wartime conditions, was another difficulty for the G.A.A. president.

Having completed his term of office, Seamus Gardiner, returned to club and divisional activity. He held the position of board treasurer until 1972. His involvement with the club was constant and strong, especially with the G.A.A. park, which now bears his name. He had been involved as early as 1930 when part of the Higginbottom estate was handed over by the Land Commission to the club. He played a major part in the development of the field as a fitting venue for Gaelic games. This involvement was well recognised in 1978 when the pitch was dedicated the Seamus Gardiner Memorial Park. He died in 1976 and, in a graveside oration, Seamus O Riain, summed up the man and his achievements and influence: 'He was a father figure accepted by all of us as representing what /s good and true, a man of authority, standing for perennial values of honesty and integrity and commanding our respect. But it was an authority that was tempered by human warmth and understanding and kindness, especially to those who were weak and in need.'

A fitting tribute indeed and recognition of a life of dedication to the cause of the Association. His two sons continued in that tradition. Denis hurled for many years with Borrisokane and, after his playing days, continued to serve by looking after juveniles. Seamus, the younger, after winning a Harty Cup with St. Flannan's in 1954, played with his home club until he was ordained in 1961. Later he was to spend twenty-seven years in the college and was involved with the teams that won Harty Cups in 1976, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1987 and 1989. Among the many he trained during his years there were Anthony Daly, Jamesie O'Connor, Brian Quinn and Conor Clancy. On the administrative side he represented the colleges on the Munster Council and was later P.R.O., a position he still holds.

There's a nice balance somewhere there, the father leaving Clare and coming to Tipperary to serve the Association there and at a provincial and national level, and the son returning to Clare to serve the Association there and in Munster.

<span class="postTitle">Beef, Tea and Raw Eggs</span> Munster S.H. Semi-final Replay, Cork, June 12, 1999

Beef, Tea and Raw Eggs

Munster S.H. Semi-final Replay, Cork, June 12, 1999

The success of St. Flannan's College in this year's All-Ireland final brings back some memories of the school in the early fifties. It was always one of the great nurseries of hurling and its catchment area brought together players from Offaly, Tipperary and Limerick as well as from Clare. It was a time when the honour of playing for the college subsumed county loyalties and made us fight to the death for one another.

St. Flannan's was a tough place to be in the fifties. Older students told us it was a paradise in comparison with life during the war years. But we knew the fifties only and Kavanagh's line about the 'black bread and sugarless tea of Penance' keeps repeating when one remembers the fare in those days. It was bread for breakfast, stale bread for lunch - two slices with a smear of jam between them - and bread for tea. Sometimes we got brown but we had no great respect for it. I recall a rhyme: Don't eat Demoses bread./' Twill stick to your belly like lead. / You 'll fart like thunder, that your mother'll wonder. /So, don't eat Demoses bread. For the benefit of the uninitiated, we christened the kitchen staff, Demoses, ironically after Demoethenes, the great Greek orator, whom we studied.

In such a situation to get on the hurling team was the goal of all. It was a relief from the monotony of school life and it brought special privileges. In order to build us up for matches we got extra brown bread! But, we also got beef tea for elevenses, when the rest of the poor devils slunk around cold and hungry. And, we also got raw eggs, a couple a day. Then there were match days and the luxury of four-course lunches in places like the Ardhu House Hotel in Limerick. They were marvellous!

In September 1955 we looked forward to the Harty Cup, and as usual, with confidence. In the previous twelve years St. Flannan's had won six times and in doing so had, to coin a phrase, established their divine right to win! North Monastery won in 1955 but we were determined to halt their gallop. We beat St. Colman's in the first round and came up against the champions in the second. We drew with them at Thurles and were lucky to do so but we felt confident of taking them at the second try.

We got huge encouragement from the college authorities and nothing was spared in getting the preparation right. Leading the support machine was Dr. Tom Maxwell, the President, who lacerated us with his tongue after one defeat. 'I don't mind a Flannan's team beaten, but not a hurley broken!'. He had a plate in his head, the result of a bad accident, and he'd fly off the head easily. He used to eat Craven A cigarettes during a game and stamp them out, half smoked, under his feet, interspersing puffs with un-parliamentary language. After him came the team trainer, Fr. Jimmy Madden, retired in Borrisokane and approaching eighty years. He took us through our paces and that was everyday except Saturday. For some strange reason we had our dinner at 3 pm, when school finished, and went training straight after it. Says something about us and the dinner! 'Twas always backs and forwards and very intensive sessions they were with the occasional game thrown in against Clarecastle or some other Clare club team. We never did any running or physical build-up.

Anyway, we came to Thurles for the replay on November 27. We were bad in the first half, conceded some easy scores but came alive after the interval to come within a point of North Mon. We were on top except for the Mon goalie, Seanie O'Brien, who, when his team were under terrible siege, stopped everything , even midges. He was unbeatable. We failed to score and North Mon got a goal from a free in the dying moments to win by 3-6 to 3-2. We were devastated.

The team, with county initial after each name, was as follows: Kieran McDonnell (T), Seamus King (T), Jock Slattery (T), Colm Wiley ©, Tommy Barrett ©, Francie Keane ©, Joe Hoare (Lim), Brendan Hennessy (Ky), Jackie Rohan ©, Joe Noone ©, Mick Walsh (Of), Mick Slattery ©, Sean Williams (T), Denis Baker ©, Patsy Nealon (T).

The outstanding player was Kerry student, Brendan Hennessy from Ballyduff, who was later to make his name playing with New York. He was closely followed by Jackie Rohan , who had played wing-back on the 1954 winning side. Jackie gave up the game soon afterwards and was a tremendous loss to hurling. Joe Noone had the distinction of playing with Clare and Galway minors in 1955! He was discovered and came back in September an illegal player. He was dragged up to Doc Maxwell's room one night and dictated a letter to the Munster Council stating he knew absolutely nothing of G.A.A. rules, and got reinstated! Mike Slattery turned to refereeing at an early age and made a name for himself behind the whistle. Colm Wiley captained London to an intermediate All-Ireland in 1968. Many of the others gave distinguished service to their clubs.

Forty-four years on it is difficult not to be nostalgic for these days and to look back at them through rose-tinted glasses. They were tough days but we were tough and survived. At least, most of us did. But when we look back today we don't remember the difficulties of surviving. Rather we remember the hurling we played, the camaraderie we experienced and we still argue about how we should have beaten the Mon that day in Thurles. I wonder where is Seanie O'Brien!

<span class="postTitle">Gaelic Games Abroad</span> All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Program, Thurles, Sept. 10, 1998

Gaelic Games Abroad

All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Program, Thurles, Sept. 10, 1998

In his recent publication, The Clash of the Ash in Foreign Fields: Hurling Abroad, Seamus J. King traced the history and development of the game among the Irish diaspora and the state of the game abroad today.

One such place where the game is organised is Paris, where the Paris Gaels G.A.A. operate. The club has very laudable aims which include promoting interest in Gaelic sports, generating interest in Celtic culture through music, dance and other cultural activities, encouraging Irish expatriates to take advantage of the facilities and social network and linking up with the other Gaelic Associations established throughout Europe.

In 1994 a number of expatriates living in Paris were in the habit of getting together to play hurling and gaelic football on a regular basis and organising matches with the Irish communities in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Germany and France, as well as other social events around Paris. The success of their efforts generated in the Gaelic Athletic Association, Paris (France) being formally established as a non-profit making association in April 1995. The club is in fact the first affiliated G.A.A. club in mainland Europe.

The club has already made an impact. To date it has over fifty active members paying an annual membership of 100 FRF. The recruitment of members continues and it is hoped to encourage more French people to participate in G.A.A. activities. The club has already had numerous requests from French sporting clubs and individuals for promotional material and also coaching sessions. The members hope to utilise these means to promote the sport in France in the future.
Fr. Desmond Knowles with an address at College des Irlandais, 5 Rue des Islandais, 75005 Paris is the club's Homorary President. John Stack is the chairman and Sinead Morgan and Maureen Moran are the joint secretaries. Maureen is from County Leitrim and has an address at 3 rue S10 Guillaume, 92400 Courbevoie. Her telephone number is 00 33 1 47 88 13 11 and her Email: s-pj@club-internet.fr The club also has an internet site: http://www.geocities.com/paris/bistro/2308/

A summary of club events for 1998 makes interesting reading. In February there was a visit from the Glynnbarn Town, Wexford, hurling and football teams. At the same time Mark Lennon, who played on the Clare All-Ireland minor hurling team in 1997, arrived with the Liam McCarthy Cup.

During the visit a soiree was organised in conjunction with the Irish College celebrations for St. Brigid's Day. There were exhibition matches between the visitors and their hosts which got national TV coverage. In May there were demonstration matches of hurling and football in Eu (France) followed by a get-together for the French and the Irish. Later in the same month Paris Gaels won the Black Stuff 7-Aside European Gaelic Football championship in Luxembourg. This event attracted teams from Germany, Holland, Luxembourg, France and Guernsey. In June there was a hurling tournament in Amiens attended by players from Luxembourg, Paris and Aer Lingus, Dublin. In July there was the first-ever training session for a European Panel in Paris. Debbie Massey and Bamey Winston of the International Dimension Committee in Croke Park, travelled to Paris to discuss the organisation of the future European County Board and to advise the various clubs. Other activities are planned for later in the year.

In an otherwise successful picture of progress, the club has two major problems. There is a large turnover of members, which means that the club loses a number of valuable members on a regular basis. Increasing membership is very important so the club is trying to improve its publicity so that people travelling over are aware of the existence of a G.A.A. club in Paris, or elsewhere in Europe.

The second problem is finding a suitable venue to hold competitions. To date the club trains on a rugby pitch in Vincennes in the south of Paris, but this involves a lot of travelling and there are no dressing rooms available. At the beginning of this year, after long negotiations, the club succeeded in obtaining good quality facilities in the 16th arrondissement of Paris which, it is hoped, will solve the problem.

It can be concluded that the increase in the number of club members and events on the Paris Gaels G.A.A. calendar, in addition to the increase in interest from people and the press at home and in France, prove that the club has been going from strength to strength since its foundation.

<span class="postTitle">The Taming of the Game</span> 'Olde Rules' Hurling Match, Stonethrowers vs Cats, Gortnahoe, July 31, 1998

The Taming of the Game

'Olde Rules' Hurling Match, Stonethrowers vs Cats, Gortnahoe, July 31, 1998

It is generally believed that the decision of the founders of the GAA to make the parish and county the units of the Association was responsible for the strong and determined loyalty and pride in parish and county, which is such a feature of Ireland.

Yet tradition has it that it was a cross-country hurling match between Tipperary and Kilkenny that took place in the vicinity of Fennor long before the GAA was founded and finished with Tipperary losing the day and turning to throwing stones at their opponents, thereby gaining the unenviable title of "Tipperary Stone Throwers". This would seem to suggest that identification with county was already present in pre-GAA days and that Tipperary men couldn't bear the thought of being beaten by Kilkenny. Throwing stones at the victors wasn't very honourable but is probably understandable.

The type of game played on that occasion was cross-country hurling as distinct from playing within a strictly confined area, such as a field between opposite goals. Cross-country hurling, known also as hurling home, abhaile, seuaibin, had as its object to bring a ball a distance of some miles across the countryside or along a road to the team's base, which might be the parish chapel, a landlord's house, a particular gate or some such landmark.

Bringing Order to the Game

It took a long time for the GAA to reach its present state and there were many teething problems along the way. The mention of the presence of the priest and the landlord in Conyngham's account is significant. They were important for law and order.

During the Golden Age of hurling in the 18th century, the landlord on horseback rode up and down beside play with his whip ready to break up any rows or punish those guilty of foul play. When the GAA was founded one of the first things it had to do was to formulate rules, behind which Maurice Davin was the main driving force. The referee took over from the role of the priest and the landlord and became the upholder of law and order on the field. He wasn't always successful and many a time the parish priest and local police had to be called in to supplement the his authority.

There were many cases where the referee had a difficult task imposing his authority. One such instance occurred on February 24th 1888 when Thurles played Slieveardagh (John O'Leary's) in the county football championship. According to Sport 5,000 people turned up to see Thurles win by two points to nil. (The football must have been very heavy!). The referee, Mr T O'Grady. was kept very busy 'as the order of the people was anything but commendable and they kept constantly trespassing on the players ground'.

Many Infringements

Another instance was a football game between Ballingarry Smith O'Brien's and Inch at Horse and Jockey on September 2nd 1894. Inch won by two points but Ballingarry objected because;

1) The referee refused to allow a free kick to Ballingarry after an Inch player had struck out the ball defending their goal.

2) The ball was not in play when a point was scored as the referee did not blow the whistle when the ball went out and it was improperly thrown in.

3) One of the Inch players caught a Ballingarry man from behind and knocked him to the ground, and when the Ballingarry man in turn knocked down the Inch player, he was put off the field while the Inch player was allowed to play on.

4) The Inch goalkeeper knocked down a Ballingarry player from behind.

5) In the Inch team some of the best players were from other parts of the county.

6) One of the Inch players carried the ball about 30 yards hopping the ball with both hands, but only one hand was allowed.

A real litany of complaints and infringements indeed! What is interesting is the knowledge of the rules the writer possessed. In fact, it would appear that he had a greater knowledge of them than the referee had. Does the incident tells us that the rules were quickly learned and, (although they were not always observed on the field of play), recognised and accepted? A long distance had been travelled from the stone throwing days at Fennor!.

<span class="postTitle">Different Types of Hurling</span> 'Olde Rules' Hurling Match, Stonethrowers vs Cats, Gortnahoe, July 31, 1998

Different Types of Hurling

'Olde Rules' Hurling Match, Stonethrowers vs Cats, Gortnahoe, July 31, 1998

It is interesting to note that hurling to goales and hurling to the countrie were played in Cornwall and Devon in the 16th and early 17th centuries. A description of hurling to the countrie is given by Joe Lennon in his book The Playing of Football and Hurling 1884-1995: "Some two or more gentlemen usually make this match, appointing that on such a Holy day, they will bring to such an indifferent place, (neutral venue), two three or more Parishes of the South and East quarter, to hurl against many other parishes of the West and North. Their goals are either those gentlemen's houses, or some towns or villages three or four miles asunder, which either side chooses, depending on which is nearest to their dwellings. When they meet, there is neither comparing of numbers or matching of men. A silver ball is cast up, and that company which can catch, and carry it by force or slight (craft or skill) to their place assigned, gaineth the ball and victory."

In contrast David Power Conyngham in his book "The O'Donnells Glen Cottage," describes a game, twenty-five before the foundation of the GAA, that is probably an example of hurling to goales. Conynham, who was from Crohane and a cousin of Charles J Kickham, describes the game thus: "All the preliminaries being arranged by the elders, twenty-one young men at a side were selected. The spectators then retired to the ditches and the ball was thrown in among the rival parties. The ball was struck here and there, often pucked up in the air, then hit again before it reached the ground. Such lucky hits were acknowledged by cheers from the spectators. Then by tumbling, tossing, feint blows and the like at length one party succeeded in driving it to goal, amidst a peel of shouts and hurrahs from the friends of the victors. . . When the priest and gentlemen used to head us, and we all dressed out like jockeys in jackets and caps and the green was all roped; them were the times when we used to have the fun".

As far as is known the rules varied widely in cross-country hurling. According to Br. Liam P. O'Caithnia to strike a player a deliberate blow of the hurley was a crime punishable by law and to knock down a wall or fence and not to replace it was a further breach of the law. The latter law can be appreciated in the light of hundreds of players chasing a ball across country. Four other fouls mentioned by O'Caithnia appear to relate to hurling played in a confined space. One of these concerned two or more men jostling or shouldering one man between them, in other words 'sandwiching' a player. "Double-pulling" was also forbidden as it still is. Throwing the hurley was a foul as was lying on the ball was also forbidden. There was no sideline pucks, no sixty-fives, no linesmen, no umpires, no frees and no penalties. In contrast with our game today with its rules and regulations, its set fields and trim grasses, its white lines and secure nets, pre-GAA hurling appears disorganised, spontaneous, even anarchic.

<span class="postTitle">Donal O'Donoghue</span> North Tipp senior hurling final program page 27, September 8, 1996

Donal O'Donoghue

North Tipp senior hurling final program page 27, September 8, 1996

Playing in his sixth divisional final today, Donal O'Donoghue has given long and dedicated service to Lorrha. Since he made his first senior debut in 1979, the thirty-six year old Rathcabbin farmer has played in every championship. This year is his eigh­teenth and this makes him the longest serving member of the team and a player who had played longer than most in the his­tory of his club.

His hurling ancestry is impeccable. His father, Danny, and his uncle, Mick, gave long and distinguished service to Lorrha. When Donal came to the senior team in 1979 he slotted into the full back position in place of Felix Cronin. In the following year he was at corner back and, during his long career, he has played in every position on the field with the exception of goals. He has been one of the most ver­satile of players, always willing to play where requested. In latter years he has reverted to the fullback position and has made a good job of the position despite his low stature.

Although he has given away height and weight to many opponents, he has more than compensated with guts and determination. A lion-hearted player, he is noted for his swashbuckling style of dashing runs and daredevil abandon. His do or die spirit has often inspired his fellow players to lift their game. His skill level has always been quite good. He is a good reader of the game and a hard, fast tackler especially on the ground ball. His com­mitment to training has always been first class and his attendance at training sessions has been an example to all.
Perhaps it can be said that Donal's return from the game after so many years and so much commitment has been meagre, but it reflects the fortunes of Lorrha over the period. Of the five North finals in which he has played he was successful in 1984 and 1989 but unsuccessful in 1983, 1987 and 1992.

The highlight of his career was winning the divisional final in centenary year and one of his greatest regrets is defeat in the county final of the same year. In fact, he is of the belief that there were more low than high points in his playing career. Another great regret is los­ing the North semi-final to Roscrea in 1985. He hoped to go all the way that year and make up for failing at the final hurdle in 1984. Still another disappointment was the loss to Holycross in the county semi-final of 1989. He reckons Lorrha could have got to the coun­ty final that year but for some refereeing decisions and some injuries which saw him retire after only five minutes of the game and Ciaran Hough also injured.

Hurling has been his life and now in the twilight of his career nothing would please him better than to win a county final. Before that can be achieved victory has to be won today. After hurling, football has been a lesser interest in which he has .won divisional honours at intermediate and senior level. His favourite player at the inter county level has always been Nicky English. He has had his share of injuries in the course of his career, including a broken leg on two occasions and a broken ankle also. To an extent the nature of these injuries reflect the courage and determination of the player, a spirit and a heart that has always put his team and his club above any other interest.

<span class="postTitle">The Senior Hurling Championship</span> County Senior Hurling Final Program 1996

The Senior Hurling Championship

County Senior Hurling Final Program 1996

This year is the twentieth running of the senior hurling championship in its present format. It came into existence at the 1977 county convention after a successful motion from the Gortnahoe-Glengoole club. It was "that the county senior hurling championship be contested by the divisional champions and one other team from each division'. The motion received the statutory two-thirds majority required to abolish the open draw as convention voted by 148 votes to 52 in favour.

The open draw senior hurling championship came into being in the 1969 county convention as a result of a large majority in favour of a motion submitted jointly by Holycross and Moneygall and moved by Philip Ryan of the latter club. Arguments used in favour included one to raise the status of the county championship and to give clubs a chance to play outside their divisions. It was also expected it would improve the standard of hurling in the county.

There was criticism of the new system from the beginning. At the 1970 convention Tommy Barrett was none too happy with it. It was in the overall devoid of interest. There were too many bad games. There was a motion to abolish it but it failed to get the required two-thirds majority. Another attempt to change it in the 1972 convention failed to get the requisite two-thirds majority. Further attempts in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 all failed to get the necessary two-thirds.

Until 1959 the county championship consisted of the divisional winners contesting the semi-finals with the winners going forward to the county final. In 1960 the county board introduced a new system which included two teams coming forward from each division. Mid winners Thurles Sarsfields beat south losers, Carrick Swans. Mid losers, Holycross-Ballycahill beat west victors, Kickhams. North winners, Toomevara, beat west losers, Solohead and north losers, Kilruane-MacDonaghs, beat south winners, Marlfield.

A variation was introduced in 1961 because there had been a number of poor games the previous year - Sarsfields beat Carrick Swans 10-14 to 1-2, Toomevara beat Solohead 3-20 to 1-0 and Kilruane-MacDonaghs beat Marlfield by 8-8 to 1-4 - the number of quarter-finals was reduced to two. Under this system the north runners-up played the south champions and the mid runners-up played the west champions with the winners joining the north and mid champions in the semi-finals.

This system continued until 1966 when a motion to county convention increased the number of quarter-finals to four by bringing in two teams from the south and west as well as from the north and mid. This system continued until the introduction of the open draw in 1969.

Since the abolition of the open draw in 1977 divisional champions have gone on to win the county final on fourteen occasions. The first exception was in 1984 when the mid champions, Drom-Inch were knocked out by Lorrha in the semi-final. Lorrha were in turn defeated in the county final by mid runners-up, Moycarkey-Borris.

On the other four occasions when divisional champions failed to win the county final, the north league winners came through. The first time was in 1986 when Borris-lleigh, as league winners, beat championship runners-up Toomevara in the play-off. Of course Borris-lleigh went on to claim an All-Ireland club championship. In 1992 and 1993 Toomevara came through by virtue of being league winners. In the former year they beat Lorrha in the play-off and in the latter, Moneygall.

Last year's winner, Nenagh, took the same route to county final honours when they beat north championship runners-up, Borris-lleigh, in the play-off.

Whether this is a good or a bad thing is a matter for debate. Some believe that county champions should be first and foremost, divisional champions. Others disagree and hold the county championship to be a separate competition that need not have any links with the divisions.

However, since qualification for the county championship is through the divisional championships, there is a very definite connection. Perhaps it is time to rethink the system of running our county championship and go for radical change. The open draw was discredited because there were too many bad games and too many teams masquerading as senior. In the last year of the draw no less than thirty-three senior teams participated. If they all numbered senior players we should have had the strongest county senior panel in the country. But they didn't and we were very much in the doldrums, inter-county wise, at that period.

Maybe there is an opportunity of a revised open draw with sixteen teams or less. Who would decide could be left to a specialist committee. It ought to be possible to decide on some system of relegation and promotion each year. All first round games could be played on the last two weekends of June, the quarter­finals at the end of July, the semis at the end of August and the final on the fourth week in September. Of course the divisional championship would remain intact. What about it?

ROLL OF HONOUR

Thurles Sarsfields (28) - 1887, 1904, '06, '07, '08, '09, 1911, '29, '35, '36, '38, '39, '42, '44, '45, '46, '52, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '74.
Moycarkey-Borris (14) - 1889, 1899, 1900, '01, '03, '05, '26, '32, '33, '34, '37, '40, '82, '84.
Tubberadora/Boherlahan-Dualla (13) -1895, '96, '98, 1915, 1916, '17, '18, '22, '24, '25, '27, '28, '41.
Toomevara (13) - 1890, 1910, '12, '13, '14, '19, '23, '30, '31, '60, '92, '93, '94.
Borris-lleigh (6) - 1949, '50, '53, '81, '83, '86.
Roscrea (6)-'68, '69, '70, '72, '73, '80.
Kilruane-McDonaghs (4) - 1977, '78, '79, '85.
Holycross-Ballycahill (4) - 1948, '51, '54, 1990.
Carrick Davins (2) - 1966, 1967. 
Moneygall (2)-1975,'76. 
Cappawhite (1)- 1987. Carrick Swans (1) 1947. Clonoulty (2)-1888, 1989. Drombane (1) - 1894. Lahorna De Wets (1) - 1902. Suir View (1)-1897. Moyne-Templetuohy (1) - 1971. Loughmore Castleiney (1) - 1988. Cashel King Cormacs (1) - 1991. Eire Og (Nenagh) (1) - 1995. Eire Og (Annacarty) (1) - 1943.

<span class="postTitle">Ken Hogan</span> North Tipperary Senior Hurling final replay September 15, 1996

Ken Hogan

North Tipperary Senior Hurling final replay September 15, 1996

This is Ken Hogan's seventeenth year playing senior championship hurling for Lorrha. He made his debut as a goalkeeper with the team in May 1980 even though all his play had been outfield up to then. It was as a fullback he helped Birr Community School to two Leinster Schools 'A' titles in 1979 and 1980. In the former year the team was beaten by St. Flannan's in the final.

It was only by chance that he became a goalkeeper. In the first round of the 1980 championship against Kilruane, Lorrha's regular goalkeeper, John Shelly, was sent to the line and wasn't available for the next outing against Silvermines at Cloughjordan on May 15. Brian Mannion became convinced that Ken would make a suitable substitute. As he was only 16 years old at the time, Brian went to see the father, Hubie, and, after some persuasion, secured permission to have Ken play in goals. He duly did, never looked back and has never failed to turn out for the club during the intervening years.

It was a fortuitous development for the young player. His displays with the Lorrha seniors sufficiently impressed the county minor selectors and he was drafted in to the side as the regular goalkeeper and went on to win an All-Ireland minor medal. His outstanding ability was recognised at the end of the year when he was given the Player of the Year award because 'his consistent top class displays in goal for county and club made him an automatic choice.'

Ken progressed to the county under-21 team in 1982 and was goalkeeper in 1983 and 1984 as well. The team won a Munster final in 1983 only to succumb to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. In Centenary Year there was the disappointment of losing the All-Ireland to Kilkenny In the same year Ken had the added disappointment of losing the county final when Lorrha were beaten by Moycarkey-Borris.

It was obvious that Ken's talent would soon receive higher recognition and this came in 1987. The new management had taken over for the 1986/87 league and when the panel was announced for the 1987 championship debut against Kerry, Ken was named as goalie. From then until he retired from inter-county hurling after defeat by Clare in the 1994 championship, he never missed a championship outing for Tipperary, playing twenty-six in all and winning five Munster titles, two All-Irelands and two National Leagues

Is he satisfied with the achievements of these years? 'I suppose I'm not. As a team we didn't win enough. Looking back I think we should have won another All-Ireland.. Maybe it was we hadn't the necessary ruthlessness or, perhaps, the greatness to win a third. We lacked the consistency of performance required to win. And yet, when you put our achievements into a wider perspective our lot was not dissimilar to that of Galway, Cork and Kilkenny over the same period. They also found it difficult to win a third.'

There were a number of highlights during these years. One of the most memorable was playing in the 1987 Munster final, the replay and the extra time. Killarney was magical and it recalled for him another great occasion for Tipperary in 1949 when another Lorrha man, Tony Reddin, was in goals. That great year was capped for him by winning an All-Star Award. The winning of the league in 1988 against Offaly was particularly pleasing. Living so close to the county, having gone to school in Birr and knowing most of his opponents made the victory something special. Naturally, the All-Irelands are highlights, especially when beating Limerick, Cork -after two games -, Galway and Kilkenny on the way to victory in 1991

There were also disappointments. One of the most bitter was losing the 1988 All-Ireland. It was his first senior All-Ireland and defeat was particularly painful. Another lowlight was the loss of the 1992 league final against Limerick, after enjoying a substantial lead at half-time. Reflecting on this defeat he believes it was the beginning of the decline of the team, a crack in its invincibility. It was the first time they had been troubled by Limerick and the team went on to lose to Cork in the first round of the championship in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Since 1994 Ken has confined his hurling to Lorrha but has continued his involvement with the county team in the role of selector. He is particularly pleased with Lorrha' s progress this year after an inauspicious start. Winning another north championship today would be tremendously pleasing and would put Lorrha in the proper frame of mind for the county championship, the holy grail that had eluded Lorrha up to now.

<span class="postTitle">Floppy Hats and Fierce Determination</span> Munster Final S.H. Program 1996

Floppy Hats and Fierce Determination

Munster Final S.H. Program 1996

The memories Tipperary supporters have of Thurles on July 29,1973 are in many cases confined to Richie Bennis' last puck from a seventy and whether or not it was a point. And the argument will continue on that it shouldn't have been a seventy in the first place!

If you ask the score not many will remember, it was a high-scoring game with Limerick 6-7 to Tipperary's 2-18. The scoreline tells its own tale, some fine goalkeeping by Limerick's Horgan and good defensive work by Limerick's backs. At the other end was a rampant Rea, giving an out­standing display at full-forward, flicking and placing balls for his fellow-forwards while drawing defensive attention on himself. According to Culbaire (Tipperary Star) 'no Tipperary defence has been in greater trouble against Limerick since John Mackey upset them in Cork in 1946. Six goals is a total, way above a Tipperary defence's par for the course in any game'.

What a contrast from the wet Killarney of two years previously! There was brilliant sunshine to warm a shirt-sleeved crowd. How easy it was to get in! The official attendance was forty-two thou­sand odd but there was no limit to how many might go in. It was the old fashioned first come, first served kind of game.

A couple of friends and I arrived at 3.25 and no difficulty getting through the turnstiles and made our way on to the grassy bank — Yes! we stood on grass and sat on it at half-time. In order to protect my head from the sun I had brought with me a wide-brimmed, floppy hat belonging to my wife. You know the kind women buy for weddings, which cost a fortune, and are worn once! Well, this particular one had further use. But not for long. Soon I began to get messages from behind that it was impeding someone's vision and I had better get rid of it. I suppose the heat, working on the few pre-match pints, made me compliant rather than aggressive so I removed it and got a good burning as a result. Like so many games between the sides during this period, this one produced hurling and excitement to please even the most discerning of followers.

Pat Hartigan is of the opinion that Limerick were built up to such a pitch of determination on the day, there was no way they were going to lose. For him and many other members of the team the defeat in Killarney had been shattering and they were all looking for some token of compen­sation. Their fierce determination to win was reflected in the breakneck speed with which they opened the proceedings and left Tipperary gasping. 'We were so fired up', according to Pat, 'that we would have gone through stonewalls. And, it's significant that most of our goals were rushed over the line rather than put away from a distance'.

Recalling rushed goals it is worth remembering that 1973 was the last year of charging the goal­keeper. The rule changes were to make him a protected species from 1974 onwards. This final was one of the first occasions on which the referee made use of his linesmen to place the sliotar for seventies. Clarecastle referee, Mike Slattery, who was in charge of the game, is proud to recall his contribution to this piece of common-sense to refereeing, which became a resounding success.
His abiding memory of 1973 is of the climax to the game. He told Bennis he had to score direct and waited near the goal for the shot to be taken. He didn't see the ball go over the bar but saw his umpire, Mickey Keane, raise the flag for the point. The game was over, Limerick jubilant and, as he walked to the dressing-room, Babs Keating caught up with him and protested it wasn't a point and shouldn't have been a seventy. Mike remembers it as an almost gentlemanly protestation.

One Tipperary back, Len Gaynor, was particularly annoyed about the point. He gave expres­sion to his feelings in a heated argument with Mickey Keane. Years later, when the anger had sub­sided and Len was preparing Clare for their road to Damascus, he became good friends with Anthony Daly, who happens to be a nephew of the same Mickey Keane. As a result of drinking tea in Anthony's house, Len renewed acquaintance with Mickey and today they're the best of friends.
Let Len have the final word on that famous Munster final. According to him the seeds of Limerick's success were sown in earlier league games between the sides that year, particularly in the semi-final replay at Birr. This game went to extra time during which Tipperary went five points in front. But Limerick came back with a flourish to score three goals and snatch victory. Len believes that victory was vital for Limerick, making them realise their worth and that Tipperary were beatable. Len also disputes an opinion, current among some, that Limerick would never have won the All-Ireland had Kilkenny had their full team. Instead, he is convinced Limerick were good enough to beat any team in 1973. A fine tribute indeed

<span class="postTitle">What Happened Since 1989</span> North Division G.A.A. S.H. Final Program 1996

What Happened Since 1989

North Division G.A.A. S.H. Final Program 1996

The last time Lorrha won the North final was in 1989. They had a successful year in the North that year, beating Borrisokane in the league final by 2-12 to 3-6 and overcoming Toomevara by 1-14 to 1-12 in the championship. With a bit of luck that year they might have won their first-ever county championship.

By defeating Toomevara in the North final, Lorrha qualified by play Carrick Swans in the county quarter­final. They won by double scores on a scoreline of 4-14 to 2-7. Kieran Hough was in brilliant form on the day, scor­ing 1-10 from frees and play.

In the semi-final Lorrha were pitted against Holycross-Ballycahill. In a dramatic game the North champions had a goal and a point disallowed by referee, George Ryan, in the space of only two minutes of the second half. Both were scores by Aidan Mclntyre and, on both occasions, the referee gave a free out for what he deemed to be square infringements. Lorrha protested, especially when they lost by the minimum of margins, 0-12 to 0-11, their arguments and protests proved fruitless. Holycross had snatched the winning score with a Tonto' Lanigan point in the dying moments. What might have happened had Lorrha got through is anybody's guess. Holycross lost the final to Clonoulty-Rossmore by two points.

In the following year they beat Shannon Rovers by 0-18 to 2-8 in the first round and qual­ified for the winners' group but were beaten by Newport 2-12 to 1-12 and lost their chance of improving on the previous year. There wasn't much joy in 1991 either. Getting a bye in the first round Lorrha beat Newport convincingly by 1-15 to 1-7 but lost the semi-final to Toomevara by the minimum of margins on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-10.

In 1992 Lorrha qualified for the North final after playing five games in the champi­onship. They beat Newport, 2-6 to 0-9 in the first round and went on to defeat Borrisokane by 2-9 to 1-9 and qualify for the semi-final. This turned out to be a marathon against Toomevara. The teams drew 2-9 to 0-15 the first day, were still locked together 3-13 to 1-19 after extra time the second day and Lorrha eventually came out on top by 2-7 to 1-5 after the third attempt. Alas, for the men in blue and white the exhaustion, mental and physi­cal, of the three-game saga took its toll and they lost badly to Nenagh in the final by 1-18 to 0-8. Any progress they might have made outside the division, was halted by defeat at the hands of Toomevara, in the play-off between the losers and the winners of the league.

There wasn't much to shout about in 1993. After a comprehensive defeat of St. Odhran's - a combination of Silvermines and Templederry - by 4-16 to 1-15 in the first round, Lorrha were defeated, 4-9 to 1-9, by Nenagh in the winners' group. They won the first round in 1994, beating Borrisokane by 1-15 to 1-8 in the progress. They met Toomevara in the sec­ond round, drew the first day on a scoreline of 1-11 to 2-8 but were beaten in the replay by 1-16 to 1-12. Toomevara went on to win the county final and were beaten by Kilmallock in the Munster club final.

Lorrha played four matches in the 1995 championship. In the first round they drew 0-12 to 1-9 with Newport and were beaten in the replay by 0-11 to 0-10. Qualifying for the losers's group they drew with Moneygall, 0-8 to 1-5 but were beaten in the replay by 0-12 to 0-10.

And so the record since 1989 looks like this: Lorrha played 28 championship matches, won 14, drew 5 and lost 9. It will be interesting to see what will be added to that record after today's game.

<span class="postTitle">The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship</span> Munster J.H. Final Program, Cashel, June 25, 1996

The All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship

Munster J.H. Final Program, Cashel, June 25, 1996

In the early days of the G.A.A. there was only one grade in hurling. Gradually, with the increasing popularity of the game and the growing num­ber of players, it became apparent that a grade other than senior was neces­sary. Dublin became the first county to establish a junior competition. A junior league was formed in the county in 1901 and so successful was it that a decision was taken to set up a minor competition also.

Limerick has the distinction of organising the first county junior champi­onship. A junior board was formed at the county convention on February 28, 1901 and, as well as establishing a junior championship, it also inaugurated the first juvenile competition. The next step was the organisation of inter-county games and the first such games, in junior and minor grades, were contested by Limerick and Dublin and took place at the Thatch Grounds, Drumcondra on August 14 1904.

The first national recognition of the junior grade was at the annual conven­tion or congress of the Association at Thurles at the end of 1903. At the adjourned convention on December 13, on the proposition of A. Murphy (Dublin), it was decided to establish a junior All-Ireland championship in hurling, the teams to consist of players who had not played hurling in a senior county championship, provincial championship or an All-Ireland championship since the year 1901. It was to be nine years before the deci­sion was implemented.

The first province to make a start was Leinster, where a provincial champi­onship commenced in 1905. The first winners were Kildare. Munster fol­lowed suit in 1910 when Tipperary took the first title. Ulster participated in 1913. Congress in that year graded Ulster counties junior for hurling and Antrim won the first provincial championship. They were beaten by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final. Connacht also fell into line in 1913 and Galway contested their first All-Ireland final in 1924, going down to Tipperary.

The first All-Ireland junior hurling final was played at Jones' Road on February 23 1913. It was the final of the 1912 championship. The finalists were Cork and Westmeath and the Munster champions became the first winners of the competition by 3-6 to 2-1. The successful Cork side was: C. Hallahan (capt.), J. Long, J. Hallahan (Ballincollig), W. Finn, D. Aherne (Cobh), P. Prior, J. Murphy, W. Lombard (Douglas), S. Salmon, J. O'Brien (Emmets), T. O'Riordan, J. Cahill (Blackrock), J. McDonnell (Emmets), P. Singleton (Kanturk), W. Fitzgerald (Collegians), P. Vaughan (Blackrock), C. O'Connell (Sunday's Well).

Between 1912 and 1995 the championship was played on seventy-four occasions. It was suspended during the periods 1917-22 and 1942-45. During the period 1961-73 the championship was run in conjunction with the National League Division 3 and a limited number of counties compet­ed. The counties which opted out took part in a new intermediate champi­onship. The original format was restored in 1983. An important decision was taken in the 1927 Congress which was to permit teams from Britain to participate.

Twenty-one counties have won the All-Ireland junior hurling championship. Six more, Carlow, Laois, Longford, Antrim, Monaghan and Fermanagh, have unsuccessfully contested finals. Only five counties, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Cavan and Tyrone, have failed to reach a final. As well, two English counties, London and Warwickshire, have won the champi­onship. Two other English counties, Lancashire and Hertfordshire, have contested finals without success. This success and participation rate compares more than favourably with the senior hurling championship in which only twelve counties, plus London, were successful and one, Antrim, unsuccessful.

<span class="postTitle">Eddie Ryan (1962-1992)</span> West Senior Hurling final program, July 1995

Eddie Ryan (1962-1992)

West Senior Hurling final program, July 1995

West final day is an appropriate time to remember a young man who made a significant contribution to the sporting life of Cashel and who infected all around him with his great joie de vivre.

Playing in the 1980 west final against Sean Treacy's at Dundrum Eddie Ryan ensured victory for Cashel King Cormac's by scoring the insurance point in the dying minutes of extra time in the replay. Still only eighteen years of age he played an important role in bringing a county minor title to the club the same year. It was the culmination of a successful underage career in hurling and football which saw Eddie win under 12 and under-14 titles, at divisional and county levels, between 1972 and 1975. He was to continue playing at under-21 and senior levels in the early eighties but probably never realised the promise of his earlier years.

Part of the reason was his departure from Cashel to study Agricultural Science in U.C.D. During his first year he played on the college team and also showed his prowess as a sprinter by winning the 100 metres in the college sports. However, of a relaxed nature and more interested in the craic and the joy of living, training began to take second place in his life and the hurler or footballer he might have been never got the chance to develop.

As well as G.A.A. rugby played an important part in his life. From the age of about sixteen he played with Cashel, either at scrum-half or first centre, and in the course of time won a Garryowen and a Mansergh Cup with the club.

A further interest was the Cashel Gun Club. For him November 1 was a sacrosanct day when everything else had to play second fiddle to a day's shooting. This aspect of his life is remembered lovingly every year on the first day of the shooting season by Tom Hayes, who places a pheasant's feather on his grave.

By your friends you shall be remembered. Eddie had a load of them both in Cashel where he never lost touch with the local scene and whereto he regularly returned to watch and support the local teams, and in his job as agricultural adviser with Bayer (Ireland) Ltd. Last year his friends in Bayer contributed in order to establish a fitting memorial to his name. They had a trophy specially sculpted, which they presented to West Bord na nOg and which replaced the Caiseal Ri Chormaic Cup for the divisional under-14 'B' hurling championship. The money outstanding after the commissioning of the trophy was presented to Cashel Bord na nÓg for the promotion of youth activity in the town.

It was a fitting way to remember Eddie Ryan, who had such a successful career as a young player with Cashel. The trophy was presented to Bord na nOg last year and the first winners were Lattin-Cullen. The second name to be inscribed on the trophy is that of Eddie's own club, Caiseal Ri Chormaic, who succeeded in beating Eire Og in the final last Sunday night. It was the club's first victory in the competition since 1983, a sign of the decline in underage success in the town since the glory days of the seventies when Eddie was in his prime.

<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 West's Awake</span> West Tipperary Division Senior Hurling Final Program at Emly, August 20, 1989

The West's Awake

West Tipperary Division Senior Hurling Final Program at Emly, August 20, 1989

Senior Hurling Final day in the West is a good day to reflect on the contribution of the division to the fortunes of the county at a senior level. Whatever may have been the story in the past there isn't a shadow of doubt that the West has contributed enormously to the present revival of Tipperary's hurling fortunes.

Most commentators on last Sunday's victory over Galway have made the point that the most impressive line on the field of play was our inside forward line, which scored 1-12 of the team's total of 1-17. And,everyone reading this today is aware that the three forwards who made such an impression were Pat Fox of Eire Óg, Cormac Bonnar of Cashel King Cormacs and Nicholas English of Lattin-Cullen.

But the contribution of this division didn't end there. Of the total panel of twenty-three, no fewer that nine players came from the West, representative of five clubs. As well as those mentioned above, Clonoulty-Rossmore were represented by Declan Ryan, Joe Hayes and John Kennedy, Golden-Kilfeacle by John Leamy, and Cashel had two more Bonnars, Conal and Colm.

Significantly, all of them, with the exception of John Leamy, made their contribution to victory on the field of play.
 

Late Arrivals
 

Observers from other division are wont to make the point that the West was a late arrival on the hurling sene and that much wasn't heard from the division before the eighties. There is a certain truth in the observation but it is by no means the whole truth.

Since the division was formed in 1930 its hurlers have made a respectable contribution to the county's senior hurling victories. During that period Tipperary won twelve senior All-Irelands and the men from the West had a contribution to make in eleven of them.

The exception was 1930 when the division had no representative. However, there were two who played their part in the 1937 victory over Kilkenny at Killarney. Jack Gleeson of Shanballa, Cashel and Bill O'Donnell of Golden and Eire Óg, Gleeson played at centrefield, went to London later the same year and won an All-Ireland junior medal with London the following year. O'Donnell played corner-forward and was to help Eire Óg to become the first team from the division to take the county senior hurling title six years later.

In 1945 the West had two representatives again. At right-corner back was the ten and a half stone Jim Devitt of Cashel, a most improbable occupant of the position. Declining health meant that he retired after getting a second medal in 1949 at the age of twenty-seven years.

At the other end of the field was the Clonoulty-Rossmore star, Tony Brennan, playing at full-forward. It was to be the first of four All-Irelands for Tony. He was the only representative (excepting Jim Devitt in 1949) from the division on the successful three-in-a-row teams of 1949, 1950 and 1951. In these All-Ireland he changed ends and gave sterling service at full-back, providing maximum cover for Tony Reddin in the days when Michael McGrath's indescretion against Conor Donovan would have been regarded as a mere passing irritation.

There's a bit of a blank in the 1958 team. The man between the posts in that All-Ireland was John O'Grady of 'Culbaire' fame. However, his shadow on the occasion was Terry Moloney from Arravale Rovers. Terry had made his name with St. Flannan's College, won an All-Ireland minor medal with Tipperary in 1957 and, still a minor, beaten unexpectedly by Limerick in the first round of the 1958 championship. His prowess with the minors was sufficient to have him drafted in as cover for John O'Grady in the 1958 senior campaign.
 

Goalkeeping Tradition
 

Terry Moloney started a great tradition of West goalkeepers on successful Tipperary teams. He himself wasn't quite so successful. He took over from O'Grady, who retired because of faulty vision, in the 1959 championship but Tipperary were massacred by a rampant Waterford in the Munster semi-final. He was again unfortunate to be on the losing side against Wexford in the 1960 All-Ireland. So, he had to be satisfied with his 1958 medal because he was out of favour by the following year.

His place on the 1961 team was taken by Kickhams player, Donal O'Brien. Donal had a shorter innings between the posts but became the proud possessor of two All-Ireland medals when Tipperary succeeded against Dublin in 1961 and against Wexford in 1962.

The remarkable supply of goalkeepers from the West division, begun by Terry Moloney in 1958, was to continue until 1972, with the exception of 1963, when Toomevara's Roger Mounsey occupied the position. (Interestingly the tradition is revived in the 1989 side with John Leamy of Golden-Kilfeacle holding the position of sub-goalie.)

John O'Donoghue of Arravale Rovers took over in 1964 and guarded the net in that year's All-Ireland victory over Kilkenny and in the 1965 success against Wexford. He might have had four-in-a-row had Tipperary not been beaten in the 1967 and 1968 finals.

John was replaced by Peter O'Sullivan of Cashel King Cormacs during the 1970 championship and held the position until 1972. He was on the last All-Ireland winning side in 1971 and had two other West players for company in the victory over Kilkenny. John Kelly of Cappawhite played at full-back on that successful side and Dinny Ryan of Sean Treacys played at wing-forward. It was the biggest representation the West ever had on an All-Ireland winning side and may have been an omen of future developments in thecounty.

Therefore, our present players, who will represent the division on September 3, can carry into the All-Ireland final a great belief in their own contribution to the present revival of the county's fortunes but also the knowledge that they are the bearers of a very repectable tradition, which has contributed significantly to the county's senior hurling success since the division was formed.

<span class="postTitle">Slievenamon</span> County Hurling Quarter-Finals, Leahy Park, Cashel, September 20, 1987

Slievenamon

County Hurling Quarter-Finals, Leahy Park, Cashel, September 20, 1987

Charles Kickham's song has always been popular in the county - it could be called the County Anthem. But it has achieved a new significance this year with Tipperary's emergence from the Munster championship after sixteen years in the wilderness. Richard Stakelum's rendering of the song after receiving the Munster Cup in Killarney touched responsive chords in the hearts of Tipperary people everywhere. 

The rousing reception to the song was an understandable response after so many years of defeat and frustration. It gave vent to the county's relief and exhilaration after such a succession of failures. It carried a tone of triumphalism that rang out over Fitzgerald Stadium and teased the ears of Cork supporters as they made their hurried exits. I experienced a similar full-blooded rendering of the song in Patrick McGrath's pub in Drumcondra on the morning of the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. 

The song holds a similar position in Tipperary as 'Boolavogue' does in Wexford or 'The Banks' in Cork or, more recently, 'You're a Lady' in Limerick. 

The strength of 'Slievenamon' must rest on its very fine melody. Even without the words it's a great tune. It represents the Romantic Ireland that W.B. Yeats thought was 'dead and gone'. Kickham was the great exponent of Romantic Nationalism in his writings and 'Slievenamon' was one of the finest expressions of the feeling. 

The song's association with Kickham makes it all the more attractive. The Mullinahone writer endured hardship and want, ill-health and imprisonment, during his relatively short life of fifty-four years. Yet, in his great novel 'Knocknagow', which he sub-titled 'The Homes of Tipperary', he gave us the story of the indomitable spirit of Matt the Thresher and pride in one's place. 

I thought the singing of 'Slievenamon' brings some of these thoughts and feelings to our minds. We have returned from the wilderness to the edge of hurling greatness again. We have triumphed over the failures and frustrations of the past number of years. We have come again into our own, back, almost, to our rightful place as the premier county in hurling. We can again take pride in our county. The name of Tipperary is once again a name to be feared and respected, as it was in the great fifties and sixties. 

The interesting thing about this development is that is also touches those who don't remember the glory days. It's amazing the resurgence of interest in the county among the young. The number of teenage boys and girls who made the journey to Croke Park on August 9th was staggering. They were finding out for the first time what it was to be from Tipperary just as the rest of us were re-discovering the indescribable pleasure of being Tipperary men and women. 

All of this may seem somewhat remote from to-day's county quarter-final clashes at Pairc Sean Ui Laochadha. But it isn't. Johnny Leahy, better known as Captain Johnny Leahy, after whom this field is named, represented the same indomitable spirit about which Kickham wrote. The great writer himself was born in the parish of Cashel, about a mile out the Fethard Road. According to the story his mother came in from Mullinahone to shop in Cashel in 1828 and went into labour on her way home. Charles was born in her parents' place in Mockler's Hill. And, in the distance, as one looks at it, it is tempting to imagine the scene on the morning that Fionn Mac Cumhail chose his bride, a marathon of women labouring up the sides of the mountain and their disappointment of finding Deirdre in Fionn's arms when they scaled the peak. 

Alone, all alone by the wave-washed strand
And alone in the crowded hall
The hall it is gay and the wayes they are grand
But my heart is not here at all! 
It flies far away, by night and by day
To the times and the joys that are gone. 
And I never shall forget the sweet maiden I met
In the Valley near Slievenamon .

It was not the grace of her queenly air
Not her cheek of the rose's glow
Nor her soft black eyes, nor her flowing hair
Nor was it her lily-white brow.
'Twas the soul of truth and of melting ruth
And the smile like a summer dawn
That stole my heart away one soft summer day
In the Valley near Slievenamon

In the festive hall, by the star-watched shore
Ever my restless spirit cries: 
"My love, oh my love, shall I ne 'er see you more? 
And, my land, will you never uprise?" 
By night and by day I ever, ever pray
While lonely my life flows on
To see our flag unrolled and my true love to enfold
In the Valley near Slievenamon.

<span class="postTitle">Tommy Butler</span> County Senior Hurling semi-final progam, Sept. 30th, 1984

Tommy Butler

County Senior Hurling semi-final progam, Sept. 30th, 1984

Surely the best-known Drom Inch man must be Tommy Butler! If for no other reason, he was our sole All-Star in 1978. Or, that he was the only Tipperary man to win the RTE Goal of the Year Award. It may be that the present generation have heard of no other Drom Inch county senior hurling players.

Perhaps people have forgotten about a great predecessor of Tommy's, Seamus Bannon, who won senior All-Irelands in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Another great Drom Inch man was Mick Kennedy, who starred on the great Limerick team of the thirties. In the same decade Phil Farrell was on the Dublin winning team of 1938 and, in the previous decade, Tom Barry of Dovea won two All-Irelands, also with Dublin, in 1924 and 1927. Coming nearer to the present Tommy's brother, Eamon, captained the county intermediate team to victory in the 1971 All-Ireland. On the same team was another brother, Seamus, and two clubmates, Oliver Quinn and Jim Carey. On today's team for the replay of the quarter-final is Pat Looby, who has the distinction of winning a minor All-Ireland in 1976 and an under-21 in 1979. In all not a bad record for a parish of eleven hundred people.

Family

It coul be said that the Butler name is synonymous with Drom Inch. With six boys in the family, and they all hurling, it was bound to be so. All six brothers were on when the club won their first senior mid-final in 1974. (The date was September 9 and, coincidentally, they won their second on September 9, 1984.) That was a great victory for the club but Tommy remembers a victory over Borrisoleigh the previous year with even greater delight. They had been beaten by Thurles Sarsfields in the mid-final and went out the following Sunday against Borrisoleigh in the county championship without much hope. At half-time they had even less hope and it continued so into the second half when Drom Inch were twelve points down. Then things began to change as they started to score goals and they continued scoring to the consternation of Borrisoleigh to go home winners by a goal. Bonfires were lit in the parish that night in celebration of this victory over the neighbouring giants. It didn't matter, as Tommy said, that they had won nothing at all. Instead they had achieved the impossible.

School

Tommy went to school to Templemore C.B.S. And the high point of his hurling career there was to win three competitions, the Croke and Kinane Cups and Corn Phádraig, in 1968. He was captain of one of the teams. The next year he did the Leaving Certificate. 'That was the year the papers were stolen and we had to repeat the examination.' He went to work in Drombane Creamery soon after and has been there since. An Inch man, he is married with two children and lives near the Ragg.

He doesn't like admitting it but he got fourteen trials for the county minors in 1969 and failed to make the team! He remembers counting up the number for his father. However, it may have been the selectors were at fault because he proved his mettle the following year by making the under-21 team and he retained his position in 1971 and 1972. These weren't the most successful years but he did win a Munster medal in 1972 only to be beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final at Nenagh.

County Seniors

Tommy's career on the county senior team stretches from 1974, when he came on against Limerick in the last match of the league, to 1980. They weren't the best of years to be on the Tipperary senior team. He missed a League medal in 1975, when Galway defeated them in the final at Limerick. He won one eventually four years later, when Tipperary reversed the 1975 result. In between there wasn't much to shout about in the line of victories. There was a Railway Cup medal in 1978 at wing-forward and an All-Star Award at number 11. Probably his greatest display was in the Munster championship of 1976, when he got the better of John Horgan, until the latter was taken off.

A Club Man

Tommy is, above all, a Drom Inch man with a long number of years of service to the club: he first played senior with them in 1966! He came in as a replacement goalkeeper against Thurles Sarsfields that year. He believes that the present team has something that previous teams hadn't, a faith in themselves. He is unreserved in attributing this to their trainer, Brother Daithi Fitzgerald, a Doon man teaching in Thurles C.B.S. Allied to that is a commitment that gives an hundred percent turnout for training. Br. Fitzgerald has been with them since May and has changed their traditional training to concentrating on man-to-man combat for ball possession. Everything in training revolves around these tussles for the ball. Another inspiration has been their new curate, Fr. Ryan from Newport, who played a couple of games until injured earlier this year. He is full of enthusiasm and has inculcated it in the team.

Success

Success hasn't been confined to the seniors this year. In minor and under-21 hurling and in junior football the club is also having a successful run. Though the parish is small it has two playing pitches. One is near the Ragg and it's in the hands of the club since the thirties, but has never been developed: 'I suppose we've always been hoping to get one nearer the cross.' This is the field the seniors train in. There's another field in Drom and more underage games are played there.

Tommy is quietly confident that Drom Inch will win today's replay. 'We played way below our best in the drawn game and were still too close to the exertions required to win the Mid the previous Sunday.' In that Mid final Tommy was the hero and he was again the toast of the parish with his equalising point against Éire Óg last Sunday. There is no doubt that his contribution with be crucial to today's outcome. 

<span class="postTitle">Hurling in the Eighteenth Century</span> County S.H. Quarter-Final Program, Cashel, Sept. 16, 1984

Hurling in the Eighteenth Century

County S.H. Quarter-Final Program, Cashel, Sept. 16, 1984

Looking through the records of some hurling matches in the eighteenth century, we find that hurling in Ulster is not a modem sport. Two centuries ago Antrim had hurlers. It is recorded that in the severe winter of 1740 there was a hurling match on the ice on Lough Neagh. 

We find, however, that about this period the game was more extensively played outside of Ulster. Records exist of strenuous contests like the "grand match of hurling in May 1748, on Crumlin Commons between the Provinces of Leinster and Munster, in which the former came off victorious. Munster unsatisfied with the result sought a replay, and about a week later they met on the same grounds. Keen on winning Munster picked "a chosen set" but "their utmost efforts were all to no purpose, for Leinster after about an hour's struggle, gained a complete victory." Not yet satisfied, Munster asked a further trial, and "the greatest match of hurling ever played in this Kingdom" was promised, but after the necessary preparations were made, "Munster thought it proper to decline the combat." 

Hats Were Lost

In September, 1775, there was a match between Co. Tipperary and the Lower Ormond "band of hurlers" on the Commons of Ballingarry, near Borrisokane, when after an hour and fifteen minutes trial, the "invincible Lower Ormonians, according to their usual methods, put out a fair and undisputed goaL" It was computed that there were 10,000 spectators at this match "who quietly separated in the evening without the least accident or irregularity, except a few hats that were lost in the huzzaing." 

In September, 1755, there was a hurling match at Lyons, Co. Kildare, between the gentlemen of Kildare and Dublin, at which the Marquess of Hartington (then Lord Lieutenant) and "a most brilliant appearance of nobility and gentry were present. Yes, the Gentry played the game of hurling then, for it is recorded that in a match about this period between the Counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary the teams were mainly composed of "gentry of the highest respectability from both Counties." 

Horsemen as Stewards

"In honour of their illustrious country, and to encourage reward and honour, bravery and hardihood from whatever part of Ireland they might come." a hurling match was played in July, 1814, on Kensington Commons, London, by some gentlemen of Ireland, the teams (18 a side) being named St. Giles and Wapping. The Duke of Wellington and staff formed portion of 20.000 interested spectators. Gentlemen on horseback acted as stewards, and the dexterity of the players amazed the onlookers. The match was for 200 guineas, and the result was a draw. 

In July, 1792, a cricket match, held in the Phoenix Park, was described as a form of 

Irish hurling, but the latter ''was much more strenuous." It was not safe to be a spectator at these strenuous matches, for in September, 1756 a woman got her eye knocked out at Crumlin, and another got her leg broken. Nor was it advisable to interfere between players, for at a match at Glounanere, near Cashel, in 1774, James Raighelly (was he the referee?) in attempting to make peace between two players, was killed with a stroke of a hurley. 

Phoenix Park 'Scenes'

In July, 1779, complaints were made "that a mob of people assemble on Sundays in the Phoenix Park, adjoining the residence of Mr. Gardiner, High Sheriff, to play football and hurling matches, and most horrid profanement of drunkenness, riot, and fighting are practised, and these Sabbath breakers are permitted to remain unmolested in defiance of the law, divine and human." 

A century and a half has passed since these complaints were made, and the conduct of the game has greatly altered, but if some of those spirits could return to life and hear the "huzzaing" on an All-Ireland Final day at Croke Park, they would conclude that during their long retirement those "wild Irish" had become even more enthusiastic over their national game. 

<span class="postTitle">Phil Shanahan - Toomevara</span> County S.H. Quarter-Final Program, Cashel, Sept. 16, 1984

Phil Shanahan - Toomevara

County S.H. Quarter-Final Program, Cashel, Sept. 16, 1984

When one mentions Phil Shanahan one is talking about one of the great centrefield players that the county has produced down the years. He holds his place in the company of other names who have made that part of the field their own, players of the calibre of Tommy Treacy, Jimmy Cooney, Theo English and Mick Roche. Phil was a fine centrefield player, a real Toomevara Greyhound, who could stay going all day, a man with a tremendous workrate. A powerful man, he could hold his own with the best and he was always in tip top shape. He played at a time when centrefield play was much more vital in the scheme of hurling things than it is today.

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

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

He made his county debut with the minors in 1946. In the Munster final against Cork he collected a mis-hit seventy-yard free near the end of the game to score the winning goal and win the match by a point. Galway were well-beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final but the final was lost to Dublin in the infamous Billy O’Brien goalmouth incident. In the last few minutes the Dublin forwards succeeded in getting the ball over the goal line for a goal, which was only awarded after a three-minute consultation between the referee, M. J. Flaherty of Galway, and the umpires. Both the umpires claimed that the goalie, Billy O’Brien of Nenagh, had been fouled before the goal was scored but the referee didn’t see the foul and allowed the goal. Dublin won by 1-6 to 0-7.

Phil’s first entry into senior ranks was to be selected on the 1948/49 National League team at. Tipperary qualified for the final against Cork at Thurles in February. They won by two points and Phil had a good game at centrefield, partnered by Pat Stakelum. It was Tipperary’s first victory in the competition since 1928 and a great boost for the championship.

Tipperary were drawn against the same opposition in the first round of the championship and it took them two-and-a-half hours to achieve victory. It was the start of three glorious years during which Phil played a pivotal role at centrefield. As well as winning three Munster finals and three All-Irelands he also won two more National League medals, in 1950 and 1952 respectively. Another medal was to be won in 1957. As well as the medals, there were two trips to the U.S., in 1950 and again in 1957.

Other achievements from this period include an Oireachtas medal in 1949 and successive Monaghan Cup medals between 1949-1953. Thomond Feis medals were won in 1949 and 1951. He was on the successful Ireland teams in the Representative Games series in 1952 and 1953, winning the Sports Star of the Week award in 1952 for his display on Joe Salmon of Galway. Four Railway Cup medals were won in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953. He was long puck champion of Ireland in 1951.

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

In 1956 he changed jobs and joined Esso (Ireland) Ltd. and started working at Clonmel. He started playing for Toomevara and Tipperary once again. He won his fourth National League medal in 1957 and got his second trip to the U.S. in October. In the meantime Tipperary lost the Munster championship semi-final, defeated 5-2 to 1-11 in one of the most tantalising defeats ever suffered by the county. It was a game that Tipperary should have won and it was lost through a combination of adverse circumstances together with a share of ill-luck.

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

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

Married to Joan Power in 1958 and with a family of three sons, Phil Shanahan has contributed enormously to the G.A.A. at club and county level. He believes passionately in the game of hurling and has put that belief into practice through his coaching and training. He is very articulate on the G.A.A. and can speak at length of his playing days and the great players he met. He was always professional in his approach to the game and his dedication to training and preparation made him a man before his time. The Tipperary county board couldn’t afford county training before the 1949 league final and the players had to train themselves. Phil recalls: ‘I used to get up at seven o’clock in the morning and run and sprint in our field at the back of the house in order to achieve the required standard of fitness to beat this great Cork team.’ Such dedication is remarkable and was reflected in the many great performances he gave for his club and his county.

<span class="postTitle">Lorrha's Six Senior Hurling Titles</span> North Division S.H. Final Program, Aug. 19, 1984

Lorrha's Six Senior Hurling Titles

North Division S.H. Final Program, Aug. 19, 1984

Lorrha succeeded in winning the North Tipperary Senior hurling championship on six occasions, 1905, 1914, 1924, 1948, 1956 and 1966. 

The club's first participation in the county championship was in 1889. The club first played in the North championship in 1903. They achieved their first success in 1905 when they defeated De Wets 3-5 to 2-1.

From start to finish Lorrha held the lead, their opponents not heing able to equalise at any point of the game, and the conclusion was received with amazement, by De Wets more than anybody else. On their way to the final Lorrha accounted for Toomevara, Youghalarra and Templederry. The final was played at Terryglass on April 8, 1906. De Wets had won the North fimal since it began and were quite confident of victory. The Lorrha team, according to a contemporary photograph, was as follows: Jack Burke, Dick Gardiner, Jack Carroll, Paddy 0' Meara, Pat O'Meara, Jim Hogan, Major Sammon, Michael O'Donoghue, Paddy Hogan, Tom O'Donoghue, Bill Bollard, John Lambe, Joe Sammon, Pat Sammon, T. F. O'Meara. (capt.) , Jim O'Meara, John Quirke. 

Lorrha didn't affiliate any team in the senior championsnip for the three years prior to 1914. The club got a bye into the second round of that year's championship and played Borrisokane in the semi-final. The match was played at Terryglass on October 11 and seldom have spectators seen such a brilliant display of the caman. The result was 2-2 to 0-2 in favour of Lorrha. The North final was played at Ardcroney on November 22 and Lorrha's opponents were Templederry. There was a fine crowd but the game did not live up to expectations. At half-time Lorrha were ahead by 2-2 to nil and went on to win by 4-2 to 1-0. In winning this championship Lorrha interrupted Toomevara's sequence of victories just as they had done with De Wets in 1905. The winning team was: M. O'Donoghue (capt.), F.X. Cronin, Tom Duffy, John Lambe, Pat O'Meara, T. F. O'Meara, J. J. Madden, Con Sherlock, Mick Needham, Tim Sullivan, Jack Carroll, Joe Carroll, Tom Burke, William Harding, Jack Dillon. There are also claims for the inclusion of Johnny Gaynor in the team. 

Ten years later Lorrha won their next senior championship. This time their opponents in the final were Nenagh. They defeated Ballymackey and Cloughjordan in earlier rounds and had a convincing win of 7-3 to 0-3 in the final at Terryglass on September 25. Jim (the Private) O'Meara played for Nenagh that day and his brother, Bill, played for Lorrha. No Lorrha lineout was given with the report of the game but the probable team is as follow: Paddy Gaynor, Johnny Gaynor, Mick O'Meara, Dinny O'Meara, Bill O'Meara, Tom Burke, Bob Young, Jack Kennedy, Mick Cronin, Paddy Hogan, Dan O'Donoghue, Willie Carroll, Nick Forde, Con Sherlock, and Tom Duffy. 

Twenty-four years were to elapse before Lorrha were to capture the senior title again. The final was played at Nenagh on August 22 before a crowd of 8,000 people in appalling weather. Their opponents were Borrisoleigh and Lorrha won by 5-4 to 2-4 on a day when Tony Reddin had an outstanding game. On their path to the final Lorrha defeated Borrisokane, Roscrea and Kiladangan. The lineout was as follows: Tony Reddin, Paddy O'Sullivan, Dan O'Donoghue, Michael O'Meara (Lisballyard), Tom Lambe, Mick Brophy, Jim O'Meara, Eugene O'Meara, Paddy Guinan, Mick O'Meara (Blakefield), Tommy Ryan, Dan O'Meara( capt.), Brendan O'Donoghue, Michael O'Meara (Roughan), Billy Hogan. 

Lorrha won their fifth title in 1956 when they defeated Borrisoleigh at Nenagh on September 9 by 4-8 to 0-18. The score itself tells a tale of the loser's respect for Tony Reddin's goalkeeping ability. Lorrha lost the first round against Kilruane when they were defeated 1-14 to 1-2 at Borrisokane on May 13. Entering the loser's group they accounted for Moneygall and Toomevara on their way to the final against Borrisoleigh. The team for the final was: Tony Reddin, Seamus King, Paul Slevin, Billy Hogan, Johnny Larkin, Davy O'Sullivan, Paddy O'Meara, Hubie Hogan, Phil McIntyre, Eugene 0'Meara, Mick Brophy (capt.), Sean O'Meara, Paddy Madden, Paddy Guinan, John Moloney. 

Lorrha's last senior title was in 1966 when they defeated Toomevara by the minimum of margins, 3-11 to 2-13, on August 28. Toomevara led by 2-7 to 1-5 at half-time. This was the first time the Frank McGrath cup was won by Lorrha. They had an interesting path to the final that year. They beat St. Flannan's, a combination of Kildangan and Shannon Rovers, in the first round. They took three matches to defeat Eire Óg, before overcoming Kilruane MacDonaghs in the semi-final. The Lorrha divisional champions, that year were: Gerry Moylan, Michael Liffey, Paddy O'Meara, Seamus O'Meara, Liam King, Sean O'Meara, Michael Gleeson, Wilsy Morris, Jim Lane, Noel Lane, Jim Ryan, Peter Hogan, Paddy Madden, Michael Doyle, Michael 0' Meara.