First All-Ireland is a relief - Ryan

By Kevin Egan

All around the field in Borrisokane, there are scenes of jubilation, side-by-side with pictures of pure heartbreak.

A thrilling All-Ireland schools hurling final has just finished, and St. Joseph’s of Borrisoleigh have earned the right to etch their name on the Michael Cusack Cup, a trophy that Coláiste Naomh Cormac won four years ago.

The significance of it isn’t lost on Willie Ryan, the team manager who came through St. Joseph’s himself as a player and pupil. Clearly not heartbroken, but not visibly jubilant either, the former Toomevara and Tipperary captain is just taking his time trying to settle his nerves after a memorable All-Ireland decider.

“Relief is the first emotion that comes to mind!” he says, with a smile.

“That was two great sides, a fantastic match here in Borrisokane, and we're just delighted to finally win a hurling All-Ireland in this school. It's our first and I'm delighted for the players; they've given everything to Mike Halpin and myself over the year.

“Mike taught me back 25 years ago, it’s fantastic for him and for everybody in the school.”

Ryan was in no doubt that for all his side’s dominance in the opening half, Coláiste Naomh Cormac were certain to come back into the game at some point, and he cited his players’ response to that surge as the crucial time of the game.

“They came at us, David Rabbitte went down with cramp and they got a goal, suddenly momentum shifted. They came straight at us then and they got it back to a point. But look, as our boys have all year, they adapted, they didn't panic and that was the main thing. We knew we had to just kind of stem the tide and get back into the game point by point and we did.

“Our boys are very composed on the ball; they're very skilful players as were the Kilcormac boys. But as we said we just had to trust our hurling all the time and work the ball out from the back. You know, when we got the chances, we took them in the first half, we just probably didn't get enough ball into Cody (Quirke) and the likes inside.”

With another All-Ireland banked, not to mention Nenagh CBS winning the Harty Cup and highly fancied Tipperary Celtic Challenge, minor and U-20 teams about to embark on their respective campaigns, Ryan said that while the rising tide is happening all across the county, it’s the collective effort of the clubs that has helped bring players in the county to where they are.

“We have a couple of county minors, we have a couple of guys on Celtic Challenge, lots of those players have been on development squads and there's definitely potential stars there and you know we're going to see a couple of them in action with Tipp minors the next two weeks and I'm sure many more over the next few years hopefully,” he replied.

“Tipp underage hurling is in a great place. The development squads that were put in place are important but it's the volunteers in the clubs that are training lads there on a Saturday morning, just working with U-6s, U-8s, giving them the love of the game and bringing them on.

“Also, seeing your county stars in and around the club and chatting to them, that brings on everything. It comes from the club, it's great for St. Joseph's to finally get over the line but it’s great for the four clubs too, and we certainly wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them”.