by PRO Joe Bracken
SH CHALLENGE
In a senior hurling challenge match in Dr. Morris Park on Sunday last, January 31st, Tipperary defeated Laois 1-31 to 0-17 as Mick Ryan’s men continue preparations ahead of the visit of Dublin to Semple Stadium on Saturday week, February 13th for the opening round in the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tipperary travelled to Kilmallock for their opening Allianz Football League Division 3 fixture against Limerick last Sunday and after a gritty performance came away with a share of the spoils – Tipperary 2-09 Limerick 1-12. Playing with the wind in the first half Tipp held the advantage at half time, thanks to a terrific team ethic and a fine Peter Acheson goal. A tale of two halves Limerick came back to go in front, but showing great character Tipp responded to level affairs with an excellent Josh Keane goal and then went in front but at the death Limerick equalised.
Next up is round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 3 this Sunday in Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town as Clare come to meet Tipperary at 2pm, with referee Padraig O’Sullivan in charge.
In last year’s encounter Tipperary defeated Clare by 6 points in Semple Stadium and has won all four previous league encounters between the sides. A win on Sunday would be a huge benefit to Tipp before they head to Westmeath for round 3 at the end of the month.
U21 LEINSTER LEAGUE
Commiseration to the Tipperary U21footballers who lost out by the narrowest of margins after extra time in the Leinster Under 21 Football League (Peter McNulty Shield) Final to Down on a score line of Down 0-18 Tipperary 1-14, last Saturday January 30th, at Round Towers Club, Kildare.
CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS
The West Senior Hurling Championship draws took place last Thursday night at the Adjourned Convention. The West has three teams this year, Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill, Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams and Clonoulty Rossmore. The competition will be run on a round robin basis with the top two teams qualifying for this year’s West Final. Kickhams will play Clonoulty Rossmore in the opening game with Éire Óg taking on the winners. Éire Óg will play the losers of the first game in the last round of games.
Elsewhere the North Senior Hurling Championship Draw was made on Monday night, February 1st last and resulted as follows; Burgess v Moneygall, Roscrea v Lorrha Dorrha, Borris Ileigh v Silvemines, Nenagh Éire Óg v Templederry Kenyons, Kiladangan v Toomevara, Ballina v Portroe.
Kilruane MacDonaghs and Borrisokane have a bye to the Quarter-Finals
REFEREE
Best wishes to Derek O’Mahoney – Ardfinnan, who takes charge of the Allianz Football League Roinn 2 decider between Galway and Tyrone in Pearse Stadium on Sunday next, February 7th at 2pm.
TIPPERARY FIXTURES
The South Division the U21 ‘A’ final drew the curtain down on 2015 affairs last Sunday with congratulations going to Carrick Swan who defeated Mullinahone 1-14 to 0-13.
TIPPERARY GAA MEMBERS DRAW
The February Monthly Draw will take place this Friday, February 5th, in Golden at 10pm.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB LAUNCH
The official launch of the Tipperary Supporters Club 2016 Membership took place before a well-attended gathering in the Horse & Jockey Hotel last Thursday night. Chairman John Tierney outlined the Supporters Club importance to helping out the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel and alluded to the fact that the Supporters Club is now 30 years in existence. With membership still at €30, he echoed the phrase ’30 for 30’ as he put out a rallying cry to all Tipperary Supporters to get behind the side in 2016. It is the wish of the Supporters Club that membership would be revitalised in this its 30th year and that the magical figure of 3000 members could be achieved.
It is not an unreasonable target and if each 2015 member could get one more to join that figure would be smashed in no time at all, so Supporters Club Members do the best you can for the Premier cause.
Special guests on the night included Senior Hurling manager Michael Ryan and senior players Brendan Maher (Captain), Padraic Maher and Conor Kenny.
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
DR. HARTY CUP SEMI-FINALS
Congratulations to Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore who defeated De La Salle Waterford by 2-15 to 2-13 after extra time in a classic Dr. Harty Cup Semi-Final in Bansha on Saturday last. Our Lady’s will now play Ard Scoil Ris in the final on Saturday February 20th at a venue to be confirmed.
CORN UI MHUIRI SEMI-FINALS
Best wishes to the High School Clonmel who take on St. Francis College Rochestown (Cork) in the Corn Ui Mhuiri Under 18 ½ A Football Semi-Final this Saturday at 1:30pm in Fermoy. The schools met in the group stages of this competition back in November with Clonmel winning by 2-12 to 1-11. St. Brendan’s Killarney (Kerry) take on St. Flannans (Clare) in the other semi-final, also on Saturday at 1:30pm in Rathkeale.
FITZGIBBON CUP ROUND-UP
The Fitzgibbon Cup 3rd Level Colleges Hurling competition got underway last week with 7 games down for decision in the group stages. Predictably there were numerous Tipperary players involved. The defending champions, University of Limerick (UL) defeated Dublin IT (DIT) by 0-20 to 0-14 with five Tipperary players in the starting line-up. John McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney) scored seven points from frees while Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg) added four points from play. Jason Forde (Silvermines) and substitute Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg) added one point each while Paul Maher (Moyne Templetuohy) and Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) started in goal and wing-back respectively. Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Donal O’Dwyer (Mullinahone), Shane Hassett (Drom & Inch) and Thomas Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs) are other members of the UL panel.
Waterford IT defeated St. Patricks Drumcondra by 1-19 to 0-9 with Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) as joint top scorer for WIT with 5 points. Tom Fox (Eire Óg Annacarty) and Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule) were part of the WIT half-back line. Eoin McIntyre (Lorrha) is part of the St. Patricks Drumcondra panel. Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Mary I) defeated NUI Galway (NUIG) by 1-16 to 0-13. The Mary I starting line-up included four Tipperary players with wing-backs Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) and John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney), wing-forward Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) and Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) involved. Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons) and Jack Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs) were introduced as subs while Andrew Ryan (Toomevara), Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s Clonmel), Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Tadhg Gallagher (Kiladangan), Sean Curran (Mullinahone), Adrian McGuire (Kilsheelan Kilcash) and Pa Ryan (Newport) are other members of the Mary I panel. Sam Conlon (Roscrea) and Conor Ryan (Nenagh Eire Óg) are part of the NUIG panel.
The surprise result last week was the home defeat by UCC at the hands of the Nicky English managed UCD team by 2-12 to 0-13. Michael Breen (Ballina) lined out at centre-forward for UCC, scoring two points from play. Meanwhile, IT Carlow proved too strong for Dublin City University (DCU), winning by 1-21 to 1-8. Mark Russell (Lattin Cullen Gaels) lined out at midfield for IT Carlow while Dale O’Hanlon and Gavin O’Halloran (both Carrick Swan), Daryl Ryan (Roscrea) and Thomas Nolan (Drom & Inch) are members of the IT Carlow panel. Gary Howard (Nenagh Eire Óg) lined out at full-forward for DCU while Niall McIntyre (Lorrha Dorrha) and Steven O’Brien (Ballina) are part of the DCU panel.
The final two games saw comprehensive wins for Limerick IT (LIT) and Cork IT (CIT). LIT defeated Maynooth University by 4-16 to 0-10. The LIT team included wing-back Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) while Willie Connors (Kiladangan) was introduced as a substitute. Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill) and Jason Ryan (Toomevara) are members of the LIT panel. Michael Campion (Roscrea) lined out at full-back for Maynooth. Finally, CIT defeated GMIT by 3-22 to 0-7. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) scored 1-3 for CIT from corner-forward while Conor Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore) lined out at corner-back. Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Eire Óg) was introduced as a substitute, scoring a point with Josh Keane (Golden Kilfeacle) also part of the CIT panel. Finally, Brendan Tuohey (Moneygall) lined out at midfield for GMIT, scoring a point.
SIGERSON CUP
The opening games in the Sigerson Cup 3rd Level Colleges Football competition took place last week with a number of Tipperary players in action.
The clash of the Garda College and Cork IT saw the involvement of 7 Tipperary players with the Garda College winning by 1-13 to 0-8. Ciaran Kendrick (Moyle Rovers) played in goal for the Garda College while Kevin Larkin (Kilsheelan Kilcash) was also on the panel. For Cork IT, Kevin Fahey and Jason Lonergan (both Clonmel Commercials) and Tommy Sweeney (Ballyporeen) started while Josh Keane (Golden Kilfeacle) and Conor Conneally (Moyle Rovers) were both introduced as substitutes.
IT Carlow got the better of IT Sligo by 1-10 to 0-10. Mark Russell (Aherlow Gaels) scored two points from midfield for IT Carlow in a dominating performance while Thomas Nolan (Drom & Inch) was introduced as a late sub.
TIPPERARY SCHOOLS
In th Cusack Shield U/15B football action this Wednesday, February 3rd there is one fixture down for decision with St. Joseph’s Borrisoleigh meeting Thurles C.B.S. at 12.30pm.
While in the Corn O Laoghaire U/17 (B) Hurling, this Friday February 5th, (Round 1 Game (A)), Nenagh College meet Cashel C.S. and (Round 1 Game (B)), Colaiste Mhuire Durlas meet Borrisokane C.C. with both games throwing in at 12.30pm, venues to be confirmed.
SCÓR AGUS GAELTACHT
The Scór na nÓg All-Ireland finals took place on Saturday last January 30th in Killarney. The event was hosted by the well-known TG4 presenter, Pádraig Ó Sé with over five hours of enthralling competition from young performers from the four provinces of Ireland.
In the early morning off stage competition Jack, Conor, Micheál and Gearóid from Loughmore Castleiney battled their wits against twenty five teams from the thirty two counties in the Tráth na gCeist competition. Only a few questions separated them from the All-Ireland champions Spa, Co. Kerry who achieved All-Ireland glory for the second time in a row. Murt Ryan had his homework done well. Sincere thanks to the boys, their families and friends for their support.
In the on stage competitions, Tipperary was represented by Katie Shanahan, Borris Ileigh in Amhránaíocht Aonair and by Emma, Darron, Aisling, Alanna and Claire from Portroe in the Bailéad Ghrúpa. These young ladies all gave sterling performances but All-Ireland honours were not to be theirs on the day. Again a sincere thank you to the girls, their mentors, families and friends who travelled to the Kingdom in large numbers to lend their support and encouragement, it is much appreciated , they and Coiste Scór Thiobraid Árann are very proud of you all. Beidh lá eile again i mBéal Feirste an bhliain seo chugainn.
The date for Tipperary County Scór Sinsear has been set for Friday February 19th in Clonmore starting at 7.30pm.
We are also reminding all clubs to designate a Cultural /Scór Officer or a club member that would promote all things cultural in the club; it brings tremendous honour to the individuals involved as well as creating great exposure for your club.
It’s that time of year with applications for Gaeltacht Scholarships up and running. From 2016 the following will be the procedure for obtaining a Gaeltacht Scholarship from Coiste Chontae Thiobraid Árann;
Students should immediately book a course directly from one of the three nominated Munster Irish Colleges on the application form. This should be done ASAP as popular dates are booked out quickly.
Students wishing to secure a scholarship from Tipperary GAA should complete the appropriate application form their own GAA Club and submit it through their own local GAA Club.
The secretary of the GAA Club must sign the form and attach a reference letter supporting the applicant’s application before returning it to the Co Rúnaí, Tim Floyd.
Interviews for the scholarships will be held in Lár na Páirce before the end of February to establish each candidates suitability.
Once the student is notified that they have been successful they must secure a receipt for their full fee payment from the Irish College where they have registered. Once this receipt is received by the Co Rúnaí a cheque for €300 will be posted out directly to the student’s home.
The Closing date for the receipt of Gaeltacht Scholarship Applications is Sunday. February 14th, 2016.
HANDBALL
Tipperary Handball is busy at the moment with the Juveniles in College & Munster Championships and the Adults also competing in Munster Championships. The Munster Finals in Cumann na mBunscoil are on next Saturday February 6th, in Ballydesmond, Cork.
In the Munster Championships against Clare in Clare venues Tipperary Juveniles have had mixed success so far. Games commenced on Friday in Newmarket on Fergus and continued in Tulla and Tuamgraney on Sunday. The remaining games will be completed on Monday in Tuamgraney.
Please check the website for a full round up of results http://handball.tipperary.gaa.ie/
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 2nd Feb
