Thurles Sars still Tipp stars

THURLES SARS retained their Tipperary senior hurling title in dull and damp Semple Stadium yesterday, capping off a superb year for their four Tipperary All-Ireland-winning stars, but only after a testing final few minutes against a young Clonoulty-Rossmore side that will surely come again.

All four of Sars’ county brigade produced on the day, Michael Cahill doing as good a man-marking job on Clonoulty dangerman John O’Neill (on whom more anon) as could reasonably be expected, Padraic Maher giving a towering man-of-the-match performance at centre-back, Pa Bourke doing far more in general play than his four points from frees would suggest, while player-of-the-year Lar Corbett stamped his quality on proceedings with the decisive second-half score, a goal of typical quality.

This wasn’t just about the Sars stars, however. Midfielder Michael Gleeson is a hurler of real quality, had a brilliant hour; forwards Richie Ruth, Stephen Lillis and youngsters Denis Maher and sub Aidan McCormack, worked their collective socks off but were also deadly in their shooting. At the back, goalkeeper and captain Paddy McCormack was magnificent, and two saves in the final five minutes (the first from the ever-dangerous Clonoulty full-forward Thomas Butler, the second from the aforementioned John O’Neill) were of the very highest calibre.