Liam Cahill: Street fighter turned Mr Tipperary

Liam Cahill, and his father-in-law, and former Tipperary hurler, Len Gaynor, before the Tipperary Club SHC match between Clonoulty-Rossmore and Kilruane MacDonaghs last year. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Liam Cahill departed a Clonmel nightclub to get five stitches and a lashing. Tipperary were training on the Tuesday after that weekend. He knew chillingly there would be trouble.

In the Thurles’ tunnel before the session, Len Gaynor stood waiting for him. This was a time when player-manager relations were closer to warden-inmate than teacher-student. In Gaynor’s autobiography, Chiselled From Ash, Cahill recalled the walk of dread towards his judge jury and executioner.