Glory be to Tipp... and new recruits

TIPPERARY fans reckon they don’t need the power of prayer to defeat the Cats this Sunday, but one sport-mad priest hopes the power of hurling will inspire some fans to become men of the cloth.

“Become a member on the panel of our championship-winning parish team,” a poster outside St Mary’s Church in Clonmel proclaims, in blue-and-gold colouring, thanks to a “light bulb moment” for local priest Fr Billy Meehan.

The poster he had printed reminds passers-by that “you too can be part of winning team”, just like Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly and the rest of the reigning hurling champions. “Success due to teamwork and team spirit — join the priesthood team in our diocese,” the poster urges.

Whether as a direct result of the poster or not, the priest reveals that “we’ve one fella gone up to Maynooth” to enrol in studies for the priesthood this year.

Inside, he presents the work of the parish children’s liturgy group, in the form of a display of photographs and “prayers” adapted to suit the hurling fever besetting the county.

“Glory be to the forwards and to the backs and to the king of the puc fada, as he keeps our goalpost safe, now and forever, Amen,” says one, referring to Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins.

Not what Vatican II had in mind, perhaps, but it’s keeping the youngsters interested in Mass, says Fr Meehan.

“Every Sunday at 10.30 Mass they go into the sacristy at the beginning and do their own little liturgy and prayer. Then, after the Holy Holy, they come out and squat around the altar and sing a song and tell a story about what they were doing inside. This is what they’ve been working on over the last few weeks.”

The St Mary’s priest who was in Croke Park for last year’s Tipperary victory, will be there on Sunday for their attempt at a two-in-a-row, and asked if his county will win, puts it simply: “Yes.”