In this week’s Tipperary GAA Scene we take a look back at last weekends hurling action and lots
FBD Inscurace County Championships
Senior Football Semi Finals
We now know the pairing for this year’s FBD Insurance County Senior Football Final, following last weekends games. On Saturday afternoon in The Ragg, JK Brackens just had enough in the tank to overcome a very spirited display from Upperchurch Drombane on a full time score of JK Brackens 1-14 Upperchurch Drombane 1-13.
On Sunday in Ardfinnan it was the clash of Clonmel neighbours and rivals Clonmel Commercials and Moyle Rovers. In a game many expected Clonmel Commercials to win with a bit to spare, Moyle Rovers really put it up to the defending champions, but in the end that little bit of experience and know how got commercials over the line as they won by 0-14 to 0-11.
This year’s county final will take place on Sunday September 22nd in FBD Semple Stadium.
Meanwhile in the senior football relegation final Arravale Rovers preserved their senior status by virtue of a 1-10 to 0-10 win over Rockwell Rovers in Dundrum.
Tom Cusack Cup
Both semi finals in the Tom Cusack Cup were also played last Saturday afternoon. In Bansha the meeting of Ballyporeen and Drom & Inch resulted in a fine 2-12 to 2-09 win for Drom & Inch, while over in Monroe, Ardfinnan qualified for the final thanks to a well deserved 0-16 to 2-07 win over Cahir.
This year’s final of the Tom Cusack Cup is scheduled to take place on Saturday September 21st at 1.30pm in Leahy Park Cashel.
Intermediate Football Semi Finals
The semi finals of the FBD Insurance county intermediate football championship also took place last weekend and both games were played on Saturday afternoon. In Leahy Park, Cashel a very fancied Thurles Sarsfields side saw their ambitions of reaching this year’s final dashed by a very slick and clinical Aherlow side who looked very determined to regain their senior status with a very good 2-13 to 0-08 win. The second semi final between Galtee Rovers and Grangemocklet Ballyneale was played in Killenaule and saw the South Tipp side record a comfortable 2-12 to 0-07 win to secure a place in the final which will take place as part of a double header with the senior final in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday September 22nd.
Junior “A” Football Semi Finals
This year’s FBD Insurance County Junior “A” Football Final will be a Southy v West contest as a result of last weekends semi finals which were both played on Saturday afternoon. Sean Treacys qualified for the final with a 7 point victory against St. Pactricks 2-14 to 2-07, while Carrick Swan proved much too strong for Roscrea as they recorded a 1-15 to 0-05 win. This year’s final will take place on Friday October 20th at 8pm in New Inn.
Under 19 Football
The semi finals of both the FBD Insurance County Under 19 A & B Football championships wereplayed last weekend.
In the “A” championship, a very fancied JK Brackens side took on a Fethard team who had convincingly won the South championship in a game some had thought would be the game of the championship to date. However this never really materialised as Fethard proved to be by far the superior side when they met in the tranquil surroundings of Gortnahoe on Sunday. Fethard qualified for the final on a full time score of 5-12 to 1-13. The second semi final between Ballina and Galtee Rovers took place on Tuesday evening in Dundrum a and so the result was not known at the time of going to press.
In The under 19 “B” semi finals, Kilsheelan Kilcash swept aside Loughmore Castleiney by 4-16 to 0-07 when the sides met in Fethard on Saturday evening. In the other semi final Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams proved to be far too strong for Kilruane MacDonaghs, winning by 3-16 to 2-07.
Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
The second semi final in the FBD Insurance County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship was played in Toomevara on Sunday afternoon between Lorrha Dorrha and Cashel King Cormacs and in essence this game was over after only 10 minutes as the North Tipp side had raced in to an unbelievable 3-05 to 0-01 lead. While Cashel did launch something of a comeback they just simply could not reel in the Lorrha Dorrha lads who went on to win by 3-19 to 1-17. Lorrha Dorrha will now play Thurles Sarsfields in this year’s final on Saturday next October 14th in Nenagh at 4pm.
Under 19 “A” Hurling Final
Borrisoleigh was the venue for the FBD Insurance County Under 19 “A” Hurling Final between Holycross Ballycahill and Toomevara on Saturday afternoon. In a game played in ideal conditions and in front of a big crowd, both sides served up some very entertaining and skilful hurling. In the end it was Holycross Ballycahill who were victorious on a full time score of 0-19 to 0-16.
Hurling final weekend
The blue ribboned weekend in the FBD hurling championships takes place this weekend with the staging of the Senior, Premier Intermediate, Intermediate and Junior “A” hurling championships.
Also as part of the days activities in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday the Boherlahan Dualla senior hurling jubilee team will be presented to the crowd.
All the fixtures for next weekend are now available on the Tipperary GAA website.
A message from Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy as the ‘Respect Our Games’ joint initiative begins this weekend.
Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “We are very conscious of the leadership role that our clubs and volunteers play in their communities at home and abroad. It is part of the reason why our collaboration with our sporting colleagues in the IRFU and the FAI on the issue of respect is such an important initiative.
“A GAA Where We All Belong is built on the foundation of Respect for All, regardless of our role in the Association, or indeed gender or faith or ability. Anything that undermines that, undermines everything we represent and threatens the strength of our foundation.
“Involvement in sport provides enormous benefits to the physical and mental wellbeing of all those who are involved. It’s a gift given to us and something we should treasure and protect as we pass on to the next generation. With that opportunity is the responsibility to ensure that sport remains a positive inclusive empowering experience for all and being an advocate for a culture of respect is something we can all be involved in and make an important contribution.”
National Student Bursary Scheme
The GAA’s commitment to the educational development of its players and members is underlined by the National Student Bursary scheme.
Now in its 14th year, the initiative has invested more than €2.2M in members who are attending a full-time undergraduate course at a university or third level college, and who are active participants in their Higher Education club.
The schemes are administered by the respective Provincial Councils and recipients are selected based on a range of criteria, including their playing, coaching or administrative commitments.
Connacht GAA and Munster GAA, are currently inviting applications for the National Student Bursary Initiative, and Leinster GAA and Ulster GAA will do so later in the year.
Students from Tipperary who are interested in applying for the National Student Bursaries Scheme should contact their third level institution’s GAA Development Officer.
Hurling hand-pass and puck-out rule trials
The GAA’s Standing Committee on Playing Rules (SCPR) will next week commence trialling two alternative playing rules in the Higher Education Freshers 1 Hurling League.
The rules being trialled relate to the hand-pass and the puck-out.
When hand-passing, players will now have two options. They can strike the sliotar with a) the non-holding hand or b) with the original holding hand after bouncing the ball off the hurley.
The rule is being trialled because the frequency of hand-passing in hurling has risen markedly in recent years and there have been concerns over the frequency with which the ball is being thrown rather than correctly hand-passed.
In the 2023 Allianz Hurling League there were on average 104 hand-passes per game compared to 76 during the 2016 League and Championship season.
During the 2023 Allianz Hurling League 1.2 fouls per game were given for throws and a GAA statistical analysis picked up on 2.9 throws per game on average.
It can be difficult for referees to ascertain whether a hand-pass has been executed correctly or thrown, and the idea behind the rule being trialled is that the striking action required to hand-pass the ball will be much clearer, with greater separation between hand and sliotar.
The second hurling rule being trialled will require all puck-outs to travel past a team’s own ’45 yard line, that is the the ’45 nearest the goalkeeper taking the puck-out.
The SCPR has also circulated a pre-competition survey to third level coaches, development officers, and referees which enabled them to submit any questions they might have about the trialled playing rules before the competition starts.
Once the competition commences, a post-game survey will allow those same stakeholders to submit their feedback, comments, and suggestions about the implementation of the rules and any additional considerations about the rules the SCPR might want to take into account.
Gaelic Stats will undertake a comprehensive analysis of the trialled rules, and a report will then be produced in December for presentation to Central Council in January 2024.
Tipperary Association Dublin
Professor Emirates Willie Nolan will deliver a talk on Charles J Kickham on Monday 23 October in the Palace Bar Fleet Street at 7.30 pm. Willie Nolan is from Ballingarry South , he is one of Ireland’s leading historian. He has published many works.
He’s a joy to listen to. All are welcome. It promises to be a great evening.
Scór News
Change of details for the upcoming Scór Sinsear Final.
The Trath Na gCeist will now take place on Friday evening at 7.30pm in Holycross with our Stage events taking place at 8.30pm. Please note changes.
Entries for quiz and stage events can still be sent to irishculturalofficer.tipperary@gaa.ie
FBD Insurance Tipperary County Finals Preview Show
In advance of the FBD Insurance County Tipperary Hurling Finals on the weekend of October 15th, Tipperary GAA are delighted to announce that a preview show for all the finals will be held in The Scouts Hall Nenagh on Friday 13th October at 8pm. The show will be a partnership between Tipp GAA TV, Clubber TV and produced by CK Streaming with all profits going to The Dillon Quirke Foundation.
Some fantastic guest speakers will appear on the night including 2 time All-Ireland winning manager Liam Sheedy and All-Ireland medal winners Paddy Stapleton, Eamonn Corcoran and Conor Gleeson with more guests to be announced in the coming days.
A super night’s entertainment is guaranteed and tickets are now available, with limited capacity so don’t delay and get your tickets now to avoid disappointment. Keep an eye out on all social media channels for updates on further guests.
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 Fri 13th Oct
