Club Achievements

Article taken from …. The History of GAA in the North Tipperary division

When it comes to deciding on who was the best hurler ever to come out of Nenagh town, Mick Burns wins hands down. As a half-back he had everything the hurling purist could ask. He had total command of the ball on the ground or in the air, wonderfully stylish stickmanship, uncanny anticipation, speed - he was one of a relay quartet that won a Munster schools title - and a strength that belied his slim form. He never weighed more than five pounds beyond ten stone but many an unwitting opponent learned to his cost that he was all muscle and bone. He had the temperament that makes the great hurler — he never panicked even under the greatest pressure, but always kept an even psychological keel whether in front or behind. His easy graceful swing was a joy to watch. On the field and off he was a gentleman.

Like so many great hurlers, he was seldom as a youngster far from the hurling field. In the old Nenagh Showgrounds, which was near his home, he was a familiar figure from the time he could carry a hurley. From the beginning it was clear that he had hurling ability beyond the ordinary and he was still in the primary school when he won a Croke Cup medal with Nenagh in 1951. He played minor with Eire Og for five years, winning North Tipp championships in 1951 and ‘53 and captaining Eire Og to victory in 1955. He was on the Tipp minor team in 1954 which, with Jimmy Doyle in goal playing in what was to be the first of four consecutive MI-Ireland appearances went down by four points to Dublin in the final. In the following year, Mick played at centre-field on the team that brought the county its ninth minor MI-Ireland title.

He donned a senior county jersey for the first time in November 1957. Tipp were just back from a tour to the United States and they were beaten by Limerick in their first league tie - a defeat which may have cost them the league. But the following summer saw him brought onto the panel before the Munster semi—final against Cork. A week previously in a tournament game against Clare he was the star of the Tipp side and enjoyed the distinction of holding scoreless the great Jimmy Smith, one of the most brilliant forwards of his time — indeed of all time. And when Jimmy Finn vacated his berth in the hall-back line in the following year, it became Mick’ s for the duration of Tipp’s great series of successes that only ground to a halt with the defeat by Wexford in the ‘68 MI-Ireland.

By the time that run of successes came to an end, he had established an impressive record. In ten years he had played in seven All-Ireland finals. He was the holder of five senior All-Irelands, six leagues, four Oireachtas medals and had enjoyed four trips to the U.S. with Tipp. And he had played for Munster in what was to be Christy Ring’ s last appearance in a Railway Cup final.

With Nenagh, Mick bad less success than with Tipp. In 1957 he had played a huge part in the capture of its first North Tipp senior title since 1915 and, as captain, he led the club again to victory in 1964. The highlight of the county championship that year was Eire-Og’s marathon contest with Holycross in the semi-final. After one of the toughest, dourest tussles of the time the teams ended at 2-12 each and when they met again a fortnight later they had to go to extra time. In fading November light at Thurles, failure to point a ‘70 with the last puck of the match denied Eire Og a chance to a third day, while the hardship of overcoming the Nenagh men made Holycross easy meat for Thurles Sarsfields in the final.

It can truly be said that Tipp has never been short of brilliant half-backs. Among those who saw him in his prime, Mick Burns will be remembered
among the greatest. — S.J Leahy