Tipperary GAA Scene column
By acting County PRO Ed Donnelly
UNDER 21 FOOTBALL
The first round of the Cadburys Munster Under 21 Football Championship will take place on this Wednesday March 12th when Tipperary take on Waterford in Fraher Field Dungarvan at 7:30pm. Sean Joy (Kerry) is the referee. If successful, Tipperary will travel to Milltown Malbay to play Clare on Wednesday March 19th in the Munster Semi-Final.
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
Tipperary lost to Clare by 4-15 to 0-20 on Sunday last in Round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League in Semple Stadium Thurles. With two points from three games, a victory for Tipperary against Galway in next Sunday’s Round 4 encounter is crucial if the Premier County are to qualify for the Division 1 League Quarter-Finals. Throw-in at Pearse Stadium Galway is at 2:00pm with Anthony Stapleton (Laois) as the referee. Supporters wishing to attend this game are reminded that a €5 discount is available if you purchase adult tickets in advance via your local Centra and Supervalu outlets or online via gaa.ie/tickets. The match day admission price is €15 while all Under 16s are free. Finally, well done to Conor Kenny (Borris-Ileigh) who made his League debut for Tipperary on Sunday last, scoring two points from play.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tipperary secured a hard earned victory over Clare in Round 4 of the Allianz Football League on Sunday last in Semple Stadium Thurles, winning on a scoreline by 3-9 to 0-14. The win puts Tipperary at the top of Division 4 on score difference ahead of Leitrim and Clare. There is no time for Peter Creedon’s team to rest on their laurels as they will welcome Antrim to Semple Stadium on this Sunday – throw-in for this Round 5 clash is 2:00pm. Another victory will move the team closer to the stated objective of gaining promotion to Division 3, an important step which will help our up and coming young team to display their skills at a higher level. Supporters are encouraged to get behind our Senior Footballers and come out to support our team as they look to remain unbeaten. Admission to Thurles on Sunday is €10 for adults with €5 concessions for OAPs and Students while Under 16s are free.
COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHALLENGE CUP
The second round of the County Senior Hurling Challenge Cup will take place this weekend with 14 matches down for decision between Friday and Tuesday. Last weekend, the two remaining Round 1 games resulted in narrow wins for Kildangan over Boherlahan-Dualla and for Upperchurch-Drombane over Clonoulty-Rossmore (after extra time). There was one Round 2 game played with JK Brackens defeating Carrick Swan by 1-15 to 1-10.
ALL COUNTY TABLE QUIZ
The 2014 All County Table Quiz Final will take place on this Friday night March 14th at 8:45pm in the Dome Semple Stadium Thurles with over 40 teams taking part. Paddy Finucane will be the quizmaster on the night asking a total of 100 questions spread out over 10 rounds. The Star Prize for the County Champions is €2,000 (4 x €500) plus the chance to represent Tipperary in the All Ireland Scór Quiz Final in Castlebar on April 26th 2014 (for the team with the Highest marks that qualifies under Scór rules). Runner-up Prizes include 4 All Ireland SH Tickets and 4 Tipperary GAA Season Tickets. There is also a special draw at the County Final for all quiz participants in the Local Heats for two Garth Brooks tickets for one of his Croke Park concerts this year and there is also a €250 Rochestown Park Hotel voucher.
SCÓR NA BPÁISTÍ 2014 CRAOBH AN CHONTAE
Bhí Halla na Féile i gCaiseal dubh le daoine ar an Domhnach for the County Final of Scór na bPáistí. What an exhibition of talent from these children who performed so well on stage in 9 competitions. They can be so proud of themselves for giving such rich displays of all that is best in Irish Culture. Maith sibh a bhuachaillí is a chailíní. Dhein sibh éacht.
Over 19 clubs were represented from the various divisions and it was heartening to see new clubs coming to the fore at county level. To reach a county final is a great achievement in itself and we are sure that your mentors, families, friends and clubs are all proud of you showcasing your talents on stage.
Bean an tí for the evening was Treasa Nic Craith a bhí thar barr mar láithreoir. Seo an chéad uair ag Treasa ag an cur i láthair agus bhí sí líofa is deisbhéalach. Ghabh Cathaoirleach Scór an Chontae Seosaimhín Ní Chathail buíochas le gach uile duine a chabhraigh go mór le himeachtaí an lae agus bhronn sí boinn ar na buaiteoirí seo a leanas.
Rince Foirne – Winners – Arravale Rovers; Runners up – Newcastle
Amhránaíocht Aonair – Winners – Clonoulty Rossmore, Anna Kennedy; Runners-up – Cahir, Erin O Regan
Ceol Uirlise – Winners – Sean Treacy’s; Runners-up – Moneygall
Aithriseoireacht – Winners – Sean Treacy’s, Leona Ryan; Runners-up – Moneygall, Aodhán Ryan
Bailéad Ghrúpa – Winners – Newport; Runners-up – Cahir
Sean Nós Dancing – Winners – Killea, Tadhg Quinlan; Runners-up – Moneygall, Aodhán Ryan
Tráth na gCeist – Winners – Loughmore-Castleiney; Runners-up – Borris-Ileigh
Novelty Act – Winners –Borris-Ileigh; Runners-up – Ballingarry
Rince Seit – Winners – Sean Treacy’s; Runners-up – Newcastle
Comhghairdeas libh go léir agus le na hiomaitheoirí uile.
SCÓR SINSEAR
The County Scór Sinsear Final is due to take place on this Saturday March 15th in Holycross at 7:45pm.
TIPP GAA MONTHLY DRAW
The Tipperary GAA Members Draw for March took place on Friday last March 7th in Brosnan’s Lounge Cashel. The star prize of a Skoda Octavia or €15,000 went to Ned & Marie Young from the Toomevara club. The second prize went to Borrisokane’s Noel Morris, a former Chairman of the Tipperary County Board and more recently, Chairman of Tipperary Football Board. A total of 30 prizes were won on the night. Well done to all the lucky winners.
ALL IRELAND CLUB JUNIOR B HURLING FINAL
Congratulations to Holycross-Ballycahil who have qualified for the All-Ireland Club Junior B Hurling Final following a 0-16 to 1-8 over the Leinster champions St. Patrick’s Ballyragget after extra time on Saturday last in Rathkeale. The Final is fixed for this Sunday at 2:00pm when Holycross-Ballycahill take on the Munster champions Templeglantine (Limerick) in Rahenagh near Newcastlewest at 2:00pm.
MUNSTER GAA POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Congratulations to Colaiste Phobal Roscrea who defeated Cashel Community School by 1-12 to 1-10 in the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Senior B Hurling Final on Saturday last after an exciting game played in Templemore. The Roscrea school will now play St. Mary’s Galway in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on the weekend of March 22nd.
REFEREES
Best wishes to Keith O’Brien (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) who will take charge of this Wednesday’s Cadburys Munster Under 21 Football Quarter-Final at Tralee. Keith’s fellow officials include Standby Referee Derek O’Mahony (Ardfinnan), Linesman David Grogan (Aherlow) and Umpires Tommy Lonergan, Nicky Coughlan, Peter Moore and Keith Robinson. Meanwhile, Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) will referee the AHL Division 1A clash between Wexford and Laois at Wexford Park.
SYMPATHIES
Tipperary GAA County Board sends our condolences to Munster GAA PRO and former author of this column as Tipperary GAA PRO Ger Ryan and his family on the death of his father Seamus on Sunday last. Meanwhile, a minutes silence was observed last Sunday in Semple Stadium as a mark of respect for Ailbe Burke (Shannon Rovers President), winner of 2 Munster & All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Medals, John Costigan (Cahir), former Tipperary Football selector and Friends of Tipperary Football Treasurer and Mary Shanahan, a member of the Max family with a long association with Semple Stadium Thurles. May they rest in peace.
GAA AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The usage of social media to keep GAA supporters updated is on the increase in Tipperary. The official Tipperary GAA Twitter account (@tipperarygaa) is among the top 10 GAA County accounts in Ireland with nearly 15,000 followers while over 6,000 people follow the Tipperary GAA Facebook page (facebook.com/tiobraidaranngaa). At club level, 50 Tipperary clubs have a Twitter account while 53 clubs have a Facebook presence. On the flip side, only 29 clubs have an active club web site, down significantly in recent years. The new Tipperary GAA web site at www.tipperary.gaa.ie continues to attract increased views as supporters keep up to date with all the news, fixtures and results from across the county and beyond. In particular, the integration of the Tipperary GAA Shop in to the web site has proved convenient for our supporters.
TIPPERARY GAA SCENE
If you wish to include any item of interest in future articles of the Tipperary GAA Scene, please contact the acting County Public Relations Officer Ed Donnelly at pro.tipperary@gaa.ie on or before 3pm on Monday. Visit the Tipperary GAA web site at www.tipperary.gaa.ie keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary GAA circles.
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 11th Mar
