Boherlahan–Dualla GAA
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| An Bóthar Leathan - Dumha Aille | |||||||||
| Founded: | 1912 | ||||||||
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| County: | Tipperary | ||||||||
| Colours: | Blue and Gold | ||||||||
| Grounds: | Boherlahan | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 52°34′15.36″N 7°53′41.59″W / 52.5709333°N 7.8948861°W | ||||||||
| Playing kits | |||||||||
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| Senior Club Championships | |||||||||
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Boherlahan-Dualla GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club associated with the villages of Boherlahan located between the towns of Thurles and Cashel, and Dualla located between the towns of Cashel, and Killenaule, in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The parish of Boherlahan-Dualla is a large parish in Tipperary which competes in the Mid-Tipperary Division. The Boherlahan-Dualla parish borders seven parishes from three separate divisions, Holycross-Ballycahill GAA and Moycarkey-Borris GAA to the North who play in the Mid-Tipperary Division, to the West it borders Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams GAA, Clonoulty-Rossmore GAA, Golden Kilfeacle and Cashel King Cormacs GAA all of whom play in the West, and to the East Killenaule GAA who play in the South Tipperary division. A proud tradition of hurling has existed in this parish throughout its history,and it has produced many hurlers for Tipperary with names like Leahy's, Maher's, Coffey's, O'Dwyer's, Power's, Flanagan's and Hickey's featuring prominently over the years for club and county.
History
The Mid Tipperary G.A.A. Board was founded in 1907 but Boherlahan, as a club, did not come into existence until 1912. Its first chairman was Tommy O'Dwyer. Though Boherlahan contested the Mid final in 1912 they were defeated by the Thurles "Blues" but in the following year, 1913, they defeated The Jockey 5-4 to 1-0 for their first Mid title. Boherlahan won successive Mid titles up until 1919, except for 1915 when our club opted into the south division and took the county title as well as the south title that year. Boherlahan again opted for the south division during the decade 1924 to 1934 so their next mid success was 1941 when Philly O'Dwyer led a team powered by Mahers, Coffeys, O'Dwyers and Loobys to mid and county success. Surviving members of that team are John, Flor Coffey, and Ned O'Dwyer.
Twelve unsuccessful years were to follow but in 1953 they again took the mid title defeating Sarsfields at Templemore. Similar success wasn't repeated until 1995 when they defeated rivals Loughmore to take the Corn Sheain Ui Laochda home to Tubberadora for the first time. The trophy (presented by the Leahy family to the division forty years previously) has not been regained since, as the club lost in 1996 and 1997 to Sarsfields and Holycross respectively.
Having been beaten in the 1995 by Nenagh Eire Og GAA which motivated the team to regroup and again challenge for the ultimate prize in Tipperary Senior hurling, Boherlahan was to be victories in the 1996 County Final in which a very talented team captained by Goalkeeper Philly Ryan was successful against Toomevara GAA on a scoreline of 1-16 to 2-12. Future success was expected to follow however this did not happen and the club was to remain very competitive however no major success was to be achieved.
The turn of the century has provided contrasting fortunes for Boherlahan with the early 2000s being competitive periods with some divisional final appearances. In more recent times however Boherlahan has found itself in a very difficult position. As with clubs nationwide the economic conditions have resulted in many players being lost to emigration with players moving to locations such as the USA, Australia, Dubai, Germany and the UK among other destinations. This has coincided with an extremely competitive period for Mid-Tipperary Hurling with 6 of the last 8 Dan Breen winners from 2005 coming from this division. With Thurles Sarsfields GAA, Drom-Inch GAA and Loughmore-Castleiney GAA in particular very strong, along with the other senior clubs in this division being competitive also. In the most recent past the club has battled hard to maintain its senior status.
Moderate success has occurred at Juvenile levels in recent times, and signs are encouraging but for a club steeped in tradition this period has proved disappointing. The club in the past few years has become more determined than ever to return to challenging for titles again, and is working hard at rebuilding its side with many individuals involved with this work. Extensive work has already occurred at different levels across a range of areas. Fundraising has been strongly pursued with the club lotto, membership fees and sponsorship providing funding for the club to invest. This money has been used in the development of the club with the purchasing of equipment, facilities have been greatly improved including the upgrading of the dressing rooms and the stand area and also the construction of a hurling wall. There now is also a playing pitch in the village of Dualla.
The club is using social media platforms and has set up a website "www.boherlahandualla.tipperary.gaa.ie" which contains regulerly updated content, the club has a Facebook and Twitter page containing fixtures, results and other team information. Future plans are also in place for the upgrading of the clubs floodlights along with a synthetic training area, however this will be subject to funding and other factors. A particular focus has been put in at under-age levels with the increase in population in the Boherlahan village and especially in the Dualla area all underage teams possess high numbers which has had a big impact on development. Recruitment of new coaches and selectors is undertaken yearly, and new people are welcome to become involved, with most teams having five people involved in coaching and administration. Boherlahan-Dualla has teams playing in hurling at U-6, U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-21, Junior A and Senior grades. In football it has teams at U-6, U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-21, and Intermediate grades.
Also in the past few years Boherlahan-Dualla now has its own camogie and ladies football teams. In past years Boherlahan's talented players were scooped up by border clubs but it is now the case that players from other areas have come to play for the club and be part of its future. Boherlahan's teams have made great progress in the past few years since the teams were set up and credit must go to the commitment of the local people who remain dedicated to the progression of these teams and have made them as competitive as they are today.
Notable Players
- Johnny Leahy - Tipperary - (1914–1926)
- Paddy Leahy - Tipperary - (1916–1920,1924-1927)
- Arthur O'Donnell - Tipperary - (1915–1918,1920,1922-1928)
- Jimmy Maher - Tipperary - (1940–1946)
- Sonny Maher - Tipperary - (1947–1951)
- Flor Coffey - Tipperary - (1941–1950)
- Seamus Power - Tipperary - (1971–1979,1984-1986)
- Conor Gleeson - Tipperary - (1995–2004)
Honours
- Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship:
- Winner (16): 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1901, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1941, 1996
- Mid Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship:
- Winner (9): 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1941, 1953, 1995
- South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship:
- Winner (8): 1915, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930