by PRO Joe Bracken
A belated Happy New Year to all our players, supporters, friends and colleagues as we look forward once more to the various dramas that will delight, ignite and fuel our passions on and off the playing fields for club and county in 2016.
TIPPEARY SENIOR HURLING
The maiden voyage of life for Tipperary Senior hurlers under Michael Ryan’s tenure was launched in Templemore last Sunday as his charges accounted for Offaly in an entertaining challenge match in aid of St. Colmcille’s Primary School Templemore, with Tipperary victorious on a score line of 2-17 to 1-15. In all there was twenty three Tipperary players used over the course of the seventy minutes.
Next up in The Ragg at 2pm on Sunday next (note not Holycross as previously advertised) Tipperary line out against a Thurles C.B.S. All Star selection to kick-start the Thurles CBS Bicentenary celebrations and all in aid of astro turf facilities for the school.
Joint managers for the Thurles CBS side will be Fr. Tom Fogarty from Moyne Templetuohy and Kilkenny legend, Pat Henderson from the Johnstown Fenians Club. Fr. Tom has managed Tipperary at minor, under 21 and senior level as well as Offaly seniors and Pat who won a Dean Ryan medal in 1960 with the C.B.S. is also the holder of 5 All Irelands as player with Kilkenny and three as manager and also won 2 All Star awards and Hurler of the Year 1974.
Thurles C.B.S. will have plenty of stars past and present to call on and the unique pairing of Tipperary and Kilkenny legends lining out together should make for a very entertaining afternoons action.
TOUGHEST TRADE
As part of AIB’s Toughest Trade documentary series which aired last year for the first time, Tipperary senior hurling captain Brendan Maher is currently in Australia filming what life is like as a professional cricketer with the Adelaide Strikers.
TIPPERARY SENIOR FOOTBALL
Following a narrow first round defeat to Clare 1-10 to 1-09 in the McGrath Cup, we send best wishes to Liam Kearns’ Tipperary senior football side as they meet Kerry on Sunday next January 17th, in Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary with the throw in at 2pm.
FIXTURES
The Clean Ireland Recycling Minor A County Final takes place on Saturday next January 16th as Clonmel Commercials and Drom and Inch meet in Littleton at 1.30pm. Commercials are aiming for an unprecedented six County titles in a row at this grade while the cup has rested in South Tipperary for the past seven years with Moyle Rovers (2008) and Ardfinnan (2009) winning titles before Clonmel’s current winning streak.
Drom & Inch have made great strides in Football in recent years, playing at the Senior grade for the first time ever in 2015 and they captured their third Mid Minor A Football title recently and will look to bring home their first County title this weekend and the first for the Mid division since Thurles Sarsfields double of 2005 and 2006.
Elsewhere the Clean Ireland Recycling U21 ‘A’ & ‘B’ hurling semi-finals are set to take place at various venues over the weekend. Confirmed at present, Nenagh Éire Óg meet Thurles Sarsfields in Dolla at 1.30pm on Saturday in the first of the ‘A’ semi-finals, while Borris Ileigh meet Upperchurch Drombane in the first of the ‘B’ semi-finals in the Ragg at 1pm also on Saturday.
Please check Tipperary website and tune into local radio for updates on pairings for the two remaining fixtures.
U21 FOOTBALL
In the U21 Peter McNulty Cup (Leinster League) round 2 in Dr Morris Park last Saturday January 9th, Tipperary made it two wins out of two with a hard fought two point win over Laois on a score line of 1-07 to 0-8.
Next up for Tommy Toomey’s side is the round 3 fixture this Saturday January 16th against Wexford who had two points to spare over Down in their second round game. Venue not confirmed at time of going to press.
Previously on January 2nd last, Tipperary’s Under 21 Footballers were the first of our county teams to get the 2016 competitive action underway and made a well-deserved winning start in seeing off Down by the minimum margin in a very competitive first round Leinster League tie on a score line of 1-11 to 0-13 at Kildare’s GAA Centre at Hawkfield in Newbridge. This competition offers useful preparation to the Tipperary selectors as they prepare to defend their Munster title with a difficult first round game versus Kerry on Wednesday March 9th at Austin Stack Park Tralee.
SCÓR NA nÓg
There was great excitement in Cappoquin, Co Waterford on Sunday last in Scór na nÓg as the 2016 Craobh na Mumhan was held. Competing in five of the seven disciplines Tipperary was successful in Amhránaíocht Aonair with Katie Shanahan from Borris Ileigh claiming the title and Bailéad Ghrúpa was won by Portroe consisting of Daron Creamer, Alanna Freeman, Emma Leo, Claire O’Brien and Aisling Sheedy. Congratulations to all these young ladies and best wishes to them in the All-Ireland Final of Scór na nÓg in the INEC in Killarney on January 30th next. Indeed well done to our other participants who represented their county with honour last weekend as well, Borrisoleigh’s young actors and actresses and Newcastle’s dancers (figure and set). Bean of Tí for the evening was our own Marie Floyd from the Newport club.
REFEREES
Best wishes to David Grogan Aherlow as he takes charge of the McGrath Cup fixture between Limerick and Waterford on Sunday next January 17th in Rathkeale. Also to Philip Kelly Ballinahinch who is in the middle when Waterford and Limerick meet in round 2 of the Munster Senior Hurling League next Tuesday night January 19th in Waterford.
HALL OF FAME AWARD
Mick Murphy having represented Kilmaley, Clare, Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary and Faughs will receive the Thurles Sarsfields Hall of Fame 2015 Award this Saturday afternoon in Thurles.
Mick Murphy of Kilmaley, Co. Clare had an unusual hurling career, contesting championships in three counties: – Clare, Tipperary and Dublin and an inter-county career with both his native Clare and his adopted Tipperary.
In 1938 he lined out, at centre-field, in the Clare Intermediate B championship with his native Kilmaley and helped them to their first ever county title. He also played senior hurling with Clarecastle in the late 1930s, when the ‘Magpies’ were allowed to select players from Kilmaley, Kilnamona and Ballyea. Defeat in finals came their way on three occasions, to Newmarket in 1936, O’Callaghan’s Mills a year later and in 1939 by Feakle.
Seeking new pastures, Mick took up a position in Russell’s drapery store on Liberty Square, Thurles in February 1940. He threw in his lot with Thurles Sarsfields and won Tipperary senior championship medals with them in 1942, ’44, ’45 and ’46. Right half-back and midfield were his recognised positions.
The Cork dominance of 1941-’44, with their famed four in a row All-Ireland success, was broken by Tipperary, captained by John Maher of Thurles Sarsfields in 1945 and Mick Murphy wore the number five jersey, when they beat Kilkenny in the final, 5-6 to 3-6.
In 1947, Mick moved to Dublin to work in Clery & Co., O’Connell Street. He now played with Faughs but declared for his native county Clare. This Saturday then, January 16th at 3pm, the Hall of Fame presentation to Mick Murphy will take place at Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre and all are welcome.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
This Wednesday January 13th the action heats up once more at post primary level as the heat of battle warms the soul with quarter final action in the Dr. Harty Cup (18.5 A Hurling) at 1:30pm in various venues.
Two of the ties hold greater Tipperary interest with Our Lady’s Secondary School Templemore taking on Castletroy CC in Toomevara with referee Damien Fox in charge. While in Kilmallock Nenagh CBS meet DLS Waterford with Richard Moloney the referee here. Best wishes to Our Lady’s and Nenagh in those games.
Elsewhere, Ard Scoil Ris meet Rochestown College in Charleville with our own referee Fergal Horgan in charge, best wishes Fergal and St. Colmans meet CBC Cork in Mallow with referee Nathan Wall in the middle.
Locally in the Sciath Mhic Gabhann U/18.5 (B) Football Carrick on Suir C.B.S meet Scoil Ruain Killenaule this Friday, January 15th, in Davin Park at 12.30pm with referee William Barrett in charge.
HANDBALL
The North Tipperary 40 x 20 Juvenile Finals were hosted by Youghalarra in Kilcoleman on Friday and Sunday last. The large attendance were treated to some great games of Handball and the winners now go forward to the County finals which will also be hosted by Youghalarra. Well done to the North Tipperary Handball Officials and all who helped out over the weekend, please check the Tipperary website for all results
TICKETS.IE
Tickets are now on sale ahead of the launch of the Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues. The pre purchase discounted price of €10 is available for Div 1 & 2 in Football and Div 1A and 1B in Hurling. The cut off time for the pre-purchase discount will be midnight on the night before the fixture (Tickets on match day will be €15). Div 3 & 4 in Football and 2 & 3 in Hurling will remain at €10 for adults, see also http://tipperarygaa.tickets.ie
The GAA Season Tickets are still on sale and renewals on-going so get your ticket today and be sure of your seat in support of Tipperary this year.
TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
The January Tipperary GAA Members Draw was held last Friday January 8th in The Norebrook Lounge in Clonakenny, with congratulations going to the two main winners as follows; first prize of a Skoda Octavia or €15,000 sold by Golden Kilfeacle went to the Price Family, Golden and second prize of a Skoda Fabia or €10,000 sold by Roscrea went to Ra Drennan, Borris-In-Ossory, Co. Laois.
TIPPERARY GAA CLUB ALL COUNTY MATCH PASS 2016
The match pass for 2016 is currently on sale at the price of €120. This pass gives you access to all adult matches within the County during 2016. Passes can be ordered through the GAA Office Slievenamon Rd, Thurles or by contacting 0504 22702 where you can pay over the phone.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB 2016 MEMBERSHIP
Membership of 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
TIPPERARY GAA NEWS VIA E-MAIL
If you are interested in receiving the Tipperary GAA Scene to your Inbox each week, plus other Tipperary GAA related information such as team announcements and other related news, you can sign up to the Tipperary GAA Newsletter on our web site at www.tipperary.gaa.ie Alternatively, send an e-mail to sites.tipperary@gaa.ie with the subject Newsletter and we will include you on our mailing list. Currently, nearly 600 subscribers receive Tipperary GAA News via e-mail so don’t miss out.
BUÍOCHAS
As we start a new season of the GAA Scene may I express a special word of thanks to all contributors last year who helped me enormously, you know who you are and I am reluctant to name names in case I omit anyone in error. I look forward to your cooperation again this year.
