Tipperary Co-Op West Senior Hurling & Junior B Hurling Championship Launch:
The Tipperary Co-Op West Senior Hurling Championship was launched at the offices of Tipperary Co-Op on Tuesday last April 21st in conjunction with the Churn Rolling Festival and the An Post Ras which will race through Tipperary Town on May 18th and 19th. Joe Pryce of Tipperary Mid West Radio was MC for the launch and the launch itself was performed by Marty Morrissey of RTE.
Tipperary Co-Op have been the sponsors of the West Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship for several years for which West Tipperary GAA is very appreciative of this support. The speakers on the night spoke about communities coming together and that the GAA is a vital part of the local community. Marty Morrissey who also launched the previous year’s Championship spoke on how he followed the progress of the West Senior Hurling Championship last year and he noted that Eire Og Annacarty were going for their third title in a row.
This will be the 86th running of the West Senior Hurling Championship with 4 teams aiming to win the title in 2015.
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill – are the reigning champions completing 2 in a row in 2014.
Clonoulty/R – have been beaten in the last 2 finals and last won the competition in 2012.
Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams – beaten semi-finalists in 2014 and last won the competition 2006
Cappawhite – beaten semi-finalists in 2014 and last won the competition in 2005.
Tipperary Co-Op also sponsor the West Junior B Hurling Championship. Rosegreen are the reigning champions having beaten Solohead in last year’s final. 11 teams have currently entered this year’s Tipperary Co-Op West Junior B Hurling Championship. These have be divided into two groups with the top 2 teams in each group to the semi-finals –
Group A: Eire Og, Galtee Rovers, Clonoulty/R, Cashel KC and Rosegreen.
Group B: Arravale Rovers, Sean Treacys, Solohead, Cappawhite, Golden/K and Lattin/Cullen.
Tipperary Co-Op West Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship:
The Tipperary Co-Op West Senior Hurling Championship will start this weekend 16th/17th May with 2 games down for decision.
On Saturday May 16th Cappawhite take on Clonoulty/R in Dundrum at 7.15pm. The sides met in round 1 of last year’s competition with Clonoulty/R being victorious. The following day in Leahy Park in Cashel, Eire Og Annacarty Donohill take on Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams with a 3.15pm throw in. The sides last clashed in the semi-final of the West Championship in 2013 with Eire Og Annacarty Donohill advancing to the final.
West Minor Football:
The semi-final pairings in the Tipperary Print & Design West Minor A Football Championship are now known following the last round of games on Thursday last. Galtee/Golden defeated Aherlow Gaels while Arravale/Eire Og accounted for Emly/Treacys.
Galtee/Golden finished top of the group with four wins from four games and will play the 4th team in the group Emly/Treacys. This game is fixed for Solohead at 7.15pm on Thursday next May 12th. When the sides met in the group stages it was Galtee/Golden who took the two points.
The other semi-final will be between second place Arravale/Eire Og and 3rd place Rockwell/Rosegreen. This game will take place in Dundrum at 7.15pm on Thursday night May 12th. When the sides met earlier in the year it was Arravale/Eire Og who had a convincing victory. Extra time will be played in both games in the event of a draw.
In the Pa Sheehy Butchers West Minor B Football Championship Cappawhite Gaels and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams will meet in the semi-final on Thursday night next at 7.15pm in Annacarty. When the semi-finalists met just a few weeks ago a late Ger Browne goal for Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams saw the game finish level. Extra time will be played in the event of a draw. The final group game between Cappawhite and Clonoulty/R on Tuesday last saw Clonoulty/R defeat Cappawhite Gaels and thus qualify for the final in the process.
West Intermediate Hurling Championship:
The Tipperary Credit Union West Intermediate Hurling Championship started on Monday last May 4th when Rockwell Rovers and Sean Treacys clashed in the preliminary round in Clonoulty. Rockwell Rovers got their first championship victory of the year defeating Sean Treacys by 0-17 to 0-15. Rockwell Rovers will now play Galtee Rovers in round one while Sean Treacys will now play in the semifinal of the losers group along with the three 1st round losers.
The three 1st round games in the Tipperary Credit West Intermediate Hurling Championship will take place this weekend. On Friday night in Golden, Galtee Rovers and Rockwell Rovers clash at 7.15pm. The sides met in the loser’s group final last year with Rockwell Rovers just shading the game by a goal.
On Saturday night in Dundrum last year’s champions Lattin/Cullen Gaels take on Cashel K/C. This game has a 5.30pm throw in. Cashel KC are without a championship win so far in 2015 having lost their three County Intermediate Hurling Championship games to date. This game will be a curtain raiser to the West Senior Hurling Championship meeting of Clonoulty/R and Cappawhite.
On Sunday Arravale Rovers and Golden/K meet in Cashel with a 1.45pm throw in. The sides last clashed in the West Championship in 2007 with Golden/K the victors on the day. The game is a curtain raiser to the Senior Hurling game between Eire Og Annacarty Donohill and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams.
In the event of a draw in any of the West Intermediate Championship games extra time will be played.
The draw in full is:
Preliminary: Rockwell Rovers 0-17 0-15 Sean Treacys
1st: Rnd. Rockwell Rovers v Galtee Rovers 15/05/15 Golden 7.15pm (E.T.)
1st:Rnd. Lattin/Cullen Gaels v Cashel KC 16/05/15 Dundrum 5.30pm (E.T.)
1st: Rnd. Golden/K v Arravale Rovers 17/05/15 Cashel 1.45pm (E.T.)
Semi Finals:
Three 1st round winners plus losers group winner
Losers Group:
Sean Treacys plus three 1st round losers
West Junior B Hurling League:
On Tuesday night next there is a full round of games in the West Junior B Hurling League.
In Group 1 Clonoulty/R take on Rosegreen in Clonoulty at 7.30pm while Solohead take on Cappawhite in Solohead at 7.15pm. A win or a draw for Rosegreen will see them through to the final from Group 1. Wins for both Cappawhite and Solohead will see 3 teams (Rosegreen, Cappawhite and Clonoulty/R) level on points with the top spot then being decided on score difference. Should Clonoulty/R win and Cappawhite fail to win in their game then Clonoulty/R will finish level on points with Rosegreen but top the group on the head to head between the two sides.
In Group 2 on Tuesday night Emly take on Sean Treacys in Emly at 7.30pm while in Annacarty at 7.30pm Eire Og Annacarty Donohill take on Cashel KC. A win for Emly will see them through to the final. A win for Cashel K/C coupled with a defeat for Emly will see Cashel K/C go top of the group but the final placing’s will then depend on the remaining game in the group between Sean Treacys and Eire Og Annacarty Donohill. Should Eire Og Annacarty Donohill and Sean Treacys win their respective games then the game between Sean Treacys and Eire Og Annacarty Donohill will decide who tops the group and qualifies for the final.
West Junior Hurling & Football Championships
The West Tipperary Junior Hurling and Football Championships are planned to start on w/e May 24th. Further details of fixtures next week.
County Senior Hurling Championship:
In Group 4 of Roinn 2 Cappawhite travelled to Drombane to take on Silvermines in a must win game but it was the north side who came out on top. Cappawhite will now be involved in a relegation playoff unless they win the Division or County Championship.
On Saturday May 9th in Cahir, Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams were defeated by Carrick Swans in Group 1 of Roinn 2. Kickhams finished third in the group after their second loss in the competition.
On Sunday last May 10th in Group 3 of Roinn 1 in The Ragg, Eire Og Annacarty Donohill defeated Lorrha/Dorrha and are now guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the County championship. Their final place in the group will depend on the result of the one remaining game in the group between Killenaule and Lorrha/Dorrha. If Killenaule win they will finish level on points with Eire Og Annacarty Donohill but will top the group based on the head to head between the sides. If Lorrha/Dorrha win they will finish level on points with Eire Og Annacarty Donohill but the west side will go through based on head to head between the sides.
Following that Clonoulty/R narrowly went down to Nenagh Eire Og in Group 1. Clonoulty/R finish second in the group behind Nenagh Eire Og but ahead of Templederry/K- all sides on 4 points so score difference decides the final placings.
County Intermediate Hurling Championship:
Round 3 of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship took place last weekend May 9th/10th.
On Saturday night last May 9th in Group 3 Cashel KC went down to a 3rd defeat in the group when they were defeated by three points by Thurles Sarsfields in Littleton.
On Sunday the all west clash between Sean Treacys and Golden/K ended level. Since losing their opening group game Sean Treacys have picked up three points in their last two games. Golden/K are unbeaten in the group with two points from two games. Rockwell Rovers picked up their first point in the group when they drew with Kilsheelan/K. In the double header in Cahir Lattin/Cullen Gaels saw off Skeheenarinky by four points while Galtee Rovers got the better of Moyle Rovers by the minimum. While in Boherlahan Arravale Rovers had three points to spare over Holycross/B in their Group 2 encounter.
There is a further round of games fixed for weekend of May 23rd/24th. Further details next week.
County Senior Football Championship:
All four West teams are in action in Senior Football this week. All games throwing in at 7.30pm.
On Tuesday night last May 6th Eire Og Annacarty Donohill got revenge for last year’s defeat to Killenaule in Group 1 in Cashel with a five point victory over their South rivals.
On Wednesday last May 7th in Group 2 Aherlow Gaels were defeated by Moyle Rovers in Cahir. Both sides will be playing their first game in this year’s competition. In Group 3 Arravale Rovers defeated Moycarkey/B in Golden while Galtee Rovers were defeated by Loughmore/C in Boherlahan. Both Arravale Rovers and Loughmore/C are guaranteed at least a preliminary quarter final spot. The winner of the clash between the two sides goes into the quarter finals.
The Group 1 re-fixture between Eire Og Annacarty Donohill and Kilsheelan/K is fixed for Wednesday May 20th at 7.30pm in Cashel. In Group 2 Aherlow will play Ardfinnan at 7.30pm in New Inn also on Wednesday May 20th.
Munster Minor Football Championship:
Best of luck to our west representatives and to the Tipperary Minor Football team who take on Clare in the Munster semi-final in Semple Stadium on Wednesday night May 13th.
Fixtures
For update to date information on fixtures please check our Twitter page (@westtippgaa) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/west.tipperarygaa)
If clubs have any information they would like to add to West Tipperary GAA scene each week please email pro.west.tipperary@gaa.ie
Francis Coughlan
West Tipperary GAA PRO
