Tipperary Divisional Championships Prove Their Value Once Again
The divisional championships delivered a timely reminder that experience cannot be bought and that writing off the established order is a dangerous game. New challengers emerged, silverware changed hands, and across North and South Tipperary, drama, quality and compelling storylines combined to produce finals worthy of the occasion, while in the mid and west, it was the same old story really.
Take a bow, St Mary’s.Their victory over Mullinahone secured only the club’s second South Tipperary senior hurling title—and their first in 45 years. It was a stirring triumph, one that will lift hurling across South Tipperary… with the obvious exception of Mullinahone.
This success has not arrived by accident. It has been years in the making, built on patient investment in underage development and a commitment to producing players capable of thriving at senior level. Seeing Tipperary star Seamus Kennedy finally lift senior hurling silverware with his native club, to complement the haul of football titles he has won with Clonmel Commercials, was a fitting reward for both player and club.
It has long been said that Clonmel and South Tipperary are rich hunting grounds for hurling talent. History backs up the claim. Legends such as Babs Keating, Jimmy Ryan, Mick Roche, John Leahy, Tom Ryan, John ‘Bubbles’ Dwyer, Theo English, Brendan Cummins and the Kelly’s all emerged from the division. It stands to reason that Tipperary’s largest town should be capable of producing teams and players that compete not only for divisional honours but for county and All-Ireland success as well.
Kennedy has carried that torch for years. Now a new generation must carry it alongside him. St Mary’s possess a proud tradition; now they have the platform to create an even greater one.
Borris-Ileigh will also hope their dramatic one-point extra-time victory over Nenagh Éire Óg proves to be more than just a divisional success. Played in blazing sunshine at MacDonagh Park, this was championship hurling at its breathless best. When the final whistle sounded after extra-time, there was little doubt the celebrations—and the refreshments—flowed freely back in Borris’.
For years Borris-Ileigh have been viewed as one of Tipperary’s sleeping giants. When they find their rhythm, they are a formidable proposition, as Nenagh discovered. Like St Mary’s, their resurgence has been fuelled by years of diligent work at underage level, and those efforts are now bearing fruit. The challenge is clear: don’t let a divisional title define the season. The talent is there. The opportunity is there. Now they must attack the county championship with belief and conviction.
Nenagh, meanwhile, will be eager to respond. County finalists twelve months ago, they now enter the championship without divisional silverware but certainly not without ambition. They remain one of the sides everyone else will want to avoid.
And when it comes to teams refusing to surrender, there is always Loughmore-Castleiney. Just when it appeared their bid for the mid crown was coming to an end, they found another way. They always seem to.
A packed Boherlahan looked destined to witness Holycross-Ballycahill claim a first Mid title of the new millennium. Then came the inevitable twist. A late McGrath-inspired rally forced extra time and shattered Holycross Ballycahill hearts. From that moment, you simply sensed there would only be one winner.
The county champions may be carrying plenty of miles in their legs, but those miles are matched by experience, composure and championship know-how. They suffocated Holycross-Ballycahill in extra time, eventually winning by seven points—a margin that flattered the victors somewhat. Liam Treacy’s influential late cameo merely put the seal on another remarkable escape.
Holycross-Ballycahill, however, leave with far more than disappointment. What they lacked before this final was experience. They now possess it. They have tested themselves against the benchmark and discovered they belong at that level. This defeat will hurt, but it could yet prove invaluable when the county championship begins.
Many believed Cashel King Cormacs were ready to end a barren run stretching back to 1995 by capturing the West senior hurling title. Having already collected two trophies this season, confidence was high. Their defeat to Clonoulty-Rossmore in last year’s final had stung, but there had been a noticeable improvement in their pace, movement and overall confidence. The signs suggested this might finally be their year.
Instead, Clonoulty-Rossmore simply refused to relinquish their grip.
Ten consecutive West titles is an extraordinary achievement and deserves far greater recognition than it often receives. Sustained excellence is among the hardest feats in sport, yet Clonoulty Rossmore continue to make it look routine.
For Cashel, as with Holycross-Ballycahill, the response now becomes the story. There is no room for self-pity. The best teams absorb setbacks, learn from them and return stronger. They identify what went wrong, correct it and attack the next challenge with renewed determination. Championship hurling rarely rewards those who dwell on disappointment.
Perhaps the greatest fascination now lies with the beaten finalists. How will Nenagh, Mullinahone, Holycross-Ballycahill and Cashel respond? Will divisional defeat become the spark that ignites their county campaigns, or will it leave lasting scars? Time, as always, will provide the answer.
Elsewhere, Clonakenny produced an outstanding display to overcome Holycross-Ballycahill in the Mid Intermediate final, while Sarsfields’ second team shocked many with an impressive victory over a disappointing Moyne-Templetuohy in the Mid Premier Intermediate decider.
Skeheenarinky’s South Intermediate final triumph over Ballingarry also turned heads, while Arravale’s victory over Knockavilla added another significant chapter to an outstanding weekend of divisional championship hurling.
Ah yes, the divisional championships are alive and well in Tipperary.
Is the west awakening?.
Few punters would have put money on Galway and Mayo both being in the All-Ireland hurling and football finals. In fact, few would have put money on one of them getting there, never mind two of them. But, that’s what has happened and it would appear that the west may be awakening.
Can Galway defeat Limerick next Sunday in the hurling decider? Of course they can. But, they require an awful lot to go right for them and a lot to go wrong for Limerick if they are to bring the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the west. The underdog tag will suit them perfectly – well, it suited Tipperary last year when nobody gave them a chance against the seemingly unbeatable Cork lads. We all know how that one worked out – Galway folks will be hoping for a similar outcome against the favourites.
Kerry and Mayo for the football final – outside of the Kingdom, the GAA world will probably be shouting for Mayo. After a series of failures and disappointments, perhaps this could be the year for them to finally lay to rest the weight of their inclination to come up short. Munster double anyone?