Ken Dunne says that Toome are ready to get back to the 'glory days'

The green and gold of Toomevara has lit up  Tipperary club finals across the decades. Back in the day led by ‘Wedger’ Meagher, the famed Greyhounds became the team to beat, reigning over a hundred years ago.

In living memory, the 1990s were dominated by a powerful Toome side led by Tommy Dunne,  George Frend and Mikey Bevans amongst other leaders.

One of the hurlers from that Toome team was Ken Dunne who last year took over the reins as club manager: “It is a lot of hard work but I enjoy it,” says Ken looking at his time in club management. 

He wants to lead his team back to the top level, bringing home the Dan Breen cup: “We take it one step at a time.

“We got to the semi final last year and we wanted to get back there again and thankfully we did so we wanted to get over Moycarkey and we got over the line so we are one step further.”

He says it will take “one big push to get over the line,” as Ken explains what it means locally in the north Tipp village:“It has been a while since we played them in the championship so it is a novel final and should have the makings of a great game. 

“The anticipation and the excitement are great around the village. There is a great buzz in Toome with the work on, even outside the hurling, we are having an Oscar’s night in November (in the GAA club) and the buzz around from recording these movies is absolutely brilliant. 

“The underage teams are going well too so there is a great atmosphere in Toome at the minute. 

“Our juvenile club is doing great work. Our 13s won a county final and our 19s won two north titles in a row and while Holycross have beaten us we are making strides and that is what it is all about. 

“Our juvenile committee under Bernard Hackett are doing great work and Denise as chairperson of the GAA club is doing stellar work as well. 

“It is not just me and the players, it is everyone pulling in the one direction so it is the whole community in Toome and when you have people working together it drives everything on,” Ken Dunne says. 

The former Tipperary player knows that it takes a lot to win and he is aware of the class Loughmore Castleiney bring to proceedings: “It is like bread and butter to them. They take it at their ease. 

“We can’t get carried away. From the semi final it is Tuesday, Friday, Sunday Tuesday, Friday so there is a bit of work to be done but it is nice to be able to come into the field now with something to play for.

“This is one to look forward to and pitting our wits against Eamon Kelly and they have an outside management team for the first time in a long time. He has obviously got a tune out of them,” Ken says.

On a personal note, he has an insight into the McGrath family from Loughmore as he explains about the kinship between the parishes and the family ties: ”There is a lot of crossover there.

“My sister is married into the McGrath family in Loughmore so they will be wearing the half and half jerseys....or maybe not!

“There will be a great bit of fun around. We know each other so well from going to school in Our Lady's and so on so the build up is great.”