Townies tipping the balance after ‘moving weekend’ in SHC? Man United and Leeds for Croke Park; Tipperary Tales book on the shelves.
It was a good weekend for the big town teams of Tipperary in the hurling championships as ‘moving weekend’ saw victories for Sarsfields, Nenagh, Templemore, St Mary’s and Cashel. Roscrea came close too but got caught at the very death against Drom-Inch.
It was a case of late shows in many of the games as final flurries led to changing fortunes for sides in the dying embers of clashes, thereby keeping patrons on the edges of their seats – they way it should be, you might say.
With the holders Loughmore Castleiney losing their second game to Borris-Ileigh and finding themselves in the relegation position going into round three, there has been much speculation on how far a team playing relegation can actually go in the championship – the safety net of the divisional victory guarantees safe passage to the preliminary quarter finals at least.
Well, the position is that a side will still have to play in the relegation battle if they finish in the bottom four of their group, unless they go all the way and win the county championship thanks to their golden ticket having won the divisional final. So in theory, a team can win the county championship without having won any game in the round robin series – a strange scenario indeed but one which could well play out.
Elsewhere Sarsfields produced a very focused and hard-working performance to scupper Holycross Ballycahill’s ambitions – The Blues play Kilruane MacDonagh in the final round while Holycross Ballycahill must win over Upperchurch Drombane if they are to go forward.
What a dramatic twist unfolded in the dying embers of that Kilruane MacDonagh and Upperchurch Drombane game – The Church came from behind to lead deep into injury time only to lose out by a pointed free with the second last puck of the ball. The Church have nothing to show for two spirited comebacks in succession.
Drom-Inch left it very late to down Roscrea in a Templemore double header which also saw Cashel do likewise against Kiladangan. Both defeated sides will wonder just how they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory – Kiladangan in particular will be kicking themselves having been seven up with five to go. Billy Seymour shot the lights out for Kiladangan with some great scores while the returned Paul Flynn was also a big player for them.
JK Brackens impressive form continued in The Ragg when they defeated Toomevara with a very late surge – a final flurry which almost certainly guarantees them a place in the concluding stages. Toome’ must now face Nenagh Éire Óg in the final game and both sides will have to get something to stay alive – Brackens play a tricky Mullinahone in the final game with the south men facing the relegation dogfight again.
Carrick Swans defeat in the Premier Intermediate championship at the hands of St Mary’s is another big blow to them having lost the opening round to Sarsfields – county finalists for the last two years, Swans would appear to be drowning in the choppy waters of the championships round-robin.
There were wins for Burgess over Templederry in the northern derby, Killenaule defeated Sarsfields second team, Gortnahoe Glengoole defeated Silvermines, Moyne Templetuohy defeated Sean Treacy’s while Lorrha had an important win over Moneygall. Ballina and Éire Óg Anacarthy played out an exciting draw.
It was also a bumper weekend in the intermediate and junior hurling championships and next weekend we revert to the football code with a multiplicity of games down for decision again. Sarsfields will be looking to put back-to-back football wins – Loughmore Castleiney will be seeking to reverse the slide and win one, having lost three.
Man U for HQ.
Croke Park is expected to be packed to the rafters this Wednesday evening, but there won’t be a sliothar, camán or Gaelic football in sight.
Instead, HQ will temporarily give way to the red of Manchester United and the white of Leeds United, as two of English football’s most storied clubs descend on Jones’ Road for a pre-season friendly that has captured the imagination of domestic football supporters.
For many, this is far more than a summer exhibition match. It is a rare chance to witness the aristocracy of the English game strut their stuff on Irish soil, but it also stirs memories of a time when Leeds United versus Manchester United was one of the fixtures circled in red on the football calendar.
For generations of Irish football fans, Leeds, United or Liverpool were almost tribal identities. And Johnny Giles, the great Irish midfield maestro, provided an especially strong link between the two clubs, having worn the colours of both. In those days, you were, more often than not, either a Liverpool, Manchester United or Leeds supporter.
Yet none of those supporters, standing on the terraces or gathered around televisions decades ago, could have imagined a day when Leeds and Man U would adorn the hallowed turf of Croke Park. That, perhaps more than anything, is a measure of just how the GAA has evolved.
Croke Park — the spiritual home of Gaelic games, the stage for All-Ireland glory and heartbreak, the place where generations have dreamed of lifting Sam Maguire or Liam MacCarthy — will temporarily become a theatre of English football. From a GAA perspective, there is, of course, a commercial dimension to it. But there is also an undeniable opportunity to put one of the world’s great sporting arenas firmly in the shop window for an international audience.
The customary GAA uprights will disappear, soccer goals will take their place and the familiar football pitch markings will be replaced by the lines of the round ball game.
There is one thing that may catch the eye of the visiting players and supporters: the sheer immensity of the Croke Park pitch. Compared with most soccer grounds, it is a vast expanse. In fact, only around two-thirds of the normal playing surface will be required for Wednesday night’s encounter. For anyone accustomed to the more compact dimensions of a typical Premier League stadium, it should be quite the spectacle. And who knows maybe this is merely the beginning.
Liverpool versus Everton at FBD Semple Stadium, anyone? A full-blooded Merseyside derby played out against the backdrop of the River Suir. Imagine the noise, the colour, the travelling armies descending on Thurles. Or perhaps Arsenal and Aston Villa? Tottenham and Manchester City?
It is an intriguing thought, but don’t hold your breath. My immediate feeling is that Croke Park opening its gates to Man United and Leeds is an exception rather than the beginning of a new chapter in the GAA calendar.
Still, for one night at least, the sliothar and camán can take a well-earned rest. Croke Park will belong to the beautiful game.
Tipperary Tales, hurling talks from Seamus King.
Tipperary Tales – Profiles of Notable People, is the latest publication from renowned Cashel historian Seamus J King. The book will be launched in Cashel Library on August 28th but is available in bookshops now. It is a collection of interviews and stories Seamus has penned down through the years and features eight Gaelic Games profiles including the likes of Sean Kenny, Jimmy Kennedy, Bill Ryan Laha, Ossie Bennett, Jovita Delaney, Ann Carroll, John Moloney and Sam Melbourne.
While a lot of those names might not be recognisable to younger generations, the beauty of a publication like this is that it rekindles memories for those who do remember them, but also introduces these great Tipperary people to new audiences. We congratulate Seamus and wish well with the book.