by Acting PRO Joe Bracken
ALL IRELAND SENIOR HURLING SEMI FINAL
With the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi-Final against Galway roaring down the tracks on Sunday next, August 16th, in Croke Park at 4pm, the Tipperary squad are being put through last minute preparations in advance of what has now become the most important and crucial fixture of the year.
There is no escaping the challenge ahead for Tipperary who will enter the fray extremely conscious of the task at hand and the teak tough power play Galway will bring to battle. Equally there is no doubt Tipperary management will have endeavoured to cover all aspects of the Tribesmen’s play and forcefulness which will hopefully be enough to ensure a successful passage to a tilt at the Kilkenny ship already docked on Jones’ Road for the September final.
So for Sunday it’s the very best of luck indeed to players and management alike in the semi-final as all Tipperary Supporters at home and abroad rally proudly behind the team. Supporters are eagerly looking forward to driving the team on in magnificent numbers on Sunday and hopefully to an All-Ireland Final berth as well.
Previous championship meetings between Tipperary and Galway show the balance of power “tipped” firmly in favour of the Premier County. Out of 27 championship matches played between the sides, Tipperary have won on 21 occasions, Galway won 6 while there was no draws. The last two meetings between the sides have gone to Tipperary; on July 25th, 2010 in Croke Park, Tipperary recorded a 3-17 to 3-16 victory over Galway in what many claim was the day that side came of age to secure Liam McCarthy that year. While on the 5th of July last year in the All-Ireland Qualifier at Semple Stadium, Tipperary stormed home late to defeat Galway 3-25 to 4-13in a match which revitalised their campaign.
Tipperary’s top scorers in those last two championship meetings with Galway were; Eoin Kelly with 1-7 in 2010 while Seamus Callanan notched up 3-8 in 2014. This is the first semi-final meeting between Tipperary and Galway since 1993. The Tribesmen won that game by two points but lost to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Final; let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
A quick look back at July 5th last year saw Galway and Tipperary meet in a qualifier game at Semple Stadium, trying to keep their respective seasons alive. Consistent with the previous championship meeting in 2010 (when Lar Corbett’s point proved to be the quarter final winner, en route to All Ireland honours) this was a tight game for much of the way. The teams were level at half time 1-12 (Tipperary) 2-9 (Galway), but the visitors took off after that and led by 4-12 to 1-15 at 51 minutes of play. Tipperary made some tactical switches and inspired by Seamus Callanan’s scoring prowess they won an amazing game by nine points .The attendance of 18,467 couldn’t figure out how Tipp were so dominant in the closing 19 minutes during which Galway only scored one point. The referee on Sunday is Barry Kelly from Westmeath.
Tickets for the All-Ireland Senior and Minor Hurling Semi Finals on Sunday are available and are priced as follows; Hogan Stand (No Concession) – €40, Cusack Stand – €40, Hill 16 – €25. Family Tickets are available for Cusack and Davin Stands with Adults at €40 and Juveniles at €5. Students & Senior Citizens (Cusack Stand Only) can purchase full price tickets and on the day of the match they can claim a rebate of €10 when they produce appropriate I.D. at Block D, Stiles 1 to 5 in the Cusack Stand (Rebate can only be claimed on entry into the stadium via BLOCK D). Groups Passes are provided for Juveniles Groups U-16 at €3 each (you are permitted to bring 1 adult free with every ten Juveniles). Any additional adults pay full price for their tickets. Adult Groups @ €10 per person in the Davin Stand with max of 50 per club and the application form must be submitted through the club secretary email address to tickets@gaa.ie
ALL IRELAND MINOR HURLING SEMI FINAL
Best wishes also to the Tipperary Minor Hurling Squad who take on Dublin in the Electric Ireland GAA All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi Final, also on Sunday at 2pm. This will be preceded by the replay of the other semi-final between Galway and Kilkenny.
Liam Cahill’s side have been extremely busy with their own preparations and have gone about them in a quiet and efficient manner. They certainly won’t be taking any chances in regards to the Dublin challenge and can expect a roller coaster of an afternoon from the Dubs. In attempting to find balance with dual players, the hurling and football managements have to be commended on the success rate to date with both minor panels lining out in the space of a fortnight in All-Ireland Semi-finals, a feat no doubt which we hope will carry through to the finals also.
ALL IRELAND MINOR FOOTBALL
The Tipperary Minor Football panel will play Kildare in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Semi-Final on August 30th at 1.30pm.
FIXTURES FORUM
At County Convention last December 2014, the incoming Chairman, Michael Bourke indicated in his address to convention that he intended holding a Forum on Fixtures and Club Championship Structures to allow all stakeholders to voice their opinion with a view to improving our structures. This Forum will be held this Friday night August 14th at 8pm, in The LIT Conference Centre, Racecourse Road, Thurles.
Every Club is asked to have 2 Club Officers and 2 Adult Players present at the Forum. The event will be chaired by former County and Club player and manager, Liam Sheedy. The County Board are looking forward to seeing your club represented on Friday and welcomes the opportunity for clubs to air their thoughts and views.
TIPPERARY GAA AUGUST DRAW
The August Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw went ahead last Saturday night August 8th, in Phelans Market House Bar, in Roscrea with the two main winners on the night turning out to be William & Eleanor Devaney, Newcastle Clonmel, who take home the 1st prize of a Skoda Octavia Car or €15,000 and second prize of a Skoda Fabia Car or €10,000 went to Joe Kennedy, Lisdaleen, Templetuohy. Congratulations to William & Eleanor and Joe who will receive their prizes at the September draw. Remember it’s never too late to sign up, please contact your local club secretary or join online through the Tipperary GAA website.
REFEREE
Well done to John O’Brien (Arravale Rovers) who took charge of the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling semi-final last Sunday between Galway and Kilkenny in Croke Park.
COUNTY FIXTURES
Congratulations to Nenagh Éire Óg who claimed the Dr. Fogarty Cup with victory over Mullinahone last Friday evening while in the semi-final of the James Holohan Cup Moyne Templetuohy defeated Boherlahan Dualla to progress to the final.
With matches in the Clean Ireland Recycling County Intermediate Hurling and Senior Football Championships as well as a host of divisional intermediate, junior and minor games, there is plenty of action across the county in the coming week to keep fans entertained, please check the fixtures section for all current information on dates, times and venues across the Premier County.
THE BOY WONDER OF HURLING
The launch of “The Boy Wonder of Hurling” the story of Tipperary hurling legend the late Jimmy Doyle, will take place at Thurles Sarsfields’ Social Centre on Wednesday next August 19th at 7.30 pm.
Written by former Irish Examiner GAA correspondent, Diarmuid O Flynn, and edited by former Tipperary Star Editor, Michael Dundon, the book is published by Sliabh Ban Productions, which is headed up by RTE GAA correspondent/commentator, Brian Carthy.
It will be launched by the President of the GAA, Aogan Ó Fearghaill before a gathering that will include a host of GAA celebrities, past and current. The book was to have been launched in July but due to the untimely passing of Jimmy in June, was re-scheduled for August.
The Doyle family and Sliabh Ban Productions are extending an open invitation to all GAA enthusiasts to come along on the night for what promises to be a very special occasion to honour one of the greatest ever hurlers.
NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK
As part of National Heritage Week, Lár na Páirce will host a talk by Pat Bracken on Thursday 27th August at 7.30pm entitled “Not Quite Yet on Death’s Door – Hurling 1840-1884” and all are welcome.
HANDBALL
Tipperary Juveniles were in top form in the Munster U13 & U15 60 x 30 Inter Club last week in Hospital, Co. Limerick. Lahorna and Ballina contested the U13 Final which Lahorna won, while Lahorna also took the honours in the U15 Final by defeating Mallow.
On Saturday the Munster U12 Mixed Doubles was played in Broadford where Lahorna again took part along with teams from Mallow, Fermoy and Broadford. Same result here with Lahorna coming out on top.
Congratulations to Lahorna on their achievements in the finals.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2015
With Sunday now firmly in focus for the Tipperary Senior and Minor Hurlers which hopefully will result in a double shot for All-Ireland glory on September 6th next, it is now as important as ever to take up Membership of the Tipperary Supporters Club for 2015. Lapsed or prospective members are asked to please respond and renew your membership which will go a long way in ensuring the best possible preparations for our teams. Membership is €30 per person, unchanged since 2006.
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. Membership is also available in the following premises, Moynihan’s in Gladstone Street, Clonmel, O’Donoghue’s in Cashel, Noel Ryan’s in Parnell Street, Thurles and from Jackie Shanahan and Carroll’s in Roscrea. If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy,13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15 (086-3580718, email:info@tippsupportersclub.com
FRIENDS FOOTBALL LOTTO
The Friends of Tipperary Football Lotto is continuing to build and all Tipperary supporters are encouraged to please support by playing online now – http://bit.ly/1HU6W9H
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.
