Big Appointment for Sean
Congratulations to referee Sean Lonergan who has been appointed to referee this weekends All Ireland minor football final between Derry and Monaghan. The game will take place on Sunday afternoon in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh and will be broadcast live on TG4.
This is a huge appointment for the Moyle Rovers clubman and his team of officials and indeed a honour which is richly deserved. We wish Sean and all his officials the very best on Sunday.
Dillon Quirke 1st Anniversary Event
The 1st anniversary of the sudden death of Dillon Quirke, is almost upon us. The sadness of his untimely death will linger long in the hearts of all who knew him. To celebrate his life, remember his passing and in prayerful solidarity with his heart broken family, the Clonoulty Rossmore GAA club have announced that a mass will be offered in their grounds on Saturday August 5th.
It has also been announced that in acknowledgement of the esteem in which Dillon was held in his parish, the club grounds will now be known as the Dillon Quirke GAA Grounds and Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy, will officially dedicate the grounds and unveil a plaque to Dillon’s memory on the night.
Clonoulty Rossmore GAA Club deeply appreciates the support shown to Dillon’s family, to the Dillon Quirke Foundation and to their parish community during the past year. In recognition of this
support, the club extends an open invitation to all for the unveiling at 5pm followed by the anniversary Mass at the club grounds in Clonoulty E25 CK44 on Saturday August 5th.
GAA for Dads and Lads
Going from strength to strength over the last few years our social Football and Hurling initiative GAA Dads & Lads has been steadily motoring along and in 2023 has moved into the fast lane. Growing from 20 teams in 2019 to 163 teams across all Provinces.
The Dads & Lads scene has been a hive of activity throughout 2023. Teams have created connections, formed friendships, taken road trips, have had banter and craic, with some hurling and football thrown in, through organising challenge games and local blitzes. The Association has delivered two regional blitzes with a National Blitz planned for this September.
The Dads & Lads Blitzes are played with a focus on fun, enjoyment and participation and provide an opportunity for Dads & Lads to broaden their connections and play games against teams they ordinarily wouldn’t get to play against. At the recent Midlands Blitz hosted in Athlone, 80 Dads & Lads from Athlone GAA, Bohola Moy Davitts (Mayo), Erin’s Isle and Thomas Davis (Dublin) got a great run out, playing a total of 12 games throughout the day. Dads & Lads offers the opportunity for males aged 40ish and older to keep physically active, keep in touch with old friends, make new friends and have an outlet to let off steam. GAA Dads & Lads offers something for everyone, it’s for those who never played and want to give it a go, those who’ve retired an want stay involved playing for the social interaction and in some cases for those who want to realise childhood dreams. Four Dads & Lads teams, Halfpacehurlers, Antrim; Naomh Olaf Social Hurlers, Dublin; Bohola Moy Davitts, Mayo; and The Killeedy Boys, Limerick were invited to play in Croke Park at half-time last Sunday.
If you want to know more about GAA Dads & Lads visit https://learning.gaa.ie/dadsandlads
GAA to trial new handpass rule
The GAA will trial an alternative hand pass rule during the higher education freshers competition, later this year. This is the result of a close examination of the unlawful use of the handpass in hurling by the Standing Committee on Playing Rules. The SCPR established a sub-committee and tasked it to consider solutions. The wording of the proposed handpass trial put forward by the sub-committee is as follows: 1. Amend Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling) to read: (b) Released from the holding – hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand, either by: (i) The other hand Or (ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand. The process of striking the ball with the non-original holding hand involves the transferring of the hurley from one hand to the other. 2. Amend Definition 10 Hand Pass (b) Hurling to read: (b) Hurling The ball shall be released from the holding-hand and struck with a definite striking action of a hand by, either by: (i) The other hand Or (ii) Tapping the ball on the hurley and striking the ball with either hand. 3. Amend Rule 4.2 (b), Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) by adding: “As specified in Rule 1.7 (b) Rules of Fair Play (Hurling)”. The process of striking the ball with the non-original holding-hand involves the transferring the hurley from one hand to the other.
The GAA will also trial a second experimental hurling playing rule during the fothcoming Higher Education Freshers 1 hurling competition that will require all puck-outs to travel past the a team’s own ‘45 yard line, that is the ‘45 nearest the goalkeeper taking the puck-out. The wording of the proposed puck-out trial is as follows. (i) Amend Rule 2.6 – Set Play (Hurling) by amending the final sentence to read: “The ball shall travel outside the near 45m. line before being played by another player of the defending team”. (ii) Amend Rule 4.29, Rules of Foul Play (Hurling) to read: “For another player on the team taking the puck-out to play the ball before it has travelled outside the near 45m. line”. Penalty (i) Cancel puck-out. (ii) Throw In the ball on defenders’ 20m. line opposite the scoring space. (iii) Amend Rule 1.2(i), Rules of Specification, by deleting the word “(Football)” in the first line. (This provides for the marking of a 45m. line in Hurling.)
Share your hurling story
It’s anyones game forms part of Bord Gais Energy’s ongoing commitment to using its high profile sponsorship to champion hurling across the country, promote positive discussion around inclusivity and demonstrate that hurling has a place for everyone.
To do this, they have once again teamed up with hurling legend Joe Canning and Limerick hurler Gearóid Hegarty to launch this campaign. Other high-profile personalities taking part in the initiative include activist and sports journalist Joanne O’Riordan, former Leitrim hurler Zak Moradi and former Cork hurler Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. As part of the campaign, Bord Gáis Energy have also launched a competition to uncover and shine a light on personal stories from across the country celebrating diversity and inclusivity within the game. Each week, you’re invited to share your ‘It’s Anyone’s Game’ story via WhatsApp. You can tell your story using voice notes or in text form. It’s up to you. Just start thinking of all your hurling stories and anecdotes – we all really want to hear from you. The competition is open now and runs until Friday 30 June with weekly prizes to include match tickets and a signed jersey. And one lucky overall winner selected at random from all weekly winners will also win coveted tickets to the All-Ireland Final. Winning entries will also be promoted by the team at Off The Ball on their weekly hurling POD. To enter simply ‘WhatsApp’ 086 786 9642 by text message or voice note and share your hurling story and why you believe hurling is anyone’s game.
Tipperary GAA Scene
If there is anything you feel should feature in this column going forward, please feel free to forward it to pro.tipperary@gaa.ie
By Jonathan Cullen Thu 6th Jul
