Michael Quinlivan: 'There's something special about bringing it home'

 Michael Quinlivan of Clonmel Commercials before the Tipperary County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Clonmel Commercials and Kilsheelan-Kilcash. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Michael Quinlivan feels there’s “something special” about Clonmel Commercials bringing their Munster Club SFC quarter-final against St Finbarr’s back to his hometown.

The Tipperary champions haven’t played a provincial game at the Clonmel Sportsfield since 2017 due to the condition of the pitch in recent years. Their past three home encounters have instead been hosted at Semple Stadium.

However, Philly Ryan’s aspiration to bring Tipperary’s National League and Tailteann Cup games to the county’s southern football heartlands triggered improvements to the surface. The club welcomed the return of inter-county action earlier this year, hosting games against Longford, Wicklow, and Kildare.

Now, it will be their local heroes taking to the field with the aim of repeating the famous 1990 triumph over Cork giants St Finbarr’s.

“There's something special about bringing it home,” said Quinlivan. “We're one of the lucky few that our own home ground is considered a county ground, so when you get the opportunity to do it, it makes sense for us to use that.” 

Quinlivan was the match-winner on Commercials’ most famous day, the 2015 Munster final victory over Nemo Rangers. He feels the club relishes these big occasions.

“For years, our group have loved the journey when we go into Munster. We love testing ourselves against the best of what's around. And Finbarr's obviously had a big victory against Nemo, their local rivals. The week-on-week is good, it keeps your rhythm going, and hopefully it stands to us.” 

Commercials honoured the memory of club legend and county football manager Philly Ryan with their 22nd Tipperary title last weekend.

Quinlivan was among the Commercials players to make a beeline for goalkeeper Shane Ryan, Philly’s son, in a touching gesture of support at the full-time whistle.

“I couldn't speak highly enough of him,” said county final man of the match Quinlivan.

“To go through that personally is really, really difficult, and then to also try and prepare yourself to go out there and play football, which in some ways is the most important of the least important things. And he has been nothing short of sensational for the last couple of weeks.

“I'm really made up for him that he's been able to have a county final and a county medal in his back pocket at the end of what is a really, really difficult year for his family.

“It's been an incredibly difficult couple of weeks for everyone involved in the club, but all of that pales in significance to what Anna, Amy, Shane, and Katie are going through.

“To be able to give a little bit of a smile to people is all we really wanted.” 

The club were hindered by injuries last year as they lost their grip on the O’Dwyer Cup. However, they have been regenerated through their fitness work and an infusion of young talent.

“Last year, it felt like we were pushing water uphill,” said Quinlivan. “We didn't do ourselves justice in the final. It was just a difficult year with injuries and different things. We were patched together.

“But that was our seventh final in a row, it's something that the club has never done, and it's something we're really proud of.

“There's a few of us that have been here a long time, but we got a big kick from a few of the younger lads who've come through.

“We're really happy with how we played, but we'll have to put in a 60-minute performance if we want to get another win.”