Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

02:00 PM-06:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Hurling

The 32 Mount Rushmores | Tipperary's Greatest Sportspeople

The time has come for Tipperary to get the hammers and chisels out - we'll be carving their Mount...



The 32 Mount Rushmores | Tippe...
Hurling

The 32 Mount Rushmores | Tipperary's Greatest Sportspeople

The time has come for Tipperary to get the hammers and chisels out - we'll be carving their Mount Rushmore of sporting heroes on OTB AM tomorrow morning!

Former Munster and Ireland rugby international Alan Quinlan and Tipperary footballer Michael Quinlivan will be on the show making their picks, and there are plenty of names in with a shout.

Where would the mountain be carved? Knockmealdown? Devil's Bit? Galtymore?

This isn't a full long-list by any means, but here are just some of those who may be in consideration - let us know which four make your Mount Rushmore in the comments!:

===

19 August 2012; Brendan Cummins, Tipperary. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final, Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Dáire Brennan / SPORTSFILE

It's not exactly breaking news to say Tipperary is very much a hurling stronghold. In fact you could make a separate Mount Rushmore only taking into account the legends of the game that have graced Semple Stadium over the years.

In recent years the likes of Seamus Callanan, Noel McGrath, Paudie and Brendan Maher, Brendan Cummins, Tommy Dunne, Lar Corbett, and Eoin Kelly have led the way.

And in times gone past you can't ignore James 'Jimmy' Doyle. The Thurles man won six All-Ireland titles and was inducted into the GAA Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also named on the hurling team of the millenium and team of the century.

Holycross man John Doyle won eight All-Ireland medals at senior inter-county hurling level, and is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Nicky English won six All Star awards over the course of his career and is widely considered one of the greatest forwards of them all. Francis Loughnane secured three All Star awards in the first three years they were handed out, and Pat Fox and Michael Cleary are others who tormented defences nationwide.

Michael Ryan is another big name who can stake a claim, after winning All-Ireland's as both a player and manager.

One figure that will also be in the reckoning is Michael Hogan - after whom Croke Park's Hogan Stand is named. Hogan played for Tipperary and was shot dead by Black and Tan soldiers on Bloody Sunday in 1920 in the stadium.

Toomevara's Deirdre Hughes is a legend of Camogie in the county - picking up five All-Ireland medals and being named on the team of the century in 2004.

There have been years of gaelic football success in the Premier County too - Declan Browne was a great servant to the game, earning All Stars and International Rules call-ups.

Michael Quinlivan may well have to give himself a mention too - he was a key cog in Tipp sides that won the All-Ireland minor title against the Dubs in 2011 and went on to reach a senior semi-final in 2016 under Liam Kearns.

1 July 2006; Declan Browne, Tipperary, in action against Noel Farrell, Longford. Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Qualifier, Round 2, Longford v Tipperary, Pearse Park, Longford. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

That run made Quinlivan just the second Tipp footballer to win an All Star, after Browne's awards in 1998 and 2003.

Niall Quinn is a famous son of Tipperary - his accent hints at his Dublin upbringing, but should he be selected in this Mount Rushmore? Quinn's late father Billy was a hurler from Rahealty. Niall of course went on to great success in soccer, lining out for the likes of Arsenal and Sunderland, and scoring 21 international goals in the process.

Shane Long was born in Gortnahoe, playing for Tipp's underage hurlers before a hugely successful Premier League and international career. The 33-year-old is still going strong and playing with Southampton cross-channel.

There are strong rugby roots in Tipperary too - Alan Quinlan may be in the position of having to choose himself for the mountain given his extensive career that led him to international and Lions caps.

8 October 2015; Shane Long, Republic of Ireland, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal. UEFA EURO 2016 Championship Qualifier, Group D, Republic of Ireland v Germany. Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

Denis Leamy and Donnacha Ryan are others we'll be expecting to hear mentioned tomorrow morning.

The late, great rally driver Frank Meagher will be a popular pick for many - he won the Circuit of Ireland rally in 1992, and was the first Irishman since Billy Coleman to claim four international victories in one season.

Horse trainer Mouse Morris was based in Fethard, with Charlie Swan another equestrian great worthy of a mention.

Athlete Bob Tisdall was raised in Nenagh and went on to win 400 metres gold at the 1932 Summer Olympics in a world record time, and former golfer Arthur Pierse played in the Walker Cup.

Going way back into the depths of boxing history, Tipperary-born Paddy Ryan played a key role in how the sport would be promoted after his fight against John L Sullivan in 1882.

Another pugilist - John 'Old Smoke' Morrissey, born in Templemore in 1831, was a heavyweight champion (not to mention a US Congressman and gang leader).

===

Who would make your top four? Let us know in the comments! 

Here is Nathan Murphy's selection of Mayo's Mount Rushmore from Episode One!

Here is Colm Boohig's selection of Cork's Mount Rushmore from Episode Two!

Here is Will O'Callaghan and Paul Rouse's selection of Offaly's Mount Rushmore from Episode Three!

Here is Shane Hannon and Gráinne McElwain's selection of Monaghan's Mount Rushmore from Episode Four!

Here is Diarmuid Lyng and Liam Griffin's selection of Wexford's Mount Rushmore from Episode Five!

Here is Neil Treacy and Jack Anderson's selection of Limerick's Mount Rushmore from Episode Six!

Here is Enda Coll and Kieran Cunningham's selection of Donegal's Mount Rushmore from Episode Seven!

Here is Máire-Treasa Nic-Cheallaigh and Michael Lyster's selection of Galway's Mount Rushmore from Episode Eight!

Here is Adrian Barry and Conor Moore's selection of Westmeath's Mount Rushmore from Episode Nine!

Here is Ronan Mullen and Dan McDonnell's selection of Louth's Mount Rushmore from Episode Ten!

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Alan Quinlan Camogie Hurling Michael Quinlivan Mount Rushmore Off The Ball Otb Am Rugby Tipperary Tipperary GAA