GAA Bits in Brief

Matt Ruth, who played senior football with Tipperary, won an All-Ireland intermediate hurling medal with Tipperary, a Munster senior hurling medal with Limerick and an All-Ireland senior hurling medal with Kilkenny.

On 9 July 1944 Tipperary senior footballers, despite a game effort, lost the Munster final to Kerry by 1-6 to 0-5 on a wet day at Limerick Gaelic Grounds. Mick Cahill and William (Bunny) Lambe, at mid-field for Tipperary, had the better of the great Kerry mid-field pairing of Paddy Kennedy and Sean Brosnan. Mick Cahill was then 18 years of age. Tipperary had an outstanding goal-keeper in Jim Williams. All have now gone to their eternal reward. At right-half forward, Tipperay had the speedy Sean Cleary, thankfully hale and hearty, and living in Galway for many years.

Sunday, 21 August 1955 is a golden day in the annals of Tipperary football. Having drawn with Kerry in the Munster minor football final in Killarney, the replay was fixed for Semple Stadium, Thurles. The Munster Tribune of 26 August 1955 reported as follows:

A magnificent back-line, a forward line that played fine aggressive football and a sound mid-field, all combined to give Tipperary a great 0-9 to 1-5 victory over the mighty Kingdom. The outstanding Tipperary players were: Tom Walsh (Cahir), Davy Stapleton (Clonmel Commercials), Philly Tobin (Grangemockler), Liam Boland (Clonmel Commercials), Gus Danagher (Fethard) and Michael Moroney (Clogheen).

The cup was not available for presentation after the game but was presented to captain Liam Boland following the team's decisive win over Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final played at Limerick Gaelic Grounds on the following Sunday. Tipperary lost the All-Ireland final to Dublin by 5-4 to 2-7, through the concession of some very soft goals.