Tipperary to revert to blue and gold for Mayo clash

The Tipperary GAA County Board and senior football management have confirmed that the team will wear their traditional blue and gold jerseys against Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week.

“The Munster final jersey was a one-off replica for a specific commemorative day that will live long in the memory of Tipp GAA,” the county board announced yesterday evening.

The green and white jersey worn last Sunday against Cork was the official replica of the kit worn by Tipperary in a challenge match against Dublin in Croke Park on November 21, 1920 – Bloody Sunday. The Munster final coincided with the 100-year anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the jersey was worn as a mark of respect to all the fallen, including Tipperary player Michael Hogan.

Croke Park approved the jersey as the first official Tipperary Bloody Sunday replica. It features an image of Michael Hogan on the sleeve, along with the official Tipperary and GAA crests.

Tipperary team sponsor Teneo agreed to forego their name on the front of this commemorative jersey in favour of the symbolic Tipperary name printed in gold across the front.

The Teneo chairman and CEO, Declan Kelly, is a Tipperary native and he congratulated David Power’s team on their success, saying he was honoured to be associated with the senior football team as a 'very significant period in our history' was commemorated.

The jersey had an impact on the team, according to one of Sunday's heroes, Michael Quinlivan. He told Off The Ball on Monday: “I sat at home on Saturday evening watching the commemoration with my parents, and none of the three of us spoke to each other. There wasn't a word said.

“Then you start to realise that it is worth a little bit more. When you walk into the dressing room in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the jerseys are hanging on the wall, then you really do start to realise.

“You have two options then. You can let it overtake you and freeze in the moment, or else you can roll with it and make it make you 10 foot tall.

“I think, hopefully, we decided to go with the second option. We thundered into the game, especially in the first five or 10 minutes. We started really well and managed to keep that going then throughout.”

The All-Ireland semi-final between Mayo and Tipperary will be played in Croke Park on Sunday week, December 6.

*Pictured above, Emmet Moloney of Tipperary in their traditional blue and gold jersey, which they will wear in the All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo next Sunday week. Below is the special replica jersey they wore for the Munster final last Sunday. Photos: Sportsfile