by PRO Joe Bracken
MUNSTER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL FINAL
In what will be two huge weeks ahead in the Tipperary GAA calendar, the spotlight will firmly be on the Tipperary Senior Footballers this week as they get ready to rumble in the Kingdom in the Munster Final against Kerry on Sunday next, July 3rd at 2pm in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, the first such tussle since the sides last met in a provincial decider in Semple Stadium in 1998.
The talking is almost over as the clock counts down to Sunday’s throw in time. Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice is also attempting to play down the confident expectation that Kerry will coast to victory. Obviously satisfied in his own side’s belief he made the trip to Croke Park last Sunday to observe the Dubs against Meath. Perfect ammunition one would think then for Tipperary manager Liam Kearns to use in rousing up his side going into the final.
This Tipp side though will need no rousing as they have enormous self-belief and ability and will know that they will have to play to an exceptionally high standard of performance to cause an upset. One thing is certain, they won’t be found wanting in that department for effort or desire.
We send every best wish to the team and management for Sunday and encourage all Tipperary supporters to make the trip to Killarney in support of your county side. A huge Tipp support in the stands and terraces would give the lads the lift they deserve once the action commences.
Ticket information is as follows;
Adult Stand: €35 – Adult Terrace: €25. Students/OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry. Under 16’s: €5.
The referee on Sunday will be David Gough (Meath).
MUNSTER MINOR HURLING SEMI-FINAL
The Tipperary Minor Hurlers head south this Thursday evening, June 30th to play Cork in the Electric Ireland Munster Championship Semi-Final in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.30pm with extra time if necessary of 2 x 10 minute periods only.
With all their games away from home this year, it’s all to play for now for Liam Cahill’s side who now face a Cork outfit looking to restore pride in the jersey following earlier defeat to Tipp at senior level. Tipp’s first outing in this year’s championship saw them lose out to Waterford in Walsh Park. Then away to Clare in Ennis, a strong first half performance was enough to put daylight between the sides, but instead of pushing on a lapse in concentration perhaps let the Banner lads get close again before Tipp rallied late on to put the result in no doubt.
That in turn then will have given the manger the boost he needed to drive on his side as they look to reach the Munster decider again in an attempt to retain their crown won last year in Semple Stadium. The other semi-final is between Waterford and Limerick. Best wishes to the team and management as they seek to join the seniors in the Gaelic Grounds on July 10th next. The referee for the semi-final will be Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
MUNSTER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP HURLING FINAL
The Tipperary Senior Hurlers defend their Munster title when they meet Waterford once again in the provincial decider on Sunday week July 10th, this time in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds. With Tipperary unfortunately going to be without the services of John O’Dwyer for the final, competition for one place up for grabs will no doubt be hotly contested in the remaining training sessions as players try to influence management’s minds that each has done enough to warrant a place in the starting fifteen.
The build-up is already on and the talk among hurling folk both inside and outside the county is how will Tipperary take on the Waterford ‘sweeper’ challenge. That and many more conundrums will be aired and discussed for the next week and a half rising to a deafening crescendo by 4pm on July 10. A limited number of stand tickets including juvenile tickets were put on public sale from 12 noon on Monday last, June 27th. They will be available online at http://gaa.tickets.ie and in participating Centra and SuperValu stores nationwide.
Terrace tickets will be freely available online and through selected Centra and SuperValu stores. Tickets will mainly be allocated to competing counties in the senior and minor finals and will be available through county boards and clubs.
Ticket prices are as follow;
Covered (Mackey) Stand: Adult €35, Juvenile €5, Student/OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry
Uncovered Stand: Adult €30, Juvenile €5, Student/OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry
Terrace: Adult €25, Juvenile €5, Student/OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry (Note – Tipperary have been allocated the Caherdavin End Terrace, Waterford have been allocated the City End Terrace)
Supporters and clubs are requested to note that there are no juvenile group packages available for this fixture.
Please use the ticketing locator at http://munster.gaa.ie/ticketing-store-locator/ which is for Centra and SuperValu stores in the Munster counties only.
TIPPERARY FIXTURES
The first semi-final in the Co. Senior Hurling Challenge Cup goes ahead this weekend with Burgess and Toomevara meeting in the Johnny Ryan Cup in Toomevara on Friday evening next, July 1st. at 7.30pm.
Then on Saturday, July 2nd, in the Jim Devitt Cup, Moyne-Templetuohy meet Kilruane MacDonaghs in Cloughjordan at 6pm in the first of those semi-finals.
Elsewhere there is plenty of action in the County Adult Football Leagues as well as County Junior Hurling Leagues as well as many divisional fixtures in the coming week..
For a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
REFEREES
Best of luck to three Tipperary referees on duty this week; David Grogan (Aherlow) is first up and he will take charge of the Munster Junior Football Final between Cork and Kerry in Austin Stack Park in Tralee this Wednesday evening, June 29th, at 7.30pm.
On Saturday afternoon, July 2nd, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) officiates the All-Ireland SHC round 1 qualifier between Wexford and Offaly in Innovate Wexford Park at 3.30pm
While on Sunday next July 3rd, Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) will take charge of the Leinster Senior Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Galway in Croke Park where throw in is at 4pm.
TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
In the new Tipperary GAA Members Draw for June which was held last Friday in Moroney’s Bar Lisvernane the following were the first three lucky winners; first receiving a Skoda Rapid or €15,000 was Jim O’Meara from Moyneard, Moyne and his ticket was sold by Moyne-Templetuohy Club.
Second winning a Lapland trip for 4 or €5,000 was Fr. Peter Brennan, Clonoulty, Cashel and Clonoulty-Rossmore Club sold Fr. Peter his ticket.
And third winning an Australian trip for 2 or €3,000 with his ticket sold by Arravale Rovers Club was Michael Ryan, Bohercrowe, Emly Road, Tipperary.
Congratulations to all the winners on the night as we now look forward to the July draw.
POC FADA 2016
The County Long Puck Finals 2016 were held in North Tipperary last Saturday, June 25th at the excellent venue of Fairy Mount Farm, on the site of Bike Park Ireland in Knockshegowna, by kind cooperation of the owners and what a competition it turned out to be.
The senior competition had 5 contestants and after a challenging course the winner was Peter Carroll from Burgess Club on 25 pucks. Peter had only 2cm to spare over Michael Flannery from Newport who was in second place.
In the U16 competition where there were four competitors – one from each division, with Gearóid O’Connor from Moyne-Templetuohy Club emerging as the winner. Congratulations to Peter and Gearóid on their victories and thanks to all those who took part and to their helpers on the day. Thanks also to Tipperary Coaching and Games for coordinating and organising the event with the Bike Park.
Peter and Gearóid will now represent Tipperary in the Munster Poc Fada Final on this Saturday being held in the Michael Cusack Centre in the Burren, County Clare with an 11am start time. Best wishes to both.
MENTAL HEALTH/GAMBLING SPORTS TALK
Hear the experiences of well-known sports people who have suffered mental health and physical health challenges in their lives and how they responded to these challenges.
This event will be chaired by Stevie O’Donnell of Tipp Mid-West Radio and will include contributions from John Leahy (former Tipperary senior hurler who is now an addiction counsellor with the HSE); Brian Glasheen (former Tipp footballer who never progressed past minor level because of his gambling addiction); and Dessie Fitzgerald of Cork is also confirmed and will speak about how he suffered a spinal injury during a GAA match and the journey he went through as a result.
This event has being arranged as part of Thurles Sports Festival which will run in Thurles from July 1st- July 9th. The committee wish to highlight to the public that this is a free event which will take place on Tuesday 5th July next at 8pm, in LIT Campus in Thurles.
Tommy Barrett secretary of Thurles Sports Fest spoke about this event this week. ‘We are honoured to be hosting this event, this evening will allow for the public to hear from ordinary people on the difficult times they have gone through”. If you require more details on this event please contact Tommy Barrett on 089 4487657.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. The Tipperary Supporters Club 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 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.
