Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues
Our senior hurlers defeated Westmeath in Round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League on a full time score of Tipperary 3-25, Westmeath 2-21. This results now leaves Tipperary on 6 points after 3 games and in a very strong position in the group. Next up for our senior hurlers is a trip to play Limerick on Saturday March 9th.
Our Senior Footballers welcomed Laois to FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon and despite having a number of chances to seal a victory they lost out by the narrowest of margins 1-07 to 0-11 which now means that our hopes of promotion are almost gone. However there have been great signs of progression as we head into our next game against Waterford this coming Sunday afternoon.
Munster Junior B Football Competition
Congratulations to Shannon Rovers who were crowned Munster Junior B Football Champions last Sunday when they overcame Cork side Oliver Plunketts by 1-08 to 1-06 and now become the first Tipperary side to claim the title.
Friends of Tipperary Football
The Friends of Tipperary Football launched their new Euro Millions Syndicate fundraiser in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday last where Tipperary senior football captain Steven O’Brien, ‘The Friends’ President Eddie Ryan and Chairperson Michael Devlin were all on hand to launch the important fundraiser.
The fundraiser involves a new Euro Millions Plus Syndicate offering all members 1,500 chances to win big and at the launch star player Steven O’Brien stressed the importance of it to promote the game within the county: “The Friends are the heartbeat of Tipperary football,” the Tipperary captain said.
“They have always been the driving force behind us. Everything we do is driven by ‘The Friends’ and without them we wouldn’t be getting places.”
Speaking about the ambition within the senior team currently, he said they are striving for success: “The set up here this year has been top class. The wheels are in motion. It is a project and we are definitely going on the right track,” the Ballina native said.
The Chairman of the Friends of Tipperary Football, Michael Devlin, was pleased to see such a fine turnout and said “we want the football teams going on the field to be as well prepared as possible. That is what the money is used for, that is where the money is spent,” he said adding that “the footballers have brought tremendous success to this county over the last twenty years.
“Winning an All-Ireland minor final, being in senior semi finals – that in itself is not by chance. It is by hard work. The foundations have been set and we don’t want that to disappear. That is why the Friends are there, to get the money and try to drive these guys on,” Michael Devlin said.
The Chairman of the Tipperary Football Board Fearghal McDonnell also spoke at the launch in Thurles saying that the Friends helped all levels of football in the county from juvenile right up to senior level. “To run the teams to a professional standard takes a significant amount of finance,” he said.
“We want to be competing with the top teams. To do that we need to raise our standards as well and have professionalism on how we prepare our teams so every fundraiser, every bit of money we get in is very important and it goes towards these players going forward,” Fearghal said.
It costs €20 to enter into this new fundraiser and all who enter at the ‘Friends’ website or via committee members across the county will receive a rare car sticker with the image of ‘Michael Hogan’ on it, as well as membership of the Friends for the coming season.
The online link to purchase can be found here: https://www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com/product/euromillions-syndicate-ticket/
Handball News
After a great weekend at the Cumann na mBunscoil in Croke Park our juvenile were back in Championship mode this weekend. For the past few years Clare & Cork have dominated the Juvenile 40×20 but Tipperary have put in a great effort in Coaching the fruits of which saw our Boys & Girls compete in 17 Munster Finals . Having defeated Cork in the Semi Finals we were up against Clare in the Finals who had a home venue in Clarecastle. Although we only won 2 of the finals we came very close in some nailbiting games and it highlighted the work being done in the County to bring our Juveniles up to this level. Our Girls U12 Doubles Molly Joyce Ballina & Lucy Ann Cleary from Nenagh put in a great performance against Ava McInerney & Grace Tuohy from Clare to take gold. In the Girls U17 Doubles Katie Mulcahy & Aoife Williams Loch Eorna beat Aoife Cummins & Aoife Moroney from Clare to take the Munster title. Our Silver winners were : GU12 S Aoife McLoughney, GU13S Ava Carey, GU15S Lilly Parks, GU16D Clodagh Shinners & Sofie O Meara, BU13D Charlie Walsh & Darragh Cross, BU13S Ben Platt, GU14D Erin Neville & Katlyn Ryan Dempsey, BU15D Jack Walsh & James Delaney, BU15S Rory Crosse, BU16S David Cooke, BU17S Jack O Sullivan BU12D Jim O Mahony & Tadhg Malone. Our Girls U12D from Ballina Kayla & Ava Moroney from Ballina had no opposition in Munster. Well done to all the players , Coaches and Parents and the best of luck to our Girls U17 Doubles who go forward to the All Ireland Semi Finals.
The Adult Doubles 40×20 All-Ireland Semi Finals take place this coming weekend in Croke Park. Tipperary have 3 sets of Doubles competing against Connaught Opposition. In The Junior Doubles Jerome Cahill and Conor Ryan, In Master A Doubles David Moloney & Paddy Delaney and in O70’s Jim Ryan & Paddy Collins. Best of luck to all.
Gaelic Games Associations Integration date revealed
The Camogie Association, the GAA and the LGFA have today revealed 2027 as the proposed date for their plans for full integration between the three organisations.
Over the past 18 months the views of members and officials across all three associations have been sought and following detailed discussions in the period since, 2027 has been earmarked as the proposed date for completion of the process.
The Steering Group for Integration, chaired by former Uachtarán na hÉireann Mary McAleese, has been charged with devising proposals which will be put to the membership of the three organisations with a view to full integration.
In the coming weeks the Annual Congresses of the three bodies will be updated on the work of the last year and a half and plans for the next 36 months.
With detailed feedback gained from the extensive listening process which amongst other elements involved 30,000 respondents to Ireland’s largest ever survey, cross-organisational working groups, representing both staff and the volunteer base of the organisations, were established in November of 2023.
Tasked with addressing areas highlighted throughout the listening process such as Facilities, Finance, Fixtures, Human Resources, Membership and Player Welfare, these groups worked through the finer details and considerations of how each of these areas could operate in an integrated organisation. Proposals from these working groups, coupled with feedback from the consultative process with county boards, provincial councils, player representatives, staff and members provided the basis on which the pathway to Integration has been developed.
Among these proposals there were specific recommendations around alignment of membership, the development of models to facilitate facility management and opportunities to review fixtures throughout 2024.
Iar-Uachtaráin na hÉireann, Mary McAleese, Chair of the Steering Group on Integration, said: “The Steering Group on Integration, after 18 months of intense listening and discussion, has now a recommended pathway to what will be the most historic development in Gaelic games and that is One Association for all of Gaelic games by 2027.
“Gaelic games are about to enter a new era. We are now at a point where the will of the members of the Gaelic Games Associations on integration can be delivered if our recommendations are followed and acted upon and made real.”
Camogie Association President Hilda Breslin said: “Today marks a significant milestone for the Camogie Association, signifying a thrilling new chapter in our journey. Today is filled with excitement as we embark on a path of progress, merging to become one club, one county, one province, one congress, one association. This momentous step towards unity, equality and inclusivity is a testament to our shared goal of creating an environment that champions excellence and supports the holistic development of our players.
“Our vision is to foster the growth of Gaelic games and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland. Central to the realisation of this vision is our dedicated volunteer network, the backbone of our association. Their passion and commitment drive us forward, making this not just an association but a collective endeavour that belongs to each and every one of them.
It is their combined efforts that will propel us to our 2027 goal. “This is more than just an organisational shift. Together, we are actively recognising the vital role of women in sport, emphasising inclusivity, progress, and the collective strength of our association.”
Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “One of the biggest ever sports surveys of its kind, with more than 30,000 responses, produced an overwhelming majority in favour of integration. “That gave the SGI the mandate to make the dream of One Association a reality. We now have a roadmap to deliver an exciting future for all three Associations that will benefit all of our players, our clubs and the communities they represent.
“Working together, these proposals represent a new dawn for Gaelic games, and we will be committed to its development and its success. I’d like to thank Mary McAleese for her stewardship of the SGI and look forward to presenting details of this proposal to our respective congress gatherings in the coming weeks.”
Mícheál Naughton, LGFA President said: “We have come a long way since the formation of the LGFA in 1974 and as we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary in July, it’s time now to embrace the next chapter in the development of our game.
“We are rightly proud of our progress and, as a strong and vibrant sport, Ladies Gaelic Football will only be strengthened and enhanced through integration. I have been proud to work on the Steering Group on Integration and our work will continue as we move forward with renewed purpose and focus.”
Members of the three organisations can expect to see progress across the following areas in the three-year window ahead:
Joint Fixtures Review Workgroup
A detailed audit of existing facilities
Facilities Equal access policy implementation
National Childrens Office
Updated One Club Guidance and Support and significant adoption of this model
One Membership
One Injury benefit fund
One Staffing structure
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 28th Feb
