European Hurling and Camogie Championships – Zürich ISSUE 10 July 6Th 2009
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSUE 10 July 6th 2009 The Munster Final... A Player’s View Lads... Just call it straight! The Dreaded Missed the hat trick by inches...Martin Comerford Replay Photo; John McIlwaine p 2 EDITOR’S COMMENT ISSUE 10 July 6th 2009 Hello Hurling Fans, The high point of this weekend was the meeting of Dublin and Kilkenny in the Leinster Final. It was obvious after 15 minutes that Dublin had benefited psychologically from their semi-final breakthrough against Wexford. Their 3 points without reply after half time left them in a position to strike for home but careless marking and some mindless frees conceded in the half back line was their downfall on this occasion. Nevertheless Daly’s men are going from strength to strength and will be a difficult obstacle for whoever is drawn against them in the semi-final. The action switches to Semple Stadium next weekend for the mouth-watering clash between Tipperary and Waterford in the Munster Final. On Saturday the finals of the secondary competitions The Christy Ring Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups take place in Croke Park. ComingComing Until next week best wishes from Hurling World. inin HurlingHurling WorldWorld nextnext week...Tippweek...Tipp LegendLegend MickeyMickey ByrneByrne revealsreveals thethe 7272 yearyear secretsecret ofof ‘The‘The Rattler’Rattler p 3 FEATURE From the Heart Michael Cleary ISSUE 10 July 6th 2009 The Munster Final - A Player’s View Former Tipperary player Michael Cleary from the Eire Óg Nenagh club spoke during the week to Hurling World about his love of Hurling and what the Munster Final means to him. He said ‘Skippy’ the best of luck today; you know you are wearing a very prestigious Tipperary jersey. Just think now he says of all the lads that have worn it. That rocked me a bit and sent a shiver down my spine and I thought TIPPERARY-ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONS 1989 of number 10, Nicky Back Row: John Kennedy, John Heffernan, Noel Sheehy, Declan Carr, Ken Hogan, Conor Donovan, Declan Ryan, Bobby Ryan (Capt.). himself wore it for 5 or Front Row: Nicholas English, Michael Cleary, Cormac Bonnar, Colm Bonnar, Conal Bonnar, John Leahy, Pat Fox. 6 years. In the 70’s Francis Loughnane had When did you get on the county coming or who is not”. Never heard a word all togged in, showered and was heading out to it. Prior to that Jimmy team? through 87 then on Friday the 13th of the car saying what a waste of time when I February 1988 the day before Valentine’s Day Doyle had it and before “In 86 when Babs took over his very first the busiest day of the year in the shop Donnie should be at home working in the shop. But that Jimmy Kennedy. game was against Waterford in Clonmel, then Nealon asked me to travel to Parnell Park for Babs followed me out and said “We are we played Clare in Newmarket on Fergus and the game against Dublin. I traveled and sat on training Tuesday night will you come in” That Babs said “We are picking a panel now lads my backside until the last 10 minutes. I came was all I wanted to hear.” and I will give ye all a call no matter who is on hit one ball put one over the bar went in p 4 FEATURE From the Heart Michael Cleary ISSUE 10 July 6th 2009 Michael Cleary gives an interview to RTE after the 1991 munster Final win over Cork Did you play in 88? “I was a sub all through 88 though I got a few minutes against Limerick in the semi- final I came on and hit two wides - one bad one. In 89 I was picked in the semi-final against Limerick and on the Tuesday night Tipperary selectors Babs Keating, Donie Nealon and Theo Eng- before the game Babs called out that Michel lish for Tipperary’s All Ireland success in 1989. The well-known landmark newsagents of the Cleary Family in Nenagh Cleary was picked at number 13 and Pat Fox was dropped. Probably because in the final of 88 Ollie Kilkenny cleaned Pat Fox. So I was We both felt the opposite wing suited us. In the field. They spoke especially about the 49 seats but wound being great seats because of picked and Fox was gone. We went out on to the game we switched after 10 minutes and Munster Final in Limerick, the draw and the what happened. the field then for 20 minutes of a match. I the forwards stayed virtually the same for 4 replay when Tommy Doyle kept Ring went back in to change my boots as there was years. I was at 10, Declan was at 11, Leahy was scoreless. They were always talking about it Which Munster Final was the best a drizzle. When I came out I was put in at ,at 12, Fox was 13 Colm was at 14 and Nicky here in the house. Sometimes when we take you have seen? wing back in front of Fox. Fox hit a ball, it hit was at 15. That only changed due to injury. out old albums there is hardly a photo where I me and I wound up in hospital. He played got am without a Hurl. I would have been a very To me the 87 drawn game was the greatest. man of the match and had three or four great What did playing in a Munster cheap child to raise. When I was 5 or 6 they The replay in Killarney was romantic it wasn’t years afterwards. If I hadn’t got injured Fox Final mean to you? got me a hurley with tin on it for my birthday. actually a great game. To get back to your might never have been heard of again and Well my late father JK - though he only It was the best birthday present I ever got! To original question when you’re a player you Tipp might not have won their 2 All Irelands.” played junior here with Nenagh - with his answer you question about the Munster Final block out all of that stuff out of your mind. I own peers it was always Hurling Hurling… he my first one was 73 and I have never missed a would be totally focused on the next ball and Did you always play in the one spoke more passionately about the 50’s than Munster Final since. In 84 we were playing irrespective of what you did with it, it’s always position? the 60’s. The Munster Finals from 49 and he minor in the curtain raiser and were actually the next ball and the next ball. For the All Ireland in 89 Leahy came to me was at the 56 Final and the save by Art Foley given seats on the terrace behind Seanie and he said could you play on the other wing. from Christy Ring and Ring being carried off O’Leary in the second half. They were terrible p 5 FEATURE From the Heart Michael Cleary ISSUE 10 July 6th 2009 Did you think out that strategy yourself or was it Babs or some into him he is going to give it to me or worst Thanks Pat... Michael Cleary acknowledges case it’s going to break. When I saw halfbacks the pass from Pat Fox that led to his point other coach? getting the ball I immediately sprinted for Big in the 1991 Munster Final. No. I thought Nicky was one of the best I Bonnar. That was my game over 5 or 6 years. ever saw now that was pre 87. He scored 2-5 from play in the Munster Final of 85... from What do you remember about the play off Dermott McCurtain. 2-5 off McCurtain lead into your first Munster Final? from wing forward was extra ordinary. I I remember two things I was marking Pat remember watching Nicky down in Roscrea Ryan from Mount Sion a very good hurler but one night in April 83 they were playing a very tough man. He was bigger and stronger Galway. Now he looked brilliant but I and if you mix it with him he is going to remember coming home in the car and Tattoo you. We went to Cork the night before. thinking that there is nothing that he could We always stayed in Blarney, the Blarney Park do that I couldn’t do. Now his first touch was Hotel. We had mass in the morning, a little good his jinx was good his strike was good. puck around then put on the blazers, meet in Then I realized that I had a better strike than the lobby maybe have a cup of tea and go to he had even at sixteen. Now he was one of the the match. I remember being outside and best players in the country and I could do Nicky was beside me and I remember John everything that he could do. He had a bit of Hayes ‘Hotpoint’ bringing a Mars Bar to Nicky. size, which meant he could play a high ball Nicky always had a Mars Bar a couple of hours better than I could, but outside of that! Now before the game. It was my first Munster Final we can all do it up in the stand but bringing it and even though Nicky was a teammate I on to the field was the next step. He was looked on him as God.