Derry Foley: These Tipperary football teams would win anywhere
The venue for tomorrow’s county final — Leahy Park, Cashel — may yet make the agendas of human rights activists.
As everyone now knows, Tipp’s football board wanted Semple Stadium for its showpiece, but the county board ruled otherwise. Worse, the final has been scheduled against Thurles Sarsfields v Ballygunner, in Semple; the televised Munster club hurling tie.
Football’s coming home; to the ha’penny place.
In the Irish Times, Malachy Clerkin considered the snub to be further evidence that “the limit to the growth of Tipperary football may come from within”.
He noted, too, a lack of any great protest from Tipp’s football faithful, detecting more “embattled deflation than outrage”.
Foley — a former Tipp great and international rules player — presents more stoic resilience than any sense of ennui.
“There seems to be more concern outside the county than there is inside. There’s none of us bothered any more.
“As a Tipperary footballer, if I focused on the amount of times I was disappointed with the county board’s decisions, I’d be preoccupied and driven slightly mad. We take it all as a fait accompli. When they do something that’s positive for football, I take it as a pat on the back and when they give me a kick in the arse I don’t take any notice of it.
“Am I disappointed about Thurles, yes. But did I expect any different, no.”
Foley’s Moyle Rovers face Loughmore-Castleiney of all the McGraths in the decider. Rovers are mired “in a drought at this stage”. Foley’s team, which also starred Declan Browne, John Owens and current manager Liam Cronin, won five counties in six years between 1995 and 2000. In 1998, they famously beat All-Ireland fancies Bantry Blues in the Munster semi-final, Derry’s brother Donal getting the winning goal.
The club added two more Tipp titles in 2007 and 2009, but have lost two finals since, last year’s, by a point, to Clonmel Commercials.
Loughmore-Castleiney have won two of the last four, including a miraculous hurling-football double in 2013. They start favourites tomorrow having unseated Munster champions Commercials in the semi-final.
Every one of Foley’s team has given back to the club as coaches. But as well as inspiration, they provide genes. “Paul Boland is Liam Boland’s father. Robbie Boland is Luke’s father. John Owens is Danny’s father. The two Foleys are Donal’s sons, my nephews.”
But he points up Moyle’s loss of Tipp captain Peter Acheson (emigrated to Dubai) and county sub keeper Ciaran Kendrick (broken hand) as contributors to Loughmore-Castleiney’s edge in experience.
Mainly, though, he’s savouring a match-up that should generate its own wattage away from the spotlight.
“I’d consider the standard of football in Tipperary now at the highest it’s been at any time in the last 50 years. Any of the three teams — Commercials, ourselves and Loughmore — I’d fancy their chances of winning the Cork senior football championship. And I’d fancy their chances on any given day against any club team in the country.”
It’s that deepening quality across the club game, even more than the county’s magical charge to the All-Ireland semi-final, that fortifies Foley against administrative sleights.
“Tipp senior football is not a flash in the pan. Those three teams have brought to the table what has been happening in other counties. And there are others close enough too.
“The games are played at an open, intense pace. The football has evolved a lot since my time. There’s no long, stupid, high balls. The brand of football now is modelled on what Dublin try to achieve.
“We’ve always admired Loughmore. The way they present themselves and play the game. This will not be a tactical battle. It will be a battle of will.
“I don’t expect them to set up with a defensive formation or a sweeper. The tradition there is that every man fights for his own ball. And the Moyle Rovers tradition is the same. It’ll be 15 against 15 and let the best man win.
“It can be risky. But it lends itself to a fabulous style of football and allows fellas totally express themselves.”
That freedom, to Foley’s mind, is as seductive to youngsters as big day glamour.
“I think it’s the reason you have so many fellas playing football in Tipperary now and not quitting at an early age, finding it frustrating because it’s so tactical.
“There’s an awareness of what you have to do, but it doesn’t predetermine everything you can do. It doesn’t stop you shooting. It’s not endless recycling.
“I’ve yet to meet a young fella who hates playing football. And I’ve seen that in other counties.
“When the coach becomes the dominant force at a training session, you’re shagged.”
The nation, then, can relax about Tipp’s growing pains?
“There’s a dozen counties would love to have what we have at the moment, with the football setup.
“Ok, the hurling setup is better and good luck to them. But when you are aware of the challenges, you can get obsessed with it and drive yourself mad. Or you can get on with it and enjoy what you’re doing.
“That’s what we do in Moyle Rovers, and the same above in Loughmore.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
