Tipperary All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 1971

£34.50

The All-Ireland final was the thirteenth meeting of Kilkenny and Tipperary in a championship decider. Tipperary held the balance of power in all previous meetings between the two, having recorded seven All-Ireland victories to Kilkenny’s five. Both sides last met in the All-Ireland final of 1967 when Kilkenny recorded their first championship victory over their nearest neighbours since 1922. Both Tipperary and Kilkenny had dominated hurling throughout the sixties, with Tipp winning All-Ireland titles in 1961, 1962, 1964 and 1965, and Kilkenny claiming the championship in 1963, 1967 and 1969. Moreover, Tipperary had lost back-to-back All-Ireland finals in 1967 and 1968. The thought of losing a third championship decider on-the-trot proved a great motivation.
In 1970 Cork triumphed over Wexford in the All-Ireland final to claim their 21st and draw level with Tipperary at the top of hurling’s roll of honour. A victory for Tipp would put them one title ahead yet again, while a victory for Kilkenny would give them their 18th All-Ireland title and would narrow the gap between them and the other two big teams in hurling’s trinity.

Back: Michael Keating, Tom Ryan, John Flannagan, Liam King, John Kelly, Seamus Hogan, Mick Rocke, Noel O’Dwyer.
Front: John Gleeson, Francis Loughnane, Dinny Ryan, Tadg O’Connor, Len Gaynor, P.J.Ryan, Peter O’Sullivan.

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