Latest Munster Minor success links Nenagh’s O’Brien’s

By Liam Hogan

Two weeks ago, the new John Doyle Perpetual Cup was presented to Tipperary minor hurling captain Cathal O’Reilly after Tipperary defeated Clare in the Munster final.

It created a piece of history in that winning captain came from Holycross/Ballycahill, the same club as John Doyle, the holder of eight All-Ireland senior hurling medals.

The last time the Munster Council decided to introduce a new cup for the Minor hurling championship was in 1946 where Tipperary (holders) beat Cork in Thurles, 5-6 to 3-4.

Reverend Canon Monsignor Hamilton, Chairperson of the Munster Council, in the company of T.J. Logan, a representative of Transatlantic World Airways (TWA) presented a massive silver cup to the winning captain Paddy Kenny of Borris-Ileigh.

Eire Og Nenagh had five members on the team that day, including Jack Nolan at full back, Ned Sheehy (uncle to Noel Sheehy, Silvermines and Tipperary) at corner back, Brendan McGrath, son of Frank McGrath of Frank McGrath Cup fame was left wing back, while Michael Shaughnessy lined out at full forward.

Then then was goalkeeper Billy O’Brien who is grandfather to Billy of the same name, who lined out at midfield in the recent Munster Final win over Clare and will probably start for Tipperary against Galway in next Saturday’s All-Ireland Minor Hurling semi-final.

Incidentally, young Billy is also a grandson to the late Jimmy Conroy who played hurling for Galway in the 1950's & 1960s. Conroy, a member of the Gardai, played hurling for Toomevara and resided in Nenagh where he was very much involved as an administrator in the Juvenile club before taking on the role of secretary to the County Juvenile Board until his sudden passing in 2009.

The coincidences continue as a certain John Doyle played at right corner back in front of Billy O’Brien during the 1946 minor campaign.

After that Munster final win, Tipperary defeated Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final 5-6 to 0-1 at Birr. Tipp were back in Croke Park for the final against holders Dublin, a repeat of the final twelve months previous which Dublin won with a surprise 3-14 to 4-6 victory.

That 1946 decider ended in controversy. Tipperary were leading 0-7 to 0-6 in the dying minutes when Dublin forced the ball over the line for a goal which was only awarded after a three minute consultation between referee Inky Flaherty and his umpires. Both umpires claimed Billy O’Brien had been fouled before the goal was scored. However, the referee did not see the foul and granted the goal. A request for a replay by Tipperary County Board to Central Council was turned down.

The Tipperary team that lined out in the All-Ireland final against Dublin on 1st September 1946 was: Billy O’Brien (Eire Og Nenagh); John Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill), Jack Nolan (Eire Og Nenagh), Harry ‘Ned’ Sheehy (Eire Og Nenagh); Chris Dalton (Galtee Rovers), Jack Ryan (Roscrea), Brendan McGrath (Eire Og Nenagh); James O’Grady (Moycarkey/Borris), Phil Shanahan (Toomevara); Michael Ryan (Eire Og Annacarty), Michael Shaughnessy (Eire Og Nenagh), Paddy Kenny (Borris-Ileigh); Tommy O’Meara (Roscrea), Michael Maher (Boherlahan-Dualla), Vilem Stieglitz (Thurles Sarsfields).

Sub: Pat McNulty (Roscrea) for Dalton (inj).

Remainder of the panel: Sean Dyer (Roscrea), Jimmy Hogan (Carrick Swan), John Ryan (Rockwell Rovers), Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Sean Organ (Carrick Swan), John Joseph O’Grady (Thurles Sarsfields), Eamonn O’Dwyer (Rockwell Rovers), Brendan O’Meara (Carrick Davins), Michael Butler (Thurles Sarsfields), Jack Gleeson (Thurles Sarsfields), Thomas Fitzgerald (Golden Kilfeacle).