by PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
With an unexpected one point defeat in the Allianz Hurling League Quarter-Final against Clare last Sunday 2-13 to 0-18, Tipperary’s interest in the league for this season has concluded.
In completing the league run, two more players made their Tipperary debut increasing the number to eleven of those getting different periods of game time in terms of experience and performance. Darragh Mooney from Éire Óg Annacarty was a debutant in goal, while Steven O’Brien from Ballina made a late debut appearance coming on in the half forward line. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Niall O’Meara, Kilruane MacDonaghs who picked up a hand injury late in the first half.
While much has been discussed since Sunday of this campaign in terms of its highs and lows from a Tipperary perspective, the reality is that the team is still in transition and progression in all areas and management and players will know that what hasn’t clicked just yet can be discussed and addressed on the training fields. So that come May 22nd when Cork travel to Thurles, Tipperary the reigning Munster Senior Hurling Champions will be fully focused and perfectly primed, ready and equipped for the battle to retain their Munster crown and that’s only for starters.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The long trip to Markievicz Park proved fruitful for Tipperary in the Allianz Football League final round as a third draw in this year’s league for Liam Kearns’ side ensured survival on their own merit and not to be depending on results elsewhere. With Michael Quinlivan, Peter Acheson and Alan Moloney all finding the net for Tipp in a 3-9 to 0-18 result it allows the side time to recover and prepare for their Munster Championship Quarter-Final against Waterford on May 29th next. Armagh and Laois drop down from Roinn 2 while Antrim and Louth are promoted from Roinn 4 to join Tipperary, Offaly, Longford and Sligo in completing Roinn 3 next year.
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL
The Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship throws in next week and Tipperary travel to Pairc Ui Rinn to meet Cork in the first round next Wednesday April 13th at 7pm. The referee for this tie will be Barry Kelly from Clare.
Its best wishes to the team and management led by Mick O’Sullivan as Tipperary get their championship up and running. A large Tipperary support would be wonderful to welcome the lads into action next week.
COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The main focus this weekend is on the County Senior Hurling Championship with some mouth-watering ties down for decision in fixtures spread over Saturday and Sunday. Due to the on-going weather situation the county C.C.C at its meeting on Monday night decided to just use a venue once over the weekend. This decision will help club grounds and also have venues in better condition for the games next weekend and as a result there will be no double headers as originally circulated.
Of the five matches scheduled for Saturday evening (all at 6.30pm), the Nenagh Éire Óg v Kiladangan clash in Newport is probably the pick of the evening and should be a very close contest indeed and is sure to draw a large attendance. Kiladangan will no doubt be looking to exact revenge on a 2 point defeat to Nenagh in the second round of the challenge cup recently.
In Holycross the meeting of Killenaule and JK Brackens will also be viewed with interest in terms of how both clubs are shaping up. Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill meet Roscrea in the Ragg where again this tie comes hot on the heels of their recent challenge cup game in which Éire Óg had one point to spare against the North men. Elsewhere, Burgess in good form at the moment meet Moyne-Templetuohy in Toomevara while Loughmore-Castleiney take on Borrisokane in Moneygall, so it’s North v Mid in both ties here.
Then on Sunday some great ties will hopefully see crowds flocking to venues for a feast of action. In Boherlahan, the action commences at 2pm with Drom & Inch meeting Upperchurch-Drombane in a repeat of the 2014 Mid Final. More recently the ‘Church had 2 goals to spare in defeating Drom in Littleton under lights in the challenge cup second round and will certainly find that the Drom defence won’t be as generous on Sunday.
At 3.30pm in Templemore Thurles Sarsfields and Borris-Ileigh will continue the excitement with quite a number of county stars going into battle against each other which should draw the attention of many.
Golden hosts Moneygall and Carrick Swans at 2pm with Ballingarry and Clonakenny throwing in at 3.30pm down the road in Leahy Park, Cashel. It would take a wise person to call these ties and they could prove to be the closest of the weekend and should draw large home support from the four clubs involved.
In what should be two hotly contest North pairings, Ballina and Silvermines meet at 2pm in Nenagh while Portroe and Lorrha-Dorrha also throw in at 2pm in Cloughjordan.
In Templederry, Holycross-Ballycahill enjoying good early season form will be severely tested by Toomevara in this crucial Roinn 2, Group 1 opener at 2pm
Later that evening, the opening rounds are completed when Mullinahone and Templederry Kenyons meet in Templetuohy. Both sides go into this game with one win apiece with two rounds of the challenge cup played and is difficult to call while in Dolla both sides with good wins in their opening challenge cup rounds, Clonoulty-Rossmore and Kilruane MacDonaghs will lock horns in a fascinating tie, Kilruane though will most likely be without the services of Niall O’Meara for this one.
For a full round up of all these fixtures and more plus results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
REFEREE
Well done to our referees taking charge of important games last weekend, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) looked after the Waterford v Wexford Allianz Hurling League quarter-final on Sunday last, while Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) was in charge of the Allianz Football League round between Dublin and Roscommon.
Best wishes to David Grogan (Aherlow) as he takes charge of the Munster minor football quarter final between Kerry and Waterford next Wednesday evening.
APRIL TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
The final Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw for April was held in The Half Way, Rathronan last Friday night with the Moyle Rovers GAA Club. Congratulations to the two main winners, first prize of a Skoda Octavia or €15,000 went to Gay Hackett of Borrisokane with Borrisokane Club selling the winning ticket and second prize of a Skoda Fabia or €10,000 going to Liam Bergin from Bansha with Galtee Rovers selling Liam’s ticket. That then was the final monthly draw in the current 2015/16 scheme. Many thanks for all your support over the past 12 months. The draw was another outstanding success thanks to you and it’s really appreciated.
A new Tipperary GAA Club Members Draw will be rolled out over the coming weeks for 2016/17 with another €500,000 Prize Fund. This draw includes the following prizes for the same subscription of €100 or €10 per month (with 2 months free); 8 Skoda Cars, 8 Renault Cars, Flights to Australia, Family Florida Holidays, Family Lapland trips at Christmas, Golf group Holidays to the Algarve, Cheltenham Festival Trips for groups
Plus on top of those excellent prizes, Bonus Draw for All Ireland SH weekend, bonus draw for Direct Debit members, plus lots of Cash Prizes every week and month as well. All current members will receive the new brochure with your receipt in the post before the end of April or you can contact your draw promoter in advance of that. Your local Tipperary GAA Club will receive 50-70% of your subscription as commission for you membership so not alone are you supporting your County but even more so your local GAA Club.
We hope you will continue to support our New Tipperary GAA Members Draw.
HANDBALL
Limerick and Tipperary played host to the 2016 Munster 40X20 Juvenile Development Tournament on Friday 25th March in Galbally [Boys U15-U17] and Saturday 26th March in Nenagh [All Girls] with Broadford taking the Boys U12-U14 section.
This Provincial 40X20 Juvenile Development Tournament-which is now in its second year, was brought in specifically for all player-girls and boys from U12 singles/doubles up to U17 singles/doubles that had not played/represented their County, in any Munster 40X20 Juvenile Championship grades in singles or doubles from U12 to U17.
In the girls section, four counties involving seventeen players took part in five age groups. Tipperary players were runners up in 2 Grades, in G13D – Kate Cavanagh/Hazel Cawley and in G14S – Abbey Sheedy.
The boys fared better winning 2 titles and runners up in 1. In B12D – Jack Mulcahy/Eoin Carroll and B14D-James Power/Matthew Power won in their respective groups and runners up in B13D – Adam Fogarty/Cian Oakley
In the Adult All-Ireland Senior Quarter-Final Ger Coonan and David Moloney were beaten by Joe Mc Cann and Vinny Moran from Mayo 21/13, 21/19.
In the GMAD Semi-Final played in Leixlip John O Donoghe and Paul McGrath defeated Egin Jensen & Frank Daly from Dublin 21/14, 21/17. In Nenagh Jim Ryan and Denis Gleeson were narrowly beaten by Eugene Kennedy and Vinny Farrelly Dublin 21/15, 21/18 in the RMD S/F.
Next Sunday in Cashel, Billy and Pakie Mullins contest the DMAD Semi-Final against Sean Ryan and Johnny Rossiter from Carlow. Also in Cashel, Kevin Dempsey and Paul Mullins contest the O35BD against John Morrissey and Noel Doherty from Kilkenny. In Clogh in Kilkenny, Martin McInerney and David Moloney contest the Master A Doubles against DJ Carey and Michael Walsh Kilkenny. Best of luck to all our handballers next weekend.
SCÓR SINSIR CILL ÁIRNE
The INEC Killarney was the venue for the Scór Sinsir National Finals on Saturday 2nd April Last as the Scór Year 2015 2016 came to an end. Aogán Ó Fearghail Uachtarán ClG addressed the assembled competitors’, guests’, mentors and spectators and again reiterated the fact that Scór should be an integral part of what the GAA is all about. ‘The dedication to the craft, the hours of honing of a skill, the hours of preparation and practice are as relevant to the participants in Scór as they are for a hurler and footballer at Croke Park in September.’ He also thanked all those involved in Scór and the work that is done to enable the GAA to be the inclusive force that it is.
Representing us in Tráth na gCeist and battling their wits against 26 county representatives were the stalwarts from Loughmore Castleiney- Pat Healy, Frankie McGrath, Martin Ryan and Murt Ryan. Congratulations to all on such an excellent performance
Sinéad Grant of Newcastle held the audience spellbound with her beautiful rendition of John Condon in the Amhránaíocht Aonair competition. Sinéad was hoping to repeat her success of 2013 in the maiden city of Derry however All Ireland Honours went to Nóra Uí Chathain Co Na Gaillimhe with her Composition SUANTRAÍ Páistí 1916. Maith thú Sinéad Dhein tú éacht.
A sincere thank you to all our supporters from Newport, JK Brackens, Newcastle, Loughmore Castleiney and Coiste Scór an Chontae for their support. Congratulations also to Michael Mac Conmara as Co an Chláir who was honoured for his sterling service to Scór both as competitor and administrator over the last 40 plus years. His Gradam Sár Seirbhíseacht is richly deserved. We wish a speedy recovery to Seamus McGrath of Newcastle and we know he was justifiably proud of Sinéad’s performance on Saturday. Ádh Mhór ort a Shéamais.
GARDA VETTING
Information on a most important memo relating to the commencement of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 was circulated by Co. Secretary Tim Floyd to all clubs last week.
The GAA has been informed that the Acts will now commence on 29 April 2016 thus introducing in the 26 Counties the mandatory vetting of all persons who work with children or underage teams, i.e. teams and individuals under 18 yrs. of age, and to those who work with vulnerable adults as well.
Once the Acts commences the GAA will move from a paper vetting system to an on line or E-Vetting procedure for our members. The memo circulated provides additional information in respect of the Acts and on E-Vetting for all clubs in Tipperary.
Additional information will follow as the National Vetting Bureau provides updates on the commencement of the Acts.
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
LÁ NA gCLUBANNA
In 2016, the GAA plans to celebrate the importance of your club in your community. Lá na gClubanna will take place on Sunday, 8th May, 2016. All counties have been instructed to keep the morning and afternoon fixture free to enable all members to fully participate in this event. This is an opportunity for the GAA to highlight the important role of members, players, supporters’ and families in our Association and for the local community to have fun. It will also provide clubs with an opportunity to engage with potential new members.
Every member of the GAA should mark this special day of celebration by participating at events in their Club which is the real driver and engine of the GAA. To register for the Lá na gClubannna Toolkit visit http://www.gaa.ie/news/gclubanna/
FÉILE NA NGAEL
This June, the Féile na nGael tournament comprising of hurling, camogie and handball will take place in Tipperary and Waterford. Following the inception of Féile na nGael in 1971 when hosted by Tipperary, this tournament has gone from strength to strength with over 6,000 boys and girls under the age of 14 taking part each summer.
The 2016 Féile na nGael tournament will take place from Friday June 17th to Sunday June 19th and a number of clubs in Tipperary and Waterford will be given the task of hosting visiting teams as part of the Féile weekend. Such arrangements have been commonplace for years and tight bonds between clubs and individual families have been the legacy of this great tournament since its inception
Preparations are at an advanced stage with a Féile organising committee led by Chairman Donal Shanahan (Tipperary) and Secretary Patricia Walsh (Waterford) working to ensure the weekend is organised professionally.
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.
