Templederry enjoying the high life

THEY are surrounded by more illustrious names in Tipperary but Templederry Kenyons GAA club are punching at heavyweight level this week.

In North Tipperary, a hotbed of hurling, no club has more representatives on the Tipperary team that goes into action tomorrow in Croke Park, with midfielder Gearóid Ryan flying the flag for Templederry. Throw sub Thomas Stapleton into the mix and it’s easy to describe this as an unprecedented occasion for the club.

“It’s massive really and something we’ve never had to deal with before,” admits club secretary Anne Ryan. “Michael Murphy and Michéal Ryan have won medals with Tipperary in the past, but Gearóid was the first to win a senior medal last year. It was a very special occasion and a sign of how much he has improved as a hurler. Thomas would have hurled minor, U21 and senior in the past for Tipperary but lost his place on the panel last year. It’s been brilliant to see him back involved this year.”

Stapleton and Ryan enjoyed glory together in Croke Park when the Tipperary minors swept to All-Ireland success in 2006. That paved the way for other Templederry players to shine at inter-county level. Eanna Murray was a Tipp minor in 2009 while Christy Coughlan won an All-Ireland U21 medal last September.

Then this year Brian Stapleton, a brother of Thomas, and Adrian Ryan, a first cousin of Gearóid, represented Tipperary in the U21 grade. The greater notoriety has swelled interest levels in hurling in the club and there has been a manic rush for tickets.

“It’s been a bit of a headache,” laughs Ryan. “Tickets are scarce and there’s been numerous phone calls ever since the semi-final with people looking to go to the final. But it’s been very rewarding. It’s been great so many genuine Tipperary supporters have been satisfied with tickets and there’ll be a huge crowd leaving Templederry for Dublin on Sunday morning.”

In the aftermath of Sunday, preparations will intensify for the third round of the county SHC where Templederry, managed by former Cork senior hurler Ger Manley, face neighbours Burgess.

“It’s a big local derby. We reached the North Tipperary semi-final this year but lost out to Kildangan by a point. For us being back competing at senior is very important as we’ve suffered relegation recently and only came back up from intermediate a few years ago. Gearóid and Thomas are key figures for us there, and we hope they’ll be coming back to us celebrating.”

Picture: GEARÓID RYAN: a star at midfield for Tipp.