Tipperary GAA Scene – March 29th 2017

By PRO Joe Bracken

SENIOR HURLING

As anticipated Cork produced a serious challenge by ending Tipperary’s unbeaten run 0-26 to 3-16 in a game where the result was meaningless in the broad scheme of things from a Tipp perspective as the group rounds of the Allianz Hurling League came to a close in splendid sunshine in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday last.

A tight finish ensured not a soul left the ground as the result teetered either way before referee Brian Gavin delighted the home crowd on calling time to another fine instalment between these two traditional rivals.

The Tipperary management handed a full league debut to Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) while John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Willie Ryan (Clonakenny) both made their starting debuts having previously being introduced from the bench.

The Tipperary goals came courtesy of Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) who accounted for 2-6 of Tipp’s tally, while John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) chipped in with 1-1.

So after all that it is down to the knock out stages from here on in and as in 2015 Tipperary travel to Tullamore to meet Offaly in the league quarter-final. As both sides had two home league games a coin toss was decided to determine home venue.

A look back on league history between the sides show the counties have met on 41 occasions with the balance completely one sided, Tipperary with 33 wins to Offaly’s 6 and there are 2 draws recorded.

The last 10 meetings show Tipp 7 to 3 up on the head to head. As indicated the last fixture was the 2015 Quarter-Final played on March 29th when Tipp came through 1-16 to 0-13 in a game which was best remembered for the dismissal of Tipperary ace Seamus Callanan who had 1-6 to his name on the day. A dismissal as we know which was later appealed and overturned.

Overall the counties have met in three league Quarter Finals, with all results in Tipp’s favour – 1979 (Replay), 2006 and 2015.

Tipperary’s biggest winning margin against Offaly in the National Hurling League was 39 points, which was in the February 11th 1962 meeting, at Roscrea. Tipp won by 11-11 to 1-2, having led by 5-9 to 0-0 at half time. John ‘Mackey’ Mc Kenna scored five goals for Tipperary, the last time a Premier county hurler achieved the feat in a National League game.

Offaly’s first League win over Tipp, at Birr, on November 20th 1966 produced their record nine points winning margin in this rivalry 3-13 to 2-7.

The other results or recent times are as follows; Group at Nenagh, 13/3/2011 Tipperary 1-20 Offaly 0-10; Group at Tullamore, 18/4/2010 Tipperary 1-18 Offaly 2-14; Group at Thurles, 10/2/2008 Tipperary 2-25 Offaly 2-8; Quarter-Final at Thurles, 16/4/2006 Tipperary 2-21 Offaly 3-14; Group at Birr, 22/2/2004, Offaly 1-15 Tipperary 0-17; Group at Nenagh, 23/2/2003 Tipperary 4-14 Offaly 1-8; Group at Birr 30/3/2002 Tipperary 2-21 Offaly 3-8; Group at Nenagh 9/3/1997 Offaly 2-14 Tipperary 1-15 and Group at Birr, 8/10/1995, Offaly 1-14 Tipperary 0-11. Best wishes to the team and management on Sunday in O’Connor Park, Tullamore where throw-in is at 4pm and the referee will be Colm Lyons (Corcaigh).

Tickets are on sale at gaa.ie and selected SuperValu and Centra stores, with adult tickets costing €20 and U16’s go free. Buy before match day and get €5 off adult tickets.

SENIOR FOOTBALL

Unfortunately we didn’t get the result the county was hoping for as Louth derailed the Tipperary football train, momentarily we hope, following their 0-16 to 0-12 victory in round 6 of the Allianz Football League division 3 encounter in Semple Stadium last Sunday.

Next Sunday Tipperary head to Armagh to play in the Athletic Grounds in what is a must win match for Tipp in a bid to secure promotion to division 2. One thing is for certain, it won’t be easy and management and players will have to draw on every ounce of experience to secure that elusive promotion spot.

Tickets are on sale at selected SuperValu and Centra stores, adults €10 and U16’s go free.

The referee on Sunday will be Rory Hickey (An Clár).

MINOR HURLING

Reigning All-Ireland and Munster Champions Tipperary are back in action next Wednesday night, April 5th, in Semple Stadium where they host Limerick in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Championship Quarter-Final. Best wishes to the management team of Liam Cahill (Ballingarry) manager, Michael Bevans (Toomevara) coach and selectors John Sheedy (Portroe), Sean Corbett (Boherlahan-Dualla) and TJ Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and their panel as they look to emulate the success of 2016. Never an easy task, the target of champions is enough to entice any opposition into action.

Following the success of Our Lady’s last Saturday, captain Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens) will be leading his side as he knows best where he will have fellow players from last year Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Óg), Kieran Breen (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) and Robbie Quirke (Cappawhite) to show leadership once again this time of asking.

The referee will be Nathan Wall (Corcaigh)

MUNSTER U17 FOOTBALL

Best wishes to the Tipperary U17 football team who take on Clare in the Munster Quarter-Final in Semple Stadium next Tuesday night, April 4th. This competition runs along with the minor championship as we know it for this year only before it becomes the new minor format from 2018. It is a straight knock out competition with no second chance so it promises to be a very lively and entertaining competition. The U17 and minor management team are led by manager Matt Doherty (Arravale Rovers), coach-selector David Power (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), selectors Mick O’Sullivan (Drom & Inch) and Johnny Nevin (JK Bracken’s).

The winners go forward to meet Kerry in the Semi-Final in Austin Stack Park, Tralee on May 2nd.

COUNTY LEAGUES

It was a very busy weekend in the Tipperary Water County Hurling Leagues and next weekend the focus turns towards the Tipperary Water County Football Leagues with some Tipperary Water County Hurling Leagues thrown in for good measure.

For a full list of fixtures and results from last weekend please check the Tipperary GAA website https://tipperary.gaa.ie/

CROKE CUP

The highlight of the weekend belongs to Our Lady’s Templemore who claimed the Croke Cup for the second time in Templemore history as they claimed the All-Ireland College’s Senior Hurling (Under 18.5 A Hurling) crown following their 3-13 to 3-11 defeat of holders St. Kieran’s Kilkenny in a fascinating tie in Semple Stadium last Saturday afternoon.

Congratulations to Our Lady’s on your terrific triumph where goals from Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens) and Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) were so crucial to a wonderful team performance.

POST PRIMARY FINALS

In other Post Primary finals, congratulations to the girls of Presentation Thurles who claimed the Lidl All-Ireland Senior ‘C’ Football title following their 4-11 to 2-10 defeat of Holy Faith SS Clontarf in the final in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

We go north of the county next to congratulate the girls in Borrisokane Community College following their All Ireland Junior ‘C’ Camogie Final success defeating Abbey Community College (Ferrybank, Waterford) 2-08 to 2-04 in Freshford.

Congratulations also to St. John the Baptist Hospital and in particular the Emly players involved, Conor Phipps, Paul O’Heney, Conor Burke, Danny Cunningham, Kevin McGrath and Sean McGrath who claimed the Paddy Buggy Cup by defeating St. Marys CGBS Belfast in the All-Ireland B Colleges Hurling Final 2-14 to 1-8.

For a full update of all Munster Post Primary schools fixtures and results please using the following link http://munstergaapps.ie/fixtures-results/

REFEREES

Best wishes to our referees in action this week. First up Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) takes charge of the EirGrid GAA Football Under 21 Munster Championship Semi -Final this Wednesday night March 15th between Waterford and Kerry.

On Sunday next, April 2nd, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) is in the middle when Clare and Dublin meet in the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A relegation play off in Cusack Park, Ennis. Elsewhere, Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) takes charge of the Allianz Hurling League Quarter-Final between Cork and Limerick in Páirc Uí Rinn.

JUNIOR ‘B’ ALL-IRELAND

Commiserations to Upperchurch Drombane who were defeated by Whitechurch in the Junior ‘B’ Hurling All-Ireland Final last Sunday 2-16 to 0-11 in Killeedy, Co. Limerick.

HANDBALL

The 2017 40×20 Juvenile Team of 6/4 competitions took place last Saturday in Salthill and Claregalway venues. In total six different counties took part with Kilkenny and Cork counties taking home the gold medals.

In the U14/15 competition Kilkenny had a comfortable win over Mayo in the semi-final 90-33 while Tipperary received a bye to the final and in the final Tipperary narrowly lost out to Kilkenny on a score-line of 70-67. Hard luck to the Tipperary team consisting of Kian Donnelly, Nathan Lenihan, Rory Grace, Jack McGrath, Stephen Coffey and Eoin Healy, For all handball fixtures and results please check out the handball website http://handball.tipperary.gaa.ie/

TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB 2017 MEMBERSHIP

Supporters can join on line now on tippsupportersclub.com/join by credit card or debit/laser card. Membership is €40 per person. 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. We are encouraging members to switch to Direct Debit payment by offering a reduced charge of €30 for all Direct Debit members in 2017. It’s easy to sign up for Direct Debit, just download the two-page form from the Tipperary Supporters Club website at http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/ fill it out and send it to Jim Reidy at the address below.

If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order for €40 payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15 (086-3580718, email: info@tippsupportersclub.com ) All proceeds from membership go towards the preparation and training of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Team.

FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL

The Friends of Tipperary Football membership for  €20 enters each supporter into the following draws: 2 All Ireland Final Football tickets 2017; 2 All Ireland Final Hurling tickets 2017; 2 Tickets for each Tipperary Senior Football Championship matches 2017; 2 All Ireland Club Final tickets 2017 and 2 National Football League tickets for each Tipperary League match in 2017

Membership is also available online through the Friends website www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com and there is also a link on the Friends Facebook page.

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.