by PRO Joe Bracken
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
What an historic and momentous day it was in Cavan last Saturday as the Tipperary senior footballers delivered an outstanding team performance to defeat Derry by 1-21 to 2-17 in round 4A of the qualifiers in Kingspan Breffni Park. The team and management deserve tremendous credit for the manner of their victory which sets them up for a clash with Connacht Champions Galway in the All-Ireland Football Quarter-Final in Croke Park next Sunday, July 31st, at 4pm, for the first time in the county’s history.
In arguably one of the best games in this year’s football championship Liam Kearns’ side took to their task with determination and purpose right from the off with each player up and ready for the challenge ensuring this would be Tipp’s day. Though Derry opened the scoring Tipperary were soon in front showing great composure on the ball. Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) denied Derry a certain goal with a fantastic save as he deflected the shot over for a point which further emphasised the motivation of this Tipp side. Derry regrouped later in the first half to take the lead and Tipperary despite being behind by one at half time 1-8 to 0-10, never lost their focus and took the battle to Derry in the second half with a display of incisive running and creativity. Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe) scored Tipp’s goal after he had previously tied up the scores with his fourth free of the match. With Derry emptying their bench in a bid to wrestle the tie from the Tipperary grasp, they contributed enormously to this compelling fixture setting up a nerve wrecking finish to the game, only for the Tipperary doggedness to shine through with Ballyporeen’s Conor Sweeney instrumental in ensuring Tipperary deservedly lived to fight another day with late points to send his side and all Tipperary supporters into last eight ecstasy.
Congratulations all round to players and management on a job well done with special mention to Conor Sweeney who was named Man of the Match.
So the journey continues to Croke Park next Sunday and we appeal to all Tipperary supporters to please come out and support the team. Captain Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers) in the course of an interview after the match thanked those who made the journey to Cavan and who follow the team in every match and emphasised how much the support means to the players and that the roars from the stand gives them a huge lift out on the field. The team need all Tipperary support against Galway who will probably be raging hot favourites by many to progress to the semi-finals. However, the self-belief and sheer determination of this Tipperary unit which has been galvanised with each passing game has enough momentum behind it to turn the formbook on its head. The next fascinating instalment awaits as we send best wishes to players and management ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final showdown.
Who would have thought earlier in the year that the Tipperary footballers would line out in Croke Park before the hurlers set foot on the sod in 2016? The coincidences of course don’t end there as both the senior and minor hurlers will also face Galway in their respective All-Ireland Semi-Finals. It is going to be a compelling couple of weeks of rivalry between the Premier County and the Tribesmen. The journey starts on Sunday let the Tipperary support not be found wanting.
TIPPERARY MUNSTER U21 HURLING FINAL
Continuing the great fortunes of late for the Premier County, the Tipperary U21 hurlers head to Walsh Park, Waterford, this Wednesday night for their Bord Gáis Energy Munster Final clash against Waterford which throws in at 7pm, in what will be the fourth Munster Final for Tipperary this year.
Following their recent semi-final win over Limerick, William Maher and his management team have had to work hard to get his side turned around in time to face the huge challenge Waterford will bring to this clash. Waterford will go into the game as favourites and buoyed up by their senior’s success on Sunday last it will give them an extra pep to their step on Wednesday.
We send best wishes to our team and management as they look to cement their own place in history in delivering the third of the three main Munster Hurling titles for Tipperary for the first time.
Tipperary have not been Munster Champions since 2010 when Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), brother of current captain Ronan, lifted the trophy. We all hope Ronan will emulate that feat on Wednesday night. Continuing with the family connections goalkeeper Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha) will be hoping to emulate his father Ken who won two Munster medals between the posts in 1983 and ’84.
Since the competition first started back in 1964, Tipperary have been the dominant county with 20 provincial titles to its claim, while Waterford has 3. In the course of that time Tipperary and Waterford have met on sixteen occasions, with Tipp ahead 13 to 3 on the head to head.
Interestingly enough it was in that 1964 decider that both counties met in the only previous final between the sides with Tipp recording an emphatic 8-9 to 3-1 victory led by Roscrea’s Francis Loughnane as captain. Of the other occasions when the sides met eleven were at semi-final stage while four were in round one.
The last time both sides met was on June 1st, 2011 when Tipperary won in Semple Stadium in their round 1 encounter 4-12 to 1-16. And while provincial success may not have fallen Tipperary’s way since 2010, the county contested both the 2012 and 2013 finals, losing to the dominant Clare side of the time on each occasion.
We look forward to seeing great Tipperary support in Walsh Park to cheer on the team on Wednesday. The referee for the final will be Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR & MINOR HURLING SEMI-FINALS
Following the weekends All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals, the Tipperary team as we now know have turned their focus towards Galway who they will face in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on August 14th next, which will be a repeat of last year’s encounter.
The curtain-raiser on the day will also be between Tipperary and Galway in the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Semi-Final, following Galway’s win over Antrim in Cavan on Saturday and Limerick’s defeat of Wexford in the other quarter-final on Sunday.
TIPPERARY SH MANAGER MESSAGE
Dear Tipperary Supporter, I hope you all enjoyed our recent Munster Championship success. Personally I am delighted for the players because they have put in so much hard work as a group to get us this far. In my last message to you after our victory over Cork I said there could be no guarantee about future results but I assured you that every effort is being made by the players and the management team to produce performances worthy of our county.
Now we face a further challenge as we prepare over the next few weeks for the All-Ireland Semi Final. We must all keep our feet on the ground and we need help from you our Supporters in this regard. Getting carried away in July never carried any team over the line in August or September. I would ask you to simply get behind the players at club and county level and give them as much encouragement as possible. Hurling is a fast, skillful and physical game and we have to be prepared for the intensity required to be successful at the highest level. That is what we are striving to achieve and it takes huge commitment from everyone.
Again I want to take this opportunity to spread the message that our preparations are greatly assisted by the Tipperary Supporters Club and thanks for pledging your support for the Tipperary Senior Hurlers for 2016 by joining the Supporters Club. You can further help the cause by encouraging new members to join by clicking this link http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/
TIPPERARY FIXTURES
The main county fixture this weekend is the final of the James Holohan Cup, on Friday next July 29th, between Ballingarry and Carrick Swans in Clonmel Sportsfield at 7.30pm.
Elsewhere there are senior divisional fixtures in the north and west divisions as their respective championships continue. For a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
The August GAA draw will be held on Friday week August 5th in The Trap Bar Grangemockler, where first prize is a Renault Megane and the second prize is a Renault Clio both supplied by Cleary Motors Thurles.
FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL GOLF CLASSIC
Following a recent Friends of Tipperary Football Board meeting the dates for their annual Mr Mister sponsored golf classic were finalised and it will go ahead on the weekend of Friday August 5th and Saturday August 6th at Thurles Golf Club.
Now in its twentieth year this is the Friends of Tipperary’s major fund raiser with all proceeds being ploughed back into the development and promotion of Football at all levels within the county.
Again there will be good prizes and hospitality on offer and we ask all GAA Clubs, Golf Societies and other sport enthusiasts to support what is now a well-established weekend of golf on the sporting calendar.
Team entries cost €120 with tee boxes costing €50 and again all support will be greatly appreciated.
To arrange entry and tee times supporters should contact golf classic coordinator Martin O’Dwyer at 086 2549154.
MEMORABILIA FAIR
South Tipperary G.A.A Centre which adjoins Clonmel Sportsfield on the Western Road opposite South Tipperary General Hospital will host a Fair of Sporting Memorabilia on Bank Holiday Monday, August 1st, from 12noon to 4pm. Collectors and sellers are cordially invited to attend and sales positions, which are free of charge, by contacting the G.A.A. Centre on 052 6121806 or either Sean Nugent 087 2669304 or Derek Williams 087 6392693
Donations of memorabilia, G.A.A books, match programmes or items of sporting interest are very welcome. Items for the sale can be left into the G.A.A Centre or can be collected by arrangement, again contact Sean or Derek. All proceeds go to South Tipperary G.A.A. Centre.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. As our senior team head into an All-Ireland semi-final, now is as good a time as any to renew or take out membership in support of the team and continue to help them on their way in the championship.
Supporters can join on line on www.tippsupportersclub.com by credit card or debit/laser card. 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 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.
