By: PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
In what was always going to be a difficult assignment, Tipperary came away from the Gaelic Grounds empty handed last Saturday night as Limerick made it two wins out of two in the Allianz hurling league on a 1-21 to 1-14 score-line.
With underfoot conditions deteriorating as the night went on, the scoring difference between the sides was negligible going into the last quarter at which stage the home side gained the decisive upper hand.
Before an attendance of 8,559 Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) was the Tipp goal scoring having been expertly fed by the creative Willie Connors (Kiladangan).
However, of more immediate concern are the injuries suffered by Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) and Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) and we send best wishes to the lads for a speedy recovery.
After the weekends action in the league it is pretty much even with Limerick on top with four points, followed by Tipperary, Kilkenny, Wexford and Clare on two apiece with Cork yet to register a point.
Next up for Liam Sheedy’s side is a trip to Wexford on Sunday week, February 17th for round 3.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
In a game that only sprang to life in the final stages, Tipperary were most unlucky not to register their first win of the league as they had to settle for a share of the spoils with Fermanagh 2-5 apiece in Semple Stadium last Sunday.
Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill) scored both Tipperary goals while Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) was the Tipp saviour with an injury time converted free to salvage a point for his side.
Like his hurling counterpart, manager Liam Kearns saw his injured player tally increase when goal keeper Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) had to retire before the end. Here again, best wishes to Evan for a speedy recovery.
Semple Stadium is the venue again on Sunday next, February 10th as Donegal come to town for round 3. Though both sides are at opposing ends of the league table at the minute, a win for Tipp on Sunday would reignite their campaign and put them right back in the mix in the table.
It’s a 2pm start again on Sunday and discounted tickets are available up to midnight on Saturday night at selected SuperValu and Centra stores.
Best wishes to the team and we appeal to our supporters to come out and support the team in their home venue. The referee on Sunday will be Brendan Cawley (Cill Dara).
SEMPLE STADIUM
The AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final between Ballyhale-Shamrock (Cill Chainnigh) and Ballygunner (Port Láirge) will be played in Semple Stadium this Saturday, February 9th with a 5pm throw-in.
The referee for this game will be Colm Lyons (Corcaigh) and extra time will be played if necessary.
GAA CLUB DRAW
The February GAA Draw will be held this Friday, 8th February in Butler’s Sports Bar, Main St, Fethard with Fethard GAA Club at 10pm. First prize again is a Skoda Octavia / Renault Megane or €15,000 with many cash prizes also to be won on the night.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Best wishes to Borrisokane C.C. who take on St. Anne’s Community College Killaloe in Corn Risteard Ui Mhathuna 19 C hurling final this Saturday, February 9th.
GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIPS
The closing date for the receipt of Gaeltacht Scholarship applications is this Friday, February 8th, 2019 and the following will be the procedure for obtaining a Gaeltacht Scholarship from Coiste Chontae Thiobraid Árann in 2019.
- The scholarships are confined to 2nd Year, TY and 5th Year Students in 2019 and previous recipients of Tipperary GAA Gaeltacht scholarships cannot apply in 2019.
- Students should immediately book a course directly from one of the three nominated Munster Irish Colleges on the application Form. This should be done ASAP as popular dates are booked out quickly.
- Students wishing to secure a scholarship from Tipperary GAA should complete the attached application form and submit it through their own local GAA Club.
- The secretary of the GAA Club must sign the form and attach a reference letter supporting the applicant’s application before returning it to the Co Rúnaí. Please note the club recommending the successful applicant will be contributing €75 to the scholarship along with the Division, Co Board and Munster Council.
- Interviews for the scholarships will be held in Lár na Páirce during February to establish each candidate’s suitability.
- Once the student is notified that they have been successful they must secure a receipt for their fee payment from the Irish College where they have registered.
- Once this receipt is received by the Co Rúnaí the scholarship cheque for €300 will be posted out directly to the student’s home.
SCÓR
Reminding all clubs of Scór Sinsear County Final on Saturday night, February 23rd in Newport. The scór committee are expecting all clubs to make a special effort as we celebrate 50 Years of Scór.
THIRD LEVEL COLLEGES COMPETITIONS
The final league rounds in this year’s Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup were played last week and the following is a recap on the college teams with Tipperary involvement.
In Group A, UCC finished top of the group with their third win as they saw off the challenge of NUIG by seven points in a 1-19 to 0-15 victory. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) impressed once again shooting three points from the full forward berth while Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule) lined out at corner back.
NUIG still qualify for the knockout stages as group runner up and had Shane Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg) between the posts and Conor Sheedy (Roscrea) again on the scoresheet with a point from play. His fellow clubman Shane Fletcher was introduced in the second half.
UCD took on UL in the other fixture in the group with the Dublin college claiming a 3-8 to 0-15 victory. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha) was as usual in goal for UCD with the Purcell brothers, Michael and Rory (Thurles Sarsfields) and Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) also in the starting fifteen. Quirke was among the goal scorers for UCD. Jack Shelly (Mullinahone) started at midfield for UL and Barry Hogan (Kiladangan) was brought on at half time.
There were also two games in Group B and first up on Tuesday was the clash of LIT and TCD, with LIT winning 3-21 to 0-8. LIT top the group as a result and had Darren Moran (Kiladangan), Sean Ryan (Sean Treacy’s) and Rian Doody (Cappawhite) in their starting fifteen. Doody was again in top form shooting 0-3 while Robert Byrnes (Portroe) came on as a half-time replacement. For TCD, Cormac Keating (Portroe) was once again Tipp’s sole representative lining out at midfield.
The second game in the group last week saw IT Carlow seal their place in the quarter finals with a 3-15 to 1-6 defeat of Garda College. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch) was again prominent for the Carlow outfit shooting two points from play. Joey O’Keeffe (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Kevin Slattery (Gortnahoe-Glengoole) again led the line for Garda with Slattery on the board with 0-1. Martin McGrath (Drom & Inch) was also introduced in the second half.
In Group C, CIT defeated WIT 0-23 to 0-12 and will go through as group winners. On the CIT side Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) was again at centre back with Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg) at full-forward scoring 0-2 of his sides tally. For WIT Kevin Hassett (Drom & Inch) and Michael Whelan (Carrick Davins) both lined out and the game was refereed by Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).
Lastly, turning the attention to Group D where there were two games, with Maynooth University out on both occasions. First up Mary I had a comfortable 1-22 to 0-12 over MU, where Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) and Philip Hickey (Nenagh Éire Óg) were among the Mary I fifteen to take to the field. For MU, Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) led his sides scoring with 0-5(4f) followed by Jack Fallon (Moycarkey-Borris) with 0-3(3f). Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch) and Cathal Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields) also lined out for MU and the game was refereed by Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).
In the second of those games DIT with Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) in their side saw off the MU challenge 4-12 to 1-9. The same four Tipperary players lined out for Maynooth with Fallon leading the scoring this time with 0-6(6f) and Stakelum with 1-0.
So the line-up for the quarter-finals this Thursday, February 7th is – LIT v NUIG, Mary I v Cork IT, DCU v Dublin IT and UCC v IT Carlow.
The Electric Ireland HE GAA Sigerson Cup quarter-finals are also down for decision this Wednesday, February 6th and here are the pairings; IT Carlow v UCC , NUI Galway v Ulster University, St. Mary’s v Maynooth University and UCD v DCU.
CLUB OFFICER TRAINING
The Club Officers training night will take place this Wednesday, February 6th, at 7.30pm in The Anner Hotel, Thurles. Organised by the County Development Committee this one night course is for officers new to their role or for those who were unable to attend similar events over the past few years.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Many thanks for the feedback from clubs participating in Ireland Lights Up and it’s great to see how involved the whole community is with their local GAA Club. A reminder to clubs that Tutor Training for Healthy Club Officers will take place on April 11th and it is still not too late to appoint an officer; remember it’s the club that will benefit if you do. If anyone would like to become involved with the county committee, please get in touch as we are delighted to welcome new members contact chair.hwc.tipperary@gaa.ie Now that the days are becoming brighter remember the benefits of exercise, even a very short walk will benefit not only physical health but can have a very positive effect on our mental health also.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
To join the Tipperary Supporters Club please do so at www.tippsupportersclub.com or by calling Jim Reidy, Membership Officer on 086 3580718.
The membership pack includes the following benefits:
– A specially-designed Tipperary Supporters Club pen with stylus for use on touch-screen devices
– All members are entered into a prize draw for championship match tickets for all Tipperary Senior games.
– 2019 Car Sticker
– Text alerts for all League and Championship team news
– Regular news to your email about all the latest in Tipperary GAA circles
FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL
Membership for the Friends of Tipperary Football for 2019 is now available and costs only €20. There are some great prizes to be won throughout the year by becoming a member. The Friends are a fantastic group that help with the development of Tipperary Football. To join please go to www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com
TIPPERARY GAA CLUB ALL COUNTY MATCH PASS 2019
Again, a reminder that the match pass for 2019 is currently on sale at the price of €120. This pass gives you access to all adult matches within the County during 2019. Passes can be ordered through the GAA Office Slievenamon Rd., Thurles or by contacting 0504 22702 where you can pay over the phone.
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-mail at pro.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 Wed 6th Feb
