Through the generations between Tipp and Galway

KILLINAN END

It is a well-accepted trope of hurling history that Galway’s modern ascendancy dates back to a spectacular August day in 1975 in Croke Park. Cork team that had convincingly won the Munster final against Limerick was toppled in an absorbing All-Ireland semi-final. It was a result which only burgeoned in significance over time given the immense success gorged on by that Cork team in the following few years. Galway’s experience has been a roller coaster with more downs than ups in the intervening half-century, but it certainly was a massive addition to the hurling hierarchy to have a powerhouse from the West competing.

Hurling had always had a Galway-shaped problem. This was a county with vibrant hurling heartlands in east Galway like Turloughmore and Ardrahan. However, in a sporting organisation which defined itself in geographical terms to a very large extent, an isolated hurling outpost in Connacht was problematic. A straight run to an All-Ireland semi-final was never ideal for anybody and this reached farcical proportions in the 1950s when Galway were granted direct access to the final twice. With matters brought very much to a head by this the immediate solution saw the inclusion of Galway in the Munster hurling championship.

This initiative is often dismissed as a failure largely on the basis that for the most part winning games was a struggle for Galway. Inevitably the success of any competition will be judged to a certain extent on its very competitiveness – the clue’s in the name. It is an interesting historical counter-factual to wonder what would have become of 1975 with Galway’s League success and subsequent All-Ireland Final appearance had they remained within the confines of Munster.

Whatever the merits or demerits of Galway’s sojourn in the southern province, there is an argument that their exit from the province was a liberation. Not just that but it could be taken a step further and suggested that 1970 – Galway’s first year outside the province since the 1950s - what was the actual start of the modern Galway hurling renaissance. Offaly’s subsequent breakthrough in hurling in the early ‘80s was foreshadowed by their dethroning All-Ireland champions Wexford in the 1969 Leinster semi-final. Similarly, Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final performance against Wexford a year later was what they call these days a ‘statement performance’ sending ripples across the hurling world.

There's an old saying which praises the man who plants a tree knowing he will never sit in its shade. Included in this category in that 1970 semi-final against the Model County was Bernie O'Connor. He was later one of several uncompromising figures in the team management of the Galway team in the late 1980s when things were hot and heavy between our counties. Bernie might not always have been as wary of Tipp though considering some of his teammates in that 1970 semi-final. Two Tipp men, at opposite ends of the spectrum career-wise, donned the maroon and white jersey on that day in Athlone.

Séamus Hogan hurled with the Liam Mellows club in Galway city - 1970 County champions - and lined out at centre-back for the Tribesmen. He played at midfield twelve months later against Bernie O’Connor and Galway in Birr in the 1971 semi-final when he was back in the colours of his native county. Indeed, in hindsight, Hogan was just a puck of a ball from emulating his Kiladangan club-mate, Jimmy Kennedy, in playing for different counties in successive finals. Jimmy played with Dublin in the 1948 decider against Waterford, and a year later was back in Tipp’s colours to play a significant role in one of those All-Ireland wins that only gleams brighter with the passage of time.

On ‘the 40’ that day for Galway was Tom Ryan, also of Liam Mellows but previously of Killenaule, who had won an All-Ireland medal with Tipp back in 1962. He bulged the net late in that ‘62 final benefiting from Mackey McKenna’s solo and handpass. The 1970 semi-final was arrived at by Tom via a circuitous route which saw him wear the Clare colours against Tipp in a Munster Final. It was evident against Wexford that day in the midlands that he had lost little of his goal-poaching instincts. Hurler of the Year from two years previously, Dan Quigley, was tormented from pillar to post as Tom Ryan filled his boots with three goals and five points.

Galway came up two points short that day in the Senior game but their win over Wexford in the minor semi-final with a team including Joe McDonagh and Ciarán Fitzgerald - who captained the Lions in New Zealand thirteen years later - was evidence that the promotion of youth hurling during the 1960s in Galway was bearing fruit. But they could never have imagined how close they would get to reaching a final at Senior level that far ahead of schedule.

That was then and he we are now in the middle of a fully-revived Galway and a fully-fledged rivalry with a county to which we loaned some good ones. Before 1970 there was Tony Brennan, Seámus Shinnors after, and this is not to even mention Babs, John McIntyre, and Éamon O’Shea at management level. To give our neighbours their due, getting from them the greatest goal-man to ever cross the whitewash was perhaps not an unreasonable return. Maybe we can call it quits.