Mick Burns – Nenagh’s hurling hero

By Liam Hogan

Another piece of Tipperary’s storied hurling history has passed on as Mick Burns, a member of what many suggest was the county’s greatest era, and one of hurling’s greatest wing backs, died last Wednesday at the age of 86.

Mick’s passing came after a period of illness but nevertheless the hurling community was sad to learn of his death. Messages of sympathy reached the community ten-fold and as one member of his family told me when I paid a visit on Friday, “he was a hero not alone in Nenagh or Tipperary but all over the world.”

And it’s no wonder because the Nenagh man won many honours and is one of five Tipperary players to win five All-Ireland senior hurling medals, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1964 and 1965, along with Liam Devaney, Theo English, Kieran Carey and Donie Nealon. That quintet fall in behind Jimmy Doyle with six and John Doyle with eight. Except for Kilkenny players of recent times, there are very few players who have five Celtic Crosses, or more, to their name.

In addition, he won eight Munster senior hurling medals and six National League plus three Oireachtas and one Railway Cup memento with Munster.

His talent was recognised from very early on. He played minor hurling for Eire Og Nenagh for five seasons and won three North titles in 1951, ’53 and ’55, providing the stepping-stone to making a Tipperary minor panel and winning an All-Ireland in 1955 on a team including future stars like Matt O’Gara, Mick Craddock, Ray Reidy, and Jimmy Doyle. It was a period when Tipp enjoyed supremacy at that grade for over a decade and a half, winning eight All-Irelands in thirteen years.

It was only a matter of time before he received a call from the Tipperary senior selectors and the week before the 1958 Munster final, the Kincora Tournament final was held in his native Nenagh against Clare. The second-string Tipperary side swamped Clare 11-12 to 3-3 and the Nenagh Guardian said in its report that Tipperary newcomers showed up well especially Mickey Burns, Phil Hennessy, and Michael Hynes.

Tipperary were rich in talent and taking the place of a renowned halfback line of Jimmy Finn, Tony Wall and John Doyle was next to impossible, but Michael remained a constant on the panel and won his first Munster and All-Ireland medals.

Eventually the call came in November 9th 1958 when lining out against Clare in the opening round of the National Hurling League game at Cusack Park, Ennis. Burns lined out with Tony Wall and Noel Murphy (Thurles Sarsfields) at his side as Tipperary won handsomely.

His championship debut arrived in July 1959, just days before the Munster semi-final with Waterford. Jimmy Finn had to retire due to injury and the young Nenagh man took his chance and made the number five his own. It was a difficult start though as a marvellous Waterford side destroyed Tipp. The Deise led 8-2 to nil at half time, the scoreline surprised even the dynamic Michael O’Hehir who was broadcasting a Connacht senior football game in Castlebar at the same time, was unsure if he could confirm the scoreline. He mused with the idea that Waterford must be leading 0-8 to 0-2. Eventually he put the record straight as Waterford held on to win 9-3 to 3-4.

Waterford went on to win the All-Ireland but meanwhile Tipp as National League champions, (Tipp defeated Waterford in the final) Mick Burns travelled with the Premier to New York for the St. Brendan’s Cup final against New York. Tipp won the two-legged affair on aggregate, 8-19 to 4-10, with Mick Burns suffering a broken nose.

In 1960, Burns lined out at right wing back alongside Tony Wall and John Doyle as Tipperary retained their National League title with a win over Cork at the Athletic Grounds. The win created optimism for the Munster quarter final with Limerick. Nothing prepared them for the size of their victory over the Shannonsiders as the 10-9 to 2-1 victory showed. Two weeks later, it was the turn of Waterford and Tipp made up for the defeat of the previous year with fourteen points to spare. Burns, Wall and Doyle were half backs.

John D Hickey’s report in the Irish Independent the following morning said: “Wall played Tom Cheasty out of the game. For Burns too, it was a most celebrated occasion as he well and truly exacted revenge for the drubbing he took last year from Decies county captain, Frankie Walsh.”

The Munster final against Cork was arguably the best for a long time. It ended in a 4-13 to 4-11 win for Tipp earning Mick Burns his second Munster medal.

He had to wait twelve months for his first All-Ireland title as Tipp defeated Galway and Cork in the Munster Championship before defeating Dublin in the All-Ireland senior hurling final, captained by Matt Hassett.

The customary half-back trio lined out but during the game Tipp lost Tony Wall to injury. Liam Devaney stood in at six and the Irish Independent said Mick Burns stood out such was his display in a game many argue that Tipp were lucky to win.

Mick Burns won his third All-Ireland twelve months later as Tipp defeated Wexford 3-10 to 2-11. The Nenagh Guardian said Mick Burns had his hands full in watching Jimmy O’Brien but the right wing back opened up in the last quarter to finish on a high note.

Tipp failed to get out of Munster in 1963 but Mick won his only Railway Cup medal with Munster in that year. Earlier in the year, Mick Burns had the privilege of playing on native soil as Tipp defeated Limerick in the National League semi-final. He was outstanding in the final win over Wexford in Dublin as a great Tipp defence with Mick Burns playing a stellar role.

In 1964, Tipp eased through the Munster Championship with easy wins over Clare and Cork before renewing rivalry with Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. Tipp won convincingly 5-13 to 2-8 and in his match report John D Hickey was in no doubt where the best wine came from Mick Burns “who was magnificent”.

Mick Burns was now on four All-Ireland medals and his fifth was around the corner in 1965. Once again, Tipp had no equal. They defeated Kilkenny in the National League final and strode through the Munster campaign with wins over Clare and Cork. Wexford were their opponents in the All-Ireland final. Mick Burns produced some fine clearances especially in the second half, the Nenagh Guardian stated in its report as Tipp won 2-16 to 0-10 to win their 21st title.

There was some shock as Tipp lost their Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1966 but Mick won his seventh Munster medal in 1967 as Tipp defeated Clare before they lost to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

In 1968, he was back winning medals when claiming his sixth National League title at the expense of Kilkenny. That was the home final and Tipp travelled to America to take on New York to claim the real final.

On their return Tipp set out to retain the Munster title. Mick Burns partnered Mick Roche and Len Gaynor in the half backline as Tipp won with some ease against a disappointing Cork outfit. Again, John D Hickey was praiseworthy of the Nenagh man stating that Burns was a “top class performer”.

Mick’s last day in championship hurling was against Wexford in the All-Ireland final. After a great first half performance when Tipp led by eight points at half time, they succumbed to blitz from the Wexford team that won 5-8 to 3-12 with the Nenagh Guardian stating that Burns hurled magnificently in the first half. Sadly, it was the end of the road for Mick Burns after 26 championship games in the Tipp jersey with a record of 19 victories and one draw, making it a 75 percent success rate.

NENAGH

Mick won his first North senior medal in 1957 as Nenagh won their first title in 41 years by defeating Toomevara. Their county semi-final with a combination side called Na Piarsaigh from South Tipperary ended in defeat. Mick Burns had a great game, the Nenagh Guardian stated. A certain Donie Nealon caught the eye of the selectors for the South champions.

Seven years later, he captained Nenagh to their third North title with a big victory over Roscrea. Nenagh lost to Holycross/Ballycahill in the marathon county semi-final with the Mid men winning by a point in a replay after extra time.

Mick Burns also won three North Minor titles with Eire Og Nenagh in 1951, ’53 and ’55 and added a North Junior in 1953. He won two Senior League medals with Faughs in Dublin. Mick was Life President of the Nenagh Eire Og club at the time of his death.

funeral

Having reposed in Ryan’s funeral home on Friday, his remains received a guard of honour from MacDonagh Park through Pearse Street on route to St. Mary’s of the Rosary Church Nenagh for funeral mass last Saturday before burial in Lisboney cemetery.

Mick Burns is survived by his wife Pauline, sons Michael, Ronan & John, daughters Michelle & Ciara, sisters Nonie & Nuala, brother Willie, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren, brother-in-law Eamon, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and many friends. May he Rest in Peace.