Paul Rouse: A special hurling rivalry began in Cork city in 1886

The Leahys of Boherlahan accumulated many All-Ireland medals. Of Cpt Johnny Leahy, they say that when he was brought into the county hospital in Thurles in his later years, they threw straw on the street outside his window so the hooves of passing horses wouldn’t disturb his rest.

HOME ADVANTAGE: Tipperary superfan James 'Sid' Ryan stands in the door of his striking blue and gold house on the Cashell Road. (Picture: Stevie O'Donnell, Tipperary Mid West Radio)

There is a medal in the Croke Park Museum which is the centrepiece of the Leahy Collection.

It is an object with testifies to the special rivalry between Cork and Tipperary. It was awarded to Mike Leahy from Tubberadora – of whom more later – after he played in an extraordinary series of matches between hurling teams from Cork and Tipperary in Cork city in 1886.