by PRO Joe Bracken
MUNSTER MINOR HURLING
The dice didn’t roll favourable for the Tipperary minor hurlers last Saturday when they commenced the 2016 Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship against Waterford in Walsh Park, going down by a single score 1-20 to 1-17. Dillion Quirke from Clonoulty-Rossmore was Tipperary’s goal scorer while Lyndon Fairbrother from J.K. Brackens was the leading scorer for Tipp, proving deadly accurate from placed balls shooting 9 over the blackspot out of his 10 point tally.
The benefit of the early first round loss to Cork benefited the Déise lads and from that Tipperary can take heart heading more than likely to Ennis on Wednesday, May 4th next to meet Clare, themselves quarter final losers to Limerick by six points in the other game played to date. With it all to play for the Tipperary management will be eager for the side to make swift amends and hopefully be in the shakeup when the semi-final draw is made.
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL
In the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Play-Off 1 commiserations to the Tipperary panel and mentors who had the spots knocked off their dice by Limerick in Semple Stadium last Wednesday night on a score-line of 3-8 to 0-11 to unfortunately send last year’s All-Ireland finalists packing for this year .
We wish to thank all the players for their great commitment in what has now been a brief campaign (compared to last year) and look forward to seeing them line out for the Premier County once again next year. Many thanks also to the management team of Mick O’Sullivan, Matt Doherty, Johnny Nevin and Jason Coffey together with their backroom team for their efforts and enthusiasm also.
It is never easy going out at any stage in any championship and in what was probably a difficult week since; all will hopefully come back eager, wiser and stronger – benefitting from their experiences this time round.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE FINAL
Semple Stadium will be the focus of national attention again this weekend as the ‘Field of Legends’ hosts the Allianz Hurling League Final between Waterford and Clare at 3.30pm on Sunday next, May 1st. Ahead of that Galway and Kilkenny meet in the Camogie League Final at 1.30pm and its Céad Míle Fáilte to all supporters to Semple Stadium this weekend.
COUNTY SENIOR HURLING & FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At local level the Senior Hurling Championship garnered most attention last weekend with the battle for places heating up ahead of the final round of games on the weekend after next.
In “Roinn 1” “Group 1” JK Brackens came late to take a share of the spoils with Drom-Inch in Borrisoleigh as this match ended in a draw. The other match in the group also ended in a draw as Killenaule maintained their unbeaten run with an injury time point to draw level with Upperchurch-Drombane.
In “Roinn 1” “Group 2” Thurles Sarsfields were ruthless in condemning Roscrea to a heavy defeat. Also in the group Borris-Ileigh saw off the challenge of Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill.
Kiladangan put a serious dent in Mullinahone ambitions in “Roinn 1” “Group 3” by recording a fine win in this game between two previously unbeaten sides. Elsewhere, Nenagh Éire Óg got the show back on the road and moved into second place in the table with a comfortable win over Templederry Kenyons.
Clonoulty-Rossmore continue to lead the way in “Roinn 1” “Group 4” this time accounting for Lorrha-Dorrha. Kilruane Mac Donaghs saw off the challenge of Portroe who were looking for win number two but now find themselves on equal points with Kilruane with the deciding games still to play.
Holycross-Ballycahill continued their great form with a comfortable victory over Moyne-Templetuohy in “Roinn 2” “Group 1” while in the other tie in the group Toomevara and Burgess played out a draw.
In “Roinn 2” “Group 2” Carrick Swans made it two wins out of two in defeating Moycarkey-Borris by a single point.
Borrisokane got their first win in “Roinn 2” “Group 3” defeating Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams who were out for the first time.
Ballingarry also made it two wins out of two in “Roinn 2” “Group 4” by seeing off the challenge of Silvermines who have also yet to record a win. Ballina likewise recorded their second win, this time over Clonakenny to set up a mouth-watering clash with Ballingarry in the next round.
This weekend the concentration switches to the County Senior Football Championship with a full round of fixtures down for decision.
In ‘Group 1’ Cahir will be looking to make it win number two when they take on Kilsheelan-Kilcash who drew their first match, this game is fixed for Clonmel at 12noon on Sunday. At 7.15pm on Friday evening in Sean Treacy Park, Upperchurch-Drombane will be looking to make amends for their opening day defeat as they meet Arravale Rovers who drew with Kilsheelan in the first round.
Onto ‘Group 2’ with both games set to throw-in at 6.30pm on Saturday, Clonmel Commercials easy winners the last day play JK Brackens in Cashel with Brackens looking to record their first win, it will certainly be valuable if they can pull it off. The other group game sees Ballyporeen and Killenaule meet in Cahir. Ballyporeen got the better of Brackens the last day while Killenaule fell under the Commercials sword, one imagines it will be closer on Saturday evening.
In ‘Group 3’ both games here are also fixed for Saturday evening at 6.30pm with Thomas MacDonagh’s meeting Loughmore-Castleiney in Moneygall and Galtee Rovers-St. Pecaun playing Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill in Sean Treacy Park. In the first round Loughmore-Castleiney had a point to spare over Galtee Rovers-St. Pecaun.
Finally in ‘Group 4’ Drom-Inch victorious over Ardfinnan in the opening game meet Aherlow Gaels who also won their first match against Moyle Rovers, this game throws in at 5pm on Saturday in Kickham Park, Dundrum. The last remaining tie sees both sides looking for a first win Ardfinnan and Moyle Rovers meet in Clonmel Sportsfield at 6.30pm on Saturday.
With the County U21 football semi-finals among other fixtures down for decision, please go to the Tipperary website for a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
SCHOOLS
Congratulations to Rockwell College who won the Cusack Shield County PPS U15 B Football Final last week, by defeating Colaiste Dun Iascaigh.
NEW TIPPERARY GAA DRAW LAUNCHES
The new 2016-2017 Tipperary Draw is up and running following its launch in the four divisions last week. Continuing to be a most beneficial means of revenue to clubs the New Draw has plenty to offer in terms of prizes and should prove extremely popular with members again this year. Clubs are asked to push the draw as best they can because the more draw tickets sold the greater the end profit will be to the clubs.
CELTIC CHALLENGE
The 2016 Celtic Challenge was launched in Croke Park last week ahead of the competition getting underway on Wednesday, May 4th next. With over 1,000 players from 31 counties set to participate in this new initiative it will be of enormous benefit to 16 and 17 year old hurlers across the country.
Tipperary will be represented in the Celtic Challenge by a South/West Tipperary U17 team, known as South Tipperary for the tournament. Their first game will be against Carlow at a Carlow venue on May 4th, more details will appear online once they become available.
HANDBALL
The Adult 40×20 Doubles All-Ireland Finals were played at the weekend in Leinster venues and Tipperary was represented in two finals.
In the GMAD final in Clogh in Kilkenny Paul McGrath and John O Donoghue from Cashel had a decisive win over Joe Mc Allister and Paddy Duffy from Antrim, winning in two straight games 21-3, 21-7.
While in the O35BD played in Leixlip, Kevin Dempsey and Paul Mullins from Clonmel defeated Micheal Ginley and Paul Judge from Mayo in a very evenly contested final winning 21-19, 21-17.
Congratulations to our Tipperary players and clubs on your All-Ireland success.
FÉILE NA NGAEL 2016 LAUNCH
Ballymacarbry Community Centre was the venue for the National Launch of John West Féile na nGael last week. In showcasing the wonderful talent in the area, local National School children treated the huge turnout to a wonderful evening of music, song and dance before Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail officially launched the Féile.
Among the other dignitaries to speak was Tipperary County Board Chairman, Michael Bourke. Michael in his address like other speakers spoke of the value of long lasting friendships and community involvement, so much a part of the life and soul of Féile na nGael.
Féile is hosted jointly by Tipperary and Waterford with Donal Shanahan from Toomevara Chairman of the organising committee and its Secretary is Patricia Walsh (Waterford). Féile will be held in clubs across the counties on the weekend of June 17/18/19.
HEALTHY CLUB PROJECT
Fr. Sheehy’s G.A.A. Club has been nominated by Croke Park and the HSE for their Healthy Club Project. This project is aimed at the WHOLE community; you do not need to be a member of a G.A.A. club to participate. Fr. Sheehy’s is the only club in South Tipperary that has been nominated, so they would welcome input and ideas from anyone in the region to make this a huge success.
The main areas covered in the project are Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, Mental Fitness, Gambling, Alcohol and Drug Education, Training and Personal Development, Community Development.
If any of the above areas interest you please come along to either one of their information evenings in Clogheen Community Hall on Friday 29th April 8pm or Burncourt Community Hall on Monday, May 2nd at 8pm or contact Liam Fleming on 087-2268651.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. The Tipperary Supporters Club member’s gift in 2016 will be a trolley coin keyring, 43 mm x 33 mm, featuring The Tipperary Supporters Club Official Logo.
Supporters can join on line on www.tippsupportersclub.com by credit card or debit/laser card. Also on the website details are available of the direct debit facility; as the Club is run on a completely voluntary basis it would be a great help if members could join by direct debit. If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15 or 086-3580718, email: info@tippsupportersclub.com
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.
