MICHAEL QUINLIVAN WAS a member of the Tipperary minor football team that won a famous All-Ireland final against Dublin in 2011.
Colin O’Riordan, just 15 at the time, was also a key player in that Premier County set-up as Colman Kennedy’s stunning late goal floored a Dublin team containing star names such as Ciaran Kilkenny, Jack McCaffrey, Cormac Costello and John Small.
Quinlivan netted a nerveless penalty at the Hill 16 end on that famous September Sunday and he went on to figure at U21 level before becoming a star senior.
O’Riordan made his senior debut in 2014, finishing a landmark campaign as an Allstar nominee.
But after O’Riordan recently signed a two-year rookie contract with the Sydney Swans, Tipp will have to solider on without a standout player under new management in 2016.
“Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we’ll get a clearer picture of what the (management) situation is,” said Quinlivan, as Tipp close in on Peter Creedon’s successor.
“There are so many good young players in Tipp that we can kick on in the next couple of years.
“Losing Colin is a bit of a blow. I wish him the best going over and I’m convinced that he’ll make a serious name for himself in Australia, and all the best to him.
“We have a pool of talent well capable of filling that void anyway, which is good.
“But losing a player of the calibre of Colin is tough to deal with. 10 or 12 years ago, we would have struggled big time, it would have been the same as losing a Declan Browne but all the lads are so proud of him making that step.”
Last Sunday, Quinlivan kicked four points as Clonmel Commercials claimed victory in the Tipperary SFC final.
And he’s now relishing the prospect of an AIB Munster club quarter-final against Limerick kingpins Newcastlewest on Sunday week.
“It will probably be here in Clonmel as well,” he said.
“And for a lot of the lads, it will be their first competitive match inside in the GAA centre.
“That’s a massive thing and three years ago, when we won it (county title), we didn’t appreciate going into Munster.
“We might kick on this year and if we can give a good account of ourselves, we’ll see where it takes us.
“I’m disappointed for Eamonn (Hanrahan), it would have been nice to have him coming back but there’s still a nice link in that Tommy Kelly used to play for Newcastle West.
“He’s a massive man in the Commercials club.”
Tommy Kelly played senior football for Limerick and was also a member of the Newcastle West team that lost to Nemo Rangers in the 1987 Munster final.
