Well Done Thurles Sarsfields

Munster Club SHC Final:

Thurles Sarsfields 1-21; De La Salle 1-16

At Pairc Ui Caoimh, Cork yesterday, in terrible weather conditions, Thurles Sarsfields beat an excellent De La Salle side with a display of skill and determination, to win the club's first Munster club championship. It is surprising that a club that has won so many county titles in Tipperary has not previously been successful in Munster. The Munster club championship was inaugurated in 1964 when it was won by Glen Rovers,Cork county champions; the following year it was won again by Cork champions, St.Finbarrs. The golden era of Thurles Sarsfields was between 1955 and 1965 when they won 10 Tipperary senior hurling titles. During that period they were recognized as one of the top club teams in Ireland with Glen Rovers of Cork, Mount Sion of Waterford and Rathnure of Wexford. They had a very lean period since then when they won but one county title until a few years ago. The first Tipperary club to win a Munster senior title was Carrick-on-Suir Davins in 1966 beating Waterford champions, Ballygunner in a great final played in Clonmel.

The outstanding traits of Sarsfields yesterday were their great close-control and their ability to find a colleague with a pass: this always put a lot pressure on opponents especially when tiredness becomes more acute near the end of the game. If they could include first air and ground strokes in their play they would be unbeatable ;maybe they still are. Best of luck

Good Win for Thurles Sarsfields

Munster Club SHC Semi-Final:

Thurles Sarsfields 2-20; Cork Sarsfields 2-15

Tipperary champions Thurles Sarsfields reached the Munster Senior Hurling club final, where they will meet Waterford champions DeLaSalle, with a 5 points victory over Cork champions, also named Sarsfields, at Semple Stadium Thurles yesterday. The Thurles side showed a lot of skill for most of the game, and great determination and commitment to score a goal and two points in the final few minutes of an exciting game when the tide of victory seemed to be slipping away. Their lapses, which have occurred in previous games, would be fatal against a team of the calibre of DeLaSalle. I am of the opinion that the sluggishness in their play at times is a result of competing, most of the time, against sub-standard opposition in Tipperary club competitions in which at least half of the teams playing in the senior grade are of intermediate or junior club standard. On a general point, I find it very sad to see players, who display great skill in other facets of play, unable to strike the ball on the ground or in the air without taking it in their hand. Their method of tackling a member of the opposing team is to hold the hurley in one hand and putting the other hand on their opponent, more often than not conceding a free. The huge amount of coaching that is taking place for a good number of years would need a serious overhaul.

Congrats to Clonmel Commercials

County Tipperary SFC Final:

Clonmel Commercials 1-9; Thomas McDonagh’s 0-5

It was very good for Tipperary football that Clonmel Commercials won the Tipperary senior football championship at Semple Stadium yesterday. Since their foundation in the 30's they have always striven to promote Gaelic football in Tipperary. Their opponents yesterday never have—nor have expressed no intention of doing so in future—promoted gaelic football in their clubs. The seven or more clubs that supplied players to yesterday's team would contain members and players who would have a positive attitude to the promotion of the game in the county, but they have been so outnumbered that noting positive ever happens. I am writing this with memories going back more than 60 years. The Commercials have a lot of good young players at the moment and if they can keep most of them involved, they have a bright future which would be very good for Tipperary football