Notaí CLG Tulach an Iarainn sponsored by McGrath's chemist.

Tallow GAA lotto sponsored by Kearney's Restaurant Tallow
Numbers drawn were: 4, 7, 12, 14
No winner
Consolation Prizes: Liz Cronin, Paul O Mahony, Paul O Brien x2
Promoter: Pat Murphy
Next draw: Kenirys, Tuesday September 5th
Jackpot: €20,000

Our weekly lotto tickets are available to purchase from any of the promoters or any businesses around the town. Please support our local lotto. Tickets are €2.

Last Man Standing
Tallow GAA Last Man Standing will be starting on the weekend of the 8th of September with prize money of €500. If you would like to enter please contact the person who you entered with last year, any player or any committee member.

Deise Draw
Any outstanding money can be given to Fada or any of the promoters.

All Ireland Final
This week is a particularly special week to be penning the club notes. The excitement and buzz is clearly evident throughout the county with flags, signs and banners dotted all over - a clear indication of the support for our senior hurlers going into Sunday's All Ireland hurling final against Galway. We haven't been in a final since 2008 - one which we would rather forget. The last time Waterford were victorious was in 1959 when they defeated Kilkenny in a replay. CLG Tulach an Iarainn wishes the very best of luck to our own Thomas Ryan, to the team and management in Sunday's final. Here's hoping the McCarthy cup will be making its way over the bridge in Waterford next Monday, while the Horse Fair is in full swing in Tallow. An Déise abú!!

Player Profile
Name: Thomas Ryan
Occupation: Primary school teacher
Position: Forward
Weight: 75kg
Height: 5ft 10"
When and where did you first start playing hurling: At home in the back garden, age 4
Biggest influences on your hurling career: Ned Power, my sister Rachael and my parents
To date what is your favourite sporting moment: Beating Kilkenny for the first time in championship since 1959
Favourite venue: Croke Park
Favourite GAA player: DJ Carey and Brick Walsh
What do you think is the most important skill in hurling: First touch
What advice would you give to young players: Practice like crazy!
What sportsperson would you most like to meet: Steven Gerrard or Luis Suarez
Toughest player to mark in training: Noel Connors
Who is the joker on the panel: Jamie Barron
Favourite holiday destination: Prague
Favourite food: Steak
Favourite drink: Milk
Favourite music: Dance
You may not know it but I am good at: Game shooting
In 10 years time I hope to be: Healthy, happy and after winning an All Ireland medal.

Welcome Home
Wonderful to see so many immigrants returning home this week for the game on Sunday. Welcome home to Mike Prendergast and Maura, Donnchadh Mulcahy all the way from New Zealand, Spud Murphy, Connie Henley, Shane Aherne, Eoin Barry, Mikey Hartigan and family and all the other Tallow people whom I may have forgotten to mention, it's great to see you back!!

Thomas Ryan – A Prodigious Talent
Back in the day when I was penning these notes on a regular basis I always enjoyed compiling match reports. It was a challenging enough task trying to capture the essence of a competitive championship game in words. It was particularly challenging if Thomas Ryan was playing. Your command of the language would be tested and your store of superlatives severely depleted as he was guaranteed to produce moments of sheer hurling genius that would leave you speechless. He still retains that propensity for audacious power plays that leave you grasping for words to describe. With a flick of the wrist, a jink, dummy sold afterburners on his movement on the ball is a joy to behold.

The signs were there from early on; from he was a young nipper. I remember watching him play when he was only ten or eleven. It was all there even then; the speed, skill, control and wonderful balance. Naturally gifted, his striking of the ball was almost poetic. That’s not always enough though. He had the right attitude too and was dedicated to his craft. If affirmation of his ability was needed it came in 2003 when he was crowned All Ireland Feile Skills Champion. His coach was Ned Power – master coach meets master pupil! Ned describes it best at the time:

“Thomas’s greatest achievement so far in a glittering hurling career must be his masterful display at the ALL-Ireland Feile na Gael Skills competition on the 13th June in Mullingar. There were bigger and stronger competitors from every county in Ireland. Thomas eclipsed them all by a comfortable margin with an almost flawless display of skill, scoring 53 out of a possible maximum of 56. He won for Waterford and himself the distinction of being the most skilful young hurler in Ireland.”

Since then Thomas has served club and county with rare distinction. Tallow has a long and proud tradition of providing players for our county teams. James Murray and Aidan Kearney were involved in 2008 when we last contested an All-Ireland Final. Thomas is our club ambassador on this occasion and one we are very proud of. Despite his many achievements on the field of play he has remained grounded, modest and most obliging. He has a great rapport with young kids and the pupils of Scoil Mhuire, Tallow where he teaches will surely be the beneficiaries of his tutelage.

Ned’s words in 2003 were prophetic:

“He was a joy to coach because he was so receptive and responsive, absorbing every little detail of skill and craft. His dedication to practice is no secret. He has shed lustre on Tallow and I feel certain that his burgeoning talent has yet to reach its full flowering. What an exciting prospect! Nár lagai Dia a lámh!”

Thomas has fulfilled has potential and will delight us with his enthralling skill for a long time to come. What I wouldn’t give to see him light up Croke Park on Sunday.

We wish Tommy and the Waterford team the best of luck on Sunday. An Deise Abu!!

Liam O Maolcatha
Cathaoirleach