Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry Intermediate Champions 2024

On a Sunny November day, 3^rd November 2024, there were not many people left in the Parishes of Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry.  Villages, schools and businesses were dressed in the Blue and Green to support the lads on their hurling quest to capture the Mick Sylver Cup.  The team had been there this time last year but lost in the final to Ballinderreen Hurling team.  Was this to be our year?

Arriving in Kenny Park Athenry, all were greeted to an enthusiastic crowd cheering on their teams as they were warming up on a carpet of green.  Conditions were ideal for a county final.  Their opponents this year were a very young Kinvara side led by the great Conor Whelan.  The lads knew it wouldn’t be an easy task as they saw how Kinvara had beaten Meelick/Eyrecourt in the semi-final.  The work was done by Mattie and his management team and now the next 60 minutes was up to our team where it was all to be decided.

Throughout the game there was nothing between the teams, but two late goals in the second half saw Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry edge out and win the game to beat Kinvara on a scoreline of Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry 2-16 Kinvara 0-17.

Manager Mattie Kenny and team were delighted to get the win over the line, and move back up to Senior B, where they deserve to be.  The support from the four corners of the parish was astounding.  The win gave a very positive feeling to the parish and brought a community spirit that had not been seen since pre-covid times.

As with all wins each team deserves a homecoming.  The TAD team loaded on to the bus and had to parade the cup through the two parishes with every person trying to get to hold  it.  Harney’s Bar Tynagh, drive through in Killeen, Holohan’s Bar Abbey and then finished up in the Cross Bar Duniry.

In our little picturesque village of Abbey, the team bus came to a halt.  Amongst the crackle of the bonfire, you could hear people singing ‘Champoli’.  To see the young and old together, waving flags and witnessing the warm cheerful smile on people’s faces was a vision to behold.  The members of the team who live in Abbey, got off the bus first holding the cup.  It was a historic moment to witness, a moment which many will recall and remember in time to come.

One of the club Presidents, Tommy Goonan from Coolfin, stood proudly between Micheál Power (Man of the Match) and  Johnny Conroy (Joint Captain) holding that Intermediate County Cup.

Mattie Kenny team manager also stood in for pictures along with fellow team members, Dylan Hughes, Colm Larkin, Johnny Conroy, Cathal Campbell and the Goalkeeper, Brendan Lynch.  The excitement and buzz as the team marched from the bus into Holohan’s Bar Abbey was one to remember.  The parish should be very proud as the team got the same well-deserved welcome in Harney’s Bar Tynagh and in the Cross Bar Duniry.