Tipperary GAA Scene – February 7th 2017

By PRO Joe Bracken

SENIOR HURLING

For the third year in a row Tipperary face Dublin in the opening round of the Allianz Hurling League as the Premier men head to Croke Park this Saturday evening, February 11th for a 5pm throw in which commences the league in earnest for 2017.

So as the day lengthens and light takes hold of the dark we embark, team and supporters in unison on another journey of Sunday’s, with the odd Saturday thrown in for good measure, in search of what the hurling year will hold as our hurling embers awaken on the eve of a new campaign.

Much will be expected of Mick Ryan’s side this season as all Tipp supporters long for the swish of the hurl and the flight of the sliothar to nourish their hurling appetite.

In last year’s outing, Jason Forde (Silvermines) claimed the Man of the Match award following his impressive 1-5 from play performance. Overall in the League 33 games have been played between Tipperary and Dublin with Tipp on 20 wins, Dublin on 9 and there have been 4 draws. Of the last 10 meetings Tipp are 6 to 3 up on the head to head with 1 draw making up the balance.

As there is a double header in Croke Park on Saturday, Tipperary supporters are advised to make their way to the ground early as the team go in search of an opening round win.

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.

SENIOR FOOTBALL

It was a great start to the Allianz Football League for our senior footballers as we congratulate them on their opening round 1win against Antrim in Semple Stadium last Sunday on a score-line of 2-12 to 0-13 with the Tipperary goals coming courtesy of Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) and Philp Austin (Borrisokane). The two influential playmakers leading up to both goals were Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers) and Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen). Before an attendance of 722 this was the start to the league Liam Kearns’ side needed as they head into Round 2 next Sunday, February 12th with another home tie, this time against Sligo also in Semple Stadium where the throw in is 2pm.

Congratulations to Brian Fox (Eire Óg Annacarty-Donohill) who captains the Tipperary Senior Footballers for the 2017 campaign which got off to a great start for him. Well done also to Willie Connors (Kiladangan) on making his full debut, while Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) made his first full start having previously seen action when introduced in 2012 and ’13. Emmett Moloney (Drom & Inch) and Joey Hennessy (Loughmore-Castleiney) also saw competitive senior action for the first time.

With victory crucial in the home games of this campaign to give the team every chance of promotion, our footballers deserve every ounce of support and we appeal to supporters to get behind the lads and make your presence felt in Semple Stadium on Sunday.

Tickets are on sale at gaa,ie and selected SuperValu and Centra stores, with adult tickets €10 and U16’s free.

REFEREES

Well done to Tipperary referees John Cormack (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) who was in charge of the Fitzgibbon Cup tie between UL and NUIG last week. Best wishes to our referees on duty over the next number of days. First up Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) who is in charge of the Sigerson Cup Quarter-Final game between IT Carlow and UCC on Wednesday and he is back on duty on Sunday next in Roinn 1 of the AFL between Roscommon and Donegal.

On Saturday, Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) takes charge of the AFL Roinn 4 tie between Waterford and Wicklow.

Meanwhile on Sunday next Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) is in the middle between Kilkenny and Waterford in Roinn 1A of the AHL. In Roinn 2A John O’Brien (Arravale Rovers) is in charge between Westmeath and Carlow.

TIPPERARY GAA DRAW

The February Tipperary GAA Members Draw will take place this Friday February 10th in Gerry Moynihan’s Bar, Clonmel with the St Mary’s GAA Club. There are 2 car prizes with a Renault Megane and a Renault Clio up for grabs plus flights for two to Australia along with 30 cash prizes from €2,000 down to €100.

FITZGIBBON CUP

It was round 2 in the Group stages of the Independent.ie HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup last week. Waterford IT got back on track with a win over Trinity College Dublin 4-15 to 1-8. Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) was their leading scorer with 0-7(5f) for the second game in a row while Tom Fox (Eire Óg Annacarty-Donohill) scored 0-2 and Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule) returned with 0-1. Cormac Keating (Portroe) was on the Trinity team.

Cork It also reversed an opening round loss by defeating DCU-St. Patrick’s 1-14 to 0-6. Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Eire Óg) was once again prominent scoring 0-3(1f) for CIT.

Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) secured their second victory of the cup run with two points to spare over DCU 2-11 to 0-15. The LIT starting line-up again included wing-back Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) while Jason Ryan (Toomevara) and Sean Ryan (Sean Treacys) (0-1) were both introduced as subs. Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers) was on the DCU team

Defending champions Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Mary I) were held to a draw by IT Carlow 0-18 apiece in a thrilling second round contest. The Mary I starting line-up again included Ciaran Barrett (Clonmel Óg), David Sweeney (Kiladangan) (0-1), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Alan Flynn (Kiladangan) and  Stephen Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) while Tadhg Gallagher (Kiladangan) was also introduced as a sub. The IT Carlow team included Dale O’Hanlon (Carrick Swan) and Mark Russell (Lattin Cullen Gaels) with Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch) scoring 0-1 when introduced.

Maynooth University had a comprehensive win over Ulster University 4-23 to 1-7 with Brian Hogan (Lorrha), Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch), Michael Campion (Roscrea) and Niall Kenny (Borris-Ileigh) all in the staring Maynooth line up with Niall Kenny among the goal scorers on the day with 1-00 to his name.

DIT defeated GMIT 3-15 to 0-11 with Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) again in good scoring form for DIT shooting over 0-3 of his side’s tally. On the GMIT starting line-up was Brendan Toohey (Moneygall) lining out at right half back this time.

University of Limerick (UL) guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals with a comfortable win over NUI Galway 2-21 to 2-12. For UL John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) was to the fore with a return of 1-5(4f) with Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Óg), Jason Forde (Silvermines) also in the starting fifteen while David Gleeson (Ballinahinch) was introduced as a sub on 51minutes. The NUIG starting line-up included Conor Ryan (Nenagh Eire Óg) and full-forward Sam Conlon (Roscrea, scorer of 1-1).

UCC and UCD played out a low scoring game with the Cork side, champions in 2013 shading this one 1-8 to 1-5. Once again the UCC starting line-up included Seamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s) and Michael Breen (Ballina). While for UCD Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) was again introduced as a sub after twenty eight minutes while John Joe Ryan (Clonakenny) also came on after forty eight minutes.

All Round 3 matches go ahead this Tuesday and the quarter-finals are down for decision next Tuesday, February 14th.

SIGERSON CUP

The Quarter-Finals of the Independent.ie HE GAA Sigerson Cup go ahead this Wednesday and Thursday, February 8th and 9th with Ulster University meeting UCD; DCU Dóchas Éireann against St Mary’s University College and IT Carlow meeting UCC all on Wednesday. On Thursday then UL play DIT.

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

SCÓR NA nÓG ALL-IRELAND FINALS

All roads lead to the Waterfront Theatre in Belfast this Saturday, February 11th, for the All-Ireland Finals of Scór na nÓg. Having come through divisional, County and Munster Finals we wish all Tipperary participants the best of luck and we hope to emulate the recent victory of our Tipperary hurlers up North. We will no doubt fly the Blue and Gold with pride.

On Saturday morning Loughmore Castleiney will represent us in Tráth na gCeist and test their knowledge and expertise in this all county battle of the Brains. Murt Ryan’s team of Conor Ryan, Cathal Ryan, Gearóid Treacy and Jack Cullen have an excellent record in this competition and we wish them well on the day.

In the first of the stage competitions Newcastle’s Rince Foirne comprising of Caelinn, Kayleigh, Hollie, Sarah, Aoife, Rebecca, Orla and Eimear will dance their hearts out under the tutelage of dance teacher Kathy McGrath and having beat off stiff competition thus far we wish the girls the very best. Go néirí libh.

Borrisoleigh’s Seosamh Ó Baoill – Joseph Boyle represents us in the Amhránaíocht Aonair competition. Joseph will sing a beautiful rendition of The Hills Around Listowel and he has already bewitched audiences home and away with his lovely voice. Guimid gach rath air sa Chraobh.

SCÓR NA bPAISTÍ

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.

ANNERVILLE AWARDS

The 52nd annual Annerville Awards took place on Saturday night last in the Clonmel Park Hotel with a number of winners from the GAA world. The Hurling award went to Thurles Sarsfields and Tipperary hurler Padraic Maher while Clonmel Commercials and Tipperary Football All-Star Michael Quinlivan was the Gaelic Football winner. The success of Burgess-Duharra in winning the Tipperary and Munster Senior titles ensured they were honoured with the Camogie award while the Handball award went to Daniel Hayes & Páraic O’Donoghue. The Sean Lyons Sports Executive award went to the Tipperary Senior Hurling Management team of Michael Ryan, Declan Fanning, John Madden and Conor Stakelum while long time Moyle Rovers stalwart Eileen Boland won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

TABLE QUIZ

The Mid Tipperary referees fundraising table quiz held in Everard’s Templetuohy last Saturday night was a great success with 23 teams taking part. The committee would like to thank especially quiz master Jim O’Meara along with Hugh and Marie Coghlan, Theresa Everard, Carmel Butler, Aileen Geehan and Mark Dunne for their help ensuring the quiz ran smoothly. Thanks also to the Mid senior and juvenile board officers for their backing and help with the quiz. Thanks also to those who donated signed hurling and football jerseys and members of the senior hurling panel who signed hurleys for the auction which was overseen by John Hogan.

BEST WISHES

After close on twenty one years behind the scene on the Tipperary GAA website as well as overseeing the evolvement and updating of Facebook and Twitter, we extend best wishes and thanks to Ed Donnelly who departs the post leaving behind him a lasting legacy of historical records and detail.

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 on Wednesday next 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 on Thursday, February 16th next 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 have been very busy lately 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.