Notai CLG Tulach an Iarainn

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Published: 13 November 2019

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Cois Bhride: Well done to the Cois Bhride U17 footballers who won the Division 3 County Final. Mossie got so excited that he had to leave the fieldd.

Forty five years ago Tallow captured the 1974 Intermediate hurling title. It coupled on an underage success that propelled us to Senior level and a glorious period of the eighties.

I spoke to three members of that team who were involved that year. Billy Sheehan (BS) the captain from full back, Jimmy Cronin a wing back on the team (JC) and TomDoyle the centre forward (TD) and asked a few questions and give information to all three. 

In eight years all our near neighbours (Shamrocks, Lismore, Cappoquin and Ballyduff) got promoted to the senior grade. The Western section seemed very competitive?

JC: iT was, you could add Fourmile and Geraldines and it was very competitive.

BS: The Intermediate championship was very competitive in the early 70's. Cappoquin beat us in the Western Final in 1970 I think. We won the West in '71 but were beaten by Butlerstown in the County Final. Cappoquin beat us again in 72 or '73. We had John Ryan sent off early in the first half.

TD: It was brilliant to be involved in it. Some great tight games.

We won the Keaneland Cup against Lismore (senior grade) earlier in the year. Surely a good sign?

JC: The Keaneland Cup was just an appetizer for things to come and gave us belief in ourselves.

BS: In '74 we beat Lismore in the Keaneland. Lismore were one of the top senior teams then. That win gave us the confidence to go on from there.

TD: The Keaneland Cup was a mighty tournament. We never looked upon it as either Senior or Intermediate, just another game but fantastic atmosphere.

We received a walkover from Clashmore in the first round. How did this happen?

JC: Can't remember the Clashmore walk over.

TD: No idea. Ask Eddie Cunningham. He was always the brains behind us!

The following round we beat Fourmilewater 3-8 to 1-6...

JC:The Fourmile game was a very physical encounter but our hurling and our fitness levels were super on the day. This day will long be remembered for the death of our own Bill Sheehan a true Tallow man.

TD: The game against Fourmilewter will always be rememberd here in Tallow as the day the late Bill Sheehan passed away on the sideline and with another great Gael and friend of the late Co, Councillor Ciaran O Riain praying the Rosary over Bill. Two true gentlemen supporting their own teams who both loved the game of hurling. Leaba i mbeasc na n-Aingil go raibh acu.

We were due to play Cappoquin in the semi-final of the west in September but due to their involvement in senior football it was held up. Training was on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Achallenge game was played against Watergrasshill. How did you find the time gap?

JC:The time gap was no problem in them times. All we wanted to do was be in the field. There was no social media or apps available then so it was easy to motivate players.

BS: There was a big gap between some of the games. We were also playing football at the time. So between training and football we kept going. I also think at the time we were invited into tournaments, in Castlelyons in 74. We beat Sarsfields of Cork who were Senior at the time. We played other tournaments in Castletownroche, Ballynoe and Kilworth. All these were part of festivals. So we stayed around for a few drinks!!!!! I think that social side helped the team to bond in a good way.

TD: Probably went to Redbarn with the rest of the lads.

Tallow played Cappoquin four times in the 1970's prior to the 1974 semi final. We were only victorious on one occasion. Did that bother you?

JC: All western teams were always competitive especially as all the games were considered to be local derby's and played as such.

TD: No, you win you lose. Take both equally.

The semi final of the west against Cappoquin waasn't played until 24th October. Two months without a game. If that happened now there would be an outcry...

JC: Looking back at some of our fixtures this year not a lot has changed.

TD: I don't see why. Just play it when it comes. What would you be getting excited about? We played an U21 football game in Tramore the day before Christmas Eve.

We also went into the game minus John Lyons our full back with an eye injury and Tom Doyle with a leg injury...

JC: Yes the two lads were a huge loss especially with the size of our panel but that was Tallow then and we played with them on our minds. We had all come up through the Junior ranks together and spirit was the driving force of the day.

BS: We lost John Lyons the week of the Cappoquin game. I went full back in his place. We also introduced Raymond O'Brien (only 17 then).

We beat Cappoquin 2-5 to 1-5. They had won a senior football county final previous to this. We had two goals disallowed for square balls in a game we should have won more comfortably.

JC: Yes we won by a goal at the finish against against our bogey side and a team that produced some of the best hurlers in the western division.

TD: Two goals disallowed? Probably McDonnell charging the goalie.

The Western Final against Ballyduff played before a record crowd in Lismore. They had three Waterford seniors at the time. We won 2-8 to 1-3. Bob Ryan got two goals. Tom Doyle was back from injury, Mutty Curley switched from the forwards to the backs. Billy Sheehan had manned the square. The team had a very settled look about it.

Bar Ned in goals, Richie corner back and Johnny Curley, the team was very young...

BS: I think the team that played in the county final was (ages in brackets) Ned Power, Tom McSweeney (25), B Sheehan (24), R McNamara,J Cronin (20), L O Brien (21), M Curley (24) J McDonnell (24) K Ryan (17), R O Brien (17), T Doyle (23), E Condon (20), J Curley (25), B Ryan, S Tracey (20). Apart from Ned, Richie and Billy Ryan the rest of the team were all under 25. Raymond O'Brien and Kieran Ryan were only 17. Very young although most of them had played for Waterford underage.

TD: We grew up from U14 together with Ned Power always at the helm of it  and it was fantastic that the day arrived when we hurled on the same team together. What a great man he was indeed. Even when in goal he was constantly coaching to the backs in front of him. He played at centre forward as well with us. Richie McNamara would have been those few years above us but was a hugely dependable and skillful hurler and kept many an intercounty hurler scoreless on occasions. Johnny Curley was another of that era and has a Junior County medal as well and is as passionate today as ever and a true hurling man.

The county final in November was delayed after the death of the president and was not called off until 11.30pm on a Saturday night. Not exactly ideal...

TD: I don't remember that but it would have been the same for both teams.

How did losing the '71 county final to Butlerstown help in the '74 decider?

JC: We spoke about that in the run up to the '74 final and nobody wanted to feel like that again. It was eaasy to motivate us.

BS: I think the loss in '71 definitely helped the the progress of the team. Also the Keaneland Cup had a very positive effect. It gave us the belief that we were good enough, also the fact that Lismore were senior and the Shamrock were senior made more determined than ever to get up.

TD: I would say absolutely none except that we were probably more mature a few years later.

We destroyed Clonea in the final by 18 points. A dream scenario... A 38 year wait to play senior hurling ended...

JC: The final was one way traffic and one that set us on the road to the holy grail senior status. If ever a Tallow team deserved this we were them, a dedicated bunch that always punched above their weight.

TD: To be quite honest I don't remember anything about the game but it must have been great for the club. However the great battles against the local intermediate teams were gone and I never enjoyed the senior games to the same degree. Walsh Park or Fraher Field with a small crowd as opposed to a packed Lismore or Cappoquin venue is a no brainer. The local derby atmosphere was a thing of the past.

A lorry carried the team from the bridge to the square. Club president Jimmy Cunningham, Chairman Tom Mulcahy, Secretary John Russell, Ned Power and captain Billy Sheehan spoke. Do you recall any of this?

JC: I remember the lorry and the bonfires that were lit by Gareth Collins and also the singing of Noreen Bawn. All the happy faces in the crowd until I went into Lukies and the rest is history. 

TD: No I don't but it was surely great for all those and the town and parish in particular. As with Ballysaggart this year it was a historic occasion in the overall context of the club and I  now realise what it must have meant to the older generation of the time who had been involved in the club all of their lives. My overall view is that the GAA is entrenched in our lives. Many, many games and occasions I cannot recall but the many great friends I have made, I most certianly can.

Tallow GAA Lotto Supported by Kearnay's Restaurant

11/11/2019 Jackpot €9,200 No Winner Numbers: 12,19,22,23.

Consolation Prizes: Rose Mackey, Lee McElroy, Skippy Donnelly, Victor Delaney.

Promoter: Corner House.

Next Draw: Lukies on 18/11/2019 at 9pm. Jackpot: €9,400.