Clean Ireland Reycling Tipperary 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 Emly. 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 Loughmore-Castleiney 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 Cappawhite 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, Clonoulty: 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 Cahir on Septem - Bansha: 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 Holycross: 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.