By PRO Joe Bracken
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
To a place we’ve been before and not all that long ago in the overall scheme of things either, the Tipperary senior hurlers with their best performance of the year suffered the extraordinary agony of another heart-breaking and gut wrenching one point defeat in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Sunday last to Galway on a score line of 0-22 to 1-18. Never more than a score between the sides at any stage in the match Tipp’s slender advantage at the break helped by a goal from John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) would be turned full circle by the time the final whistle sounded calling halt on another enthralling and outstanding epic between these two marvellous sides.
And what wonderful and worthy champions Tipperary proved to be. When needed most they summoned their all in an effort to hold onto their crown and only then at the conclusion of this absorbing battle when the wand of destiny waved an exacting blow, did the grasp of victory, or parity at least, become unclasped, to leave the Premier charges teetering on the edge and to eventual denial. In the cruellest of circumstances the dreams of 2017 came up short leaving Tipp to ponder on the cusp of what might have been.
Sport as we know is the ultimate leveller and when a team, as Tipperary did, lose by the narrowest of margins at the highest level in one of the greatest stadia globally, against one of the current best teams nationally, is the seed of renaissance sown, difficult and all as it may seem now, in terms of focus and towards where the bar is set for future success. One thing is for certain, when the call goes out for 2018 these Tipperary warriors will be gnawing at the bit even more to get back and eradicate this heartbreak from their memory. The collective resolve will be all the greater in atonement for a journey brought to an abrupt termination on Sunday.
Wonderful ambassadors one and all, courageous and committed we commiserate and stand with you in this most difficult of times and thank you for this year’s journey, varied as it was and look forward with the same amount of hope and optimism that heralded in the 2017 championship and league.
Behind a wonderful team led by a fantastic captain Padraig Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) is a super management and backroom team, each diligent to the cause and unwavering in their support to the players. To Mick Ryan, Declan Fanning, John Madden and Conor Stakelum, sincere thanks for the tremendous efforts again this campaign in both championship and league. With your players, you have given the County fantastic joy and excitement these past two years and on behalf of all Tipperary Supporters we thank you for that and look forward for more to come.
Little did we know that when the bus to Belfast in January for the Fr. Alec Reid Festival of Hurling kick started the year how the hurling path and landscape would have changed in the space of a few short months? With that in mind the future is one of promise and intrigue where Tipperary will hopefully be the name on the engravers tool as the etching on silverware of success sounds sublimely once more in favour of the Premier County.
NEWPORT SCÓR GROUP
Well done to Newport Scór instrumental group who treated the crowd to a selection of reels before the match on Sunday, a fantastic honour for them and Tipperary Scór.
REFEREE
Best wishes to Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) as he takes charge of the GAA Football All-Ireland U17 Competition between Kerry and Roscommon this Saturday, August 12th, in Cusack Park Ennis.
COUNTY FIXTURES
The action is all focused on club level from here on with the final round of group games in the Tipperary Water County Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships and Seamus O Riain Cup taking place this weekend. On Friday night, August 11th, two games in round 3 Group 5 of the Tipperary Water Intermediate Championship gets the weekends proceedings under way. Saturday and Sunday are two action packed days as clubs will be doing their utmost to stay in contention in their respective competition.
For a full round up on all results and fixtures, please check the Tipperary GAA website https://tipperary.gaa.ie/ or the fixtures/results section in your local newspaper.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
With the Tipperary senior hurlers bowing out of the championship last Sunday, we thank the hardworking committee of the Tipperary Supporters Club, led by its Chairman John Tierney, for all their unbelievable support to our county team again this year. The diligent fundraising and commitment, to our senior panel in particular, year after year is one of the main reasons our teams have the opportunity to contest at the knockout stages most years now and the Supporters Clubs endeavours cannot be underestimated or undervalued.
On their behalf too, the Tipperary Supporters Club wish to thank and acknowledge all supporters who took out membership in 2017 and set a new record level of membership. To ensure success continues to come Tipperary’s way, it is crucial that all members continue with their subscription when 2018 membership comes up for renewal. For now though, thanks again to the Supporters Club for all their hard work and energy over the years.
POC FADA
In the M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Final U16 Poc Fada last Saturday, congratulations to Ryan Renehan (Cappawhite GAA Club) as he finished second with 25 pócs 16 metres in the Cooley Mountains behind Cathal Kiely (Offaly) who completed the course with 22 pócs 46 metres.
In the senior event 9 time champion Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange) finished 6th with 54 pócs 17 metres. The winner was Tadhg Haran (Galway) with 51 pócs 18 metres.
HANDBALL
Best wishes to the Tipperary handball players who will contest 6 All-Ireland 60 x 30 singles Semi-Finals on Sunday next August 13th, against Ulster opposition.
CAMOGIE
Commiserations to the Tipperary ladies who lost to Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Quarter-Final last Saturday evening in Semple Stadium, on a score line of 1-22 to 0-10.
LADIES FOOTBALL
Best wishes to the Tipperary Ladies Football Intermediate team who play Wexford in the TG4 All-Ireland Championship Quarter-Final this weekend.
LONDON REUNION
The South London-based Sean Treacy’s Hurling Club (Tooting and Mitcham) is undertaking a nostalgic 60th Anniversary All-Ireland Final weekend ‘Trip to Tipp’ Reunion Day this September. Where better and more appropriate for the club to assemble for such a very special occasion than in Sean Treacy country itself in the Limerick Junction/Solohead/Tipperary Town area including Sean Treacy Park where it is hoped the club will be able to host a Sevens Hurling tournament on the afternoon of Friday, September 1st.
Club officials and players will also be staying at the Ballykisteen Golf Hotel where it will also be possible for non-playing members to get in a round of golf that Friday morning from 8.30 until 10.30pm before the hurling action itself gets underway later that afternoon in Tipperary Town.
But the climax of the Club’s Reunion Day will undoubtedly be later that evening at the hotel with a reception presentation buffet in the Ballykisteen Suite. Since the club has enjoyed such a very strong affinity with players from this Tipperary-Limerick region over the past six decades the occasion will also be a rare opportunity for former members, who have since returned to live in Ireland, to meet up with many of the friends they met through the club during their own time in London. It is also hoped that some of their home clubs may be able to participate in the Sevens tournament that afternoon in Sean Treacy Park.
Local clubs in this West Tipperary-South East Limerick region are therefore invited to participate in the day/evening and non-hurlers from local GAA clubs are also welcome to join the visitors for the golf morning. Finally for anyone thinking of emigrating and wishing to get involved in hurling in London this event would be an ideal opportunity to meet and network with the club officials and playing members. Further information on the Sean Treacy’s GAA Reunion Day weekend can be obtained by contacting: Martin Carroll (Chief Organiser) 0044 7885459080 Email: seantreacyslondon@gmail.com Brian Leonard (Chairman) 0044 7944435811, Michael Walsh (Secretary) 0044 7709119471, Liam Barron (Team Manager) 0044 752883490, Mick Maunsell 087 2492541and Larry Cooney 087 9389946. Also on Facebook: Sean Treacy’s and Twitter: @SeanTreacysLon
LOYALTY CARD
Tipperary GAA has launched a loyalty CashBack Card which as a Tipperary supporter each individual that registers is doing their small bit in support of the county cause. Loyalty cards were sent out with club draw receipts to all members and as there is no charge in registering you can opt in immediately. If anyone who doesn’t have a loyalty card and flyer please call to Lár na Páirce to pick up one. Register as per details on the CashBack flyer. To activate the card, holders must complete the registration and then please email, post or drop off your registration details to Lar na Páirce, Slievenamon Road, Thurles or secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie
TIPPERARY GAA SCENE
Information concerning all areas in the GAA will appear in this section in the future. If you wish to include any item of interest in future articles, please e-mailpro.tipperary@gaa.ie on or before 3.00pm on Monday. Visit the Tipperary GAA web site at https://tipperary.gaa.ie to keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary GAA circles.
By Jonathan Cullen Thu 10th Aug
