Traditionally, Clonoulty-Rossmore has been recognised as one of Tipperary's premier hurling sides, but recently the club's under 16 footballers stole the limelight when they won the West Tipp 'A' championship for the first time. This history-making team was sponsored by local building contractor and former Clonoulty player Philip Kearney. Tipperary hurling giants Clonoulty-Rossmore showed their footballing potential in May when they captured the West Tipperary under 16 'A' championship for the first time." Dan Quirke's young side produced an excellent performance to get the better of Arravale Rovers in the final at Golden, and bring a rare football title to the hurling stronghold. One man who was delighted with the historic success was local building contractor Philip Kearney, who sponsored the team's jerseys." "It was a great win, one of the best Clonoulty-Rossmore has ever had in football," he says." "Hurling has always been the number sport in this part of the country, and I've no doubt that will continue to be the case. But it's good to see a bit of football success coming to the club as well. Last year, Clonoulty-Rossmore won a West board under 14 football title and most of the same lads were involved in this year's under 16 success, so they are obviously a talented group of footballers." Clonoulty-Rossmore's achievement in winning their first under 16 championship was all the more noteworthy as they overcame a recognised football club in Arravale Rovers, who were bidding for their fourth title on the trot. Favoured by a strong wind in the first half, the reigning champions opened up an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead. They continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession for much of the half, but scoring opportunities were limited as Clonoulty's Jamie Moloney, Donnacha Ryan and man of the match Thomas Butler proved rock solid in defence." Further points from Paddy Finnan and Stephen Redfern left Arravale 0-5 to 0-1 in front at the interval, with Kieran Ryan registering Clonoulty's only score of the half." With wind advantage in the second half, the challengers took the game to Arravale and were rewarded with points by Sean O'Connor and Thomas O'Connor, and a Martin Saleir goal for a lead which they held until the final whistle." Andrew Quirke increased Clonoulty's lead to two points and despite coming under strong pressure in the closing stages, the green and golds kept the holders scoreless in the second half and held on for a 1-4 to 0-5 victory." Philip, whose son of the same name played in goal, is already looking forward to Clonoulty's next game which will be in the county championship." "Having got this far, I'm sure the lads will want to go on and win the county championship. It won't be played until after the Junior Cert, but no matter what happens from here on, they have already done themselves proud." While acknowledging that the under 16 success is a big breakthrough for football in Clonoulty-Rossmore, Kearney cannot see hurling been knocked off its lofty perch." "When people talk about the GAA ground in Clonoulty, they refer to it as the hurling pitch and that gives you a fair idea of the dominance hurling enjoys over football. The likes of Declan Ryan and Joe Hayes were very good footballers, but hurling is the big game in the area and it always takes priority," he explains." Philip's background is steeped in hurling - his grandfather, Phil Byrne, savoured All-Ireland glory with Tipp in the 1920s, while another relation, Anthony Brennan, won four All-Ireland medals with the Premier County in the 1940s and 1950s." Established 23 years ago, Philip Kearney Construction is based in Clonoulty and specialises in general construction. Philip is involved in another company, Clonderry Construction, along with his business partner Paudie Dwane. Clonderry Construction recently commenced work a major housing development in Graignamanagh, Co. Kilkenny called Cottage Gardens. When completed, the development will consist of 28 two, three and four-bed luxury homes." Clonoulty-Rossmore defeated Cashel King Cormacs and Cappawhite already this year, are now just 60 minutes away from reaching the west final (they face Knockavilla Kickhams in the final). Clonoulty-Rossmore last won the county senior hurling championship in 1997 and their only success prior to that came in 1989 when they beat Holycross in the county decider." Philip says: "Clonoulty have been there or thereabouts over the past few years without actually winning the county championship. The team was probably a bit stronger a few years ago when you had the likes of Declan Ryan, Joe Hayes and John Kennedy playing. Declan came out of retirement last year to help them win the West board championship." "At the moment, John Devane is the only player from the club on the county senior panel. John O'Keeffe is flying the flag for Clonoulty on the Tipp minor team." The parish of Clonoulty-Rossmore is located in the heart of the Golden Vale, seven miles from Thurles and six miles from Cashel. In 1888, the old Clonoulty club won the first ever county hurling title. They were the only West Tipperary side to enter the county championship that year and were called the "botheen men" which was apparently a reference to the shape of their hurleys." En route to winning their first Tipp championship, Clonoulty defeated Gortnahoe, Upperchurch and Silvermines before accounting for neighbours Boherlahan in the final on a scoreline of 1-1 to 0-1. As county champions, Clonoulty went forward to the Munster championship where they played Tower Street of Cork at Buttevant. Clonoulty were leading by 2-1 to 0-0 when the game was ended prematurely, and when Tower Street were granted a refixture, the Tipp champions refused to travel and there ended their provincial ambitions." For some unexplained reason, Clonoulty did not defend their county title in 1889 and remained out of the limelight for several years after that." In the inaugural county senior football championship, Rossmore were the sole representatives from West Tipperary. Rossmore, who called themselves John Dillons, beat Upperchurch in the first round before succumbing to the eventual winners Fethard in their next outing. In 1919, the most significant West Tipp achievement in the county championship was Clonoulty's victory in the Mid junior hurling championship. In 1936, the Clonoulty club was given a piece of ground by the Land Commission on which they developed their pitch. In the same year, Clonoulty won the West junior hurling title but were defeated by Boherlahan in the county final." Clonoulty went senior in 1937, but were beaten in the West final by Cashel, who also defeated them in the 1940 decider. They returned to the junior ranks in 1944 and won the West title. Back in the senior ranks again, Clonoulty captured West board league titles in 1945 and '50. In 1951, they won the West board championship final, but lost the county final to Holycross by 1-4 to 5-15. Rossmore broke away from Clonoulty to form their own junior team in 1953, only for the two to join forces once again a few years later. In 1957, the GAA pavilion in Clonoulty was completed by voluntary labour under the direction of Rev P Cooney CC and JJ Kennedy. In the modern era, Clonoulty/Rossmore have won West Tipp senior hurling titles on six occasions (1989, '92, '96, '98, 2002 and 2005) and two county championships (1989 and '97). The club has also won numerous junior, minor and under 21 championships in recent decades. In football, Clonoulty/Rossmore won West board intermediate titles in 1986 and '91 and junior titles in 1931, '69, '85, '94, '96 and 2000." Clonoulty/Rossmore has produced many outstanding hurlers down the years. When Tipp returned to the fore in the late 1980s under the guidance of Babs Keating, Joe Hayes, John Kennedy and Declan Ryan were all central figures. The flame-haired Ryan enjoyed a hugely successful career, winning All-Ireland medals in three different decades (1989, '91 and 2001), as well as the admiration of hurling followers everywhere." Declan has come out of retirement to help in no small way to keep Clonoulty-Rossmore on track for west title." The Clonoulty-Rossmore team which captured the West Tipperary under 16 'A' football title for the first time was: Philip Kearney; Jamie Moloney, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Shanahan; Joe Slattery, Thomas Butler, Andrew Quirke; Padraig Heffernan, Sean O'Connor; Aidan Ryan, John O'Neill, Jamie Ryan; Aidan White, Kieran Ryan, Martin Sadleir. Subs used: David Fitzpatrick and Kieran Ryan." Tweet

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