A generational success for Kilruane

Time was when it was hard to imagine a 28-year gap between North titles for Kilruane. Their last one, in 1990, when Toomevara were beaten was the sixth consecutive decade in which the club had won the title. Three had been won in either decade during the golden years of the 1970s and ‘80s. That is not to even consider the achievements at County and even national level.

If there was clear evidence in 1990 that Toomevara were emerging as the coming force in the North you would have encountered strange looks to suggest that Newport, Portroe and Kiladangan would all win North senior finals before Kilruane would take another.

Such is life in club hurling and there are countless examples of teams that endured famines which would hitherto have been unimaginable. Kilruane will have enjoyed the achievement all more as it is a new feeling for an entire generation. It had been coming for some time with the promise the Under-21 successes of a decade ago beginning to wear thin. Instead it was couple of Tipperary’s current Under-21s leading the way.

It places the spotlight on the new generation and focuses our minds of the future of Tipperary especially with talk of new National League fixtures and tweaks to next year’s Senior championship to be heard. Will we see Kilruane’s young players hooking up with their Under-21 manager at a higher level? Time will tell on that one and the rumour mill never ceases to grind on this topic.

 

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