The Greatest Premier Gaelic Football moments
by Noel Dundon, (Tipperary Media)
The reaction to last weeks column regarding the most memorable Tipperary game was quite remarkable with many people throwing in their own ideas as well. Brilliant – that’s exactly what this kind of column is supposed to do. It generates chat, creates discussion and helps people to recall the many great days we have had following the fortunes of Tipperary hurlers and footballers.
So, with the hurling well and truly discussed – what about the football?
Having been privileged to have attended both the behind-closed-doors Munster Senior Gaelic Football Final of 2020 which brought a 10th provincial crown to the Premier County; and also the All-Ireland minor football final of 2011 when Tipperary struck late through a brilliant Colman Kennedy goal to defeat Dublin; it is difficult to actually decide which was the greatest occasion.
Perhaps the Covid senior final considering the goings on. The Tipperary contingent in the press box could not contain themselves in the closing stages and the normally sedate pressmen were cheering and applauding as the Munster Final victory became a reality the cheers reverberated throughout the empty stadium and echoed back in a strangely delightful fashion. And, the other pressmen were very generous in their congratulations too- they recognised that something special had happened with the centenary of Bloody Sunday on the horizon and Tipperary would be back playing in Croke Park again. The stars were aligning as such.
Of course that day in Croker against Mayo a few weeks later was special too. Yes, we were outplayed and soundly beaten, but it felt as though there was more at stake than just a game of football. There was a hair standing on the back of the neck, kind of feel to the occasion and when the blue and gold jersey emerged onto the pitch for the game, it was such a strange but proud feeling.
If that was the case, it was nothing in comparison to the end of the game when Tipperary captain Conor Sweeney led his men up to the site where Michael Hogan had been shot dead and, with head bowed in respect and reverence, laid a wreath on behalf of all of Tipperary people. What a moment that was.
The 2011 All-Ireland minor gaelic football final really was something and it is quite hard to believe that it is thirteen years ago. We had watched the team play some magnificent football en-route to the final and we dared to dream that they could actually win the silverware and give Tipperary a platform from which to build for the next decade or so. But dreams do come through and when the Hill was silenced and Slievenamon reigned in Croke Park, it was quite something. A moment in time that Tipperary football supporters will not forget in a hurry.
Of course, the main common denominator between the two iconic days mentioned is David Power. The Kilsheelan Kilcash man has been central to the Tipperary football story over the last decade and a half or so, and to witness him embrace his father Michael at the final whistle in Páirc Uí Chaoimh really was something special. Michael, Treasurer of the County Board at the time, had only been allowed into the stadium because Secretary Tim Floyd gave him his ticket – remember only a few officials were allowed travel with the team due to Covid 19.
A great day indeed – separating the occasions mentioned above is a task beyond me, so equal status has to be apportioned them as far as I am concerned.
What do you think?
Perhaps you have another football occasion to mention?
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It was great to see the Tipp jersey back in use again with the footballers playing Kerry in the McGrath Cup and the hurlers taking on Waterford in the Munster Co-Op league. Both games resulted in away defeats – the footballers rather heavily and the hurlers narrowly. The sending off of Robert Byrne was a big talking point, while not red carding Waterford’s Mikey Kiely was another. Oh no not refereeing problems again – not this soon!!
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