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THE tenth hurling book by Ollie Byrnes is a homage to Ruan’s Jimmy Smyth, one of the greatest hurlers of all time.
A Hurling Life deals with, St. Flannan’s college, Ruan, Clare and Munster hurling teams covering the years 1947-1971.
During Smyth’s time, Ruan hurling club had two great eras, 1948-1952 and 1959-1962. In 1958, they produced a strong minor team which lost to a Denis Henry-inspired St. Joseph’s in the county minor final by 5-5 to 3-5. However the Ruan seniors got at least 10 players from this team, which was a great return.
Though Ruan had an indifferent Clare Champion cup (league) run in 1958/1959, they came good in the championship beating Eire Óg, the favourites, in the final.
This was Ruan’s first senior championship title since 1951, and as well captaining the team, Jimmy Smyth was also a manager, selector, trainer and he demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities.
In 1995 speaking to Ollie Byrnes, Smyth recalled:“The Eire Óg team of 1955-1959 stood out. Michael Blake and Bernie and Michael Dilger were great hurlers. Sixmilebridge had a great team. They were unlucky not to win a senior title. They had Mick O’Shea and Dick Barron.
“O’Shea was a goal-keeper, forward and defender who could stand side-by-side with the best. Newmarket were great stickmen and Whitegate had a style all of their own.
“The Clarecastle club presented me with a trophy. I prize it most, especially coming from a hurling parish like Clarecastle, who were very much our opponents in years gone by.”
Smyth always acknowledged the contribution that Ruan made to him and always insisted that he would not have lasted as long on the hurling field without his club.
The new publication outlines all 29 Ruan hurlers who played competitive hurling during the era 1959-1962. Smyth’s career with Clare and Munster is well documented.
The highs and lows of Clare hurling between his championship debut in 1950 and his final championship game against Tipperary in the Munster final 1967 is also covered.
“The 1967 Munster final was a much closer affair than the score-line indicates”, says Byrnes.
“I was at the Gaelic grounds on July 30 1967 and coming into the fourth quarter, Tipperary led Clare 2-9 to 2-6. They got a couple of late scores that were cosmetic.
“I saw Jimmy in action in April 1964 against Cork in the John Player shield, a great competition. Jimmy, though a veteran at that stage, was outstanding on the ’40, playing on Gerry O’Sullivan from Glen Rovers.”
A Hurling Life also contains two essays by Smyth, who, as well as being a sportsman, was a scholar and an academic. His love of ballads and recitations is also documented. It is possible Smyth played as many as 400 competitive matches and 30 of these are recalled in synopsis form in the book.
Jimmy Smyth A Hurling Life will be launched at the Templegate Hotel on Tuesday, March 15 commencing at 7pm. All are welcome.
