Tipperary GAA Scene column
By acting County PRO Ed Donnelly
MUNSTER UNDER 21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Tipperary will play Cork in the Cadbury Munster Under 21 Football Final on this Wednesday night April 9th in the second game of a double-header at Pairc Ui Rinn. The curtain-raiser will be the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Quarter-Final between Cork and Kerry at 6:15pm followed by the Under 21 Football Final at 8:00pm. Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry) will be the referee. Best of luck to all involved.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The last round of games in the Allianz Football League saw Tipperary and Clare confirmed as the top two teams and both will be playing Division 3 Football next year. An understrength Tipperary team played well against Wicklow on Sunday last only to be caught out by three late goals to lose on a scoreline of 4-12 to 0-22. Meanwhile, Clare had four points to spare over Antrim in Creggan, thereby ending Wicklow’s faint hopes of promotion. Before considering what life in Division 3 will be like next year, there is the small matter of the Division 4 Final where Tipperary and Clare will fight it out for the Division 4 title. This game will take place on Saturday April 26th at 5:00pm in Croke Park and will serve as excellent preparation for both teams ahead of the Munster Championship. We will look forward to this final in a couple of weeks but for now, serious credit it due to the management, players and backroom team on achieving our initial objective for 2014.
KERRY CAPTURE HURLING TITLE
There was a notable Tipperary involvement in the second game in Semple Stadium Thurles on Sunday last as a gritty Kerry team recovered from the concession of three first half goals to defeat Carlow by three points in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final. Kerry are managed by Eamonn Kelly (Kildangan). Brian Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams) is the trainer / coach while Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange) is involved as goalkeeping coach. David Butler (Knockavilla Kickhams) lined out at corner-forward for Kerry in Sunday’s exciting final. Victory for Kerry earned them a return trip to Thurles this coming weekend when they will play Offaly on Saturday April 12th at 6:30pm in Semple Stadium Thurles with the prize for the winners a place in Division 1B next season.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS
Looking ahead to the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Finals, Tipperary will play Clare at 4:00pm in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Sunday April 20th. The game will be preceded by the other semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway at 2pm. Tickets are now on sale via tickets.ie, Centra or Supervalu for both stands and if adult tickets are purchased in advance, patrons can avail of a €5 discount. The match day adult admission price for the stands is €20 while Students / OAP tickets are €15. Juvenile (Under 16) tickets are priced at €5. Season ticket holders will be accommodated in the Mackey Stand. Note that seating in both stands will be unreserved so it will be important for Tipperary supporters to a) buy their tickets in advance and b) arrive early to watch the first semi-final in order to ensure a good seat in the stand.
MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tipperary Minor Hurlers will get their 2014 Championship campaign underway with a trip to play the 2013 Munster Minor Hurling champions Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on this Thursday April 10th at 7:00pm (note the earlier throw-in time). Joe Larkin (Cork) is the referee. The Tipperary Minor Hurlers are managed this year by Liam Cahill (Ballingarry) helped by his selectors John Sheedy (Portroe), TJ Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Sean Corbett (Durlas Og). Brian Hogan (Lorrha) is the team captain. After an impressive victory over the eventual All-Ireland champions Waterford in Walsh Park, Tipperary were knocked out of the Championship by the eventual Munster champions Limerick last year at the semi-final stage in Thurles. Though a lot of the players on both sides are now overage, there is still a desire to set the record straight and gain a level of revenge by defeating Limerick on this occasion. Best of luck to everyone involved.
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Munster Minor Football Championship gets underway with three games down for decision on Wednesday next April 16th. Tipperary will begin their campaign with a trip to Fraher Field Dungarvan to play Waterford with a 7:00pm throw-in time. Tipperary’s record in this competition in recent years is quite good having reached 6 of the last 8 Munster Finals, winning in 2011 and 2012. Tipperary are captained this year by Willie Connors (Kildangan) with team manager Charlie McGeever (Clonmel Commercials) and his selectors of Shane Stapleton (Golden-Kilfeacle), Kieran Healy (JK Brackens), Niall Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers) and Brian White (Clonmel Commercials) hoping to get off to a positive start.
COUNTY SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The County Intermediate Hurling Championship got underway last weekend with first round victories for Holycross-Ballycahill, Thurles Sarsfields, Ballinahinch and Shannon Rovers. There are further games in this Championship this coming weekend but a lot of interest across the county will be focused on the beginning of the new look County Senior Hurling Championship. It’s a full 26 weeks since Loughmore-Castleiney captured the Dan Breen Cup and all the main contenders are looking forward to getting their Championship campaigns underway with a view to qualifying for the knockout stages. Loughmore-Castleiney will take on the 2013 West champions Eire Og Annacarty in one of the ties of the round on Saturday at 4pm in Leahy Park Cashel. The curtain-raiser to this game will be the meeting of Upperchurch-Drombane and Carrick Swan at 2:30pm. The other double-header this weekend will take place at Semple Stadium Thurles on Sunday. The first game between Roscrea and Templederry starts at 1:30pm followed by the meeting of neighbours Drom & Inch and Borris-Ileigh at 3:00pm. All 32 Senior Hurling teams are scheduled to play this weekend with 8 games currently fixed for Saturday and another 8 on Sunday so check the fixtures for details of where the games will take place.
TIPPERARY GAA MEMBERS DRAW
The final Tipperary GAA Draw for 2013/2014 took place on Saturday last in The Tipp Inn, Toomevara. The top prize of a Skoda Octavia or €15,000 went to the Templemore parish as sold by the JK Brackens club. The second prize of a Skoda Fabia or €10,000 was won by Donal Sweeney from the Ballybacon-Grange club. Thanks to everyone who joined the draw for the past year. Preparations are now underway for the 2014/2015 draw and the draw committee is working closely with the clubs and the promoters to ensure the new draw will be as successful as ever.
SUMMER CAMPS
The GAA Cúl Camps are a nationally coordinated programme of games and skill development activities taking place in a positive playing environment. They provide children with the opportunity to derive maximum enjoyment from their involvement in Gaelic Games with a view to maximising participation, optimising playing standards and ensuring that players’ needs are catered for in a balanced, age-appropriate and holistic way.
As Tipperary clubs begin preparations for their Summer Camps, please note that there is no cover under GAA Liability Insurance and / or Player Injury scheme unless a club runs a camp which has been approved by the Tipperary County Board. If a club runs a camp without approval and an incident occurs the club will be held responsible for any legal or other costs incurred.
REFEREES
Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) took charge of his first Allianz Football League game on Sunday last when he refereed Kildare’s victory over Westmeath. While Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams) was the referee for the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final between Kerry and Carlow.
PADDY BUGGY CUP FINAL
Coláiste Phobal Roscrea (Tipperary) defeated Cross and Passion College (Antrim) by 2-16 to 0-10 in the Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior B Hurling Paddy Buggy Cup Final on Saturday last at Nowlan Park Kilkenny. Well done to everyone involved with the Roscrea school.
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.
