Quirke and Bourke make their own mark

By Thomas Conway

 

“We weren’t even born back then.”

That's how long 21 years is as Dillon Quirke and Cathal Bourke and played key roles in Clonoulty-Rossmore's county championship success on Sunday.

It’s not that the half-forward duo don’t appreciate the precious, elusive nature of the Dan Breen Cup, but it is a gentle reminder that time moves quickly in GAA. Many a generation of players have come and gone without a title to their name, never mind Tipperary’s most coveted honour.

19 year-old Bourke, whose father Paddy is part of the Clonoulty management team, racked up three points from play for his efforts, posing as an ever-present threat to a Nenagh defence which was worked to the bone throughout. Bourke feels that Clonoulty’s 23 points were as much a product of a well-manicured defensive system as they were a talented forward-line, who hit 0-21 between the six of them, including 0-12 from the stick of Timmy Hammersley.

“Yeah look, that’s something we’ve worked on, we’re able to play the ball out of defence, and when our half-backs get on the ball, they always have the head up, they always play the right ball inside, and it was because of that we hit those scores today,” he said.

At 20, Dillon Quirke has a few more months of life experience than Bourke, but he also forms part of a dynastic element to this Clonoulty side. Dillon, an All Ireland under 21 medal winner with Tipperary last August, is a son of Dan Quirke who scored a hat-trick for the Premier County in the Under 21 All Ireland final victory of 1989 over Offaly, the same year he also won a county title with Clonoulty, what symmetry.

 

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