No hurlers on the ditch in Toomevara as Tipperary get set for All-Ireland showdown

In the village of Toomevara, home of the Tipperary captain, Tommy Dunne, who plays with the local club - nicknamed the Greyhounds…

In the village of Toomevara, home of the Tipperary captain, Tommy Dunne, who plays with the local club - nicknamed the Greyhounds - hand-painted posters read: "You've got a Rabbitte but we've got the Greyhounds."

The build-up to the All-Ireland hurling final is intense. "This is very special for us. The captain of the Tipperary team is from Toomevara. In 1961, Matt Hassett captained the winning All-Ireland team, and now, exactly 40 years on, Tommy Dunne is at the helm. The omens are good", said Mr Paddy Shanahan, a local builder.

According to the Tipperary GAA county board chairman, Mr Con Hogan, 12,000 tickets were allocated to the county. However, more than 20,000 Tipperary supporters, dedicated and fair-weathered alike, want tickets.

Mr Hogan remains positive. "If I were still looking for a ticket, I wouldn't give up hope yet. Always as late as Friday night tickets tend to free up."

READ MORE

Not everyone is so optimistic. The Silvermines GAA Club chairman, Mr John Kennedy, warned fans to stay at home if they do not have tickets, saying: "I don't think they will be available before the match. I wouldn't go to Dublin without a ticket."

Mr Kennedy is one of a group of enthusiasts who recorded a song, The Sons of Knocknagow, for the premier county's All-Ireland title bid. The song tells of the spirit of Tipperary hurling being "alive and well again".

Rivalry between Galway and Tipperary has always been intense. Back in 1988, the Galway manager, Noel Lane, scored a late goal to beat Tipperary, captained at the time by the present Tipperary manager, Nicky English.

As for the man from Toomenvara who held aloft the Liam McCarthy Cup 40 years ago, Matt Hassett has another wish for the weekend, along with a Tipperary win. He is seeking out the two honest Dublin men who returned a lost replica of the Liam McCarthy Cup to him 40 years ago.

The replica was found by Mr Thomas Flanagan, from Charles Street, and Mr Tony Harris, from McKee Road, Finglas, and handed in to The Irish Times for the Tipperary captain to collect.

Despite the time lapse, Mr Hassett said he would still like to be able to thank both men personally for their honesty.

"Whether they were older or younger than me at the time, I don't know. If they are still alive, I don't know, but if they are, I would like to thank them", he said.