Tipp’s Senior Footballers get back to competitive action this Saturday July 23rd at Kingspan Breffini Park Cavan when they go head to head with Derry in the All Ireland Qualifiers with the prize of an All Ireland Quarter Final date in Croke Park awaiting the winners.
With a three week lay off since the Munster Final defeat to Kerry in Killarney, Tipp will be keen to get back on the pitch and a return to winning ways which saw them see off Waterford and a fancied Cork side on the way to the Munster Final.
But standing in their way of that elusive Quarter Final spot will be an equally committed Derry side also keen to push forward and when you look closely at their progress through the qualifiers with victories over Louth and two late finishes over Meath and Cavan, they are a proven side and are well capable of making it through to the last eight.
However in what’s going to be an almighty challenge, this is the task awaiting Tipp and given the defensive qualities and attacking firepower in the squad and with a massive 100% effort all over the field, Tipp under the captaincy of Peter Acheson are also well placed to produce the goods needed to get over the line. Best of luck to everyone involved and hopefully everything will fall into place resulting in a Tipp victory whatever the margin.
Throw in time is 5pm.
Elsewhere our U14, U15 and U16 Football development squads have been in action in recent weeks with varying degrees of success in their respective competitions.
Rathkeale was the venue for this years Munster U16 championship and for Tipp captained by Moyle Rovers Ben Owens they qualified for the Shield Final but had to settle for the runners up spot to Cork (White) by a four point margin.
Having prepared well with a very competitive Blitz in Dr Morris Pk involving, Kerry, Mayo, Laois and Roscommon along with a strong challenge with Wexford, Tipp put together some good performances throughout the championship with three points separating the sides in their opening game as Clare emerged winners 2-8 to 1-8 while Tipp finished eight points to the good over Limerick in the Shield Semi Final.
Well done to all the players and their mentors, Donal Hayes (Upperchurch Drombane), Matty Doherty (Arravale Rovers), Johnny Nevin (JK Brackens), Declan Garrett (Arravale Rovers).
Since they got together earlier in the year aside from numerous challenge games and training sessions as part of their Development programme Tipp’s U15 Footballers travelled to Newbridge for the Cross County Development Blitz and came away with wins over Sligo, Carlow and Kildare which certainly provided a good platform for the Annual Humphrey Kelleher Tournament in Milstreet.
In the Quarter Final of the Humphrey Kelleher played in Dromtariffe, after a titanic struggle and some great football played by Tipp, West Cork emerged winners after extra time on a scoreline of 1-7 to 1-5. After that it was on to Millstreet for the Shield Semi Final and here Tipp had eleven points to spare over Clare, 2 -12 to 2-1 and later in the Shield Final Tipp proved too good for Limerick running out deserved nine point margin winners, 4-5 to 1-5.
Again well done to all the players involved along with their mentors, Tommy Landers (Knockavilla Kickhams), Stephen Landy (Ardfinnan), James Boland (Inane Rovers), PJ Bowden (Durlas Og).
An interesting observation in the make up of this years U16A and U16B Football County finals played in Cashel showed that three of the clubs would be deemed as primarily hurling clubs from predominantly Hurling territory with one from the normally strong football bases of West and South Tipp. Mid champions Boherlahan Dualla ran out clear cut winners of the U16B title at the expense of the Rockwell/Rosegreen combination while the Mid Division also took the honours in the U16A decider with Moycarkey Borris producing a flurry of late scores to deny Inane Rovers (Roscrea).
Is this the beginning of a shift in the balance of power in football within the county – maybe not but certainly a welcome development and testament to the football coaching that’s taking place within hurling strongholds and also sends a clear signal to all the anti football opinionators and detractors that football is alive and well at all levels within the county.
To all GAA clubs and golf enthusiasts don’t forget the Friends of Tipp Golf Classic on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th of August at Thurles Golf Club. Tee boxes 50 euro and teams 120 euro. All enquiries to Martin O’Dwyer at 086 2549154.
Tommy Fitzgerald PRO, Tipperary Football Board
