Lily Calls Time on Junior Officer

The charismatic and very popular first lady from Templemore, Lily O’Brien has decided to step away from her role as Tipperary Juniors Officer in 2010. Lily first got involved with the Juniors of Tipperary Pitch & Putt in an official capacity in 1995 but has been to the forefront of the Junior Pitch & Putt scene since the early 1980’s. Known throughout ever corner of Ireland, Lily wore her heart on her sleeve when her adoring Juniors were playing, she could be heard supporting her players in all types of weather especially when things were tight at the top of the final 9 Holes. Lily is known to be one of the best calculators in the game, not one to shirk responsibility by telling her players what they needed to do and always having words of encouragement for all the players she was lucky enough to have helped develop throughout the years.
When she came on board Richie O’Halloran in 1995, it was indeed a time when Tippeary Juniors Pitch & Putt was at an all time high. Winning the Tommy Murphy Cup for the first time in their history with Lily’s favourite son Michael being the victorious captain on that faithful August day, she must have realised she was going to deal with a unique crop of Juniors. Lily’s charges failed to ignite in Cement that year but in 1996, they were very much back in the hunt in Ballinlough. Only a 3 Hole play-off could separate her charges and boys from the rebel county nevertheless it was the rebels who came out on top but this was the start of a time for Tipperary Pitch & Putt that will be hard to master as we start a new decade. From 2000 – 2003 Tipperary were in the top 2 of the All Ireland Inter County Championships and winning once again in 2001 in Waterford Crystal. Undoubtedly Lily’s finest moment was in “The Glass” when her charges came from nowhere on a wind and rain swept day to bring home the spoils. Lily was extremely lucky to have such a talented pool of players during those years but she gelled these players into a unique quintet who would do anything but loose. Lily had an unbelievable passion for the game and this really rubbed off on all whom she worked with. Attention to detail a must, preparation had to be adequate and she demanded at all times that her players be professional and courteous at all times. She definitely brought a new emphasis to the game in Tipperary in the Juniors scene, she brought real dedication to it and the players bought into this and subsequently enjoyed the riches that success brings.
In her 14 years as Tipperary Juniors Officer she has also seen many Munster & National Champions or sowed the seeds for them to become a champion in the adult grades. Jason McNamara of Hillview brought home the Individual Boys Championship in 2000, Michelle McCarthy of Hillview and Lily’s own daughter Martha won the All Ireland Girls Championship in 2007 & 2008 respectively. She has seen over 20 Munster Champions in her time, nearly 2 Champions a year during her time, not a bad feat when you consider 1993 was the first time a Tipperary player was crowned Munster Champion.
Lily leaves Tipperary Pitch & Putt in a very positive way but she feels she can’t give it the commitment the job desires. She has asked for the National Executive Council of the Pitch & Putt Union of Ireland to look into the possibility of creating a National Juniors Officer, something she feels would enable Clubs and Co Boards liaise better with it’s governing body.
Before Lily stepped down, she presented 2 Plaques to the Co Board, in which are to be dedicated to the County Juniors Strokeplay and Matchplay Championships. Befitting Lily magmanous jesture the County Board decided immediately to name both competitions in her honour. A truly great honour for one of the County’s best officers.