FBD Insurance County Championships
A very busy weekend on the hurling front last weekend with a total of 16 games being played over the weekend. In the senior hurling championship semi finals, a large attendance gathered in FBD Semple Stadium to watch both games on Sunday afternoon in spite of the very poor weather conditions. In the first game, Upperchurch Drombane were looking to make history and qualify for the final, While Kilruane MacDonaghs were hoping it would be they who would be in front at the final whistle. This was a game that never really sparked into life which in all fairness was very understandable given the poor weather. However it was the Kilruane MacDonaghs men who seemed to deal with the conditions a little better than their opposition as they took an early lead that they never relinquished winning in the end by 2-17 to 1-14. The second semi final between Kiladangan and Drom & Inch was expected to be a closely fought out battle and so it proved to be, but before the game commenced players, officials and supporters stoot in silence as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in that tragic accident in Creslough County Donegal last Friday afternoon. The game itself was a ell contested encounter with many fine scores and one or two mistakes along the way. There was never much more than a puck of the ball between the sides and indeed as full time approached, it looked as if extra time might have been required, but a late Kiladangan goal sealed the deal for them as they held out for a 1-21 to 1-17 win. This years senior hurling final will now be an all North Tipperary battle and is sure to attract a large attendance to FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday week.
In the Premier Intermediate hurling semi Finals, both games took place on Saturday afternoon. In Cashel, Gortnahoe-Glengoole booked their place in the final with a well deserved 3-18 to 0-22 win over St Marys, while in Nenagh it was a much closer game as Roscrea defeated Burgess by 1-19 to 1-17 in a real edge of the seat game which was played in front of a very large attendance. In the Intermediate hurling Quarter Finals, Drom & Inch defeated Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams by 1-19 to 2-11, Lorrha Dorrha defeated Borrisokane by 1-23 to 0-25 in a game that needed extra time to decide the outcome, Moneygall defeated Kilsheelan Kilcash by 0-16 to 1-9 and last year’s Junior A county champions Skeheenarinky overcame Golden Kilfeacle by 0-08 to 0-05. The pairings for the intermediate Hurling semi finals are as follows Lorrha Dorrha v Drom & Inch while Moneygall will play Skeheenarinky. Both games are scheduled to take place on Saturday October 22nd at 1pm. In the County Junior A hurling championship semi finals, Upperchurch Drombane had an impressive 4-19 to 2-12 win over Moyle Rovers in Boherlhan on Saturday afternoon, while also on Saturday afternoon in Fethard, Grangemockler Ballyneale defeated Thurles Sarsfields by 1-21 to 0-18 and in so doing booked their place in this year’s final which will take place on Saturday October 22nd at 2.30pm in Golden.
In the County Junior B hurling championship Quarter Finals, Solohead defeated Drom & Inch on Saturday in Clonoulty by 2-19 to 0-17, On Sunday morning in Templetuohy, Lorrha Dorrha were comfortable 1-13 to 0-3 winners over Clerihan, In Cappawhite, Portroe defeated Cahir by 2-13 to 1-09 and in Holycross, Thurles Sarsfields proved too strong for Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams as they won by 3-17 to 1-07. The semi final pairings now see Portroe taking on Solohead in Newport on Saturday October 22nd at 2.30pm while the following afternoon Lorrha Dorrha will play Thurles Sarsfields in Moneygall at 12.30pm.
In the senior hurling relegation final which was played last Saturday afternoon in Holycross, Templederry Kenyons retained their senior status by virtue of a 2-21 to 0-19 win over Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill who will now drop down to Premier Intermediate for 2023. In the afore mentioned Premier Intermediate relegation final it as Carrick Swan who were victorious over Kiladangan as they won by 1-18 to 00-17 in Templetuohy on Saturday afternoon.
The focus this weekend will be mainly on the big ball as a number of finals are down for decision. The main focus of attention will be on FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon when both the Senior and Intermediate finals will be played. In the Intermediate CJ Kickhams Mullinahone will face Ballina, referee Sean Everard of Moyne Templetuohy will throw in the ball at 1.00pm while in the Senior final last year’s beaten finalists Clonmel Commercials will come up against Upperchurch Drombane who will be appearing in the final for the first time in the clubs history, throw in for this game is set for 3.15pm with Moyle Rovers Sean Lonergan in charge of the whistle. Sundays games in Thurles will also be a special occasion for the Moyle Rovers club as their semior football jubilee team will be introduced to the crowd prior to the commencement of the senior game.
The Tom Cusack Cup final is down for decision this Saturday afternoon when Rockwell Rovers and Killenaule meet in Clonmel Sportsfield at 2.30pm while in the Junior A football semi finals, Sean Treacys play Clerihan in Bansha at 2.30pm on Saturday and in the second semi final Thurles Sarsfields and Ballingarry meet at the same time in Cashel.
The four Quarter Finals of the Junior B football championship are also set to be decided over the weekend starting on Friday evening in New Inn at 8.00pm when Boherlahan Dualla and Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill meet, On Saturday Cappawhite play Upperchurch Drombane in Dundrum at 1.00pm while at 2.30pm in Templetuohy Kilruane MacDonaghs play CJ Kickhams Mullinahone. The last of the Quarter Finals will be played on Wednesday October 19th and will see Shannon Rovers take on Grangemockler Ballyneale in Templetuohy at 8.00pm.
There are also two very important hurling games down for decision this coming Saturday. In the Under 19 A Hurling semi final, Clonoulty will be the venue for the clash of Holycross Ballycahill and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams at 3.30pm while in Toomevara, Ballinahinch and Shannon Rovers will meet in the Intermediate Hurling relegation final at 2.30pm
Minor Hurlers Receive Civic Reception
Last Saturday was a very special occasion in the Dome as the All Ireland winning minor hurlers were accorded a civic reception by Tipperary County Council. Chairman of the council Rodger Kennedy opened proceedings by welcoming the large gathering. He said it was a great privilege for the council to be in a position to honour this group of young men along with their management who did their county proud by capturing both Munster and All Ireland titles earlier this year. Rodger also pointed out that the idea for the civic reception came just moments after the final whistle was blown in Nowlan Park when he spoke to Tipperary GAA Board Chairman Joe Kennedy on the field after the game.
MC for the event was Paul Collins who did a magnificent job and kept the attendance entertained throughout. Tipperary GAA thank the members and officials of Tipperary County Council for their wonderful hospitality and for bestowing such an honour on the team. The full event was streamed live and is now available to watch back via the Tipperary County Council You Tube channel.
Minor Football Medal Presentation
The Tipperary Minor Footballers were also in celebratory mood on Saturday evening as they were presented with their Daryl Darcy medals which they won following their defeat of Limerick in the Munster championship phase 1 earlier this year. The event which took place in the Horse and Jockey hotel was very well attended and the players along with their parents were addressed by a number of very informative speakers.
Kilruane MacDonaghs Damien Lawlor Pens New Book
On St Patrick’s Day 2020, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced that Ireland was locking down. The Coronavirus pandemic had arrived. Our lives, purpose and favourite pastime as Irish people – meeting each other – stopped overnight.
But throughout that dark time, the GAA was at the epicentre of the country’s fightback against Covid-19. 20,000 volunteers helped out 35,000 vulnerable neighbours and friends with food and medicine deliveries during lockdown. Croke Park and other major stadia transformed into testing centres, the Association went online to keep people connected and the GAA became a beacon of hope.
This is the incredible story of how the GAA and its people managed to endure this deepest of struggles and re-emerge to fight another day. As the Association itself faced financial ruin, its members had their own life and death struggles to contend with. Great people were lost. Members endured serious illness. Niall Murphy, a blueblood of Antrim GAA, spent 16 days in a coma in intensive care as he battled the virus. Camogie player Marianne Walsh was diagnosed with cancer and spent her recovery amid intense lockdowns, all the time dreaming of one day playing for her club again. Domhnall Nugent, one of Ulster’s finest hurlers, was recovering from addiction having found himself homeless, and spent much of the Covid years isolated – a nightmare scenario for anyone recovering from such an illness. And when the club championship was shut down after celebrations went too far and threatened to damage the organisation’s reputation, no one knew what the future would hold for the GAA.
There were trials and tribulations during those times, but there were countless chronicles of resilience and accomplishment too. When GAA people needed each other, they rallied. Their stories, and the story of the GAA itself, now need to be told.
The book is now available in Easons and all good book stores.
Craobh Na Mumhan – Scór Sinsear 2022:
All roads lead to Cappamore next Sunday October 16th for the 2022 Munster Final of Scór Sinsear. Tipperary will have full representation across the eight disciplines and will look to repeat the success of last year’s final. First up at 4pm, the Moyne Templetuohy Quiz Team take to the stage in the table qui round of the competition. Then at 6pm the main competition commences. We want to wish all our Tipperary competitors the very best of luck. Please keep an eye on Tipperary Scór Social Media for live updates!
We extend best wishes to:
Rince Foirne: Newcastle
Amhranaíocht Aonair: Siobhan Egan, Newport
Aithriseoireacht: Noel Joyce, JK Brackens
Ceol Uirlise: Newport
Nuachleas: Newport
Bailead Ghrupa: Newport
Rince Seit: Newcastle.
Trath Na gCesit: Moyne Templetuohy
Tipperary GAA Scene
If there is anything you feel should feature in this column going forward, please feel free to forward it to pro.tipperary@gaa.ie
By Jonathan Cullen Wed 12th Oct
