Kilruane finally reaping rewards of underage work

Kilruane MacDonagh's return to a Tipperary senior hurling final for the first time since 1986

LONG TIME COMING: Kilruane MacDonaghs players from left, Kieran Cahill, Thomas Cleary and James Cleary celebrate after their side's victory in during the Tipperary County Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final match between Kilruane MacDonaghs and Upperchurch-Drombane at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

“It’s a long time coming,” says Dinny Cahill of Kilruane MacDonagh’s day in the limelight tomorrow. Long enough that nobody togging out for the club was born the last time they graced a senior county final.

That 1986 defeat to Borris-Ileigh, seven months after the Cloughjordan club’s All-Ireland senior glory against Buffers Alley, concluded a golden era that had commenced with three senior county titles, one after the other, in the late 1970s under the guidance of Tipperary great Len Gaynor, who served as player-coach.