To win an All Ireland Hurling Title is an achievement but to win 3 in the same year is the celebration of dreams. Tipperary accomplished this in 1989 winning the Senior, Junior and Under 21 crowns.
It is intended to celebrate that unique year by bringing together the players once again from those 3 winning teams of 1989.
Tipperary has many first and unique achievements in the GAA. We are the only County to have twice won the Senior Hurling and two other grades in the same year (1930,1989). In 1930 we were the first county in GAA history to do so in either Hurling or Football to do so.
We need to look back pre 1989 to really appreciate where our unique achievement came from. In 1986 John O’Grady who wrote a weekly column in the Tipperary Star under “Culbaire” summed up our year as “Anatomy of another failure”. If we look back on that year it will bring back memories and a perspective of where Tipperary hurling was languishing.
National Hurling League
Beat Roscommon by 8 points
Beat Antrim by 8 points
Lost to Westmeath by 7 points
Beat Kerry by 16 points
Beat Meath by 17 points
Lost to Wexford by 14 points
Beat Down by 19 points
We failed to be promoted from the League’s bottom level. In the Championship we were beaten in our first game and eliminated by Clare 2-10 to 1-11.
It was a leap of faith that the then Co. Chairman Michael Lowry put his neck on the line by proposing Babs Keating as the new Manager of Tipperary with power to nominate his own selectors. Babs could be best described as a Frank Sinatra type of individual “I will do it my way” and taking on a County team who were on their knees lacking confidence was a daunting task. Babs obviously had a pedigree along with Mick Roche both of whom were the first players to have played in an All Ireland final in all grades Senior, Intermediate, Minor and Under 21, capturing All Ireland honors' in three of those grades.
Could we preserve Tipperary’s record of being the only team in GAA history to win an All Ireland title in every decade since winning the first final played in 1887, and achieve it within 3 years?
Babs set about putting the County on a sound financial footing by forming the first Supporters Club in the history of the GAA in 1986. That was the catalyst for the success that followed promotion from the lower echelons of the National Hurling League to Munster Champions 1987, 1988 and 1988 National League Champions and in 1989 winning our 23rd All Ireland title. It was the stuff of dreams especially for supporters who had lived through 18 barren years since Tadhg O’Connor had lifted the trophy in 1971. To add to our excitement, delight & relief all the emotions of a proud County now back on top after what was described as a “famine”, Tipp won the Junior All Ireland beating Galway 0-12 to 0-08 under the captaincy of Kevin Laffan (Gortnahoe) and featuring a man of the match performance from Liam Sheedy.
This set the pattern for the Treble success. Our Senior All Ireland victory on September 4th again set a new record for Tipperary Nicky English scored 2-12 the first and only player to do so in an All Ireland Final. Who will ever forget the Under 21 success under the captaincy of Declan Ryan which completed the treble before 30,000 people in Portlaoise against Offaly. Trailing by 7 points after 15 minutes Tipperary found a hat-trick hero in Dan Quirke who banged in three goals to turn that deficit to a half time lead.
Tipperary survived a thrilling Offaly challenge to emerge triumphant by two points.
This victory gave six of the Tipperary team their second All Ireland medal for the year. Declan Ryan, John Leahy, Conal Bonnar and John Madden were part of the Senior squad while Liam Sheedy and Dinny Ryan also won medals with the Juniors.
The players and their supporters have organised another get together to celebrate a unique achievement with the added purpose of a Golf Classic to raise funds for The Dillon Quirke Foundation.
'The Enfer Legends Golf Classic' in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation
kindly sponsored by Enfer Scientific.
Date : Thursday April 19th 2024
Venue : Cahir Park Golf Club
This triumvirate of All Ireland winners now Legends of Tipperary Hurlers will be joined by the Legends of the Tipperary 1971 winning team bridging the years between the 'famine' and the Tipperary win again at Senior level in 1989.
The Golf will be a Team of 4 Golf Classic costing 200 Euro per team
The organising committee would appreciate those who wish to take part in the Golf to confirm their interest so as they know how many teams they will have and that the club can accommodate them on that day with the tee times required.
Non golfers are welcome to join us for the meal and meet up with all the participating. Please do confirm your attendance for logistics on the day.
We really look forward to the celebration and gathering of Tipperary people to reminiscence and the organisers want to stress that everybody is welcome either to play golf or join for a meal.
Your early response would be very much appreciated to help with the smooth organization for the day.