Tom Semple

Tom Semple

Personal information
Sport	Hurling
Position	Half-forward
Born	Drombane, County Tipperary
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Thurles
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1900-1912	Tipperary
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	4
All Irelands	3

Tom Semple (1879–1943) was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Thurles and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1900 until 1912. Semple captained Tipperary to two All-Ireland titles in 1906 and 1908.

Early life

Tom Semple was born in Glebe, Drombane, County Tipperary in 1879. He received a limited education at his local national school and, like many of his contemporaries, finding work was a difficult prospect. At the age of 16 Semple left his native town land and moved to Thurles. Here he worked as a guardsman with the Great Southern and Western Railway.

Playing career

Club

Semple played his club hurling with the local club in Thurles, the precursor to the famous Sarsfields club. He rose through the club and served as captain of the team for almost a decade. Semple captained the club to their first senior county title in 1904. Two years later in 1906 he was still captain as he captured a second county victory. It was the first title of a famous four-in-a-row for Thurles. Semple won a sixth county title as captain in 1911. Barring just two defeats Thurles, under Tom Semple, had the capacity to capture an unprecedented eight county championship victories in-a-row.

Inter-county

Semple’s skill quickly brought him to the attention of the Tipperary senior hurling selectors. He made his debut in 1900 as Tipp breezed through the Munster Championship. A hard-fought defeat of Cork in the opening round was followed by a trouncing of Clare and Kerry in the semi-final and final respectively gave Semple his first provincial title. Tipp later narrowly defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final before trouncing Galway in the ‘home’ All-Ireland final. This was not the end of the championship campaign because, for the first year ever, the ‘home’ finalists had to take on London in the real All-Ireland final. The game was a close affair with both sides level at 0-5 with eight minutes to go. London then took the lead; however, they later conceded a free. Tipp’s Mikey Maher stepped up, took the free and a forward ‘charge’ carried the sliothar over the line. Tipp scored another goal following a weak puck out and claimed the victory. It was Semple’s first All-Ireland title.

Cork dominated the provincial championship for the next five years; however, Tipp bounced back in 1906. That year Semple was captain for the first time as Tipp foiled Cork’s bid for an unprecedented sixth Munster title in-a-row. The score line of 3-4 to 0-9 gave victory to Tipp and gave Semple a second Munster title. Tipp trounced Galway by 7-14 to 0-2 on their next outing, setting up an All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin. Semple’s side got off to a bad start with Dublin’s Bill Leonard scoring a goal after just five seconds of play. Tipp fought back with Paddy Riordan giving an exceptional display of hurling and capturing most of his team’s scores. Ironically, eleven members of the Dublin team hailed from Tipperary. The final score of 3-16 to 3-8 gave victory to Tipperary and gave Semple a second All-Ireland medal. 1906 also Semple captured the Poc Fada title after hitting a nine ounce ball a distance of 96 yards.

Tipp lost their provincial crown in 1907, however, they reached the Munster final again in 1908. Semple was captain of the side again that year as his team received a walkover from Kerry in the provincial decider. Another defeat of Galway in the penultimate game set up another All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin. That game ended in a draw and a replay was staged several months later in Athy. Semple’s team were much sharper on that occasion. A first-half goal by Hugh Shelly put Tipp well on their way. Two more goals by Tony Carew after the interval gave Tipp a 3-15 to 1-5 victory. It was Semple’s third All-Ireland medal.

1909 saw Tipp defeat arch rivals Cork in the Munster final once again. A 2-10 to 1-6 victory gave Semple his fourth Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Galway provided the opposition, however, the men from the West were much better than previous encounters. Tipp just about sneaked a win by 6-7 to 5-7. The All-Ireland final saw Tipp take on Kilkenny. The omens looked good for a Tipperary win. It was the county’s ninth appearance in the championship decider and they had won the previous eight. All did not go to plan as this Kilkenny side were definitely the team of the decade. A 4-6 to 0-12 defeat gave victory to ‘the Cats’ and a first final defeat to Tipperary.

Semple continued playing with Tipperary for another three years. They surrendered their provincial crown at the first hurdle in 1910. That year, however, Tipperary embarked on a European tour. Together with Cork both counties attended a pan-Celtic congress in Brussels to display their skills. Tipp reached the Munster finals of 1911 and 1912. Cork provided the opposition both occasions, however, Semple ended up on the losing side on both occasions. The second defeat brought the curtain down on his inter-county playing days.

Post-playing career

In retirement from playing Semple maintained a keen interest in Gaelic games. In 1910 Semple and others organised a committee which purchased the showgrounds in Thurles in an effort to develop a hurling playing field there. This later became known as Thurles Sportsfield and is regarded as one of the best surfaces for hurling in Ireland.In 1971 it was renamed Semple Stadium in his honour. The stadium is also lovingly referred to as ‘Tom Semple’s field’.

Semple also held the post of chairman of the Tipperary County Board and represented the Tipperary on the Munster Council and Central Council. He also served as treasurer of the latter organization. During the War of Independence Semple played an important role for Republicans. He organized dispatches via his position with the Great Southern & Western Railway in Thurles.

Tom Semple died on April 11, 1943.

Sporting positions
Preceded by	Tipperary Senior Hurling Captain 1906-1910	Succeeded by
Achievements
Preceded by D.J. Stapleton (Kilkenny)	All-Ireland Senior Hurling winning captain 1906	Succeeded by Dick 'Drug' Walsh (Kilkenny)
Preceded by Dick 'Drug' Walsh (Kilkenny)	All-Ireland Senior Hurling winning captain 1908	Succeeded by Dick 'Drug' Walsh (Kilkenny)