Boherlahan’s Croke Park victory in January 1917: contemporary reports.

Boherlahan's Croke Park victory in January 1917.

Following the re-enactment of the 1916 All-Ireland, which took place in Thurles on Friday 4th July 2016, it is interesting to read some contemporaneous reports which were published in the old “Freeman’s Journal” newspaper of the time. The 1916 final wasn’t played until January of 1917. The following extracts have been edited.


********************

Jan 20, 1917

Hurling Final

All-Ireland G.A.A. Contest

Tipperary v. Kilkenny

Tomorrow at Croke Park.

To Boherlahan belong the honour of representing Tipperary, and coming, as they do from the heart of Tubberadora, each and every member of the team can be said to be a hurler from childhood.
Kilkenny, for a time, experienced some little difficulty in getting a team together, but eventually all obstacles were surmounted. They are reported to be in good form.
Croke Park yesterday was almost cleared of the snow which had been lying since the early days of the week, and should the present open weather continue the pitch will be found in really good order to-morrow.
The Tipperary team is [all Boherlahan unless denoted otherwise]––T. Dwan (Thurles, goal), J. Leahy (capt), J. Doherty, W. Dwyer, A O’Donnell, W Dwyer, T. Shanahan (Horse and Jockey), J. Power, J Fitzpatrick (Two-Mile-Borris), J. Collison (Clonakenny), P. Leahy, H. Shelly (Thurles), J. Murphy (Horse and Jockey), R Walsh, Denis Walsh.


*******************

Jan 30, 1917

At a meeting of the Mid Divisional Board, the Chairman (Mr T Semple, Thurles), in proposing the warm congratulations of the Board to the Boherlahan hurling team on their victory in the All-Ireland championship, said it was only what was expected of them. He paid a special tribute of praise to the captain (J. Leahy) for his tact and ability, both as a captain and as a player.

*******************