Hundreds of supporters turned out in the rain in Thurles yesterday evening to give an enthusiastic welcome home to the Tipperary hurlers defeated in Sunday's All-Ireland final by Clare. The players were given a thunderous reception when they arrived at Thurles railway station and they were paraded on an open-top bus through the town, led by the Sean Treacy Pipe Band.
GAA patron Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who greeted the players, praised them for their manly and sporting participation in one of the best finals in 50 years. Tipperary people were very good sporting people, who could take the rough with the smooth, he said.
He said Clare were tremendous at taking a beating and nobody was as accepting of defeat "but they are not able to take their victory so well. When they win a few more All-Irelands they will get used to that too".
He had words of encouragement for the Tipperary players. He said his money would be on them to win next year's All-Ireland.
Tipperary manager Len Gaynor said there was no failure in Tipperary's defeat by Clare by one point. There could only be pride and the players had represented the county as Tipperary should be represented. He promised that when Tipperary got back on the hurling trail again next year the All-Irelands would start rolling in.
Team captain Conor Gleeson thanked the people for attending in such large numbers on a bad evening. He said they could not have expected this for a defeated team. He thanked the panel and management for their great commitment during the year and hoped Tipperary would bring back the McCarthy Cup in the near future.
County PRO Ms Liz Howard congratulated Clare on behalf of the people of Tipperary.