Tipperary GAA Scene – February 15th 2017

By PRO Joe Bracken

SENIOR HURLING

Congratulations to the Tipperary senior hurlers who got their Allianz League Division 1A campaign off to a perfect start with a comfortable victory over Dublin 1-24 to 1-8 in a cold and rain sodden Croke Park on Saturday evening last. It was a hugely successful start to his reign as captain for Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), right, who was also named the Allianz Man of the Match following his performance in which he contributed two points from play. Like last year Jason Forde (Silvermines) was the Tipperary goal scorer with 1-3 his contribution on the night.

Steven O’Brien (Ballina) and Aidan McCormack (Thurles Sarsfields) were both handed debuts for the match and Aidan finished off with five points to his name from play and was also a worthy contender for man of the match.

With two points in the bag, Tipperary head to Walsh Park on Sunday next, February 19th, to take on Waterford in their own back yard in Round 2 at 2pm and what a tussle is in prospect. The Déise will have Tipp in their sights for quite a while and will provide much sterner test than a young Dublin outfit did last weekend.

There have been 44 previous League meetings, between the sides where Tipperary have won 32, Waterford 9 and there were 3 draws. Waterford’s last four wins (2007, 2013, 2015, 2016) were all by one point including last year’s game at Semple Stadium, when Austin Gleeson’s long range point proved to be the winner.

Waterford’s win at Walsh Park on March 24th, 2013 was the first time they had beaten Tipp on home soil in a league game since November 17th, 1935.

Of the last 10 league games, Tipp are in front 5 to 4 on the head to head with 1 draw which was in 2010.

Best wishes to the team for Sunday as the lads head to Walsh Park looking for a second win in the league; it certainly won’t be easy so a huge Tipperary support would be the perfect prescription to help keep the Déise fever at bay. Sunday’s referee will be Diarmuid Kirwan (Corcaigh). Tickets are on sale gaa.ie and selected SuperValu and Centra stores with adult tickets costing €15 and U16’s €5. Buy before match day and get 20% off adult tickets. They should be purchased early as this game is likely to draw a huge attendance.

SENIOR FOOTBALL

A tough day on the job for the Tipperary footballers saw the team lose by the narrowest of margins 2-14 to 1-16 in their Round 2 fixture in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League against Sligo on Sunday last. In a first half where they were tormented by Sligo the players really turned things around in a superb second half display showing the same fighting spirit that brought them great admiration and praise last season. The Tipperary goal once again came courtesy of Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) while Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers) was most unlucky not to see his pile driver find the top corner of the net late on in the game.

We send best wishes to Philip Austin (Borrisokane) who was stretchered off late on also and hope that his injury isn’t too serious. He is a fundamental player in Liam Kearns’ forward unit and is a vital cog for the side.

With two weeks to the next tie away to Laois, Tipperary will need to keep up the momentum and hopefully redeem the points lost on Sunday.

MINOR FOOTBALL

The Tipperary minor footballers commenced their annual sojourn in the Leinster Minor League last Saturday taking on Wicklow in Group 3 and came away with a two point win, 0-10 to 0-8. This Saturday, February 18th, they meet Dublin in Parnell Park at 2.30pm, so best wishes to the team in that fixture.

REFEREES

Best wishes to Tipperary referees on duty this weekend; Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) takes charge of the AHL Division 1B fixture between Laois and Offaly in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday night, while Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) is in the middle for the Corn Thomais Mhic Cholim schools final also on Saturday.

TIPPERARY GAA DRAW

The results of the February Tipperary GAA Members Draw held in Gerry Moynihan’s Bar, Clonmel saw the main star prize of a Renault Megane or €15,000 go to Rosemary Joyce whose ticket was sold by Nenagh Eire Óg. Second prize of a Renault Clio or €10,000 went to Philip Doheny and Philip’s ticket was sold by the Roscrea GAA Club and congratulations to all the draw winners.

HARTY CUP

After being so close last year Our Lady’s Templemore go in search of Harty Cup glory again this Saturday, February 18th, as they prepare to play St. Colman’s Fermoy in the Dr. Harty Cup Hurling Final at 2pm in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick. Without needing any reminders, 1978 is the last and only time Templemore welcomed the Harty Cup to the town when Templemore CBS brought glory and honour to itself, the town and surrounding clubs with a famous victory. The current team are suitable equipped in all departments to finally emulate that maiden victory and in doing so create their own history in the famed competition. Laced with county minor stars who tasted All-Ireland success with Tipperary in 2016, Our Lady’s is a side brimming with confidence and possess the necessary artillery to quell the Colman’s challenge on Saturday.

Six players who were part of the Tipperary All-Ireland minor winning side of 2016 lined out for Our lady’s in the semi-final and are sure to play a prominent role on Saturday; Paddy Cadell  who captains the side and Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens) along with Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh), Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny) and Stevie Nolan (Drom & Inch). Best wishes therefore to Our Lady’s as no doubt all of Tipperary will be shouting for you on the day.

If you are unable to attend Saturday’s games in the Gaelic Grounds Limerick, note that both the Harty Cup and Corn Thomais Mhic Cholim Finals will be streamed live via the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools web site at www.munstergaapps.ie and will also be available to view afterwards.

CORN THOMAIS MHIC CHOLIM FINAL

The curtain-raiser to Saturday’s Dr. Harty Cup Final will be the Corn Thomais Mhic Cholim (18.5 B Hurling) Final between John the Baptist Hospital and Rice College Ennis. This competition is named after Tom Collum, a long time stalwart of Post Primary Schools GAA in Tipperary and Munster. The Hospital panel includes six players from the West Tipperary club of Emly with Conor Phipps, Paul O’Heney, Conor Burke, Danny Cunningham, Kevin McGrath and Séan McGrath involved. Fergal Horgan of Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams is the referee for this game with a 12 noon throw-in.

JUNIOR B MUNSTER FINAL

Commiserations to Upperchurch-Drombane whose junior hurlers lost out to Whitechurch (Cork) 0-17 to 1-11 in the Munster final at Killeedy GAA grounds in Raheenagh, Co. Limerick on Sunday last, February 12th.

FITZGIBBON CUP

The remaining colleges in competition have reached the quarter-final stages of the Independent.ie HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup where Mary Immaculate College Limerick played N.U.I. Galway and University College Cork met DCU Dóchas Éireann on Tuesday, February 14th.

While on Wednesday, February 15th the two remaining ties see University of Limerick play IT Carlow and Limerick IT take on University College Dublin. With plenty of Tipperary interest on the panels all eyes will be focused on results to see who makes it through to the semi-finals on Friday week, February 24th, in Dangan. The final will be played the following day, February 25th, in Pearse Stadium, Galway.

SIGERSON CUP

It’s down to the semi-final stage of the Independent.ie Sigerson Cup with UCC meeting St. Marys at 2pm and UL taking on UCD at 4pm, both in the Connacht GAA Centre, this Friday, February 17th. The final will be played the following day February 18th, at 3pm in the same venue.

SCÓR NA nÓG ALL-IRELAND FINALS

Three clubs from Tipperary represented County and Province in the All-Ireland Finals of Scór na nÓg in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on Saturday last, February 11th. This splendid auditorium overlooking the River Lagan was the venue for the most wonderful display of song, music, dance and drama and it was surely an All-Ireland Final of winners all.

The Tráth na gCeist took place in Studio 1 and Valerie McCarthy – Gaelic Footballer supreme posed the Questions to 28 teams from all over Ireland. Loughmore Castleiney maestros Jack Cullen, Cathal and Conor Ryan and Gearóid Treacy under the excellent tutelage of Murt Ryan battled their wits against fine competition. True to form they were not found lacking and finished with a remarkable score of 53 – the winning team Donegal coming in with 58.Thank you lads for such a fine display and we wish Eimear McGrath ádh mhór in the All-Ireland Camogie Finals, thank you Eimear for your contribution with the team.

Pictured below is the Loughmore-Castleiney Tráth na gCeist team.

Rince Foirne was the first of the competitions to be staged in the auditorium and had the young ladies from Newcastle representing Tipperary and Munster. Caelinn McGrath, Kayleigh O’Brien, Hollie Bourke, Sarah English, Aoife Leahy, Rebecca Sheehan, Eimear O’Connor and Orla Nugent with Kathy McGrath as teacher and mentor gave a perfect performance and danced their hearts out to tumultuous applause from the audience. However, it was the Naomh Cillian club from Whitecross, Armagh that were judged to be the winners and lifted the trophy on high. We are immensely proud of the Newcastle girls and thank you all for such dedication and practice and hard work throughout the year. Maith sibh.

Amhránaíocht Aonair. Tá ainm in airde ag Buiríos Uí Luigheach i gcúrsaí spóirt agus i gcúrsaí cultúrtha i gcoitinne. That proud tradition continued as Seosamh Ó Baoill took to the stage in the Amhranaíocht Aonair competition. Seosamh charmed the audience with his song The Hills Around Listowel and being the first of the solo performers in the auditorium he set the tone for the evening leaving us in no doubt as to his being such a worthy Munster winner. The standard of competition again was excellent and it was Niamh McDowell from Glasdromain CLG in the Kingdom of Mourne who received the judge’s call.  No doubt we will see Seosamh take to the stage again agus beidh lá eile aige gan dabht.

In the absence of Aogán Ó Fearghail Uachtarán CLG, the Ard Stiurthóir, Páraic Duffy, congratulated all the participants and their families, mentors and supporters. On that note a míle míle buíochas to all who travelled to Belfast for the weekend and we applaud your constant support and encouragement for our young performers. It is much appreciated.

SCÓR NA bPAISTÍ

In what has been a very busy few weeks for Scór na nÓg preparations are also in full swing with parish and divisional competitions ongoing. Our paistí and mentors are busily working hard to take to the stage around the county and we wish all the best of luck in their on stage performances especially those making a debut. Tosach maith leath na hoibre. Go néirí libh.

The County Final of Scór na bPáistí is set for Sunday 12th March in Cashel. Parish, divisional semi-finals are already taking place and we encourage all clubs to be represented in this competition. Mol an Óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

Keep an eye out for your divisional dates and fixtures and we are hoping that all of our páistí will take part in the Art Competition again this year. Our judges were most impressed by the quality of the entries last year and we appreciate the time and energy that all our mentors, teachers, parents and participants put into Scór activities year after year. Maith sibh your divisional representatives will be happy to advise you.

HANDBALL

Congratulations to Stefan Tobin, Gaelscoil Carrick-On-Suir who won the boys U11S Cumann na mBunscoil Munster final on Sunday last, February 12th, in Cappagh, Limerick.

CAMOGIE

Congratulations to Ursuline, Thurles who reached the O’Neill’s Post Primary Senior A Camogie Championship Final where they will meet Loreto Kilkenny following their 4-5 to 0-8 defeat of Cross and Passion (Antrim) in the Semi-Final.

SCOLÁIREACHTAÍ 2017

All clubs are circulated with application forms for the Gaeltacht scholarships in early February and the form will also be available for download on the Tipperarary GAA web site. Bígí cinnte go bhfuil na foirmeacha i gceart agaibh agus go bhfuil cláruimhir an chlub breactha síos agaibh. Cuirfear na hiarrthóirí go léir faoi agallamh arís i mbliana.

Bí ag faire amach ar na fógraí sna nuachtáin agus ar an suíomh. Make sure your application is in by the appointed date.

Téann na daltaí go Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne.go Coláiste Na Rinne agus go Gaeltacht Chorcaí chomh maith. Níl cead ag iarrthóirí an dara scoláireacht a bhuachan. Tá an scéim thuas teoranta i mbliana arís do dhaltaí sa 2/5ú bliain agus an idirbhliain. Go néirí libh.

SEASON TICKETS WARNING

The following is a circular from the GAA Ticket Office in relation to abuse of GAA season tickets: With the 2017 Allianz Leagues having commenced in both codes the GAA Ticket Office would like to draw attention to some issues that have been witnessed by GAA Ticket Office staff and also have brought to our attention over the opening two weekends.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• The presentation of multiple season ticket cards or tickets for scanning at turnstiles in order to falsify attendance records for non-attending Season Ticket holders is strictly prohibited.
• Adults will not be permitted entry to a fixture using a Juvenile (U16) GAA Season Ticket card.
• GAA Season Ticket holders are not permitted to transfer Season Ticket cards at Match Day venues.
• Similarly, GAA Season Ticket holders are not permitted to enter a ground using a Season Ticket card and then exit a ground in order to try and re-enter using a different GAA Season Ticket card.The above practices completely undermine the entire Season Ticket product and also undermine the GAA Season Ticket Holders who have travelled, some of them huge distances, to attend a particular fixture.

We have witnessed such incidents and also been informed by County Boards, and by fellow Season Ticket holders that these types of incidents have occurred at multiple venues over the past two weekends.

The above practices completely undermine the entire Season Ticket product and also undermine the GAA Season Ticket Holders who have travelled, some of them huge distances, to attend a particular fixture.

We have issued a directive to all County Boards to note the details of any Season Ticket cards which are abused in this manner. If a GAA Season Ticket card within an account is found to be used in any of the aforementioned ways, we will have no option but to cancel all GAA Season Tickets within that account.

CLUB CHILDREN’S OFFICER WORKSHOP

There will be a club children’s officer workshop on Thursday, March 2nd at 7pm in Thurles Sarsfields Centre. A facilitator from Croke Park will be in attendance to give the workshop. The workshop is 3 hours and participants must attend the full 3 hours in order to receive a certificate.

All club children’s officers are encouraged to attend this workshop as it will be very informative and beneficial to their role within the club. Those officers involved should confirm their attendance for the workshop by email to trina.maher@gmail.com or text 085 7307533by this Friday, February 17th.

Any queries please contact Caitriona Maher, Mid Tipperary Children’s Officer, 085 7307533.

SPIRIT OF TIPPERARY

There will be a launch of the new edition of ‘The Spirit of Tipperary’ in Conradh Na Gaelige Hall Dún Mhuire, Nenagh this Wednesday night February 15th at 8pm. It was first published in the 1930’s by Padraig O’Meara and Tom McDonald.

The O’Meara family have a long association with GAA in Tipperary; Jack O’Meara (Skinny) played in goal in the 1913 All-Ireland hurling final while his bother Tom was goalkeeper when Tipperary won the Senior All-Ireland in 1930.

Their nephew Martin who himself played with Nenagh in the 1970’s took on the huge task of getting the book reprinted as the original has been out of print since 1937. All book lovers and Tipperary people are welcome to attend and to buy your copy of The Spirit of Tipperary for posterity now.

The book is in two parts English and Irish. The Irish section was in the Cló Ceilteach but has been updated to the Cló Rómhánach. The place names have also been extracted and are listed now at the back of the book. Biographies have been updated also.

THE BLOODIED FIELD

Sr. Áine Historical Society presents Michael Foley of the Sunday Times and author of The Bloodied Field in the McAuley Centre, Templemore this Thursday, February 16th at 8pm. Those present will hear an account of the dramatic events at Croke Park in 1920 which is one of the most notable events in Irish history and with the Tipperary connection it should be of great interest to GAA followers and the general public.

TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB 2017 MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL DVD A POPULAR GIFT A record number of members have signed up already for 2017 and we thank you for your support. The member’s gift in 2017 is a specially-produced DVD of Tipperary’s 2016 season.

The membership and DVD is an ideal gift and we can send it to you or forward it on directly anywhere in the world if you wish.

The membership pack also includes a membership card, car/window sticker and entry in to draws for five pairs of tickets for each of Tipperary’s Munster and All-Ireland Senior Championship matches with two nights’ accommodation for two people in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin included for one winner for the All-Ireland Hurling Final if Tipperary reach the senior final. Members are entitled to discounts including 10% on purchases in the Tipperary GAA Shop, Thurles. Members also get text alerts with team announcements before Tipperary’s League and Championship matches.

Supporters can join on line now on tippsupportersclub.com/join by credit card or debit/laser card. Membership is €40 per person. 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. We are encouraging members to switch to Direct Debit payment by offering a reduced charge of €30 for all Direct Debit members in 2017. It’s easy to sign up for Direct Debit, just download the two-page form from the Tipperary Supporters Club website at http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/ fill it out and send it to Jim Reidy at the address below.

If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order for €40 payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15 (086-3580718, email: info@tippsupportersclub.com ) All proceeds from membership go towards the preparation and training of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Team.

FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL

The Friends of Tipperary Football continue selling membership at a very affordable price of €20.  Membership enters each supporter into the following draws: 2 All Ireland Final Football tickets 2017; 2 All Ireland Final Hurling tickets 2017; 2 Tickets for each Tipperary Senior Football Championship matches 2017; 2 All Ireland Club Final tickets 2017 and 2 National Football League tickets for each Tipperary League match in 2017

Membership is available from each division: South – Aidan McNamara; West – Kevin Barron; North – Joe Hannigan and Kevin McLoughlin and Mid – Trish Gavin.

Membership is also available online through the Friends website www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com and there is also a link on the Friends Facebook page.

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.