Allianz Hurling League
Our senior hurlers welcomed Waterford to FBD Semple Stadium last Saturday evening in round 4 of the Allianz hurling league. Knowing that a win would secure our place in the semi finals, the players and management were anxious to continue their winning run against what many felt would be their toughest test to date. After a somewhat slow start, Tipperary settled in to the game and gained control leading at the break by 1-12 to 0-11. Waterford came out strong at the beginning of the second half and had taken the lead by the 12th minute. Tipperary then found another gear and by the 22nd minute found themselves ahead by 3-16 to 0-19. By the 32nd minute man of the match Jake Morris had found the net for the third time and we went on to win by 4-23 to 0-25.
Tipperary’s last game of the group stages will be away to Antrim next Sunday and with progression to the knockout stages now certain, this game may give the team management to afford more playing time to some of the panel members who may not have featured in the starting lineouts to date. This game will see Tipperary return to Corrigan Park for the first time since October 1945. That was the first meeting of the counties in the National Hurling League and Tipperary won by 5.6 to 2.2.
There have been 17 meetings to date and Tipperary have won them all. The results of the last six meetings were –
1994, FBD Semple Stadium Tipp 2.14 Antrim 1.7
2004, FBD Semple Stadium, Tipp 5.23 Antrim 0.13
2005, Casement Park, Tipp 6.21 Antrim 0.10
2006, Cushendall, Tipp 1.11 Antrim 1.7
2007, Templemore, Tipp 1.11 Antrim 0.8
2022, FBD Semple Stadium, Tipp 7.29 Antrim 1.17.
Tickets for this game are now available on the GAA website and also in selected Centra and Supervalu stores.
Allianz Football League
Our senior footballers are due to play Offaly in FBD Semple Stadium this Saturday evening in what is a must win game if we are to keep alive our hopes of maintaining our Division 3 status.
The throw in time for this game has been brought forward to the earlier time of 2pm and we wish the players and team management the very best of luck.
Again, tickets for this game are now available on the GAA website and in selected Centra and Supervalu stores.
Liam Kearns RIP
It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of former Tipperary and current Offaly senior football manager Liam Kearns last Sunday evening.
Liam was appointed as Tipperary manager In November 2015 and in June 2016, Tipperary reached the Munster senior football final after a 3–15 to 2–16 win against Cork. They went on to defeat Derry by a scoreline of 1–21 to 2–17 in round 3A of the qualifiers to reach the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals for the first time. On 31 July 2016, Tipperary defeated Galway in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park to reach a first All-Ireland SFC semi-final since 1935 On 21 August 2016, Mayo defeated Tipperary in the semi-final by a scoreline of 2–13 to 0–14.
On 8 April 2017, Tipperary won the Division 3 final of the 2017 National Football League after a 3–19 to 0–19 win against Louth at Croke Park.
On 9 June 2019, Liam stepped down as Tipperary senior football team manager after defeat to Down in the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
We extend our sincere sympathies to Liam’s wife Angela, daughters Rachel and Laura and also the Offaly GAA county board and players at this very sad time.
Scór Na bPaistí:
Halla Na Féile Cashel played host to the County Final of Scór Na bPaistí on Sunday last. An incredible days entertainment took place in front of a very large crowd. This being our first Scór Na bPaistí since 2019 it was refreshing to see the enthusiasm that the kids showed.
Our thanks to our Fear an Tí Sean Ó’Maoilrian (Arravale Rovers) for guiding us through the large programme. Thanks also to Tom Bourke on sound, the Tipperary Scór Committee for their work and to the Halla Na Féile crew for the welcome. Special word of thanks to our moltóiri Katherine, Máire and Robert who had the arduous task of crowning our winners.
Our winners for 2023 are as follows:
Rince Foirne: Newcastle
Amhranaíocht Aonair: Siobhan Gleeson (Holycross Ballycahill)
Aithriseoireacht: Orla Pamplin (Upperchurch Drombane)
Cool Uirlise: Templederry
Sean Nós: Eva Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill)
Trath Na gCeist: Sean Treacys
Nuachleas: Borrisoleigh
Bailead Ghrúpa: Holycross Ballycahill
Rince Seit: JK Brackens
Comhgarideas to all our winners. A reminder that our Scór Na nÓg County Final takes place on Friday March 24th. Please keep an eye on our social media for venue and time which will be confirmed this week. As this is the 50th anniversary of Scór Na nÓg we encourage as many clubs as possible to take part. All details can be got from irishculturalofficer.tipperary@gaa.ie
Masita Post-Primary Schools All-Ireland SFC
The Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan was the destination for the Paddy Drummond Cup final between St. Joseph’s Grammar School of Donaghmore and the Abbey School of Tipperary Town, where two goals from Mattie McNally fired the Ulster champions to glory.
The Abbey School, who came back from nine points down in their semi-final win over St. Attracta’s of Tubbercurry, struggled in the early stages of this one too, but after conceding the first couple of scores and leaning on talented goalkeeper Robbie McGrath (who was their match-winning hero in that penalty shootout win over the Sligo side), they roared back with points from Shane and Colin O’Grady, Bill Quirke, Conall Grogan and 15-year-old David Ryan, taking a one-point lead into the dressing room at half-time.
Orrin Jones and Grogan stretched that lead after half-time, but momentum shifted decisively in favour of St. Joseph’s when a mishit shot broke into the path of McNally, and he rifled the ball into the net.
Noah Grimes, who had seven points in total on the day, edged St. Joseph’s in front and they powered on from there, with McNally firing in a second goal to rock the Tipperary students and set up a comfortable finish for St Josephs who ran out 2-12 to 0-19 winners.
Cumann na mBunscol
It was a night to remember for Dualla National School and Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol at the Cornmarket National Cumann na mBunscol Awards which took place in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on Friday, March 3rd.
Dualla National School were one of two small schools on the island of Ireland honoured in the ‘School of the Year’ Category. Dualla National School was honoured for the project submitted which showcased all that they do to promote Gaelic Games in their school. The school has huge participation levels in camogie, hurling and football with coaching taking place on a weekly basis in all classes from infants – 6th class. They won their first ever county title in 2015 and haven’t looked back since. Their U13 County Title victory in Semple Stadium last June was their seventh county title success. Their U11 and U13 football and camogie/hurling teams train regularly before school and the school is proud to have teachers who are fostering a love for Gaelic Games among its dedicated pupils. The club school link is particularly strong with Boherlahan Dualla GAA club supporting the school every step of the way. The club regularly provides GAA equipment to the school and often helps with bus costs at county final time. The club also encourages the children to take part in their Healthy Club Activities which further enhances the club school link. Dualla National School recently welcomed back eight past pupils who returned with the Harty Cup which was won recently for the very first time by Cashel Community School. Dualla NS was very proud to have played a small part in this success.
Tipperary Cumann na mBunscol was also honoured on the night with a Cornmarket National Cumann na mBunscol Award for Public Relations. This was the sixth time that Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol has received a Cornmarket National Cumann na mBunscol Award for Public Relations since 2009. Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol has approximately 3000 followers on Twitter. It has one of the highest social media followings of any Allianz Cumann na mBunscol coiste in the country. They use social media to market the game and showcase all the wonderful work happening in the primary schools of Tipperary. They are very well supported by the sports editors of each Tipperary Newspaper who regularly feature their weekly news reports and who also produce colour supplements of their county football and hurling finals. Shane Brophy also welcomed Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol on to his weekly radio show ‘Across the Line’ to preview and review the Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol hurling and camogie school finals last June. Tipperary Cumann na mBunscol regularly contributes articles on our games for National Hurling League and Championship match day programmes.
Handball News
The 40×20 Adult Singles Championships were held in Kingscourt in Cavan on Saturday & Sunday last. With Semi Finals on Saturday & Finals on the Sunday. This experiment of holding the semi finals & finals on the same weekend proved to be a disaster as a lot of players who had tough semi finals did not have enough recovery time to compete properly in the finals. Tipperary were well represented at the Weekend . On the Saturday John Kennedy from Silvermines had a good win in the Semis against Niall Mc Donnell from Antrim in GMAS. Paddy Delaney Cashel Bt Eoin Halligan from Cavan in Master B Singles. In the EMBS Willie Bourke Ballina was beaten by Kieran Cooper from Antrim. Tipperary Competed in four All Ireland finals on Sunday. Paddy Delaney Had an outstanding final beating the fancied James Stanners from Wexford. John Kennedy was beaten by Michael Sheridan from Meath. Paddy Collins was beaten by Eugene Kennedy from Dublin. Jerry Spillane was beaten by Michael Rossiter from Wexford. More Results & Photos in next next weeks Notes
Next Weekend sees our Juveniles taking the long trip to Kingscourt where we have four grades contesting semi finals & Finals.
U15 D Conor Ryan/Daniel McKelvey S Mines
U17 S Rocky Reilly Jnr Ballyporeen
U16 D Lucy Gould Loch Eorna & Lucy Slattery Youghalarra
U17 D Katie Mulcahy & Aoife Williams Loch Eorna
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 16th Mar
