New book focuses on the road less travelled for Tipperary hurling

The lead-up to Christmas is a busy time for sports publications. Many target the lucrative Christmas market, where the long winter nights encourage reading; a book can often be the ideal present for the sports-minded individual.

This year is no different with many and varied offerings on the bookshelves. One publication of particular interest to Tipperary hurling followers is that from Tipperary Town native, Tommy Treacy, entitled ‘The Life and Times of a Tipperary Hurling Supporter 1974-1986’.

The timeline will immediately surprise people. ’74 to ’86 were famine years, a dreary era of endless disappointment for Tipperary hurling. In a sense it’s an ignored period in our hurling story, referenced only as a reminder of what can happen when a slump hits. Corkonians will understand.

And yet that’s one of the many merits of this book. It’s one of those roads less travelled. Nobody, to my knowledge, has focused on this period, which is seen as a lowlight in our proud history. We don’t celebrate failure.

Yet the players who wore the jersey during this time deserve better. They, even more than the rest of us, suffered the yearly trauma of disappointment. For most they ended their careers with little to show for all the effort expended.

Tommy Treacy has done them some service in recording their various attempts at breaking the cycle of defeats, including the luckless days when a ball hop or a refereeing call might have made the difference in an era of merciless knockout championship.

For Tommy Treacy, though, it’s much more than just a chronical of games and scores. It’s a hurling memoir full of recollections and reflections. As a child of the sixties, he grew up experiencing the once-yearly trips to Cork or Limerick or elsewhere. Each time hope turned to heartache as the barren years stretched out.

His late father, DJ, was a popular publican for many years at 30 Main Street, so Tommy’s childhood landscape was coloured by the hurling banter of the customers. Not surprisingly such repartee is everywhere in the book.

An interesting section of the book is where Tommy interviews four players from the famine era, one from each division. Jack Dunlea (Silvermines) won an All-Ireland intermediate medal in 1971 and was a county senior from 1974 to 1978.

Seamus Power (Boherlahan/Dualla) had a long involvement with county teams, starting as a minor in 1970. He was a senior panellist in 1971 and thereafter had an on-off career until 1986.

He was a team mate of Jack Dunlea in that All-Ireland intermediate win of 1971 and in many ways he was unlucky in his career.

During those famine years Tipperary had several near-misses and 1976 is one that stands out. We played Cork at Limerick in the semi-final and in the dying moments, with the Rebels leading by a single point, a Seamus Power shot came back off the base of the post. Did goalie Martin Coleman get a touch on it?

Cork went on to win the first of three-in-a-row All-Irelands and Tipperary were left with the horrible feeling of “what if”. ’79 was another agonising one. Cork led by a point at Páirc Uí Chaoimh into the final seconds when Pat O’Neill saw his shot for an equalising score drift narrowly wide.

And can we ever forget ’84 with all its emotional baggage. This time it was Tipp in the lead before Seanie O’Leary’s late swoop on a ball brought down by goalie John Sheedy. Of all losses during the famine this was definitely the most painful. Once more the Rebels went on to complete the job, beating Offaly in the All-Ireland.

Jim Kehoe (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) was the South player interviewed by Tommy Treacy. Once again, like Seamus Power, this was a player with an extensive inter-county involvement, starting as a minor footballer in 1969. He played both codes at minor, Under 21 and senior levels. His senior hurling tenure ended in 1982. Like all players of this era, it was an unrewarding time to wear the blue and gold.

In interview, Jim Kehoe reveals that he was never in a gym. The contrast with today’s players is quite stark. Back then training revolved around running laps and sprints and playing in-house games and challenge matches. There was no gym work, no S & C, no nutritionist or sports psychologist; the world was a simpler place.

The West player interviewed by Tommy was Pa Fitzell (Cashel KC). Once again, you’re dealing with a hurler who enjoyed a long career in the blue and gold, one which began as a minor in ’74 and ended (with the famine) as a senior in 1987. Like others he was unfortunate to miss out on the big breakthrough of ’89.

Not surprisingly, Pa lists Cashel’s 1991 Dan Breen success as his career highlight. His biggest career disappointment was losing the 1978 All-Ireland Under 21 final in a replay to Galway. Being team captain made the regret all the more intense – as did the fact that he missed out on Tipperary’s three-in-a-row, which followed that ’78 defeat.

Tommy Treacy’s book is one that will resonate, especially with all of us who travelled that same road as he did through the seventies and eighties. It was a period of crushing disappointment for Tipperary’s hurling followers.

Yet it was also a period of great commitment by players who got little recognition for their efforts. Tommy Treacy has done a fine job in redressing that balance. It’s a worthy Christmas read.

Meanwhile, there’s a big weekend of hurling activity ahead for Tipperary clubs with Loughmore/Castleiney, Cashel KC and Moyle Rovers all involved in provincial semi-finals.

Inevitably, the clash of Loughmore and Ballygunner will revive memories of their 2021 semi-final meeting at Fraher Field, Dungarvan. A controversial game saw the McGrath brothers, John and Noel, red-carded in a 2-11 to 0-12 defeat. John’s card was subsequently rescinded on appeal and most hurling followers agree that Noel’s was undeserved too.

This time Ballygunner go in as red hot favourites, not just to win Munster but to regain the All-Ireland crown they won for the first time ever in 2021/22. The Waterford champions are 2/7-on to prevail on Sunday at Walsh Park, with Loughmore listed as 3/1 outsiders.

Those odds reflect the scale of the task facing the Tipperary champions, whose only provincial win in this grade was back in 2007/08 when they defeated Tulla of Clare. They subsequently lost the All-Ireland semi-final to eventual champions Portumna.

It’s a big challenge for Loughmore facing a team that’s going for a record four provincial titles on the trot. Yet if there’s one Tipperary side more than any other that will ignore the odds and have a go, it’s Loughmore and Castleiney. The return of John Meagher should be a help. Sarsfields (Cork) play Feakle (Clare) in the other semi-final.

The weekend fixtures have been unkind to Tipperary clubs, with all three facing away games. There was an assumption hereabouts that Cashel KC would be at home to face Abbeydorney but they lost the toss for venue. I would have thought a neutral in-between location was a practical option for these teams, but it wasn’t to be.

Abbeydorney won their first Kerry senior title in fifty years when they defeated Ballyduff in the county decider. As senior champions they bring strong credentials against Tipperary’s premier intermediates, who have yet to hit consistent hour-long form.

Watergrasshill (Cork), managed by ex-Tipp player Eddie Enright, play Wolfe Tones (Clare) in the other semi-final on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Club teams confirmed for 2025 championships in Tipperary 

Finally, Moyle Rovers travel to Midleton on Saturday to play Russell Rovers (Cork) in the junior semi-final. The Banner (Clare) and Kilrossanty (Waterford) dispute the other semi-final on the same day.

PS - Well done to Aherlow, and especially Barry Grogan, for keeping the flame alight with another great win in Munster.