AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS... The dust that settles on 2019, if inspected closely, will undoubtedly be found to be composed partly of the remnants of records pulverised, with a dash of what was blown off old mantles assumed once more; the rest from what has been kicked up in the wake left by an Association streaking forward into a new decade. A hugely impressive five-in-a-row, a manager returning to the fray to lead his county to glory against an old foe who’s very own drive for five he halted in it’s tracks, a hat-trick of titles for the ladies, clubs reaching finals, retaining titles - the list goes on. As the calendars reset and we reflect on the past twelve months, we’re left to wonder what in the world can possibly be left in the tank to excite and enthral us all over again in 2020. Who knows? Who would dare hazard a guess? We wait with bated breath. But thats the beauty of these games, why we love them so- we never can tell. 70 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID officialgaa 71 AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 72 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID officialgaa 73 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID officialgaa 75 AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER It’s often said in sporting parlance that you should never go back - but the rise and fortunes of Tipperary hurling under the watchful eye of team manager Liam Sheedy went a considerable way to challenging that assertion after a 2019 to remember for the Premier County hurlers. While Sheedy had steered the county to the peak in 2010 – denying Kilkenny at the time in their tilt at what would have been the Association’s first ever five-in-a-row - the Portroe man had handed the reins on and pursued other projects, never far from the game and indeed in the public glare thanks to a high-profile punditry. However, his decision to re-enter the fray successfully moulded a team of long-standing county servants with younger talent that allowed them to once again hold off the black and amber challenge on the day that matters most on the senior inter-county hurling circuit. If the coup de gräce was the preserve of those clad in blue and gold, it’s not difficult to argue that once again the game of hurling was the real winner in 2019 after another year of championships for the ages. 76 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID officialgaa 77 AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 It wasn’t just the All-Ireland series that sparkled. Once The belief existed that the new Tipperary again the glut of top-class provincial hurling shone management were finding their way during the too with Leinster making a convincing case as being league but their form in the Munster Championship the better of two enthralling provincial roadshows that was noteworthy. were reimagined two years ago with the introduction of the home and away based round-robin system. They won all four games returning a scoring difference of +42 as Limerick, Cork and Clare all Before an inter-county championship sliotar was trailed on four points – with Limerick advancing to pucked in anger there were accolades to distribute meet their neighbours and rivals by virtue of the for three ambitious clubs. Not for the first or last time better scoring difference. in recent years Kilkenny clubs were to the fore in the pursuit of national honours. This contest would produce the only blot on Tipp’s 2019 campaign as they crashed 2-26 to 2-14 to Despite the gallant efforts of Monaghan and Ulster allow Limerick to complete the silverware set in a champions Castleblayney, Dunnamaggin claimed 12-month period in front of their joyous support. the junior crown and their exploits were matched by If Munster stole the hurling thunder in 2018 in the Shamrocks who saw off St Thomas’ to take home first staging of the format, Leinster clawed it back the Tommy Moore Cup at senior level in what would the following summer. Incredibly four of the five be the last club final played on the day of the patron competing teams finished with five points after a saint. The intermediate title was taken west of the whirlwind month of hurling. Shannon by Oranmore-Maree who beat Charleville in their final joust. The final day of the provincial campaign could not be bettered for drama as Dublin beat Galway at Parnell Inter-county Allianz League action commenced with and Wexford drew with Kilkenny as calculators were all eyes focused on Limerick to see what reaction the order of the day before Galway’s exit from the we would get following their sensational All-Ireland championship was confirmed. success of the previous September. They were impressive to say the least. When Joe McDonagh Champions Laois toppled the Dubs at the next stage the drama kept rolling before John Kiely’s team topped their group with Dublin they themselves crashed out to Tipperary on a day emerging on top on their side of the competition when Kilkenny halted Cork’s march. before they claimed a first away win over Tipperary since February 1946 in their quarter-final clash. By this stage Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher honours had been claimed by Meath, Sligo Limerick ended Dublin’s interest in a final spot with a and Leitrim respectively despite the best efforts of Nowlan Park semi-final win as Waterford accounted beaten finalists Down, Armagh and Lancashire. for Galway to pair these two counties together. What followed thereafter was hurling food for the The display put on by the defending All-Ireland soul as two semi-finals of the highest order were champions that day served as a timely reminder served up on what has become many people’s that they had not left the stage and 1-9 from Aaron favourite weekend in the GAA calendar. Gillane, including a wonder goal, meant league honours were added to the collection. If there were fears or concerns that Kilkenny’s new 78 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID emerging team was still a work in progress they were firmly addressed in a memorable semi-final clash with Limerick. Despite a sensational late goal strike from Shane Dowling, the Cats were not to be denied a final ticket, helped along the way by a goal from Colin Fennelly as Limerick’s reign as champions was ended. Not to be outdone, the following day Wexford and Tipperary served up a contender for game of the season. Wexford did much of the early running and goals from Conor McDonald (2) and Lee Chin, allied to the dismissal of John McGrath had the Leinster champions cruising with a five-point cushion entering the final stages. If ever there was a time for Tipp’s metal to emerge, this was it and a late scoring salvo rescued their season in a finale as good as anything the championship produced. And then there were two! And what a pair. game with 1-1, a haul matched by John O’Dwyer as Tipp turned the screw and made full use of the extra man. Tipp v Kilkenny finals could not be described as anything approaching a rarity and the 2019 offering In the end we were left to ponder might the game was accompanied by its own subplot with neither have unfolded differently had Kilkenny retained the team coming into the contest in the ascendency. full complement - but it is a moot point. As one of the wettest hurling finals played in recent Tipperary’s success was built on re-energising the years, it was Kilkenny who settled quickest even if the aforementioned attacking duo, harnessing the upper hand they established wasn’t fully reflected on experience of Brendan Maher and mixing it with the the scoreboard. vibrancy and promise of younger players keen for a slice of the action. Their five-point lead on 21 minutes was dented when Niall O’Meara struck for the first of Tipperary’s goals. The current crop remain in place for 2020. Pulling However, it was the hotly contested dismissal of off the county’s first win last year since 2016 was an Richie Hogan before half-time that tilted the game in admirable feat last September. Adding to it as they Tipp’s direction and leading by a point at the interval, are up there to be shot at will be one step further. they never looked back. Time will tell whether the jilted counties looking on from Goalscoring captain Séamus Callanan exploded into the afar in 2019 will have something to say about that. officialgaa 79 Páirc an Chrócaigh AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 THE FOOTBALL YEAR It was the great Muhammad Ali who said that “the man who has no imagination, has no wings.” Daring to believe, daring to dream and dreaming and believing that the impossible is nothing; and then having the resolve and the commitment to turn that into reality is what helps to make great champions. 82 2019 TUARASCÁIL AN ARD-STIÚRTHÓRA AGUS CUNTAIS AIRGID officialgaa 83 AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2020 And so it was, that on the tenth anniversary of one of in another thriller for the ages between these two the most harrowing defeats in their august history, footballing heavyweights. that the footballers of Dublin achieved sporting immortality by capturing the All-Ireland senior It was a privilege to be there – not alone for being an football title for the fifth year-in-a-row.