Lattin-Cullen playing its part in Aherlow's charge
Aherlow's Raymond Hennessy tackles Stradbally's Daniel Weldon in the Munster quarter-final. Pic:
Aherlow’s Munster Intermediate semi-final victory over Wolfe Tones was an equally proud day for two West Tipperary clubs.
While Aherlow remains the brand name for the football side of the house, declining player numbers have seen the Glenmen join forces with neighbours Lattin-Cullen to field teams.
So when the club received a home draw for their provincial semi-final, Lattin’s Hannon Park met the criteria to host the game. With a colour clash between both sides, they chose the Lattin jerseys as their alternative kit.
The occasion was even more special as it fell on the weekend Lattin celebrated their 75th anniversary.
The club famous for producing Nicky English continues to field unified hurling teams as Lattin-Cullen while their footballers tog out for Aherlow.
Lattin did enjoy success with the big ball over the years, contesting a pair of county senior finals in the sixties long before Aherlow emerged to win breakthrough titles in 2006 and ’10.
Within two years of the latter victory, demographics were such that the two clubs were forced to come together for their mutual preservation.
“You were looking out the door of the dressing room wondering will you have a team,” recalls current Aherlow manager and Lattin clubman Aidan Kiely.
“It had to be done. It’s the last resort. If you talk to Aherlow people or Lattin people, you’d still prefer to be on your own but that’s the way it is.
“There was massive buy into it from players and club officials. It’s going fairly well, thank God.”
Both clubs border Limerick – indeed Aherlow is part of Galbally parish – and the local primary schools used to compete in a division across the county bounds against the likes of Ballylanders, Athlacca, and Ardpatrick.
They knew each other from a young age and there were family links too with the O’Sheas togging out for Aherlow while their first cousins, the Maguires, were stalwarts of the Lattin team.
Kiely chuckles when asked about smoothing over old rivalries.
“There was fine rivalry there back in the nineties but it was good, healthy rivalry. There was never any bitterness really. Sometimes the best of rivals become the best of partners too!”
The arrangement was first struck in 2013 when the original combination team, called Aherlow Gaels, lost a senior county final to Loughmore-Castleiney.
Like Saturday’s opponents Austin Stacks, Aherlow were relegated in 2022 and took two attempts to regain their status, spearheaded by the accuracy of former Tipperary star Barry Grogan. The Lattin influence is led by county midfielder Mark Russell and captain Tom O’Donoghue.
A half-dozen of their older brigade still have the experience of Aherlow’s Munster Senior Championship close calls, losing a semi-final replay to The Nire in 2006 and to Dr Crokes in 2010, when the Kerry champions needed a late rally to force extra-time.
They were managed by a Stacks man that day in Liam Kearns.
“He’ll be looking down on Saturday, I’d imagine, shouting for his own club,” says Kiely, “but at the same time, I’d say he wouldn’t envy Aherlow winning it either.”
