A step taken towards a long-awaited return to the top flight of Tipperary hurling

Boherlahan/Dualla’s victory over Golden/Kilfeacle in Sunday’s County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final at FBD Semple Stadium was “an unbelievable day for the club,” manager Willie Hickey stated.

“These boys have worked really hard all year and when we heard the game was coming to the Stadium, sure their eyes lit up.
“They were delighted to get an opportunity to play here on county final day. We’re really delighted they performed well and got the win”.

Boherlahan captured their second county title at intermediate level and a first since 1981, the year of their only other appearance in the final, on a 3-15 to 0-15 scoreline.

The win was achieved against a Golden team that finished with just 13 players. Daithí Bargary was the first to be given his marching orders when he received a second yellow card, followed by a red, from Burgess referee Ciaran O’Donovan in the 37th minute. He was followed to the sideline by Cian Ryan, who was also on the receiving end of a red card two minutes from the end of normal time.

At the finish a Golden team searching for a second county success at this level, and a first since 1995, was left deflated, despite an outstanding individual display from Jack Leamy. He scored 14 of their 15 points, including 11 frees and a converted sideline cut.

As the game progressed it developed into something of a battle between two sharpshooters, Leamy and Boherlahan’s Tomás “Tossy” Ryan, who scored a total of 1-11.

Ryan won the man of the match award, sponsored by that great sportsman and GAA supporter, Cahir jeweller John Quirke, who has sponsored GAA man of the match awards each year for the last 33 years.

“We had a feeling today would suit ‘Tossy’”, said his manager Willie Hickey.

“A lovely wide open field and he’s a beautiful hurler, and has been one of our main players for the last two or three years. I’m delighted for him to get man of the match, he played very well there today”.

Sunday was the crowning glory of a season that saw Boherlahan/Dualla progress through the championship season unbeaten.

“It’s brilliant that we have gone through the whole championship unbeaten, from mid (Tipperary) right through,” said Willie Hickey.

It took them extra-time to squeeze past Moneygall in a semi-final played in atrocious conditions.

“That was just pure grit, they were monsoon-like conditions. The game was borderline, it could have been called off. I was delighted with the way the boys went to extra time and finished really strongly and got the win”.

Sunday was a real day of celebration for the club and the parish, with the team that won Boherlahan’s last County Senior Hurling Championship in 1996 being honoured as the Team of the Past, and presented to the crowd before the county senior final between Thurles Sarsfields and Kiladangan.

The team included Willie Hickey who, having overseen Boherlahan’s intermediate success, hurried away for a change of clothes and join his team mates from 1996.

“There’s a big Boherlahan crowd here today and with the ‘96 team being honoured, the boys were really looking forward to it.
“Next year we’re playing at premier intermediate level. That will be a big test and we’re looking forward to it”.

When it was put to him that the glory days are returning for Boherlahan, he replied “hopefully, it’s another step to get us back up to where we want to be. Small steps is all we can do”.

Meanwhile, team captain Seamus Leahy, who accepted the Michael Maher Cup, said “this team before me is the best team I have ever played with,” and they knew how to dig deep when they needed to.