by PRO Joe Bracken
MUNSTER SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
In what will be the first of two hugely significant and important weekends for the Premier County, the Tipperary Senior Footballers are first into the fray this Sunday, June 12th, as they prepare to take to the field in Semple Stadium in the Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final where they will meet Cork at 3.30pm.
Having found safe passage against Waterford in the previous round, Sunday’s game will evoke memories of an almost unforgettable night in Páirc Uí Chaoimh two years ago when Tipperary gave Cork an almighty scare in the most recent championship encounter between the sides.
Manager Liam Kearns will be looking for a huge effort from his side on Sunday in a bid to put an early halt to the Rebel gallop. Supporters are asked to please come out in huge numbers on Sunday to support your Tipperary team and get behind the lads in their quest for a Munster Final berth. The referee on Sunday will be Paddy Neilan from Roscommon.
Tickets for this Munster SFC S-Final can be purchased via Centra / Supervalu & tickets.ie and are priced as follows; Adults: €15. Students / OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €5 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry
Under 16’s: Free
MUNSTER JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tipperary Junior Footballers open proceedings in Semple Stadium on Sunday as they too face Cork in the Munster Junior Football Championship semi-final which throws in at 1.30pm. After a tough quarter-final encounter against Waterford which ran to extra time, it will be another big ask on Sunday against Cork. However, that aside, manager Tommy Toomey will have his side well prepped for the challenge they face as he again calls on a mix of youth and experience in his panel to see them over the line.
MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING SEMI-FINAL
Not long now for Tipperary Senior Hurlers and supporters alike as Michael Ryan’s side take on Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Sunday, June 19th at 4pm in Semple Stadium, Thurles. With Waterford already safely through to the final, Tipperary will be looking to make it a repeat of last year’s decider as they bid to retain their crown.
Tickets are on sale online at tickets.ie and also through selected Centra / Supervalu stores and are priced as follows; Adult Covered Stand: €30. Adult Uncovered Stand: €25. Adult Terrace: €20
Students / OAP: Purchase Adult tickets and receive a €10 concession at designated turnstiles prior to entry
Under 16’s: €5
Juvenile clubs wishing to avail of the juvenile package will need to complete the Juvenile Groups Application Form and return it to Mary O’Mahoney (mary.omahoney.munster@gaa.ie) by Monday June 13th.
TIPPERARY FIXTURES
Among a number of county fixtures in the coming week and a little beyond, the final of the County Adult Football League Division 1 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 15th next in New Inn at 8pm between Loughmore-Castleiney and Ballylooby-Castlegrace. Elsewhere, divisional action was the order of the weekend. For a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
NEW TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
The first draw in the new Tipperary GAA Draw took place in the Anner Hotel, Thurles last Friday night.
First prize of a Skoda Superb or €25,000 sold by the Aherlow Club went to Sean Russell, Knockacapple, Ballyporeen and second prize of a Skoda Citigo or €10,000 sold by the Emly Club went to Edward and Oleg Bourke, Breansha, Emly. Congratulations to these and all the winners on the night. Thanks to all for supporting the new Draw and to our promoting Clubs, Coordinators and Promoters for making this draw another outstanding success.
CELTIC CHALLENGE
South Tipperary got their challenge back on tracks with an excellent one point win over South Kilkenny in their final group game in Cahir last Wednesday evening with the score-line reading South Tipperary 5-13 South Kilkenny 5-12. South Tipperary’s goals came courtesy of 3 from Niall Hoctor – St. Mary’s Clonmel and one each from Andy Byrnes – Golden-Kilfeacle and Nathan Crowe – Arravale Rovers.
Niall Hoctor was also nominated by the referee and his officials as South Tipperary’s “Best and Fairest” award winner.
Hot on the heels of that victory came a game against Kildare in Portlaoise in a Division 2 game (Corn John Scott) in what is called the Preliminary Phase of the competition last Saturday, June 4th, with South Tipperary again taking the spoils, the final score reading South Tipperary 5-17 Kildare 2-15. Once again Niall Hoctor was among the goals in this match shooting 2 to the net as did Ross Bonner – Cashel King Cormacs with Conal Donovan – Arravale Rovers supplying the other goal.
South Tipperary’s next game is a divisional semi-final this Saturday June 11th, though opposition is not yet known. You can follow all the latest Celtic Challenge news at, http://www.gaa.ie/hurling/news/celtic-challenge-round/
JOHN WEST FÉILE NA NGAEL
In what will be an extremely busy time across the county and down to Waterford, the weekend of June 17th, 18th & 19th sees Tipperary and Waterford jointly hosting the National Féile na nGael Finals sponsored by John West. While the organising committee led by Chairman Donal Shanahan (Toomevara) and Secretary Patricia Walsh (Waterford) have been very busy with the strategic planning of the event, all host clubs have been equally busy of late sprucing up their venues and club grounds in anticipation of the Féile and the sense of community and togetherness it brings with it.
Féíle na nGael (and Féíle Peil) are truly unique in the fabric of Irish society and play a monumental part in the development of individuals both young and old across the country as new friendships are forged and old ones rekindled in what can only be described as the lasting legacy of Féile’s founding figures.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB EDMONSTOWN GOLF CLASSIC
The Tipperary Supporters Club had another tremendous outing in the Mater Private Group sponsored Annual Dublin Corporate Golf Classic in Edmondstown Golf Club, Rathfarnham last Thursday.
Congratulations to the winners on the day who were as follows;
1st – Mater Private 1 – Michael Maher, Richie Power, Tom Hanlon and Mark Moran (93 pts)
2nd – KPMG – Neil Collins, Andy Ellard, Grace O’Neill and Liam Devane (90 pts)
3rd – Invesco – Richard White, Paddy Swan, Des McGarry and Greg Moore (88 pts)
4th – GMC Sierra – Brian Duggan, Murt Duggan, Martin Maher and Andy McEntee 88 pts)
5th – Mater Private 2 – Barbara Maher, Anne Hiney, Gerry Hiney and Euan Randall (87 pts)
6th – Kingston Construction – Philip Fitzpatrick, Milo Carey, John Barry and Tim Nunan
Nearest the Pin – Jim Judge
Longest Drive – Stephen Fitzachary
Thanks to all who took part and made this day another wonderful success. Tipperary County Board wishes to thank and acknowledge the Tipperary Supporters Club for the fantastic support they give to the county senior hurling team year in year out.
HANDBALL
Last Saturday in Thurles, Tipperary played host for the singles Hardball Finals. Commiserations to David Moloney from Cashel who failed in his bid to win the Intermediate singles title which he was hoping to add to his Doubles success the week before. However, he never got to grips with Daniel Relihan from Cork who ran out 21/10 & 21/13 to take the Intermediate Hardball singles title.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB MESSAGE
Dear Tipperary Supporter
As we have now thankfully navigated the opening round of the Munster Championship, I want to take the opportunity to write directly to Tipperary Supporters Club Members on behalf of management and the players. Since coming together as a new management team and panel last November, between training sessions and matches, we have been together on 80 occasions already. Although our league results were mixed, we were competitive in every game and, importantly, we feel we learned a lot to aid our preparation for the championship. While there can be no guarantees about future results, I can assure you that every effort is being made by our players in order to produce performances worthy of our County.
Our preparations so far have been greatly assisted by the Tipperary Supporters Club. The involvement of the Supporters Club is crucial to our preparations as it boosts the resources available to us in order to prepare the team to the best of its ability. So I want to pass on our sincere thanks to you for pledging your support for the Tipperary Senior Hurlers for 2016 by joining the Supporters Club. We are privileged to come from a county where the passion for hurling is as strong as ever and we will make every effort to reflect that passion each time we represent Tipperary.
If you have friends or family who are equally passionate about Tipperary Hurling, but are yet to join the Supporters Club this year, I would encourage you to share this mail with them. New members can join by clicking this link http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/
Once again, we greatly appreciate your support – thank you for playing your part. Looking forward to what we hope will be a long summer.
Ar aghaidh le Tiobraid Árann, Michael Ryan, Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
Continuing Michael Ryan’s theme 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.
