By: PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
The book on this year’s Allianz hurling league rounds has been eventful from a Tipperary perspective with the opening and closing chapters providing the most pleasant of reading, while those in between, though less fruitful, still had enough to keep the reader entertained as one pondered the storyline ahead of its outcome.
And when that storyline was scripted on the Páirc Uí Rinn soil on Sunday last, the arrival of an excellent Tipperary team performance was the most pleasing result for management and supporter alike. It gave nourishment to the hurling soul and provided evidence of a team preparing for the journey ahead, one in which all Tipperary supporters are unequivocally invited to be a part of that voyage.
On a score line of 1-29 to 1-16 Tipperary saw off the Cork challenge in round 5 of the Allianz hurling league, before an attendance of 3,681. Coupled with the result at Innovate Wexford Park going in Tipp’s favour, the Premier County progressed to the quarter-final stage with plenty of daylight between the sides in Cork.
Jason Forde (Silvermines) led the Tipp charge up front on a day when seven of his team mates also hit the target. With a Man of the Match performance Jason scored 1-13 which is the highest individual score in the Tipperary / Cork rivalry in the league series over the past 75 years. Further to that, Tipperary’s 29 points is the highest ever number of white flags raised by a team in this fixture.
So, as we look forward to the book’s epilogue, the authors still have unfinished business to script as the focus now turns towards an Allianz league quarter-final clash with Dublin in Semple Stadium on Saturday next, March 16th at 4:30pm. What better way for supporters to get involved than to have a grandstand seat in Semple Stadium and be a major player too as the drama unfolds before your eyes. Being part of the action and helping write that script will provide the greatest excitement of all and the team will really appreciate it.
There have been 35 previous league meetings between Tipperary and Dublin, where the Premier County have won 22, Dublin 9 and there have been 4 draws in all encounters.
Dublin’s last win over Tipperary on Premier soil was achieved on February 10th, 1946, when the visitors won by 9-6 to 2-2 against the 1945 All-Ireland champions.
There have been three quarter finals to date between the counties with Tipp victorious in all three; in Thurles on March 23rd, 1947 (6-4 to 2-4), on July 12th, 1997 also at Thurles (0-14 to 0-8) and on March 25th, 2018 at Croke Park (2-25 to 0-20).
The last 10 games provided the following set of results; 29/3/2009 Semple Stadium, Tipperary 2-19 Dublin 4-11, 28/2/2010 Parnell Park, Dublin 1-21 Tipperary 1-12, 19/2/2011 Croke Park, Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15, 24/3/2012 Croke Park, Tipperary 0-21 Dublin 2-15, 21/4/2013 Semple Stadium, Tipperary 4-20 Dublin 0-17 (semi-final), 23/3/2014 Semple Stadium, Tipperary 1-19 Dublin 0-19, 15/2/2015 Parnell Park, Dublin 2-20 Tipperary 0-14, 13/2/2016, Semple Stadium, Tipperary 1-23 Dublin 0-12, 11/2/2017 Croke Park, Tipperary 1-24 Dublin 1-8 and finally last year 25/3/2018 at Croke Park, Tipperary 2-25 Dublin 0-20 (quarter-final).
So as the Premier voyage continues, the time is now for Tipperary supporters to make a statement. It’s time to make Semple Stadium a Tipperary fortress, on and off the field. This Saturday, in what is probably their last home appearance before the Munster championship, the call is going out loud and clear for supporters to get behind our hurlers in your thousands and shout them on from the stands as they go about their business on the field.
In conclusion, as we look forward to the game we send best wishes to the team and management in this fixture.
Adult pre-purchase tickets are available up to midnight on Friday night for €15 and adult match day tickets are €20, U16’s go free. The referee will be Patrick Murphy (Ceatharlach).
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
It is round 6 of the Allianz football league this Saturday afternoon, March 16th, as Tipperary head to Newbridge to take on Kildare in a crucial fixture which throws in at 2:30pm.
Beset by injuries throughout the campaign, manager Liam Kearns was confident after the last match of having some of his key injured players available for this game, as Tipperary look to secure both points in what will be a difficult assignment. There will be no doubt that their loyal supporters will follow the side to St. Conleth’s Park this weekend to cheer on the side, the more there the better.
We send best wishes to the team and management also and the referee will be Noel Mooney (An Cabhán)
Adult pre-purchase tickets are also available up to midnight on Friday night for €15 and adult match day tickets are €20, U16’s go free. The game will be preceded by the Lidl Ladies NFL Division 1 Round 5 clash between Kildare and Meath.
REFEREE
Best wishes to Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) as he will referee the AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling Final on St. Patrick’s Day between Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) and St. Thomas (Galway).
CLUB FIXTURES
The first championship final of the year takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, which is Sunday next March 17th, when Cahir and JK Brackens Óg meet in the Tipperary Water U21 A Football Final in Páirc Ciocaim Dundrum at 4pm.
In the semi-finals played in the Tipperary Water U21 county football championships last weekend the following were the results; Tipperary Water U21 A championship, J K Brackens Óg 2-8 Arravale Rovers 0-4 and Cahir 5-13 Inane Rovers 1-5.
And in the Tipperary Water U21 B championship in Clonoulty, Moyne-Templetuohy/Thurles Gaels 5-4 Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 2-3.
This Wednesday, March 13th in Dr. Morris Park, Kilruane MacDonaghs will play Kilsheelan-Kilcash at 7:30pm in the second U21 B semi-final. Moyne-Templetuohy/Thurles Gaels await the winners in the final.
There is also a full round of fixtures in the Tipperary Water County Hurling Leagues and for all fixtures and results please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
TIPPERARY GAA CLUBS DRAW
Congratulations to all winners in the March clubs draw which was held in Harney’s Final Furlong Clerihan last Friday night. First prize of a Skoda Octavia / Renault Megane or €15,000 went to Breda Kent with Borris-Ileigh the promoting club, while second prize of €5,000 or Holiday went to Sinead Nealon and Burgess were the promoting club.
MID TIPP SCÓR NA bPAISTÍ
What a wonderful weekend of Scór we were treated to, when the two Mid Scór Na bPaistí semi-finals took centre stage in Holycross and Drombane. With 10 clubs from the Mid division taking to the stage all patrons were treated to great nights of song, music, drama and dance with every child representing their families and clubs with pride.
Once again this year there will be both an A and B Final with the top two acts from the semi-finals going forward to the A final in Moyne Hall on Sunday March 24th at 2pm. The third and fourth placed teams last weekend will go through to the B final which will be held on Friday March 22nd in Ballycahill at 7pm. For a full list of acts going through to each final please follow the Mid Scór Facebook page which will give details of each final.
Scór Caoga is well and truly underway for our Primary School children agus mar a deir an seanfhocail ‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’.
SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2019
Na déan dearmad ar an cúpla focal a labhairt i rith na Seachtaine. Beatha teangan í a labhairt. Bíodh focal nó dhó agat.
COLLEGES LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL
Congratulations to the Tipperary ladies playing with University of Limerick who claimed the Gourmet Food Parlour O’Connor Cup following their 2-16 to 1-10 win over UCD in the final. Roisin Howard started in the full forward line and was joined on the pitch during the match by Orla O’Dwyer (0-1) and Elaine Fitzpatrick.
This win completes the camogie / ladies football double for UL this year as the college claimed the Ashbourne Cup in early February.
HANDBALL
Both juveniles and adults were in action at the weekend in the All-Ireland semi-finals against Leinster opposition. In the 40×20 Juveniles in U14D Hannah Grace and Leanne Gould travelled to Tinryland in Carlow where they had a great win over a very strong Carlow pair of Farrah Ryan & Holly Wall. They won the first game 15-12 and followed up with 15-10 win in the second.
Picture below are the winning Tipperary girls U14D duo.
In the adult grades Tipperary competed in 6 men’s and 2 ladies semi-finals. The Tipp winners came in the MBS in Nenagh where Brian O’Brien had a good win over Noel Doherty from Kilkenny. In SMBS John Kennedy travelled to St Joseph’s in Wexford and beat John Roche from Wexford and in the O35BS Aiden Supple had a good win in Cashel beating Diarmuid Burke from Kilkenny 21/10, 21/14.
Tipperary juveniles were also in action in the Munster team competitions but failed to progress out of their semi-finals.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
A reminder to clubs please appoint a Healthy Club officer whose role is to help your club become a healthier, safer and enjoyable place for all club members. Training for new officers is on April 11th, so clubs still have time on their side. The county committee are asking all clubs to adopt and implement the Give Respect- Get Respect initiative which encourages the principles of fair play and respect not just for players themselves but coaches, clubs, parents, referees and supporters. Check out the Code of Behaviour Underage on gaa.ie for more information. Remember any policies and initiatives your club implements help make your club a safer and healthier place for members and the local community to enjoy.
BOOK FAIR AT SOUTH TIPP GAA CENTRE
On Monday next, March 18th, from 12 noon to 3pm there will be a Fair of Sporting Memorabilia and collectors and sellers are cordially invited. Bar facilities, tea and coffee will again be available and admission is free of charge. Sales positions, also free of charge are to be booked in advance, contact Sean Nugent 087 2669304 or email sean.nugent.cb@gaa.ie
COMMERATION
For those with an interest in a place called New Tipperary, the New Tipperary Memorial Committee will assemble at the New Tipperary Rangers monument at Noan East, near Ballinure, this Saturday, March 16th at 2pm. They will do so to pay homage to the dearly departed and living members that inhabit that swarth of earth in a most beautiful part of our County. The committee hope to see as many as possible on Saturday and indicate you might be surprised at who you might meet.
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 SCENE
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 13th Mar
