Golden ‘Mines

KILLINAN END

Many in the parish of Silvermines will this week reflect on the passage of fifty years since they were kings. Curious times indeed for a rural peripheral parish to be the centre of industry in North Tipperary and then to produce a special team that set North Tipp alight – described in one North Final preview of the time as a “breath of fresh air.”They may have represented winds of change yet were very much of their time in many ways.

In August 1973, the Nenagh Guardian was moved to call them “tournament specialists” as they added the Moneygall tournament to ones already won in Borrisokane, Thurles, and Templederry. This was an era when tournaments – now gone the same road as fundraising marquees - provided a respite from championship hurling and gave clubs their own spotlight as tournament hosts.

The ‘Mines were North Intermediate champions in 1972 and early indications were that the jump to Senior was too great a chasm. A chastening day in Cloughjordan at the hands of those old aristocrats from Borris-Ileigh in the 1973 County championship first round “provided a fine example of the difference in standards between Senior and Intermediate hurling” according to the match report. But these boys in blue and white were fast learners. Three months later, they were into a North semi-final against Borris again, albeit unsuccessfully, but it was considerable progress having played three clubs that would win County Senior titles in the 1970s.

Between championship and tournaments, they did the world of hurling in 1973, and were well prepared and seasoned for what would be a ground-breaking ‘74. No second-season syndrome here. Still, the year had a familiar start when a dismal enough performance brought another defeat to Borris-Ileigh early on. By the time August arrived attitudes had hardened and ambitions crystallised. Borris were finally overcome by a late point to qualify Silvermines for a semi-final with Newport.

These parishes are separated only by Killoscully, nestled in the foothills of Keeper Hill. Those geographical in-betweeners in ‘the Village’ must have anticipated this North semi-final like no other. The outcome gave further indication that Silvermines’ ability to run up big scores was transferrable to tenser occasions. They had beaten Newport by ten points in the group stage, but this was an even more comprehensive going-over. Despite heroic defending from Noel O’Gorman and Pat Shinnors, Newport had all manner of missiles rained down on them for the hour with scores leaking from all angles. Nor could they even begin to respond to the scoring capacity of their opponents.

From Capparoe to Dolla the scent of glory now teased the nostrils. The routine and well-worn route to Nenagh was now transformed into a yellow-brick road of possibility. Not since 1947 had a new name been etched on the Frank McGrath Cup. Never before had a Silvermines team attended the big dance.

Their opponents, Roscrea, were as illustrious as it got – North Champions fourteen times from 22 finals in the previous four decades and perennial County champions since the late 1960s. More relevantly they were the County champions of 1972 & ’73. Maybe they were not quite the behemoths of old but still represented a fierce and experienced foe on a day requiring far more emotional investment from rookie finalists like the ‘Mines.

So impressive were the ‘Mines on the way to the final that this newspaper’s prediction gave them the nod despite the reputation of their opponents. Roscrea had star-quality it said but Silvermines had a team “without weakness.” They also had John Doyle at the helm at this stage who surely would not be spooked by the occasion. Local backroom wisdom came in spades from Paddy Collins, Rody Kennedy, Paddy Quinlan, and Tom Gleeson.

Nenagh throbbed with expectation on 8th September 1974 as the teams were led around MacDonagh Park by their captains Jim O’Brien and Tadhg O’Connor behind the Limerick City pipe band. The hunger in Silvermines was evident even in the crowd at the match whereas Roscrea’s supporters were more restrained and perhaps more absent too.

Silvermines’ first point from John Kennedy after fifteen seconds was an early statement but scores were hard-earned. Johnny Forde’s goal from a placed ball helped the ‘Mines take a wind-assisted five-point advantage which looked modest as half-time beckoned. Then came the deluge. Inside a minute goals from Maurice Daffy and John Kennedy had stretched the lead to eleven points as the teams went to the break. The ‘Mines already had a winning score – Pat Quinlan’s fourth goal mid-way through the second half was the icing on the cake. In the end the scoreline gleamed for posterity: Silvermines 4-7 Roscrea 1-10.

The names are now immortal in their native parish: Tom Kennedy; Jim O’Brien, Jim Keogh, Michael Maher; Pat Dunlea, Mike Fitzgibbon, Jack Dunlea; John Sherlock, Mick Hanley; Johnny Forde, Eamonn Dillon, John Kennedy; Maurice Daffy, Pat Quinlan, Jim Ryan; Mike O’Brien; John Quirke; Denis Quirke; Eddie Kennedy; John Grace; Danny Grace; Séamus Forde; Seán Hogan; Michael Corkery; Vinny O’Rourke; Eddie Kennedy; Ger Delaney.

A poetic tribute to the team in the Nenagh Guardian the week after the game finished with the line “in future years when they recall the feats that were of yore, they’ll speak in awe and wonder of the ‘Mines of ’74.” Wise words indeed. Half a century later, alone it stands.