Drom-Inch GAA

Drom-Inch

An Drom agus An Inse
Founded:	1887
County:	Tipperary
Club colours:	Green and White
Grounds:	Bouladuff
Coordinates:	52°43′02.10″N 7°54′43.23″W / 52.71725°N 7.9120083°W / 52.71725; -7.9120083Coordinates: 52°43′02.10″N 7°54′43.23″W / 52.71725°N 7.9120083°W / 52.71725; -7.9120083
Playing kits
Standard colours

Drom-Inch GAA Gaelic Athletic Association club is affiliated to the areas of Drom, Inch and Barnane (near Devil's Bit). The main club grounds is located in Bouladuff, five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary. It is located on the main Thurles to Nenagh R498_road. The clubs second pitch is located in Drom Village on the road from Borrisoleigh to Templemore. The club won its first ever Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship in 2011 after a 1-19 to 2-14 win against Clonoulty-Rossmore.^[1][2]

History

Drom & Inch Gaa club finds its origins back as far as 1887, when hurling was played by the separate teams of Drom, and Inch. The club is located in the heartland of hurling in Co. Tipperary Recent history shows an emerging club that has established itself as one of the top clubs in Tipperary, both in terms of facilities and competitive teams. Drom & Inch have enjoyed success over the past 5 years at every level on the pitch and a landmark achievement in 2008 when 4 of Tipperary's 15 players, that won the National Hurling League and Munster Championship, came from the parish they were Séamus Butler, Séamus Callinan, Éamonn Buckley and James Woodlock. Drom & Inch has often had players on All Ireland winning Tipperary teams down throughout the years. Drom & Inch have won county titles in hurling at every age from U-12 to Intermediate level. The facilities in Bouladuff grounds are one of the best in the county. It has 4 large dressing rooms, a kitchen, male & female toilets, meeting room, hydrotherapy tank, scoreboard, dugouts, sandbank, ball-wall and roofed stand.

Drom and Inch GAA Club Bouladuff

125 years ago this year the ball was set rolling for the GAA following a meeting in Hayes’s Hotel Thurles on 1 November 1884. Through the following years clubs around the country began to affiliate to the organisation. By 1887 Drom & Inch were affiliated. Two men who were credited with a great amount of work done in the club at that time were John Laffan of Drom and John Brolan of Inch.

Success in the early years was limited to a few Mid Junior titles. In 1937 however the club claimed its first ever county title by winning the Co. Junior Hurling Final. In a game that was not played until 30 October 1938, they defeated Killenaule on a scoreline of 6-2 to 5-0. At this time there was no intermediate grade so Junior Hurling was second to senior at this time.

Through the early years of GAA in Drom and Inch, at times each side of the parish fielded separate teams. However since the early 1960s Drom & Inch have compteted as one and it was from that time that success started to come on a more regular basis.

Mid U13, Minor, U-21, Junior and Intermediate hurling championships were brought to the parish in the 1960s and in 1970 a county Intermediate title was the clubs greatest success to that time. Eamonn Butler captined that team and in 1971 Eamonn captioned Tipperary to an All Ireland Intermediate title. This set the team up well for senior status. Following some good showings in senior hurling, including reaching the County Semi Final in 1973, things came together in 1974 and Drom & Inch, captained by John Dwyer, won their first Mid Senior Hurling Championship beating Thurles Sarsfields in the Mid Final. 1975 saw the first success in football with a Mid & County Junior Championship. Ten years after the first senior Mid title Drom-Inch, captained by Martin Fahy, repeated the success in 1984, by defeating Moycarkey in a replay on a score line of 1-9 to 1-8. This win along with Mid Junior football and County Minor B hurling titles earned the club the Mid Club of the Year award.

Success eluded the club in 1985 but a Mid U14 Hurling title in 1986 started an unprecedented run of 23 consecutive years up to the present time of winning a title at some grade from U12 up to Senior for Drom-Inch. In the late 1980s plans were put in place for a new hurling field to be developed in Inch and on 13 May 1990 the new grounds were officially opened.

Success continued into the 1990s with a number of Mid Junior and Intermediate titles won. However it was at underage level that the club was really shining and much juvenile success through the 90’s worked its way through to 2 County U21 titles in 2000 and 2001. While success at senior level was not instant it did come. In 2005 Drom & Inch reached the county senior hurling final for the first time. Although unsuccessful against Thurles Sarsfields in Semple Stadium that day, the following year Paul Ryan lifted the cup for a Mid Senior title and Éamonn Buckley did likewise in 2008. In Junior hurling, a County Junior A title in 2005 and 3 Mid Junior B titles from 2003 to 2005 promoted the teams to Intermediate and Junior A level. For a club that draws on a relatively small population to be competing at the three top levels of Tipperary hurling is a remarkable achievement but is a great reflection of the work and dedication of the people of the Drom, Inch and Barnane to bring the club, its facilities and standards to where they are today. The dedication of Drom and Inch people has not been confined to work in their own club. The aforementioned John Laffan was said to have been in Hayes’s Hotel at its foundation and later sent hurleys to New York to encourage the creation of hurling teams there among the emigrants from the area. Pat Ryan from Maherareagh was chairman of the London Co. Board for many years. In the current time Mattie Ryan of Drom is in his first year of Mid Board Chairman and Paudie Butler of Inch is the first ever National Director of Hurling in the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Pitch and Facilities Developments within Drom & Inch GAA Club

In the early days of the Association, Drom and Inch fielded separate teams. Inch hurlers would train and play in Ryan’s field adjacent to the present-day community centre. In 1934 a field at Maheragh was acquired from the Land Commission. This was part of a nationwide drive by the GAA at that time to provide ‘a field in every parish’. The Gaels of Drom and Barnane trained at two locations; one near Sheppard’s Cross in Barnane and the other a short distance east of Drom village. By the time the current pitch in Drom was obtained in the mid-1960s, the two sides of the parish were united on the playing fields.

As efforts continued to grow and develop the club in the 1980s, the need for new facilities was recognised. Following much debate, a club meeting in November 1986 voted to purchase seven acres from John Egan of Inch House. Extensive work was required to develop the site, and a massive fundraising drive by an army of club members raised the necessary finance. Dressing rooms, sideline seating and a stand were constructed. By the time of the official opening in May 1990, the club had a modern ground of which it could be proud. The old pitch was purchased by the County Camogie Board and it too has been extensively redeveloped in recent years.

In the mid 1990s improvements were made to Drom field, including levelling of the pitch and erection of nets behind the goals. It is now used mainly for juvenile training and games. Developments at Bouladuff continued apace into the new millennium. The dressing rooms were extended to provide space for meetings, a kitchen and toilets. The newest facility is the floodlit hurling wall which has already proved popular with many visiting club and inter-county teams

Juvenile History

Juvenile GAA Club:

When the Drom-Inch club was founded, the juveniles in the parish were under the control of the senior club, but as the underage population started to grow, and with increasing demands placed on the senior club, it was decided to establish a separate juvenile club. Previous to this the juveniles did participate in competitions, but some amalgamations were common and the three in a row minor teams of ‘61, ’62, ’63 are testament to this when Drom/Inch combined with Templemore and Clonakenny under the name of Na Fianna.

The first ever AGM of Drom & Inch Juvenile GAA club was held in Drom Community Centre on the 25th February 1982 under the chairmanship of Larry Looby, a position he was to hold for an incredible 12 years. Along with Larry, the first committee consisted of the following: Secretary: Joan Hassett; Joint Treasurers: Fr Tom Breen and Joan Hassett; Delegates to Mid Board: Martin Dwan, Michael Carey and Martin Kennedy.

The Juvenile club developed a plan in the early stages to establish quality training for children in the parish at all age groups and the enthusiastic new club began their work. The first success of the juvenile club would be an U12 mid title coming to the club in 1987, quickly followed by another in 1990. By 1992, Drom-Inch had captured its first ever U12A county championship, which was a remarkable achievement and a just reward for the many years of endeavour, which was highlighted by the club winning the Mid Bord na nÓg club of the year award. This was followed by an U14 county title in 1995.

In that year Drom-Inch also qualified for the Division 1 final at Feile na nGael. After an epic match against Sixmilebridge, with extra time having failed to separate the teams, it was decided that both clubs should share the Christy Ring Cup. The first county championship at U16 level in 1997 showed that there was a solid base of young hurlers in the club. Again the achievements on the field of play resulted in Drom-Inch winning the Mid club of the year award back to back in ’96 and ’97.

Three mid minor A championships in a row ’96, ’97, ’98 (adding the county title in ’98) remains one of the greatest triumphs in the juvenile club’s history. The juveniles were now competing with and winning against the larger and more traditional clubs in Tipperary. Another U12A championship success was achieved in 1999/2000 whilst the players who achieved success in the early ‘90s were now delivering county titles at U21 level. The mixture of these two teams provides many of the players on the present successful senior team.

The only county football title was achieved in 2002 when the U16s managed to bring back the title and then two years later, this talented group pulled off a unique distinction of winning the Mid A Minor Hurling/Football double.

Standards in the juvenile club have never slipped, nor has the passion of its committee or members waned throughout the years. During the period of the Celtic Tiger, when other organisations were finding it hard to get volunteers, the juvenile club went from strength to strength. The summer camp in 2008 saw its largest ever turnout when 96 boys and girls form the ages of 8 to 14 turned up. The juvenile club certainly has captured the hearts and minds of the younger children in the community. The past year has seen the 12s, 16s and 18s all win mid titles, and the future of the senior club looks good thanks to the hard work of the juvenile club.

Roll of Honour:

U18 Hurling:

Mid (12): 1961, 1962, 1963, 1984 (B), 1995(B), 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002 (B), 2003 (B), 2004, 2008(B), 2011(B).

County (5): 1940, 1984(B), 1995 (B), 1998, 2003 (B),

U16 Hurling:

Mid (5): 1988(B), 1996, 1997, 2008(B), 2011

County (1): 1997,

U14 Hurling:

Mid (6): 1984(B), 1992, 1994, 1995, 2009(B), 2011

County (2): 1995, 2011

U12 Hurling:

Mid (9):1987(B), 1990(B), 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008 (B), 2009.

County (2): 1992, 1999

Football:

U12 Football:

Mid (7): 1990 (B), 1991 (B), 1992, 1998 (C), 1999 (C), 2009 (B), 2010

County (1): 2009

U14 Football:

Mid (3): 1998 (C) 2010 (B), 2011

County (2): 2010 (B), 2011

U16 Football:

Mid (4): 1995(B), 2002(B), 2004(B), 2011 (B)

County (1): 2002 (B)

U18 Football:

Mid (3): 2004, 2009 (B), 2011(B)

All-Ireland Medal Winners in the club

On the 5th September 2010 Seamus Callanan and James Woodlock won all Ireland Senior medals with Tipperary when they defeated reigning champions Kilkenny on a scoreline of 4.17 to 1.18. Seamus came on in the 52nd minute scoring two points, while James was on the panel. On Sunday 3 September 2006 Johnny Ryan and Séamus Callinan played major roles in bringing the All-Ireland minor title back to Tipperary for the first time since 1996; Paudie Butler was coach over the team at that time. Dick Byron was the first All-Ireland minor medal winner in the parish in 1936, he was followed by Eamon Bourke in 1952 and Pat Looby won an All Ireland minor medal in 1976 which was quickly followed up with an All-Ireland U21 medal in 1979, while Pat finished his All-Ireland collection with a masters All-Ireland in 2003. Tom Butler won All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal with Dublin Kickhams in 1889. Tom was grand uncle of the present Butler generation. Tom Barry of Dovea won two All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals with Dublin in 1924 and 1927. Phil Farrell of Drom was on the Dublin winning team of 1938. Stephen Kenny, Dovea won senior Hurling medal with Tipperary in 1925 and was also on the fist Tipperary team to tour America. Another great Drom-Inch man was Mick Kennedy who starred on the Limerick team of the thirties. Seamus Bannon won All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals with Tipperary in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Eamonn Butler captained the county Intermediate team that won the all-Ireland in 1971, also representing Drom that day were Seamus Butler, Oliver Quinn and Jim Carey. Johnny Harkins, Paudie Butler, Tommy Butler and John Hassett have all won Masters All-Irelands with Tipperary.

Senior Club Officers 2011

Patron: Fr Murphy

President Pakie Boyle

Vice President Con Ryan, Eamonn Bourke

Chairman Austin Broderick

Vice Chairpersons Fr Murphy, Larry Doherty

Secretary Pat Egan

Treasurer Therese Fahey

Joint Treasurer Brian Costello

PRO Trevor Hassett

Coaching Development Officer Damien Young

Co. Board Rep Martin Fahey

Senior Management: Teddy Kennedy, Andy Bourke and Martin Butler

Intermediate Management: Lorcan Looby, John Gleeson and Michael Shanahan.

Junior Football: Jim Mullen (Coach), Eamon O Doherty

Junior A Hurling: Kevin Bourke, Selectors TBC

Junior B Hurling: Eddie Buckley, Sean Purcell, John Hassett, Matt Shanahan

Under 21 hurling and football: Jim Mullen, Frank McGrath,Jim Kinnane, Seamus Walsh

Juvenile Club Officers 2011

Club Officers for 2011: President: Larry Looby

Vice President: Sean Shanahan, Pakie Boyle, Monica Butler

Chairman: Willie Clohessy

Vice Chairman: Eamonn Long

Secretary: Niamh Butler.

Treasurer: Ambrose Purcell

Assistant Treasurer: Mary O Brien

PRO: Trevor Hassett

Mid Board Delegates: Ambrose Purcell, Niamh Butler, Willie Clohessy

Coaching Officer: Damien Young

School Liaison Officers: Matthew McGrath (for all 3 schools)

Drom N.S: Anne Campion, Ambrose Purcell

Barnane N.S: Marie Collins, Mary O Brien, Anna O’Meara

Inch N.S: Eamonn Long, Willie Clohessy

Elected Managers and selectors for 2011 are as follows:

Under 6, 8s and 10s Declan Fitzpatrick, Ann Campion, Johnny Ryan David Butler, Helen Ryan, Eddie Costello, Seamus Kennedy, Dickie Kennedy, Francis McAllister, Rhona Carroll and Niamh Butler

Under 12s Matthew McGrath Manager, John Collins, Damien Young, Seamus Callanan

Under 14s Kevin Nolan Manager, Jim Kinnane, Christy Nolan and Jim Mullen.

Under 16s Kieran Young Manager, Aidan Ahearn, James Woodlock, Johnny Ryan

Minors John Hassett Manager, Eamon Long, Eamon Kiely and Paudie Butler

Honours

Drom & Inch GAA Club Roll of Honour

2011

County Senior Hurling Championship

Cahill Cup Champions

Premier Division Senior Hurling League

Mid Junior B Hurling

Mid Juvenile Club of the Year

Mid Minor B Hurling & Football

Mid & County U14A Hurling

Mid & County U14A Football

Mid & County U14 Feile Hurling

Mid U14 Feile Peil Na nOg (first time)

Mid U16 B Football

Mid U21 B Football (first time)

2010

Co. Adult Football League (Division 2)

Mid U12-A Football Championship

Mid & County U14B Football championship

2009

Mid Senior Hurling Championship

Co. Intermediate Hurling League

U12 A Hurling Mid final

U12 B Football Mid & County Championship

U14 B Hurling Mid Final

Minor B Football Mid Final

2008

Mid Senior Hurling Championship

Mid Minor "B" Hurling Championship

Mid U-16 "B" Hurling Championship

2007

Mid Junior Division 2 Hurling League

Mid U-21 A Hurling Championship

2006

Mid Senior Hurling Championship

2005

Mid Junior Division 1 League hurling

Mid Junior A Hurling Championship

Mid Junior B Hurling Championship

Co Junior A Hurling Championship

Mid U-21 A Hurling Championship

2004

Cahill Cup

Co Senior Div 3 League

Mid Junior A Hurling Championship

Mid Junior B Hurling Championship

Mid Junior Division 1 League hurling

Mid Junior Division 2 League hurling

Mid Junior A Football Championship

Mid Minor A Hurling Championship

Mid Minor A Football Championship

2003

Junior "B" Mid Hurling Championship

Minor "B" Mid Hurling Championship

Minor "B" County Hurling Championship

2002

U-16 "B" Mid Football Championship

U-16 "B" County Football Championship

Minor "B" Mid Hurling Championship

AIB Tipperary GAA Club of the Year

2001

Mid U-21 "A" Hurling Championship

County U-21 "A" Hurling Championship

AIB Tipperary GAA Club of the Year

2000

Mid U-21 "A" Hurling Championship

County U-21 "A" Hurling Championship

1999

Mid Junior "A" Hurling League

Mid U-21 "A" Hurling Championship

Mid U-12 A Hurling Championship

Co U-12 A Hurling Championship

1998

Mid Minor "A" Hurling Championship

County Minor "A" Hurling Championship

Mid U-12 C Football.

Mid u-14 c Football.

1997

Mid U-16 "A" Hurling Championship

County U-16 "A" Hurling Championship

Mid Minor "A" Hurling Championship

Junior B Mid Hurling

Mid Junior A Hurling League

Mid U-12 A Hurling Championship

1996

Mid Minor "A" Hurling Championship

U-16 A Hurling Mid Final

U-21 B Hurling Mid Final

1995

Mid U-14 Urban-Rural "A" Hurling Championship

County U-14 Urban-Rural "A" Hurling Championship

Mid U-14 Feile "A" Hurling Championship

County U-14 Feile "A" Hurling Championship

All-Ireland U-14 Feile "A" Hurling Championship

Mid Minor "B" Hurling Championship

County Minor "B" Hurling Championship

Mid U-12 A Hurling Championship

Mid Intermediate Hurling Championship

U-16 B Mid Football Chamonship

Mid Junior B Hurling League

County Intermediate Hurling League

1994

Co Community Games U-13½

All Ireland Community Games U-13½

Mid U-14 A Hurling

Mid Feile U-14

County Feile U-14

Mid Intermediate Hurling Championship

1993

Mid Junior Hurling Championship

1992

U-14 Mid Rural Hurling Final

Mid U-12 A Hurling Championship

Co. U12 A Hurling

Mid Junior Hurling Championship

1991

Mid U-21 B Hurling.

Mid U-12 B Football,

1990

U-12 Mid "B" Hurling Championship

U-12 Mid "B" Football Championship

Minor B Mid Hurling

1989

Mid Junior B Hurling.

1988

Mid U-16 B Hurling

1987

Mid U-12 B Hurling

1986

Mid U-14 Urban Rural B Hurling

1984

Mid Senior Hurling Championship

Mid Junior Football Championship

Mid Minor B Hurling Championship

County Minor B Hurling Championship

Mid Club of the Year

1975

Mid Junior Football Championship

County Junior Football Championship

1974

Mid Senior Hurling Championship

1970

Mid Intermediate Hurling Championship

County Hurling Championship

1966

Mid U-21 Hurling Championship

1964

Mid U-21 Hurling Championship

Mid Junior Champions

1963

Mid Intermeiate Hurling Championship

Na Fianna – Minor (Templemore, Clonakenny, Drom& Inch

1962

Na Fianna – Minor (Templemore, Clonakenny, Drom& Inch

1961

Na Fianna – Minor (Templemore, Clonakenny, Drom& Inch)

1954

Mid Junior Champions

1951

Mid Intermeiate Hurling Championship

1944

Mid Intermeiate Hurling Championship

1940

County Minor With Borris

1938

Mid Junior Champions

1937

Mid Junior Hurling Championship

County Junior Hurling Championship

1931

Mid Junior Hurling Championship (Inch)

1913

Clodia Rangers

Senior Team Hurling Panel 2011

1. Damien Young 2. James Ryan 3. Michael Costello 4. Martin Butler 5. Paul Stapleton 6. Éamonn Buckley 7. Liam Ryan 8. Johnny Ryan 9. James Woodlock 10. Micheal Butler 11. Séamus Callanan 12. Séamus Butler 13. David Butler 14. Paddy Kennedy 15. David Collins 17. Matthew Ryan 18. Joe Lupton 19. Donncha Kennedy 20. Pat Lupton

Senior Team Hurling Panel 2010

1. Damien Young 2. Michael Costello (capt) 3. Eddie Costello 4. Paul Stapleton 5. Shane Delaney 6. Éamonn Buckley 7. Johnny Ryan 8. David Collins 9. Eric Woodlock 10. Declan Ryan 11. John Lillis 12. John Kennedy 13. Séamus Butler 14. Michael Everard 15. David Butler 17. Séamus Callanan 18. Johnny Kennedy 19. Micheal Butler 20. James Ryan 22. Pat Lupton 23. Enda Walsh

Management:

Coach. Sean Prendergast

Manager: Teddy Kennedy

Selectors: Martin Butler, Andy Bourke

1. REDIRECT Drom/Inch Hurling panels of 2009

Drom & Inch Hurling Captains

Senior Hurling

2011 Seamus Callanan

2010 Michael Costello

2009 James Woodlock

2008 Eamonn Buckley

2007 Séamus Butler

2006 Paul Ryan

2005 Damien Young

2004 Noel Kenehan

2003 Michael Cantwell

2002 Matty Ryan (R.I.P)

1984 Martin Fahey

1974 John O’Dwyer

Intermediate Hurling

2011 Paul Ryan

2010 Padraig Butler

2009 Paddy Kennedy

2008 Frank McGrath

2007 Brian Costello

2006 Liam Kennedy

Junior A Hurling:

2011 Tom Cantwell

2010 Keith Nolan

2009 Conor Ryan

2008 Johnny O’Connor

2007 Eamonn Kiely

2006 Ollie Dwan

2005 Nicky Ryan

2004 Thomas Cantwell

2003 Liam MacLoughlin

Junior B Hurling:

2011 Eamon Kiely

2005 Kevin Nolan

2004 Pat Looby

2003 Seán Hayes

U21 Hurling:

2011 Shane Delaney

2010 Liam Ryan

2009 Johnny Ryan

2008 Edward Costello

2007 James Woodlock

2006 Jerome Ryan

2005 Paul Collins

2001 Padráig Butler

2000 Paul Ryan

1999 Séamus Cahill

1996 PJ Brett

Minor Hurling:

2011 Shane Hassett

2010 Pat Lupton

2009 Michael Everard

2008 Shane Delaney

2007 Joe Lupton

2006 Enda Walsh

2005 Matthew McGrath

2004 Micháel Butler

2003 Matthew Ryan

2002 Trevor Hassett

1998 Paul Stapleton/Matty Ryan

1996 Liam Hoare

1995 Frank McGrath

1984 Sean Hayes

U16 Hurling:

2010

2009 Michael Purcell

2008 Philip Looby

2007 David Collins

2004 Johnny Ryan

U14 Hurling: 2011 Emmett Maloney

2010

2009 Joey Maher

1995 Brian Costello

1994 Shane Kennedy/Paul Stapleton

U12 Hurling: 2010

2009 Emmett Maloney

2008 Kevin Ahearne

2007 Michael Campion

2000 Johnny Ryan

1999 Edward Costello

1992 Séamus Butler

See also

• Hurling

References

1. ^ "Drom beat finds right rhythm". Irish Independent. 17 October 2011. http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/drom-beat-finds-right-rhythm-2907804.html. Retrieved 17 October 2011. 
2. ^ "Callanan leads Drom Inch revival". Irish Times. 17 October 2011. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1017/1224305920430.html. Retrieved 17 October 2011. 

External links

• Tipperary GAA site
• Drom-Inch GAA site