by PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
In defeating Dublin last Saturday night 1-23 to 0-12 the Tipperary senior hurlers gave Michael Ryan a debut win in his competitive managerial career on a night when Michael in turn handed out Allianz Hurling League debuts to five players. Daire Quinn (Nenagh Éire Óg) and Dan McCormack (Borris Ileigh) made their full debut, while Dylan Fitzelle (Cashel King Cormacs), Joe Gallagher (Kiladangan) and Liam Ryan (Drom & Inch) also made their debut when introduced in the second half, with Dylan marking his debut with a point from play. Congratulations to Jason Forde (Silvermines) on receiving the Man of the Match award following his impressive 1-5 from play performance.
Next up is a visit to Nowlan Park on Sunday next, February 21st as Tipperary take on Kilkenny at 2pm. In last year’s fixture Tipperary were victorious on home soil and will be looking to do the same ‘away’ from home this year.
Of the 67 Hurling League encounters between the sides, Tipperary edges the stats with 32 wins, Kilkenny have 29 and there have been 6 draws. Last year’s 12 point win by Tipp was their biggest win since 1966.
Best wishes again to the team on Sunday and again we urge all supporters to get behind them in great numbers this weekend and over the course of the league.
Supporters are asked to get your tickets early in the week to avail of discount prices which will close at midnight on Saturday night. Ticket prices as follows; Pre-Purchase Price: Adult: €10 (Pre-Purchase discount ends midnight on the day before the fixture)
Match-Day Price: Adult: €15. Concessions: €10 available as an Adult Pre-Purchase ticket in advance or on match day at the grounds only. Juveniles under 16: free of charge
ALL IRELAND CLUB FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL
Commiserations to Clonmel Commercials who lost their All-Ireland Club Football semi-final to Ballyboden St. Enda’s after extra time, 15 points to 10 in Portlaoise last Saturday. Within touching distance of the All-Ireland Final it was to be a heart break finish for a superb outfit who served club and county with honour and pride throughout their campaign. As Munster Champions, Commercials have had a tremendous year and can be look forward to this year knowing they have what it takes to compete and win at the highest level.
MINOR FOOTBALL
The Tipperary minor football panel lost their opening Leinster Minor Football League to Laois last Saturday on a score of 3-19 to 0-7. Though missing a number of players the team will have a chance to make amends this Saturday, February 20th as they take on Louth in round 2.
MUNSTER JUNIOR B HURLING
Commiserations to Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill who were defeated by Shanballymore of Cork in the replay of the Munster Junior B Hurling on Sunday last February 14th in Raheenagh on a score line of 0-14 to 1-9 with the Éire Óg goal coming from the one and only John Quinn.
Not out of the All-Ireland series just yet though as Éire Óg with the tougher task meet Leinster Champions Tynagh/AbbeyDuniry in the All-Ireland semi-final on February 28th next as part of a semi-final double header. Their victors on Sunday, Shanballymore meet the Leinster runners up Barrow Rangers in the other semi.
HARTY CUP
All eyes this weekend will be focused on MacDonagh Park, Nenagh as Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore take on Ardscoil Ris at 2pm this Saturday in the Dr. Harty Cup Final.
We send best wishes to Our Lady’s for Saturday as they seek to emulate the Templemore team of ’78 and claim the second Harty title for Templemore. Ardscoil Ris with three recent titles under their belt in 2010, ’11 and ’14 will prove stern opposition and it promises to be an intriguing contest. Both sides were made to work hard in their respective semi-finals with Our Lady’s needing extra time to see off DLS Waterford by 2 points while Ardscoil Ris had 1 point to spare over St. Colmans.
Current team manager of Our Lady’s Noel Fogarty scored two second half goals for Templemore CBS in the 1978 Harty Cup Final, helping them to come from nine points down and defeat St. Flannans by 3-5 to 2-5 in front of 6,500 spectators at Emly. Afterwards, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dr. Thomas Morris presented the Harty Cup to Templemore captain Martin Bourke (Clonmore).
With more family connections between the ’78 team and the current side it will be an historic day for Our Lady’s who look to put recent losses in 2000, ’02 and more recently ’13 firmly behind them.
Patrons are advised to come in good time to the Harty Cup Final. There will be no parking in MacDonagh Park GAA grounds other than that for teams and officials. Ample parking is available on the approach roads to the grounds. Patrons are requested to respect neighbours of the ground and local areas and not to obstruct property access gates and roadways. Patrons should be aware that public car parks in the town centre are free only for the first 2 hours on Saturdays.
SCÓR
Scór Sinsear Final takes place in Clonmore this Friday night February 19th with an 8pm start time. Following our success in Scór Sinsear last year we hope as many clubs as possible will be represented. This is a straight final and the winners in the different disciplines will go forward to the Munster Finals in Ovens, best of luck to all clubs participating on Friday.
Tráth na gCeist – Scór Sinsear
The battle of wits between clubs will take place on Friday night also preceding the main event in Clonmore with a 7.30pm start. Last year’s winners Moyne Templetuohy will be keen to defend their title and the question master Paddy Kelly will no doubt set them a tough task. All clubs are encouraged to take part in this competition and let our County Rúnaí Máire De Búrca 087 2160430 know as soon as possible if you are taking part. Contestant and supporters please note that the Tráth na gCeist will be held in room off main hall in Clonmore. Go néirí libh.
Comórtas Ealaíne Scór na bPáistí Art Competition
Inviting all those taking part in Scór na bPáistí Events throughout the county to take part in Our Colouring Competition. Posters will be distributed at Scór events at parish and divisional levels. Entries are to be returned to Lár na Páirce on or before March 9th. Bígí ag péinteáil.
REFEREES
Best wishes to our Tipperary referees who are on duty in round 2 of the Allianz Hurling Leagues next weekend. First up on Saturday night Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) takes charge of the Roinn 1A fixture between Dublin and Galway in Parnell Park.
On Sunday in Roinn 1B, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan Dualla) is in the middle for the Kerry v Limerick tie in Fitzgerald Stadium, while John O’Brien (Arravale Rovers) is in charge of the Carlow v London fixture in Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow.
FITZGIBBON CUP
The decisive last round of group games in the Fitzgibbon Cup produced some upsets last week with Tipperary players involved across the board. In Group A, the tie of the round saw LIT travel to the Mardyke and earn a 2-15 to 1-14 victory which knocks UCC out of the knockout stages. Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) lined out at centre-back with Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) at midfield for LIT while Willie Connors (Kiladangan) was introduced as a sub. Michael Breen (Ballina) played at full-back for UCC. UCD defeated Maynooth by 1-13 to 0-10 to join LIT in the Quarter-Finals with Michael Campion (Roscrea) lining out at corner-back for Maynooth.
In Group B, IT Carlow defeated WIT by 1-8 to 1-5 with both teams already through to the Quarter-Finals. DCU and St. Pats Drumcondra finished in a draw with both colleges out of the running for the knockout stages.
Group C was arguably the toughest of the groups with three teams finishing on 4 points. Mary Immaculate College topped the group courtesy of a 1-20 to 0-5 victory over Dublin IT. Andrew Ryan (Toomevara), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) all started for Mary I while Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) was introduced as a sub. NUIG defeated UL by 0-16 to 0-15 but the Galway side lost out on scoring difference and bowed out of the competition. Conor Ryan (Nenagh Éire Óg) played at corner-back for NUIG while Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy), Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Jason Forde (Silvermines), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Tommy Heffernan all started for UL with Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) being introduced as a second half substitute. The Quarter-Finals scheduled for this week will see Mary Immaculate v GMIT; Cork IT v UL; Limerick IT v WIT and IT Carlow v UCD.
SIGERSON CUP
The Quarter-Finals of the Sigerson Cup took place last week. UL caused an upset when defeating Queen’s University by 0-12 to 1-8. Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Ted Lowry and Niall O’Donovan (both Arravale Rovers) are part of the UL panel. UCD defeated UCC by 3-11 to 1-9 with Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) as part of the UCD panel. DCU defeated IT Carlow by 0-14 to 0-7 with Ballina’s Steven O’Brien making a substitute appearance for DCU. Mark Russell (Aherlow Gaels) lined out at midfield for IT Carlow with Thomas Nolan (Drom & Inch) as a sub. The semi-finals scheduled for this coming Friday will see UL v UCD and DCU taking on the hosts University of Ulster Jordanstown. The winners will play in Saturday’s final.
CORN DAITHI BILLINGS
Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan) at centre back captained the UCD side that lost the Dave Billings Freshers ‘A’ football final by a single point to DCU last Monday in Croke Park. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) also lined out at midfield for UCD.
TIPPERARY PERSON OF THE YEAR 2015
Both Noel McGrath who has been selected as the Tipperary Person of the Year for 2015 by the Tipperary Association Dublin and Doctor John Ryan, a native of Ardfinnan, who is to be awarded the Hall of Fame for 2015 will receive their awards at the Annual Awards Function on Saturday the 5th of March next in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Dublin. Tickets (€40 each) are available from Pat Ryan, 11 Foxfield Grove, Raheny, Dublin 5. Tel.: 087 6376663. Email: psoriain@eircom.net
GAMES DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATORS
Changes have been made to the areas and locations of some of our GDA’s for 2016.Following great work over the last two years in South Tipperary Paudie Malone reverts to his home base in North Tipperary. Similarly following his first year as GDA in North Tipperary John O’Keeffe will now cover South Tipperary. John did a great job in the North and clubs can look forward to his assistance in South Tipperary. Andy Ryan Mid Tipperary and Kevin Halley West Tipperary remain in place as usual. All GDA’s are there for the benefit of the clubs and divisions and we urge you to make contact with them.
Contact details are; Andy Ryan 087-9090985 andy.ryan.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie Kevin Halley 086-1925188 kevin.halley.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie Paudie Malone 087-9698153 paudie.malone.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie and John O’Keeffe 087-2106497 john.okeeffe.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie
FOOTBALL ‘FRIENDS’ MONSTER RACE NIGHT
The Friends of Tipperary Football are looking forward their monster race night in South Tipperary GAA Centre this Saturday night February and it promises to be a great night.
The organisers are very appreciative of the great response they have received from Tipperary supporters over a wide area. Patrons can support the race night in a number of ways and the ‘Friends’ would be delighted to hear from people willing to sponsor the event. You are invited to generously sponsor a race for €100 – the race will be named after you or your company and will be announced on the evening. Alternatively, you may consider kindly placing an advertisement in the race night programme- €50 for a quarter page, €100 for half page, €160 for full page. A “full house” is expected in South Tipperary GAA Centre on the evening with patrons invited to purchase a horse in the race for €10.
The ‘Friends’ say a big ‘thank you’ to their fervent supporters, and look forward to their huge support for the eagerly-awaited race night on Saturday night in South Tipperary GAA Centre.
SOUTH TIPP GAA CENTRE
The South Tipp GAA Centre in Clonmel will host a memorabilia fair this Saturday March 19th, from 12noon until 4pm, donations of material for all sports will be much appreciated. Those who wish to host their own table at that event and present their own material for sale are welcome to do so. Tables can be booked at a €10 fee by contacting the Centre on 052-6121806 or per the following; Seάn Nugent 087-2669304 and Noel Byrne 086-8076080.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is now available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. The Tipperary Supporters Club are delighted to announce that the 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
MEATH – TIPP CONNECTION
Timmy Hammersley (Clonoulty-Rossmore) lined out for Meath at centre forward in their opening round of the Allianz Hurling League Division 2B against Wicklow last Sunday, scoring three points on his debut for Meath. He joins fellow Tipperary native Ronan Sherlock (Silvermines) in the Meath squad this year.
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.
