Tipperary legend Tadhg O'Connor on the 'Game of his Life' against Limerick in 1971

The 1971 Munster SHC Final on July 25, 1971 was played in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney

This was one of those never to be forgotten epic Munster finals. The quality and mystique of this Killarney final won’t ever be forgotten. There's something epic and ancient about hurling in such splendorous surroundings and far from the driving rain dampening spirits, the setting seemed to add to the fairy-tale, from a Tipperary point of view at least. Captain Tadhg O Connor, who hurled full of spirit, is the first Roscrea player to lead Tipp to glory and what a day to do it.

***The following is Tadhg O'Connor's memories of that day against Limerick. Extract is from 'Tipperary Game Of My Life' GAA book*****

There was something magical about Killarney in 1971. It was so far away and its a different world now. I think it was a special weekend for everyone there, I still hear new stories about it. It's hard know where to start as so much happened that year. So many milestones. On a personal level I got married and my first child was born, club wise we won the club All Ireland final as well as two Munster club titles, and last but not least I had the privilege of captaining Tipperary in an incredible year. The Munster final in Killarney was in the middle of it all and that was the game of all the games.

Limerick were our biggest rivals as we met four times that year. Limerick won all three league games, beating us in the final with a last second free from Richie Bennis. In the Munster championship we beat Clare to set up another final with Limerick. Everyone knew it would be close again. Neither county board would give an inch. They couldn't agree on a home or away venue and so, we all got ready for a trip to Killarney. Between 1968 and 1982 the Tipperary team only stayed in a hotel twice for big games. That trip to Kerry for the Munster final was the first and the second was for the All Ireland later that year when we stayed in Barry's hotel in Dublin! 

People made their way from near and far to Killarney. A huge Tipp following from north Tipp made their way down the same road as the Limerick supporters that weekend, so I heard stories afterwards that supporters had great banter all the way down. Travelling was huge compared to today. It was easily a five or six hour road trip without stopping. Cars were scarce then so they were all packed going to games. Often bonnets were open at the side of the road, cars were boiling, fan belts were off, people would be out waving flags at the side of the road, it was a different life then! Times were very different. The journey was an experience in itself

The team arrived early by car on the Saturday and we had a meal. We broke into groups after, the backs would chat amongst themselves and likewise the forwards. The team probably picked itself after the league final with Jimmy Doyle back from injury beside Babs Keating in the full forward line. The trainer Ossie Bennett had us fit and with Donie Nealon coaching us we felt ready. The senior players like Babs, Mick Roche and Len Gaynor always talked a small bit the night before or on matchdays. I was captain as Roscrea won a number of county finals in those years so Francis Loughnane was captain one year and for 1971 it was my turn. Overall it was a great honour for the club that I was captain but for me playing well on the field was always my focus. I was quite young and my role as captain was to have the team list for the ref which I always stuck down my sock! You'd give the list to the ref then and give the opponents team list back to Tommy Barrett, our county secretary. I'd be in for the coin toss to pick a direction to play in, and with the experience within the team, no words were needed from me only to play as best I could! 

That matchday was dream like. Killarney just had that effect, there was something mystical about it. We got a garda escort up to the field through the crowds. It was spilling all day but it was atmospheric. Before the game there was no shouting or ranting in the dressing room. One or two players would get excited but most were very relaxed and I've often wondered afterwards why that was, and I think it was that the guys over the team and the players that had experienced so much success in the 60s just took it all in their stride. They had a calming influence and knew the right time to turn the switch on. When we left the dressing room a noise just hit me right away. The ground was like being in a big basin or a goldfish bowl. It was like the crowd were on the field with you, You'd almost feel them in the rain. Marching behind the band I just took in the surroundings and I can still picture it.

 We had only 3 or 4 sliothars for the warm up so everyone did their own drills. While those moments fly by, the parade seemed seemed to take ages. I just wanted the game to start. I was right half back on Eamon Grimes, and knew his style of play. He'd run all day and I'd stay with him. On our line Mick Roche controlled the middle, with Len Gaynor strong under the dropping ball on the other wing. It was a physical game in the heavy rain and there was a bite in tackles as most lads had marked each other in the three earlier games between us that year. The roaring from the crowd was something else as the game became a struggle in the conditions. Everyone there was soaked but no one missed a second. The ball seemed to be always dropping on top of us in the half back line. We were struggling early on before we came into it near half time. At the break the team were told to up it, more was demanded of us. Limerick came back at the start of the second half with Eamon Cregan to the fore but Babs Keating was motoring and then John Flanagan got a lovely point from way out on the sideline. Everyone there knew it was one of those moments. 

The game is often recalled for Babs' famous score from the free. He lined up to take a vital free when Donie Nealon, our coach, came in with a towel to dry his hurley and the Limerick players claimed they saw a new ball being brought in under it. The argy bargy started. You see, the ball then was very different to the ball now. There used be a big leather rim on it and it was like a sponge in the rain. There was a huge difference between a soggy ball and a new ball. Teams might try similiar now but all that was innovative in hurling back then and no one expected it and the first gut always gets away with it!  Donie and Babs were ahead of their time. Babs was cute enough, just ignored all that was going on around him and struck it well. Babs was just a superb player and picked up the hurler of the year award later that year.

 We saw it out. Barely. Mick Roche was the outstanding player for us throughout, influencing the game from centre back. He was a superb athlete and at the end of the day was probably the difference between the teams. Mick wore a hairnet when he was hurling to keep his long hair out of his eyes and opponents often tried to curb his influence by trying to take the hairnet off or pulling at it.  In one match we played against Cork I remember when one player took Micks hairnet off to upset him but Mick taught him a hurling lesson. He was too clever to let it bother him. Limerick tried everything to stop him that day in Killarney but he was unstoppable.

There was very little speeches made after the Munster final but Roscrea was packed that night on our return. We won the next game and made the All Ireland final against Kilkenny. I needed to have the cupla focal prepared for that day! I had my speech ready for it well in advance. At that time I was studying accountancy and took the time to sit down with my boss who was a fluent Irish speaker. We practiced getting it right and worked on it line by line until it was ready for the big day when I got to deliver it!

 Like winning in Killarney, winning in Croke Park was unforgettable. To collect the cup and be hoisted up shoulder high afterwards was a huge honour. Incredible stuff. Monday evening we arrived back to fantastic scenes in Thurles and then on to Roscrea where 20,000 or so were waiting. There was a lorry waiting for us on the Templemore road and that was a night I will never forget. It meant so much to so many people like John Joe Maher who was our secretary for many years. It was a superb night. The cup was brought up to John Joe Mahers pub across from the barracks and there was plenty of speeches made from the back of a lorry!

1971 was such a huge year. Sporting wise and family wise too.

Mary and I had got married in February '71 and when we got back from the honeymoon in Spain it was non stop matches. Tipp and Limerick played the league final and Roscrea won the delayed 1969 Munster club final where we beat Glen Rovers on Easter Sunday. I never added up how many games I played in that year but I loved it!  We won a second provincial club title against Clarecastle in August, that was the Munster club final of 1970. It was a whirlwind of games. Tipp games were going on throughout it all. It was busy but I was delighted to continue playing and we kept winning!

The club games continued until winter. We played our All Ireland club semi final against Loughiel Shamrocks up in the north. My wife Mary was due that November so I wasn't supposed to go however in the build up one of our key players, Francis Loughnane, couldn't travel as well as a couple of others. Mick Minogue was on the Roscrea team and he asked 'What are you going to do Tadgh?' 

I said 'Of course I will travel Mick but you see Mary is expecting our first child the day after the game." Straight away Mick made arrangements to look after Mary so I could travel to the game. Doctor Hanley, who was a great GAA man, was contacted and a plan was put in place. Sure enough on the Saturday in question my wife went into labour and Mick Minogues wife, Maisie, contacted the doctor right away to be sure that Mary had the best care. 

We were half way up to the north at that stage on the Saturday. We stayed overnight in Dundalk before travelling on for the game the next day. On Sunday morning in Dundalk I got up and went down for breakfast was met by my father in law, Luke, who was a selector with Roscrea. He had got word from home. I can still remember where I was when Mary's father told me that I had a new baby daughter! Fiona had arrived as we were enroute to the match! There was no such thing as turning around so we travelled on and played the All Ireland club semi final against Loughiel that Sunday afternoon! Only in the last ten minutes of the game did we pull away and make the All Ireland final. 

Having captained Tipp to the All Ireland there was a lot of functions to attend and two very immediate events. When we came back from the north that Sunday night I was under pressure to bring the MacCarthy cup to a function in a hotel in Roscrea. Tony McTague, who played football with the All Ireland champions Offaly, was bringing the Sam McGuire cup to the same event. There was so much going on! As if that wasn't enough, Canon Cuddy had arranged that I would travel to England early the next morning to bring the MacCarthy cup to the Irish community over there!  All that time Mary and our new baby Fiona were still in the hospital! 

That was November 1971 and then in December we played the first ever modern day All Ireland club final. It took place in Birr against Offaly champions Banagher. The first All Ireland way back in 1884 was held in Birr and those in Croke Park thought it would be a good idea to have the first club final there to mark that history. We won it well and made history. To cap a memorable year four of the Tipp team picked up a new hurling award called the 'All Stars'.  It was a great night when Francis Loughnane, Mick Roche, Babs and myself collected awards. Now that was some year, not much could cap that! Mind you we did lose the county final to Moyne Templetuohy which was a pity as we were going for four in a row in the county at the time! 

 I hurled with Tipp until 1982 but after Limerick beat us in 1973 we never won another championship match. Every year after '73 we were unfortunate, and were usually beaten in close games by the top team in the land. There was never another year for me like 1971, on or off the field! I got married, my first child was born, Roscrea won two Munster titles and the first club All Ireland, add to that the All Ireland with Tipp and that famous day in Killarney. Great times, that's the story of 1971!  

Tipperary: Peter O Sullivan; Noel Lane, John Kelly, John Gleeson; Tadhg O Connor (capt), Mick Roche, Len Gaynor (0-2); Seamus Hogan, PJ Ryan (1-0); Francis Loughnane (0-3), Noel O Dwyer (0-1), John Flanagan (0-5); Jimmy Doyle (0-1), Michael 'Babs' Keating (3-4), Dinny Ryan. Subs: Liam King for Lane; Roger Ryan for Doyle; Paul Byrne for O Dwyer.

Limerick: Jim Hogan; Tony O Brien (capt), Pat Hartigan, Jim O Brien; Christy Campbell, Jim O Donnell, Phil Bennis; Sean Foley, Bernie Hartigan (0-1); Richie Bennis (0-12), Phil Graham (0-2), Eamonn Grimes (1-1); Donal Flynn (1-0), Michael Cregan, Eamonn Cregan (1-2). Subs: Eddie Prenderville for Phil Bennis; Willie Moore for Donal Flynn; Con Shanahan for Sean Foley.