Tipperary GAA Scene 16th May 2018

By PRO Joe Bracken

MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Munster championships get under way this weekend with most of the attention focused on the new look hurling championship as pundits and supporters alike eagerly look forward to what should be a fascinating championship. While it will take a league format there is certain no room for complacency and on paper it has all the hallmarks of being a wide open championship.

So on Sunday next, May 20th the Tipperary senior hurlers open their account in the Gaelic Grounds where they will play Limerick in round 1 of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship with throw-in at 2pm.

Tipperary and Limerick have played 68 times in championship fare with Tipp out in front on 35 wins to Limerick’s 23. There has been 10 draws between the sides and Tipp also received a walk over 1899 while Limerick had a walk over in 1902.

The last 10 championship meetings between the sides are as follows; 14/6/2006 Munster 1st round at Semple Stadium, Tipperary 0-22 Limerick 2-12; 10/6/2007 Munster semi-final at The Gaelic Grounds, Tipperary 1-19 Limerick 1-19 (Draw); 16/6/2007 Munster semi-final at Semple Stadium, Tipperary 2-21 Limerick 1-24 (1st replay & aet); 24/6/2007 Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 0-22 Tipperary 2-13 (2nd replay & aet); 16/8/2009 All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park, Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-7; 27/5/2012 Munster 1st round at Semple Stadium Tipperary 2-20 Limerick 1-19; 9/6/2013 Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 1-18 Tipperary 1-15; 1/6/2014 Munster semi-final at Semple Stadium,  Limerick 2-18 Tipperary 2-16; 21/6/2015 Munster semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Tipperary 4-23 Limerick 1-16 and finally 19/6/2016, Munster semi-final at Semple Stadium, Tipperary 3-12  Limerick 1-16.

We send best wishes to the team on Sunday in what is the start of a challenging four week period.

Sunday’s referee will be James McGrath (An Iarmhí).

Tickets are on pre purchase price of €20 for stand tickets and €15 for terrace tickets. This price is available until midnight on the Saturday. The match day price will increase by €5, so stand tickets bought on match day will be €25 and terrace tickets will be €20. Juvenile tickets (U-16) will be €5 no matter when they are purchased. Students and OAP’s will receive a concession of €5.

MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

The first of the weekend action gets under way on Saturday evening next, May 19th, when the Tipperary senior footballers line out for their Munster Championship Quarter-Final against Waterford in Semple Stadium where throw in is at 7pm.

Tipperary last played Waterford in the championship in 2016 with Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) shooting 4 points, George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers) and Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers) on 3 points each, leading the way as Tipp took victory 1-15 to 1-7. Prior to that in 2015, Tipperary put Waterford to the sword winning by 22 points with Michael Quinlivan scoring Tipp’s goal as his side eased to a 1-24 to 0-5 victory in Semple Stadium. Steven O’Brien (Ballina) was in explosive form on the day ending up with 6 points to his name.

Saturday’s return visit by the Déise men will look to banish the 2015 result so Tipp best beware. Here too we send best wishes to the team and management as they look to maintain the great momentum built up in a hugely positive recent league campaign.

The referee will be Fergal Kelly (An Longfort).

Tickets for this match are adult pre purchase: €15.00 up until midnight Friday and adult match day: €20.00, Juveniles/U16’s: Free. Students/Seniors will receive a €5.00 concession on full price tickets with valid id prior to entry at the designated stile.

Supporters are advised that only Ardán Ó Riain will be open and that there is no parking in or around any of the residential parks on Saturday evening, please use designated car parks.

MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Tipperary minor hurlers also get their first round under way in the Electric Ireland Munster GAA Hurling Minor Championship on Sunday next as they too travel to play Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds where throw-in will be at 12 noon.

We send best wishes to the panel and their management team of Tommy Dunne (Toomevara) manager and his selectors, Ger Ryan (Cappawhite), Tony Shelly (Killenaule) and Paul Collins (Drom-Inch), Strength & Conditioning Coach: Alan O’Connor (Cahir) and Kit Man: Thomas Hassett (Toomevara).

The panel of 33 for the championship is as follows; Aaron Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Enda Dunphy (St. Mary’s Clonmel), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers)Capt., Conor Whelan (Mullinahone), Kevin Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris), Sean Phelan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Ryan Renehan (Cappawhite), Fintan Purcell (Drom-Inch), David Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill), Paudie O’Loughlin (Newcastle), Frank Hanafin (Holycross-Ballycahill), Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Philip Gantley (Cappawhite), Kieran Larkin (Moyne-Templetuohy), Conor O’Dwyer (Cashel King Cormacs), Kevin Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Oisin Larkin (Borrisokane), Jack Morrissey (Moycarkey-Borris), John Campion (Drom-Inch), Rory O’Donovan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Cian O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Sean Hayes (Kiladangan), James Devanney (Borris-Ileigh), Devon Ryan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Max Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris), Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone), Eoin Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Aidan O’Heney (Emly), James Synnott (Roscrea), Jack Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane) and Darren Flood (Moycarkey-Borris).

MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Commiserations to the Tipperary minor footballers and management as they exited the championship following their 2 point loss to Clare 1-9 to 2-4 in the Electric Ireland Munster Championship semi-final last Tuesday night.
Goals from Max Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris) and Christy English (Ballyporeen) weren’t enough for Matt O’Doherty’s side as they gave their all in a tough encounter. A sincere word of thanks to all the players and to Matt and his backroom team for their efforts in this campaign.

CLUB FIXTURES

With Munster Championship fixtures dominating the weekend, the next rounds in the Tipperary Water County Hurling Leagues are spread from this Wednesday 17th May to next Wednesday 23rd May as clubs accommodate the fixture calendar.

The next round in the football leagues will then be played around the weekend of the 26th/27th May as clubs again facilitate potential clashes with Munster fixtures.

To keep up to date with all fixtures and results please check http://people.gaa.ie/club/tipperary/

CELTIC CHALLENGE

South Tipperary’s second round game which was played against Kilkenny on Wednesday 9th May in Dunmore ended on a score line of Kilkenny 3-14 South Tipperary 2-16.

South Tipperary have a bye in round three of the competition and will resume competitive action on Wednesday 23rd May at 7.30pm in Golden against Cork City where admission is free.

In Group A Round 3, North Tipperary play Limerick Treaty this Wednesday, 16th May in Limerick IT with a 7:30pm start. Oisin Murphy won the best and fairest award for North Tipp in their match against Galway Maroon last week. Unfortunately his side were defeated by Galway 3-15 to 1-13 in their round 2 encounter in Nenagh.

NEW TIPPERARY CLUB DRAW

The new Tipperary GAA Club Draw has been launched with clubs and promoters renewing membership and encouraging all members to promote the draw and try to get other supporters to join. The first draw for the new season is now postponed as requested by clubs until Friday, May 25th and will be held in conjunction with Cashel King Cormacs club in Brosnan’s Lounge, Cashel. This will give clubs a chance to sell as many memberships as possible in advance of the new draw. First prize will be a Skoda Karoq or €25,000 and second prize is a Renault Megane or €15,000.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB GOLF CLASSIC

The Tipperary Supporters Club 33rd Annual Golf Classic is being held this year at Tipperary Golf Club on Friday 18th May.

The Supporters Club ask for your support for this our Annual Golf Classic and are very appreciative of all the generosity over the years and hope supporters will be in a position to enter a team this year. This is one of our major fund raising events and Tipperary Supporters Club want to continue to support our Management Team in their quest to win Munster and All Ireland titles. All funds will be used to defray costs for looking after the team preparation for this year’s Championship. Alternatively you may wish to sponsor a Tee or Green.

For further details and team entry please email johntierney105@gmail.com  or post  to John Tierney, Chairman, Tipperary Supporters Club at 105 Laraghcon, Lucan Village, Co. Dublin. (Tel 087 6821398). Note: to be eligible for the main prizes, all team members must have GUI handicaps).

FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL GOLF CLASSIC

Though last Friday morning started out atrocious, the day and weekend cleared up beautifully as the Mr. Mister Friends of Tipperary Football Golf Classic enjoyed its most successful classic to date with 116 teams competing.  In the lovely setting of Thurles Golf Club the Friends offer sincere thanks to all their sponsors, everyone who kindly purchased a tee box and all the participants who made it such an enjoyable event. The Friends of Tipperary Football committee put in huge work into organising the classic and they especially thank Martin O’ Dwyer who put in countless hours to ensure that this was the most successful yet. The Friends also wish to thank Thurles Golf Club for their hospitality and of course their main sponsor, Mr Mister Menswear, Cahir, Cashel and Mitchelstown.

The main winners were in first place on 103 points, IPM Environment Solutions (Willie Power, Paul Ryan, Bryan Fitzgerald, Harry Green). In second place on 102 points, Templemore Arms Hotel (Paudie Bourke, John Fitzgerald, Jim Cahill, Shane Scully). In third place on 100 points were Padraig Quinlivan, Martin Quinlivan, PJ Quinlivan and Brian Fallon.

The Ladies winners were Cahir Ladies (Trish Moran, Rosemary Maher, Noreen Hally, Pauline Mulcahy). Women’s Nearest the Pin was Anna Stapleton while Men’s Nearest the Pin was Pat Irwin. The Women’s Longest Drive went to Orla McKevitt and the Men’s Longest Drive went to Ben Cunningham. Congratulations to all the winners and again thanks to all who took part.

FINAL PROGRAMMES ONLINE

The digitisation team at Tipperary County Council library service have added yet more county final programmes to their website. A remarkable run of county hurling final programmes from 2017 to 1949 is now available to view online at http://tipperarystudies.ie/tipperary-gaa-senior-hurling-county-final-match-programmes/

This resource is proving to be a great hit with both GAA and family historians alike. The match programmes were collated from various collections, those of Tipperary Studies and some programmes donated for scanning purposes by Joe Lonergan, Jody Spooner, Seamus O’Doherty, Eugene Ryan and Carmel Sammon. The only outstanding item from 1976 – 2017 in both codes is the 1982 senior football final between Clonmel Commercials and Fethard. Thanks is also due to the Tipperary GAA Co. Board for their ongoing support of the digitisation work at Tipperary Studies and their kind permission in allowing match programmes to be digitised and made available online. There are nine hurling programmes missing from 2017-1949 and as these and others become available, they too will be available online as soon as time permits.

Tipperary Studies may be contacted at 0761 066123 or at studies@tipperarycoco.ie

NEW YORK CONNECTION

Shane Hogan who played at midfield for New York against Leitrim in the Connacht football championship last week end is a son of Roscrea’s Eddie Hogan, a Tipp Minor All Ireland winner in 1980 and was also on the 1981 team. Eddie was an under 21 Munster winner in 1983/84 and a Tipp senior in 1983 when Tipp beat Clare for the first championship win since 1973. Eddie captained Roscrea to an U21 county title in 1984 against Moycarkey-Borris. His dad Mick Hogan was Roscrea captain in their 1969 county final victory.

TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2018

Click here to join: http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/adult-members/

The Tipperary Supporters Club member’s gift in 2018 is a specially produced Tipperary Supporters Club Cap, in the traditional Blue and Gold and featuring the Tipperary Supporters Club Official Logo.

Membership is €40 per person and there are several payment options. All proceeds from membership go directly towards the preparation and training of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Team.

FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL

If you would like to be entered into the draw for some fantastic prizes the Friends of Tipperary Football are selling membership for 2018 and once again it is a very reasonable €20.

Membership enters each supporter into the following draws:
Two All-Ireland Final Football tickets 2018
Two All-Ireland Final Hurling tickets 2018
Two Tickets for each Tipperary Senior Football Championship matches 2018

Plus, all members will receive an exclusive car sticker.

If you would like to join online you can do so at http://www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com/join/ or contact any Friends of Tipperary Football committee member.

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.