by PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
Unfortunately the trip to Nowlan Park on Sunday last didn’t go as Tipperary supporters had hoped with Tipperary losing a close contest at the death 2-17 to 18 points to Kilkenny in round 2 of the league.
Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg) made his league debut coming on late in the second half while John O’Dwyer’s tally of 9 points was equal to that of Eoin Kelly for Tipp in the league in 2013, with Seamus Callanan 3-6 in 2014 and 1-7 in 2015 the highest scorer in the past two season’s encounters.
Incidentally, current selector Conor Stakelum was Tipp’s highest scorer with 0-7 between the sides in the league in November 1991. Next up for Tipperary is a home tie against Waterford on Sunday week, March 6th in Semple Stadium.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
After their short break the Tipperary Senior footballers make the journey up to Cusack Park, Mullingar to take on Westmeath in round 3 of the Allianz Football League Roinn 3 on Sunday next, February 28th at 2pm. Westmeath relegated from Roinn 2 last year have lost both matches so far and are rooted at the bottom of the table, while Tipperary are in second place on 3 points and will be wary of the home side challenge. We send best wishes to our Tipp side and hope they make it win number two on Sunday and consolidate their position in the league. The referee for this match is Liam Devenney from Mayo.
MINOR FOOTBALL
The Tipperary minor football panel lost their second Leinster Minor Football League match away to Louth 2-11 to 2-5 last Saturday. Their next game is against Wicklow this Saturday, February 27th in round 3.
ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR B HURLING
Best wishes to Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill who meet Leinster Champions Tynagh/AbbeyDuniry from Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday next February 28th at 3pm in Killeedy.
HARTY CUP
Commiserations to Our Lady’s Templemore who failed in their bid for Harty success to Ardscoil Ris in the final in Nenagh last Saturday on a score line of 0-11 points to 0-8. Next up for Our Lady’s is the All-Ireland Quarter-Final fixture against Gort Community School on March 5th next. For the victors, Jack Delahunty from Newport was the sole Tipperary representative in the side, so congratulations to Jack.
CORN UÍ MHUIRI
The High School Clonmel will take on St. Brendan’s Killarney on Saturday next, February 27th, in the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Corn Ui Mhuiri (Senior A Football) Final at 2pm in Mallow GAA Complex. The Clonmel school qualified for the final with victories over three Cork schools (including two wins over last year’s Finalists St. Francis College Rochestown) as well as a first round victory over Kerry’s IS Killorglin.
The High School starting line-up contains players from the Clonmel Commercials, Moyle Rovers, Ardfinnan and Kilsheelan-Kilcash clubs in addition to The Nire in Waterford. St. Brendan’s Killarney have been impressive in their campaign to date but HS Clonmel will travel in confidence as they strive to bring back the Corn Ui Mhuiri title to the school for the first time since 1928. We wish them every success and best wishes.
CORN THOMÁIS MHIC CHOILM
Abbey CBS take to the field this Thursday, February 25th at 2pm in Ballyagran, Co. Limerick in the final of the Corn Thomáis Mhic Choilm (18.5 B Hurling) to take on Mitchelstown CBS. We send best wishes and every success also to the Abbey and hope they will bring home the silverware.
SCÓR
Bhí na sluaite i láthair in Ionad an Phobail sa Chluain Mhór oíche Dé hAoine don Chraobh Sinsear. Seán mac Aodhain a bhí mar fhear an tí againn agus dhein John na hiomaitheoirí a chur i láthair sna rannóga difriula. B’iad foireann Trath na gCeist ó Loughmore Castleiney a fuair an lámh in uachtar sa chraobh sin and we wish Murt and his team all the best in the All-Ireland Finals in Killarney on April 2nd next.
A sincere míle buíochas to the Clonmore Scór committee for hosting the event and for their wonderful hospitality and we congratulate all competitors and all the winners on the night. Scoth den cheol, den rince, den amhránaíocht agus dar ndóigh den drámaíocht a bhí ann. Go neirí go geal leo uile i gCraobh na Mumhan in Ovens i gceann coicíse.
Our winners on the night were Tráth na gCeist- Loughmore Castleiney, Rince Foirne- Newcastle, Amhránaíocht Aonair –Sinéad Grant (Newcastle), Scéalaíocht –Lil O’Grady (Newport), Ceol Uirlise – J K Brackens, Bailéad Ghrúpa – Newport, Léiriú – Borris-Ileigh B The Forgotten Women of 1916 agus Rince Seit – Newcastle.
As Scór na bPáistí is faoi lán seoil we congratulate all competitors and their mentors for taking part and wish you all well in divisional finals next weekend .Go néirí libh. Comórtas Ealaíne Scór na bPáistí Art Competition. Inviting all those taking part in Scór na bPáistí of 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.
FITZGIBBON CUP
The scene is set now for the Fitzgibbon Cup weekend this Friday and Saturday hosted by the Cork Institute of Technology following last week’s Quarter-Final action. In the first of the Quarter-Finals on Tuesday last, Mary Immaculate College proved too strong for GMIT, winning by 2-25 to 0-10. John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney), Andrew Ryan (Toomevara) and Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) lined out in the Mary I defence with Thurles Sarsfields duo Stephen Cahill and Ronan Maher at midfield and Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) at wing-forward. Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel) was a half-time sub. Brendan Tuohey (Moneygall) lined out at wing-forward for GMIT.
In the second Quarter-final, UCD (managed by Nicky English) needed extra time to defeat IT Carlow by 1-17 to 1-16. Mark Russell (Lattin Cullen Gaels) started at midfield for IT Carlow while Thomas Nolan (Drom & Inch) was introduced as a substitute. On Wednesday last, the third Quarter-Final saw LIT defeat WIT by 0-16 to 0-8. Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) and Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) lined out in the half-back line for LIT while Willie Connors (Kiladangan) and Jason Ryan (Toomevara) were introduced as subs. For WIT (managed by Colm Bonnar), Tom Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty) and Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule) started at wing-back and midfield respectively. The last Quarter-Final saw defending champions UL get the better of CIT by 2-19 to 3-11. The UL starting line-up included Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) while Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) came on as a substitute. For CIT, Conor Hammersley (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg) started in a game refereed by Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla).
This Friday’s semi-final line-up in the Cork Institute of Technology will see UL play UCD at 1pm while LIT and Mary I contest the other semi-final at 3pm. The winners meet in the Fitzgibbon Cup Final on Saturday at 3pm.
SIGERSON CUP
UCD captured the Sigerson Cup title for 2016 following a 0-10 to 2-2 victory over DCU on Saturday last in Jordanstown. Congratulations to midfielder Liam Casey (Cahir) and substitute Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule) that were part of the winning UCD panel while Steven O’Brien started at midfield for DCU, scoring a goal in the final. In Friday’s semi-finals, UCD proved too strong for a UL side, winning by 4-12 to 1-9 with Liam Casey scoring one of the UCD goals. Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers) and Niall O’Donovan (Arravale Rovers) were introduced as substitutes for UL. In the other semi-final, DCU defeated University of Ulster Jordanstown by 1-14 to 0-13.
CORN COMHAIRLE ARDOIDEACHAIS FINAL
Commiserations to St. Patrick’s College Thurles who were defeated in the Independent.ie HE GAA Corn Comhairle Ardoideachais Final to Drogheda IFE 2-13 to 1-9 last Saturday in Jordanstown.
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
MONTHLY MEMOIRS
Continuing their series of lively discussion and insight into Tipperary Sporting Events, Monday, March 7th next in the Horse & Jockey Hotel is not to be missed as Tipperary Gaelic Football takes centre stage from 8pm. Admission is €10 and proceeds go to the Friends of Tipperary Football where the panel includes Michael ‘Babs’ Keating, Declan Browne and Seamus McCarthy. The interviewers on the night will be Claire McNamara and Brian Lacey, so mark the date in your diary.
HANDBALL
The Cumann na Mbunscoil finals were held in Kingscourt in Cavan at the Weekend. The four Provinces were represented and 48 young boys and girls competed against each other in a fun day of some great handball. The provincial winners got the opportunity to compete against the 3 other Provinces. Áine Spain and Anna Mulcahy from Ardcroney N.S. represented Munster in the Girls U13 Doubles. They came home unbeaten having defeated Ulster 15/2, 15/3, Connaught 15/7, 15/7 & Leinster 15/5, 15/11. In the Juvenile Championships Tipperary are through to the All-Ireland Semi Finals on Sunday March 6th v Leinster.
We hope to add to this list when we contest GU16 S on Monday night in Kilworth where Síle Spain is up against Laura Hayes from Cork. Also in Kilworth on Monday Eleanor Percy & Katie Gould contest the Girls U17 Doubles against Anna Dunne & Aoife Hurley from Cork. On Tuesday night in Mallow Sean Mc Adams & John McGrath are up against Conor Walsh & Cian O’Driscoll from Cork.
Elsewhere, in the Ladies Minor Singles Sinéad Meagher had a good win over Doireann Murphy from Clare in the Munster Final. In Senior Singles Ger Coonan was defeated by Eoin Kennedy Dublin, while in the Junior B Doubles Declan Gleeson and David O’Brien defeated Shane Hayes and Fiachra Hayes Clare. In the Minor Doubles Q/F Aiden O Flaherty & Colin Ryan lost out to David Walsh and Tadhg O Neill from Cork.
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
SYMPATHY
We extend our sympathy to the family of the late Jimmy Hennessy (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) and Life President of the West Board having served as secretary and treasurer for the board. Jimmy was also a Tipperary selector when the county won the Senior All-Ireland Hurling Final of 1971.
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.
