Clean Reycling Senior Football Championship Final 2014 Arravale win County Senior Football title in their Centenary Year

cerned that they organised a series of chal - lenge games in preparation for the champi - By: SEAMUS J. KING onship clash with . While Arravale’s performnce was an RRAVALE ROVERS won the county improvement on the team’s display against senior football title of 1985 when they the same opposition in the O’Donoghue Adefeated - in a Cup, they still lost to Emly by 0-10 to 1-4 in replayed final at Leahy Park, Cashel on the first round game. The championship had November 17th. In doing so they bridged a eight teams and it was run on a knockout forty-four year gap and celebrated their cen - and losers group basis that turned out to be tenary year in the best possible way. most unsatisfactory. It took from May 5th to There wasn’t much promise of future glory August 2nd to complete the first round in the team’s performances in the game between Lattin-Cullen and Cashel. O’Donoghue Cup early in the year. In four Then because of the unavailability of Cap - games they lost three and won one, conced - pawhite and Galtee Rovers to play the West ing 3-32 while scoring 2-16. The selectors, final in time to meet county deadlines, the Seamus O’Donoghue, Dan Sheridan, Sean board nominated Galtee Rovers and Arravale Moore and Jimmy O’Connell, were so con - Rovers to play in the county quarter-finals. PLAYER PROFILES 1. TOM TWOMEY (Capt) high fielding and all round after a short number of years. Very Agile with a long kick out. toughness in the edge of the 6. TOM RICHARDSON He was an outstanding captain. square. Represented his county One of the team leaders on the Tommy served with the club for at Senior level for many years. field Tom was slight of frame but many years as a player and 4. DAVID WALSH more than made up for that with coach/manager before Youngest member of the his excellent ball skills and all becoming a Senior Football backline known for his football round football sense. He went Selector with Tipperary. prowess and ball handling skills. on to give wonderful years as 2. JOE BROWNE David was outstanding club chairman, team coach, Mayo man known for his high throughout the campaign. fundraiser etc until his untimely fielding and tenacious tackling. Corner back in the 1984 Minor early passing. He is sadly missed His positional play and reading All Ireland final and also played to this day. of the game were outstanding U21 for his native county. 7. DENIS KENNEALLY traits in one of the most popular 5. WILLIE MADDEN Flamboyant wing back with men ever to wear the number From Liscarroll in the County great speed, known for his two jersey for Arravale. Cork Willie was known for his attacking play from wing back 3. PAT M cCORMACK fielding, positional play and and urging of team mates when Pat also fondly known as the wonderful distribution. Played heads would be down. Denis Bomber gave sterling service to with both codes with equal was also not slow to make his Arravale for a long number of excellence until work feelings known when he did not years. He was renowned for his commitments took him from us agree with some on field

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael 1 Clean Ireland Reycling Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final 2014

ARRAVALE ROVERS – County Champions 1985. Back row (l.-r.): Richard Crowe, Pat McCormack, Billy Cronin, Joe Browne, Paul Landers, Willie Gilsenan, Tony Meagher, James ‘Jayo’ O’Donoghue (RIP), Brendan Fogarty, Willie Crowe, Pat Kelly, Willie Madden, Martin Lowry, Karl Lowry. Front row (l.-r.): Jimmy Lowry, Arthur Ryan, Johnny Lowry, Denis Kenneally, Tommy Toomey, Tom Richardson (RIP), Davy Walsh, Damien Quinlan, Barry Walsh, John Conroy (RIP), Michael McCarthy, John Crowe and Willie Dillon. The West final was eventually played on the runners-up in the West final for the right December 1st and Galtee Rovers won their to go forward to the county quarter-finals as 13th title. the division’s second team but, as we saw In the meantime the losers group was above, the West final didn’t take place and played and Arravale Rovers showed a marked sportingly agreed to Arravale improvement on earlier performances. They accompanying Galtee into the quarter-finals. defeated Golden-Kilfeacle by 3-7 to 0-5 on The play-off game between Arravale and July 13th and Lattin-Cullen by 1-5 to 0-0 on Cappawhite was never played as it had lost all August 11th. Arravale had, therefore, to play relevance by December. decisions. Very popular with his many a score in the drawn game maker and scorer o many scores. team mates. and reply. Also a terrific Irish He played a vital role in the goal 8. WILLIE CROWE dancer it was easy to see where which was to ultimately decide One of the great high fielders of he got his great footballing feet the game. a football this was never more from. Played minor Football and 12. TONY MEAGHER evident than in the second half Hurling for Tipperary. From a proud Arravale family of the replay when he won ball 10. CARL LOWRY Tony was blessed with great feet, after ball to get his forwards Was introduced off the bench in football intelligence and great moving. Tipperary Footballer of the drawn game, starting the free taking ability. He left a the year in 1985 - a richly replay his work rate ball carrying major imprint on both games deserved honour. Played Junior and all-round skill helped to with his will to win and may and Senior Football with his steady the ship when the going scores. Played under age and County for a number of years. got tough. Played for his county Senior for his County. Starred with the club for years at on numerous of occasions. 13. BARRY WALSH both hurling and football. 11. BRENDAN FOGARTY Small in size but full of skill, high 9. PAUL LANDERS Another of the younger players work rate and all round football Paul was a wonderful skilful who had made his breakthrough ability his contribution to the footballer blessed with speed to Seniors early his career. Big cause that November day was skill and all round natural strong bustling centre forward immense. football ability. With his midfield whom centre backs found hard 14. WILLIAM (BILL) CRONIN partner he was responsible for to manage, Brendan was a Known affectionately as “Big Bill”

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael 2 Clean Ireland Reycling Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final 2014

QUARTER-FINAL five minutes old when Lowry rocked the In this manner Arravale found themselves champions with a competing for goal.. Fethard grad - county honours ually got a grip on when they h to Final things and led by played county Pat 1-5 to 1-2 at the champions, WEST: interval. However, : 26/05/1985 – 1-4 Fethard, in the ravale Rovers Arravale re-start - Emly 0-10, Ar quarter-final at P: ed in a whirlwind LOSERS GROU on Septem - : fashion and 13/07/1985 – -Kilfeacle 0-5 rs 3-7, Golden ber 15th. It wasn’t Arravale Rove Lowry scored his ly: the best opposi - 11/08/1985 Em Cullen 0-0 second goal rs 1-5, Lattin- tion for a team that Arravale Rove within five min - F: layed) had struggled to PLAY-OF pawhite (not p utes following a Rovers v Cap get through the Arravale pass from Billy COUNTY: West division. How - AL: Cronin. The QUARTER-FIN ever, the introduc - Cahir: game had still 15/09/1985 – 1-7 rs 2-7 Fethard tion of some young Arravale Rove to be won and blood from the SEMI-FINAL: this happened : minor team 27/10/1985 – emore 1-2 through the rs 4-10 Templ strengthened the Arravale Rove speed of the Arravale side and FINAL: younger shel: 0-8 /11/1985 – Ca re-Castleiney one of these Johnny 03 1-5 Loughmo Arravale for - avale Rovers Lowry, made a major Arr wards, ably REPLAY: contribution to an Cashel: ey 1-3 assisted by 17/11/1985 – ore-Castlein rs 1-5 Loughm unexpected victory. Arravale Rove their more The game was only experienced he was the target man of the Arravale at both hurling and county GAA community. forward line and unselfishness football. 18. JOHNNY LOWRY led to many a score. Looked 16. PAT KELLY Another from a great GAA after the younger players in both Introduced in the closing stages tradition he was also was one of finals like a father. When the this veteran of many a battle, the babies of the team who will need arose late in the game he he showed his worth with many ever forget his two goals and a travelled outfield to win many a a great tackle and ball carrier. point in the county quarter final tough aerial ball to calm the His County medal was a well v Fethard and his contribution in game. His contribution to deserved honour for his many the semi final victory. He played Arravale over the years could years of service. He was also at all levels of football for his never be questioned. physical trainer to the team. county until his career was cut 15. JIMMY LOWRY 17. JAMES (JAYO) short by injury. Another man following in a O’DONOGHUE 19. ARTHUR RYAN great family GAA tradition he Played in the drawn final and Another who played in the 85 was one o the younger team made a huge contribution. He championship and made a members. He was inspirational was one of the babies of the major contribution in getting at corner forward and scored the team and enjoyed a fine career the team to the final. Loyal goal that was to have a decisive both as a players and coach in member of the panel and very say in the outcome of the game. his teaching days. Jayo’s popular with his team mates. Enjoyed a long and departing of this life at a young 20. MICHAEL M cCARTHY distinguished career with age devastated the entire Michael was a veteran of the

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael 3 Clean Ireland Reycling Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final 2014 comrades and in the end they scored a sensational victory by 2- 7 to 1-7 over most people’s favourites. SEMI-FINAL Arravale’s opponents in the semi-final were and they beat them impressively at Holycross on October 27th. Arravale were on top from the word go but not until close to halftime did the put themselves in a comfortable position when they led by 2-6 to nil. The trend Tommy Toomey, Arravale Rovers Captain, receives the O’Dwyer Cup from continued in the second half and Football Board Chairman Hugh Kennedy after the replay in Cashel. Arravale were never threatened brought the sides level and back to Cashel and well-deserved their facile victory of 4-10 for the replay two weeks later. to 1-2. The Arravale team was as follows: T. Toomey FINAL (Capt.), J. Browne, P. McCormack, D. Walsh, W. Mad - The county final was played at Cashel on den, T. Richardson, D. Kenneally, P. Landers (0-1), W. November 3, with Loughmore-Castleiney Crowe, T. Meagher (0-2), B. Fogarty, J. O’Donoghue, the opposition. Jimmy Lowry, Billy Cronin (1-0), Johnny Lowry. Arravale led by 1-1 to 0-3 after a tense, Subs: C. Lowry, B. Walsh, P. Kelly. unspectacular first half. They seemed to get a Referee: Tommy Lonergan (). grip on proceedings in the early part of the REPLAY second-half but they couldn’t shake off The replay was at Cashel on November Loughmore and a point by Pat McGrath 17th and both sides showed improvement panel who has played in and was a major blow to the club. His of the County, but through his lost a previous county final. son Tommy is here today to work and many years off playing Another great clubman whose represent his late father. hurling and football he was many talents as a person were 23. WILLIE GILSENAN admired by all. Again his used by the selectors as an In any other club he would have departure from this life at a example to all. been first choice goalie but for relatively young age caused 21. DAMIEN QUINLAN the excellence of Tommy. Willie great sorrow to all in the club Another young player whose gave long years o dedicated who got to know his many loyalty to the club knew no service to Arravale and was wonderful talents. bounds. Great footballers and much admired. He went to also 26. RICHARD CROWE hurler who won All Ireland win a County Junior Football One of the three Crowe brothers Junior Hurling honours with his on the panel Richard was always medal. county. available when needed and 22. MARTIN LOWRY 24. JOHN CROWE played many a great game for A young man and elder brother Stalwart of many a battle the club. of Jimmy and Johnny, martin John was also a loyal and 27. WILLIE DILLON gave his all to the cause when hardworking clubman who gave A young man who played all his many talents were needed. years of dedicated playing grades of football for the club. He was a highly respected service to the cause. Willie could always be relied member of the panel. Again like 25. JOHN CONROY upon to at all times give his best others his death at a young age John came to us from the North in all games.

https://tipperary.gaa.ie 4 Clean Ireland Reycling Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final 2014 on the drawn game. Arravale were probably Browne, Pat McCormack, Davy Walsh, Willie Mad - that bit better in the first half but only den, Tommy Richardson, Denis Kenneally, Willie showed a lead of 0-4 to 0-2 at the interval. Crowe, Paul Landers, Carl Lowry, Tony Meagher Loughmore dominated the third quarter and (0-3), Brendan Fogarty (0-1), Barry Walsh (0-1), Billy Cronin, Jimmy Lowry (1-0). Sub: Paddy Kelly for drew level. A great performance by Willie Jimmy Lowry. Crowe prevented them getting in front and Referee: Tommy Lonergan (Kilsheelan). with fourteen minutes to go Arravale went ahead with a goal by Johnny Lowry. The clos - MUNSTER ing quarter was hectic during which Arravale Arravale Rovers had to lineout a week later pulled out all the stops to hold on and win by in the Munster Club championship. The 1-5 to 1-3. venue was Páirc Uí Chaoimh and their It was a happy Hugh Kennedy, chairman of opponents were the Cork champions, St. the football board and loyal Arravale Rovers Finbarr’s. They were no match for their supporter, who presented the O’Dwyer Cup opponents. The Cork champions led by 2-6 to winning captain, Tommy Toomey. to nil at half-time and were in ront by 2-11 to Arravale Rovers: Tommy Toomey (Capt.), Joe 0-3 at the final whistle. A Banana Republic! NE OF sideshows to the controversy about the nomination of two teams from the West Odivision for the county quarter-finals was a well-publicised clash between the division and the county chairman, Michael Lowry. After the West nominated its two teams following pressure from the county board, the latter decided to postpone a football quarter-final between Kilruane MacDonaghs and Templemore because of a junior hurling match involving Kilruane. If quarter- finals could be put back why had the West division to nominate? In response the West secretary, Jerry Ring, criticised the county board and the county chairman and suggested that perhaps the division would be better off doing its own business and ignoring deadlines. The county chairman reacted by reading a prepared statement at a county board meeting castigating Jerry Ring and stating there would be no Banana Republics in Tipperary while he was in his position! In response the West board wrote to the County board giving full backing to Jerry Ring. The letter also condemned the statement made by the county chairman and sought an apology. No such apology was made and the controversy rumbled on for some months.

Photoraphed are the Arravale Management at the match in Cork against St Finbarr’s (l.-r.): Seamus O’Donoghue (Selector), Paddy Kelly (Coach), Dan Sheridan (RIP, Selector), Jimmy O’Connell (Selector) and Sean Moore (Selector).

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael 5