KNOCKGRAFFON'S SHOCK WIN OF 1888

“Large crowds of people flocked into our little city from early morn to witness the hurling contest, and one ignorant of what was to take place would be forcibly reminded that something unusual was astir from the overflowing congregations which attended all the Masses and the numerous knots of country folk who blocked all the thoroughfares.  Indeed, so popular have become the old national games that we believe that there was not a single individual for miles around who could possibly attend but made his way to the old course.  The fair daughters of Tipperary also took advantage of the calm beauty of the day and appeared arrayed in all the latest and most orthodox styles and fashions forming an attractive feature of the dense crowd of spe ctators.

Tom O’Grady, the veteran captain of the renowned Moycarkey team, was the first to appear in uniform on the enclosure.  He was quickly followed by the other members of the club, all-fine strapping fellows, fleet as mountain deer and veterans in the use of the caman.  Then came Tom Cleary at the head of the boys of Knockgraffon, and right well they looked in their handsome costumes of white and green as they ranged themselves in front of their opponents.  The goal posts were ranged north and south, a slight wind blowing south and a pretty steep incline continuous towards the north goal.  Moycarkey won the toss and elected to play with the wind, at the same time avoiding the incline.  When the ball left the referee’s hand it was at once taken into Knockgraffon territory where it remained for some time, but no score was gained as the leather avoided the posts and no amount of persuasion no matter how strong could compel it to enter between them and it eventually rolled leisurely past the over line some yards from the posts.  The Knockgraffon culbaire then sent it flying into neutral ground where there was some splendid play, but it, for the greater part of the first halftime seemed to lie in Knockgraffon territory and only once by the powerful exertion of the brothers Fitzgerald ably assisted by Fennessy, was it brought into Moycarkey territory.  At the end of the first half time Moycarkey had one point to its credit to nil for Knockgraffon.

In the second half, Moycarkey had to face the wind and incline and it is no exaggeration to say that since the inception of the G.A.A. no more or exciting half hour’s hurling has ever been witnessed in any athletic arena.  Again and again did Moycarkey succeed in forcing the leather up the incline only to be driven back and carried by Knockgraffon to the former’s fortifications.

Two brilliant charges by Knockgraffon and the boys from the ancient moate succeeded in placing a goal and a point to their credit.  Then Moycarkey, who had meanwhile succeeded in scoring their second point, put forth all their energy to make a goal and in this attempt their gallant captain, Tom O’Grady, more than once stopped the ball from going through Knockgraffon points post and turned it towards the goal, but there stood Tom Cleary, cool and collected, a match for the renowned veteran who led the Moycarkey team.  When time was called the score stood : Knockgraffon 1 goal – 1 point; Moycarkey two points.  Rev. Fr. Ryan, C.C., New Inn, acted as field umpire for Knockgraffon; Major Kelly Regaile performing a like duty for Moycarkey."

A later report went on to say:

"The late Martin Maher if Ballinree recalled for me on many an occasion the shock and surprise felt at the defeat of Moycarkey.  Some Moycarkey followers, he claimed, were so shocked that they did not return home for a couple of days after the game.  He was most disappointed as a young fellow to see what he believed to be Ireland’s hurlers humbled by an unrated team.  Martin attributed  the defeat to the absence of Flanagan and Stack who had switched to the new Boherlahan hurling team who had already played some challenge games.  Flanagan’s sky pucks in Maher’s words travelled the length of the field and they were missed in Cashel."

In conclusion, the report said that the result was a surprise to everyone.  It raised Knockgraffon from a position of mediocrity to a place among the crack teams of the Association, and it earned for Tom Cleary a reputation as a culbaire second to none in the county.

The report opened with a paragraph applauding the two teams for their discipline and good behaviour and reminded its readers of the deplorable faction fights that had occurred at race meetings in Cashel, indeed faction fights were not uncommon up to the late 90’ in Cashel, and in one the last fights a Rossmore man named Ryan was killed.

Knockgraffon failed to Boherlahan who in turn were beaten by Clonoulty in the county final of 1888.  Knockgraffon, much to Tom O’Grady’s disappointment, would not again, under any circumstances, be tempted to play Moycarkey.  They were paired in at least three tournaments during ’88 and on each occasion Knockgraffon refused to play.  For many years it remained one of the major topics of conversation among Tipperary Gaels, and even to this day it is a treasured piece of folklore around the ancient Moate of Knockgraffon.