By acting County PRO Ed Donnelly
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL
Tipperary recorded a 2-24 to 2-17 victory over Clare in last Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick. This win sets up a meeting with Kilkenny in the League Final fixed for Sunday week May 4th at 3:30pm in Semple Stadium Thurles, a repeat of the 2013 Final won by Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. Michael Breen (Ballina) made his League debut on Sunday last as a substitute and became the 32nd player which has seen action for Tipperary in this season’s League.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 4 FINAL
Tipperary and Clare will contest the Allianz Football League Division 4 Final on Saturday next April 26th at 5:00pm in Croke Park. Noel Mooney (Cavan) is the referee. The game will serve as a curtain-raiser to the Division 3 Final between Cavan and Roscommon. Tipperary have been very impressive in the League to date, securing promotion with 1 round to spare after 5 wins and a draw in their first 6 games, including a 3-9 to 0-14 victory over Saturday’s opponents Clare in a game played at Semple Stadium Thurles on March 9th. We would ask all Tipperary supporters, in particular those based in Dublin to come out and support the team on Saturday evening in Croke Park as we look to bring home another football trophy to the county.
Tipperary’s last promotion from Division 4 and appearance in a Division 4 Final was in 2008 when Tipperary lost to Offaly by 2-13 to 0-12. Brian Coen scored 10 of Tipperary’s 12 points on that occasion. The Tipperary team which lost to Offaly in the 2008 Division 4 Final lined out as follows – Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard); Aidan Foley (Moyle Rovers), Mark Peters (Galtee Rovers), Ciaran McDonald (Aherlow); Paddy Codd (Killenaule), Robbie Costigan (Cahir), Cian Maher (Fethard); Kevin Mulryan (JK Brackens), George Hannigan (Shannon Rovers); Philip Austin (Borrisokane), Eoin Kearney (Ballyporeen), Laurence Coskeran (Aherlow); Damien O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty), Seamus Grogan (Aherlow), Brian Coen (Fethard). Subs used – Paul Johnson (Moyle Rovers) for Maher (25 mins), Brian Jones (Arravale Rovers) for Kearney, Eamon Hanrahan (Clonmel Commercials) for Hannigan (both half-time), Shane Stapleton (Golden-Kilfeacle) for Austin (52), Hugh Coghlan (St. Vincent’s) for Codd (62).
ALLIANZ LEAGUE TOP SCORERS
Tipperary forwards have done well in the scoring stakes during the 2014 Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues. In Hurling, Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) is the leading scorer across all the divisions with a tally of 5 goals and 52 points with 1-37 coming from placed balls and 4-15 from play. TJ Reid is the top Kilkenny scorer in the League to date with 4-20 leaving Callanan in an unassailable lead heading in to the League Final. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) is also in the top 10 of Division 1A scorers having accounted for 1-24 to date.
Meanwhile in Gaelic Football, Ballyporeen’s Conor Sweeney currently sits on top of the highest scorer list across all the divisions having accounted for 5 goals and 41 points, an aggregate total of 56 points which will certainly be good enough for the honour of being the top scorer in Division 4. With the four Division Finals down for decision this weekend, Conor is 8 points clear of his nearest rival across all the divisions (Derry’s Mark Lynch who has scored 2-42 – 48 points). In addition to Conor’s achievements, Aherlow forward Barry Grogan’s tally of 5-22 (37 points) is good enough to be in the top 3 of Division 4 scorers and in the top 10 across all divisions.
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Tipperary secured a hard earned victory over Waterford at Fraher Field Dungarvan in last Wednesday’s first round game in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship. Jamie Bergin (Drom & Inch) scored a goal in each half to ensure Tipperary won by 2-11 to 2-7. Victory for the Premier County ensured that a streak of Tipperary winning at least one game in each Munster Minor Football Championship since 2001 continued. Tipperary have now qualified for the Munster semi-final where they will play the defending Munster champions Kerry in May at Semple Stadium Thurles in a repeat of the 2013 Munster Final at this grade.
COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior Hurling Championship continues this weekend with 12 games in Round 2 down for decision. Check the fixtures for the exact details of each game.
COUNTY UNDER 21 B FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Clean Ireland Recycling County Under 21 B Football Championship will see Cahir taking on Lorrha fixed for the May Bank Holiday weekend. In the semi-finals played last weekend, Cahir defeated Upperchurch-Drombane by 0-9 to 0-7 after extra time in their replayed semi-final while Lorrha edged out Rockwell / Rosegreen by 3-6 to 0-13.
LONDON CORPORATE LUNCH
We are fortunate to have the magnificent Semple Stadium at our disposal but the real home of Tipperary GAA teams is Dr. Morris Park, which is situated on the doorstep of the Stadium. Here our elite players from under-age to adult prepare for their respective Tipperary team and it is here the real hard work is done as they strive to bring honour to the Premier County. For almost 20 years, Dr. Morris Park has served the county well, but we must now respond to the demands of modern training and provide state-of-the-art facilities to ensure we compete and be the best in the land.
We have completed development on our New Pitch 3 which includes a fully floodlit sand-based surface. We have also built a magnificent new Hurling Wall with the assistance of very generous sponsorship from Lisheen Mines. Our ambitions for the future are focused on a County GAA Centre including a Conference Hall, Gym, Physio and Medical Rooms, fully-fitted Kitchen, Dining Room and four new Dressing Rooms. With your support we can realise this ambition and with this in mind, the Tipperary GAA County Board will host a Corporate Lunch in Central London at “The InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel” on Friday May 16th. Guests of Honour at the event will include Niall Quinn, Nicky English, Eamon O Shea, Brendan Cummins and possibly Shane Long. Tables for the event are £1,600 (for 8 people) or single tickets can be purchased for £200 each. Interest in this event from our supporters in London and the surrounding English suburbs has been high and over 20 tables have been already sold. Whether you are based in the UK and interested in attending or know of someone who may like to attend, please contact Tim Floyd at secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie or 0504-22702 for more details.
TIPPERARY ASSOCIATION DUBLIN AWARDS FUNCTION
The Annual Tipperary Association Dublin awards will be presented at the Awards Dinner and Function on Saturday May 3rd from 7:00pm in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Newlands Cross, Naas Road, Dublin. The Hall of Fame award will be presented to Michael Berkery (Former General Secretary, IFA and Chairman FBD). However, from a GAA perspective all eyes will be on the Tipperary Person of the Year award which will be presented to long serving Tipperary hurling goalkeeper Brendan Cummins. This is a fitting recognition of Brendan’s service as a hurler and footballer for Ballybacon-Grange, Ardfinnan and Tipperary – finishing his career with many honours including the most Senior Hurling Championship appearances ever. Any supporter interested in attending on the night to celebrate Brendan’s deserved award should book tickets now (priced at €40 each) by calling 087 6376663. The Closing date to purchase tickets is Monday April 28th.
MUNSTER GAA UNDER 15 SUPER 10’S
This year Munster GAA will again run their ‘Super 10’s’ at various venues throughout the province. In total 96 clubs and 1200 players from all six counties will participate. A novel initiative, it involves club teams from around the province entering a panel of 12 players for a 10-a-side competition on a shortened pitch (between the two 20m lines). The games are very fast and exciting with higher scores being recorded than your typical 15-a-side game due to less defenders being on the pitch and more space being available to forwards.
This competition which is now entering its fourth year has gone from strength and is proving very popular with the young hurlers and footballers of the province. First round blitzes will take place on Saturday May 31st with the finals in Mallow GAA Complex a fortnight later on June 14th. This is an ideal opportunity for clubs to provide their young players with a chance to develop their skills through playing games against opposition from other counties.
While the winning teams in each group will qualify for the Munster Final from the initial blitz days, the emphasis will nevertheless be on participation, fun and enjoyment. Every participating player will receive a specially designed Munster GAA Training Jersey. The overall winning club in both hurling and football will receive a set of portable juvenile goalposts.
Clubs can apply to participate by contacting their local Games Development Administrators or County Games Manager Dinny Maher. As numbers per county are limited, clubs are advised to apply early.
TIPPERARY GAA SCENE
If you wish to include any item of interest in future articles of the Tipperary GAA Scene, please contact the acting County Public Relations Officer Ed Donnelly at pro.tipperary@gaa.ie on or before 3pm on Monday. Visit the Tipperary GAA web site at www.tipperary.gaa.ie keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary GAA circles.
