Tulsk and St. Croan's will come again after relegation woes
Emily Donnelly and Emily Conneally supporting St. Dominic's during Sunday's senior hurling final against Four Roads at Dr. Hyde Park. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Forty years ago, as a young teenager, I got my first taste of a county final.
It was a special occasion as neighbours, Tulsk and St. Croan’s, were gearing up for the 1984 intermediate football decider. To put the cherry on top of the cake, it was the GAA’s centenary year.
From my early primary school days in Kilmurry NS, I could sense the rivalry between both clubs. It was competitive when we played Ballintubber NS and Drimatemple (now Kilcroan NS).
From those primary school days, we became great friends, with so many St. Croan’s players attending Castlerea Vocational School.
With such a rivalry, 1984 became hugely important when the two clubs clashed in the final. The build-up was massive in both parishes. There were very few left at home, such was the excitement.
My late father was summoned to get a nicely-carved stick from the shed. Mom had the task of putting the maroon and white cloth on the stick for the big match, which was played in Dr. Hyde Park.
That in itself was bigger than Oasis coming to Croke Park.
We got great value out of the flag. The first day ended in a thrilling draw before Tulsk won an enthralling replay, 0-12 to 0-11 after extra time. A third day was looming until Liam Cunnane’s magic left foot won it at the death for Tulsk. Seeing your club lift a major title was like Christmas coming early.
Those two extraordinary games caught the imagination of the whole county. While plenty of water has flown under the bridge since 1984, both clubs suffered setbacks in recent weeks as they were relegated from their respective championships.
St. Croan’s have sunk the furthest and must adjust to life in the Junior A championship, while Tulsk, after five years as a senior club, will play intermediate football next season.
When Tulsk arrived back to senior football in 2019, St. Croan’s were holding their own. In 2021, they were both drawn together in the same senior championship group alongside Oran — the season that St. Croan’s suffered the drop to intermediate level.
Over the past 20 years, clubs like Tulsk, St. Dominic’s, Michael Glaveys and Oran ended up in junior football before bouncing back. All four clubs played in the senior football championship this season.
It is hard to believe that, ten years ago, St. Croan’s were playing in an All-Ireland IFC final in Croke Park. With St. Croan’s losing so many players, it will give the club time to take stock and lay the foundation to emerge from the junior forest as quickly as they can.
Tulsk know that only one of Strokestown, Elphin, Éire Óg and Fuerty will get promoted this year, so the 2025 intermediate championship will be a tricky minefield to escape from.
St. Croan’s lost their four championship games this season. Consequently, they can have few complaints. In their relegation play-off, they blew a seven-point lead against St. Michael’s.
Meanwhile, Tulsk, after beating Oran in the opening game of senior championship, lost their opportunity at home to Castlerea St. Kevin’s. As a result, they ended up in the relegation mire, coming up short by the narrowest of margins against Western Gaels.
Tulsk have the greater scope and a bigger panel of players to climb back. It may take St. Croan’s that bit longer to steady the ship.
Relegation is a bitter pill to swallow for these close neighbours who have enjoyed some great times. They will come again for sure as, 40 years ago, both clubs gave so many young players the love of wearing the club jersey.
The Oscar for Comeback of the Year is already done and dusted.
The Clann na nGael senior ladies are in the make-up room, waiting to be called on stage to accept the award after their incredible second-half revival against St. Brigid’s in last Saturday’s county final.
Mark Cunningham’s side were seven points down at the break, trailing by 2-5 to 1-1, and looking in real trouble before outscoring their opponents 4-10 to 0-2 in the second period. They produced a spell of majestic football that left St. Brigid’s in total shock.
With three senior championship wins in four years, Clann na nGael are the leading lights on the local LGFA scene.
On Saturday, they taught a harsh lesson to a young St. Brigid’s side — that you must learn to walk before you can run.
Today (Tuesday) is Budget Day. To be fair to my accountants, they had no problem balancing the books with the correct answer to last week’s question.
Can you name the two captains who played in the last 80-minute All-Ireland SFC final? It was Seán Doherty (Dublin) and Gay Mitchell (Galway) in the 1974 decider.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to get the figures right, with Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; John Croghan, Bundoran; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Larry Cunningham, Glinsk; Mary Giffilan, Kilmore; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Padraic Duffy, Keash, Ballymote; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; David, Callaghan, Castlerea; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also getting good news.
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser came from Athlone.
Star pupil: Conor Morris — the Four Roads corner-forward bagged 2-5 in a Man of the Match performance in last Sunday’s senior hurling final.
Crucial win for: Four Roads who are the masters of crossing the finishing line in front on county hurling final day in County Roscommon, claiming title number 37.
Much do better: The St. Brigid’s senior ladies’ footballers being wiped out by Clann na nGael in the decider. After being seven points ahead at the break, they ended up losing by 13.
Spot of bother: Derry City losing 2-1 away to Drogheda United has put a severe dent in their League of Ireland Premier Division title challenge.
Weekend highlight I know Athleague is the home of hurling, and maybe it was because St. Dominic’s brought a freshness and excitement to the occasion, but last Sunday’s senior hurling final in Dr. Hyde Park had a special feel to it.
What a cracker: Who will be dancing at the crossroads next Sunday evening as Nash Park, Frenchpark, hosts an intriguing intermediate football semi-final clash between Elphin and Éire Óg.
“Don’t be a parrot in life. Be an eagle. A parrot talks too much but can’t fly high. But an eagle is silent and had the power to touch the sky.”
St. Dominic’s full-forward, Naos Connaughton, was the top scorer in this year’s senior hurling championship with 10-16.
Fair play to former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny who is re-inventing himself back in his trusted League of Ireland arena.
Kenny has transformed St. Patrick’s Athletic who have won four on the bounce, including thumping champions Shamrock Rovers 3-0 at Tallaght Stadium last Friday night.
