I know which Bourke I’d have

Tom Kennedy was always tall. He was wiry. A good target man. Great pair of hands. Not the most skilful hurler but a great pair of hands. Good attitude.

Tom Kennedy sat behind me in Templetuohy on Sunday where a plethora of county stars were on show. He didn’t seem as tall. Holycross-Ballycahill and JK Brackens was the fare on offer - the second part of a double-header. The former had shocked reigning County and divisional champions Thurles Sarsfields in the opening match in Group Two and were on a high going into the clash with the men from Templemore.

JK Brackens, who had gotten the better of Drom-Inch in their Group Two opener, were next up for the men from the town where it all began. That pairing would have been crucial in determining the destination of the Johnny Leahy Cup if the Blues had managed to overcome Drom-Inch and Brackens had fallen to Holycross.

They didn’t. And as a result are now out of their divisional championship. Thurles Sarsfields that is.

As I mentioned earlier many county stars were on show on what was a perfect day for hurling. Tom Kennedy was also present. You knew that though. A few minutes into the second offering, Kennedy tipped me on the shoulder and said: “I know which Bourke I’d have”. I knew straight off what he meant.

One of Tipperary’s most promising players, Pa Bourke, who caught the eye of many during the Allianz Hurling League took to the field for Sarsfields in the opening match. As did his biggest fan, Lar Corbett, hero for the Premier County in last year’s epic All-Ireland win over great rivals Kilkenny. Corbett famously found the Cats net on three occasions on that most memorable September Sunday. I’m not a fan though. 

Regardless.

Corbett never played for Tipperary before the legend that is Nicky English took a liking to him when he took charge of the county he starred for on many, many occasions. The Thurles ‘publican’ did not play U21 for his county until he made it onto the Tipperary senior panel. Prior to that he never came close to playing minor for the Munster kingpins. Why so? I could suggest a number of reasons for him being overlooked but I won’t. Instead I will focus my attention on his clubmate Bourke.

Kennedy went on to joke, well half joke, that Bourke has a mirror on his hurley. I added, completely seriously, that he had one on both sides such is his appetite to mess with the ball when he has it in his possession. We laughed as the other Bourke, Shane, pushed JK Brackens further ahead with his third point of the half.

Shane Bourke is a different type of hurler to his Thurles counterpart. He’s more direct. More honest. More of a team player. More suited to the heat of Munster championship. The man from Templemore burst onto the inter-county scene when he, to put it mildly, contributed handsomely in Tipperary’s drubbing of Galway in the penultimate round of the Allianz Hurling League at Pearse Stadium. On the day Bourke scored 3-4 in an overall display worthy of a place on any county team.

Sunday saw Bourke give an exhibition for his club and in the end the promising Brackens side, led by former inter-county star Eamonn Corcoran, had a couple of points to spare over the men from in and around the Abbey. His determination to get to the ball first was commendable. His ability to catch the ball cleanly under pressure was admirable. His striking on both right and left was a joy to behold. His style is akin to one of the most dangerous forwards of the last ten years, Kilkenny’s Eddie Brennan.

Tom Semple’s field will host Tipperary and Cork in the first round of the Munster SHC on May 29. The reigning All-Ireland champions were ambushed by the banks of the Lee last year before going on to wreck Kilkenny’s dreams of a five-in-a-row. A similar outcome will not be expected or accepted this time around.

Pa Bourke has been consistent from frees throughout the Allianz Hurling League but his contribution to overall play has been patchy at best. With captain, Eoin Kelly, and former Young Hurler of the Year, Noel McGrath, likely to be in the Tipperary starting XV for the clash with the Rebels it is hard to see where Bourke can be accomodated when his skills from placed balls are not required. 

Those in the crowd at Templetuohy on Sunday would and could not disagree. Though probably not the worst player on show for Sarsfields, his contribution to what was an incredibly insipid showing from the Blues was borderline pathetic. An hour later, Shane Bourke exhibited all the attributes required to make an impact against Cork and beyond.

Tipperary boss Declan Ryan did not use Bourke against Wexford but it is hard to see him not making the fray at Semple Stadium in little over a month's time. If honesty of effort is what gets you on to starting line-ups then Bourke, Shane that is, need not worry. His time will come sooner or later. Just ask Tom Kennedy. He knows.