1976 win signalled the end of two Tipperary famines
By Liam Hogan
When Tipperary won their last All-Ireland Minor final in 2022, it brought them to 21 and joint top on the roll of honour with Kilkenny whom they face for all the marbles this Saturday.
Taking on their great rivals in their own heartland is a major ask, not to mind taking them on in a neutral venue. Next Saturday’s clash will be the fifteenth final involving the sides with Tipp leading eight to six.
Of all the finals, the meeting in 1976 at Croke Park continues to be special for Tipperary supporters when they made it lucky thirteen, and a first All-Ireland minor victory since 1959. Seventeen years without victory in that grade was not the norm as it hinted of what was to come at senior level.
The All-Ireland Final preview in the Nenagh Guardian described it in detail.
“While the main focus of attraction is the senior final between Cork and Wexford, here in Tipperary the centre of attraction will undoubtedly be the minors who will be making a fourth final bid to move into the thirteen titles bracket having had their efforts thwarted in 1960, ’61 and ’62 by their age old rivals Kilkenny.”
“Fittingly Kilkenny will once again (eleven previous finals) stand between Tipperary and another title and as champions and convincing winners on route to this year’s final, the Leinster champions will be favourites to win again.”
During the 1976 season, Tipp had shown the passage through Munster was what it took to make a big impression as they bid to regain for the Premier county much of the prestige lost in recent years. In the weeks and months leading up to the final many questions were asked and the preview described it thus.
“Once upon a time the cry everywhere was, with all those great minor teams, what has happened that so few made it in senior grade. In more recent years the cry has been where are the minors? Is nothing being done to unearth players good enough to bridge that big gap since 1959?”
There was pressure on the selectors and the mood in the county was not great. At the time Tipperary senior hurlers were entering their third season of a championship lull where they lost nine championships games in a row from 1974-82. The 1976 clash with Cork ended in a harrowing one point defeat. Cork went on the win three-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles. The under 21 hurlers meanwhile had lost to Clare for the third year in a row.
Clubs were not co-operating as one would have wished, and coach Brother Michael O’Grady made his feelings known in the Tipperary GAA Yearbook. While full of praise for the players that brought home the laurels, he did say that his selectors were under pressure all year from clubs to include players.
“Club officers could be more co-operative at the stage when trials were organised at the beginning of the year,” he said.
“It is a great honour to for any club to have one of its members playing for the county team. Some clubs didn’t bother to send anybody or to attend themselves. The selectors, this year, were under pressure to bring players into the panel as late as two weeks before the All-Ireland final. The selectors did not give into this pressure and rightly so.”
With divisional trials complete, North Tipperary selected 24 players from ten clubs to represent the division in an inter-divisional competition which they won. Running in parallel to the trials, the secondary schools competitions were in full swing and four of the North minor squad – Eamon O’Shea, Enda Hogan, Sean Geaney and Philip Quinlan were part of the North Tipperary Vocational School team defeated Cork County in the Munster final. Pat Looby from Drom Inch was also on the team.
The disappointment was soon forgotten when Hogan and O’Shea helped Borrisokane Vocational School retain the Munster title when defeating Scoil Naofa from Cork.
Meanwhile, the minor team trained two nights a week in Thurles and Clonoulty and on May 15th the first round game against Kerry was played in Abbeydorney, and Tipp won 7-10 to 1-3.
Thirteen days later, Tipp overcame Cork in the semi-final 1-13 to 2-8 in Limerick in what was described as a thrilling game.
Cork came with good credentials, fielding five of the team that played in the 1975 All-Ireland final. Tipp sported just two of the side that lost heavily in the Munster final twelve months previous.
Michael Murphy’s goal kept Tipp in the chase and at half time they trailed 1-7 to 1-6. Tipp levelled soon after half time, but Cork replied with a second goal. It was an uphill battle then, but Tipp staged a revival and with the help of a five point unanswered run they found a way to win 1-13 to 2-8.
The final against Limerick was played in Pairc Ui Caoimh on August 1st. Limerick dominated most of the first half but goals by John Stone and Michael Murphy kept Tipp in the hunt and at half time they trailed 3-5 to 202.
A third quarter revival put Tipp seven in front thanks to goals by Tommy Grogan and substitute Pat Looby. Limerick cut the lead to one but a second Looby goal insured a 5-10 to 5-6 win.
Tipp received a bye to the All-Ireland final as Kilkenny defeated Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Kilkenny sported seven players that experienced joy of winning in 1975 decider. They were favourites.
The Irish Independent reported that it was Kilkenny who set the speedy pace, but it was Tipperary who maintained the tempo as their superior fitness told. Their defence gave the Kilkenny attack little room for any fancy work with full back PJ Maxwell, Michael Stapleton, Gerry Stapleton, and Joe O’Dwyer wholehearted in their workrate.
Goalkeeper Vinny Mullins made two vital saves and after the scores were level for the second time it was Tipp who went through the gears from the second quarter as found their way scoring 1-6 without reply, the goal coming from the excellent Tommy Grogan.
The lead increased to ten points. Paudie Holden, Tommy Lennon and Jimmy Byrne led the Kilkenny effort and a John Brennan goal in the 24th minute gave them respite.
Leading 1-11 to 1-4 at half time, there was no way to stop Tipp as Tommy Grogan was brilliant. Joe Hogan and Pat Ryan won the midfield battle while Michael Doyle and Michael Murphy picked up scores and Tipp were 1-17 to 1-7 in front after 48 minutes.
Tipp were champions-elect before Eamon O’Shea made sure with a goal after weaving his way past two Kilkenny defenders. Final score Tipperary 2-20 Kilkenny 1-7.
As a result of the win, the county’s optimism grew. Members of the winning team made the side reaching the All-Ireland under 21 final in 1979. They lost to Galway after a replay, but the team recovered as the county went on to win three under 21 titles in a row. Eamon O’Shea, Pat Fitzelle, Enda Hogan won a National League medal when defeating Galway in 1979.
Optimism continued to grow as the county won two more All-Ireland minor titles in 1980 & ‘82. The seniors reached two Munster finals against Cork in both 1984 & ’85. 1984 was so disappointing. Four points up approaching full time and yet we lost by four. Cork defeated Offaly in the All-Ireland. Tipp could have won and ended a thirteen year run. That disappointing run ended in 1989 with the seniors defeating Antrim.
But to many, the return to the big time for the county began with Tipp winning their 13th Minor title in 1976.
Tipperary team v Kilkenny: Vincent Mullins (St Mary’s); Purdy Loughnane (Roscrea), PJ Maxwell (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Tony Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs); Michael Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Gerry Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh 0-1 65), Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Pat Ryan (Borris-Ileigh 0-3), Joe Hogan (Roscrea, Capt 0-2); Eamonn O’Shea (Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-1), Michael Doyle (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-3), Tommy Grogan (Cashel King Cormacs 1-7, 0-3f); Michael Murphy (Templederry Kenyons 0-2), John Stone (Roscrea), Pat Power (Boherlahan-Dualla 0-1).
Sub: Pat Looby (Drom & Inch) for Stone.
The remainder of the panel was. John Sheedy (Portroe), Gerry Phelan (Carrick Swan), Michael Griffin (Nenagh Eire Og), Tim Floyd (Newport), Seamus Kennedy (Lorrha), Ger O’Connor (Roscrea), Ber O’Dowd (Thurles Sarsfields), Enda Hogan (Kilruane MacDonaghs).
Selectors: Brother Michael O’Grady, Aengus Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs), Billy Carroll (St Mary’s), Mick Minogue (Roscrea)