by Acting PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A – TIPPERARY V CLARE
Tipperary make the trip to Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday next March 8th to play Clare in Round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A at 2.00pm. Tipperary will be eager to build on their recent success against Galway whilst Clare will be hoping to open their account. With the venue not too far away, the team would welcome a large Tipperary following to get behind them on Sunday to give them every support possible in this round 3 fixture.
Some stats then ahead of the game; in the history of the National Hurling League Tipperary have played Clare on a total of 52 occasions with Tipperary ahead on 37 wins, Clare have 11 and there have been 4 draws. Of those 52 fixtures played, the last ten records 6 wins for Tipperary, 3 for Clare and 1 draw.
Clare venues have been the most popular with 23 fixtures played, 19 of which have been played in Ennis, Tipperary venues hosted 21 fixtures while 8 were on neutral ground.
SENIOR HURLING CHALLENGE
Tipperary played Waterford in a senior hurling challenge game in Clonmel Sportsfield last Sunday, March 1st, where the honours were divided, Tipperary 1-13 Waterford 0-16.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3 – TIPPERARY V CLARE
Tipperary will play Clare in Round 4 of the Allianz Football League Division 3 at 3.00pm on Saturday March 7th in Semple Stadium, Thurles. After a four point loss to Fermanagh last Sunday, the management admit that promotion is no longer in their own hands. However, victory over Clare on Saturday is well within the sides grasp as they strive to get their campaign back on track.
LEINSTER MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The Tipperary minor panel were in Páirc Tailteann in Navan last Saturday, February 28th, as they took on Meath in round 3 of the Division D Leinster Minor Football League. But alas they came away empty handed on a score-line of Tipperary 0-5 Meath 1-9.
COUNTY CHALLENGE CUP & HURLING LEAGUE
Inclement conditions upset the start of the County Challenge Cup and Intermediate Hurling Leagues over the weekend, the remaining fixtures are down for decision over the coming weekend. Please check the fixtures guide on the Tipperary GAA website for up to the minute listings of venues and throw in times.
REFEREES
Last weekend in Allianz Football League, Derek O’Mahony (Ardfinnan) took charge of the Roinn 4 tie between Waterford and Carlow in Dungarvan, while John O’Brien (Arravale Rovers) was in Ruislip to referee the Roinn 2A Allianz Hurling League tie between London and Derry.
In the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final last Friday, Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams) was in charge of the CIT v WIT tie which went to extra time. This weekend in the Allianz Hurling Leagues, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) is in the middle as Wexford take on Limerick in Roinn 1B in Wexford, while John O’Brien is also in charge for a successive weekend as Kerry play Westmeath in Roinn 2A in Tralee.
TIPPERARY GAA PRESS RELEASE – TONY REDDIN RIP
It is with great regret and sadness that we learned of the death earlier today of former Tipperary hurler Tony Reddin.
The death took place on Sunday, 1st March, following a short illness of Hurling Goalkeeper of the Century and the Millennium, Tony Reddin, aged 95.
Born Martin Charles Reddington in Mullagh, Co. Galway in November 1919, Tony began his hurling career as a juvenile with the local club in 1933, winning a Connacht junior hurling medal with Galway in 1940. He would go onto play senior hurling with the tribesmen and would play with Connacht in the inter-provincial championship in 1946.
A year later when Tony crossed the Shannon to take up a farm job in Lorrha, he joined the local club where he almost immediately caused ripples of excitement with his unusual ability in North Championship games. Nicknamed “Thaudy” and with his family always known as the Reddins back in Galway, the locals in Lorrha thought it was “Tony” and hence became Tony Reddin and the name stuck.
In 1948, Tony helped Lorrha win the North Tipperary senior hurling title making a succession of brilliant second half saves in the final against Borris Ileigh. Despite losing to Holycross/Ballycahill in the County final later that year his performance brought him to the attention of Tipperary manager Paddy Leahy for the first time.
He joined the Tipperary panel in 1949 and for the next nine years his performances between the posts for the Premier County earned him immortal status and he remains arguably the greatest ever hurling goalkeeper to this day.
Tony won three All Ireland senior medals, 1949, 1950 and 1951 as well as three Munster titles. He also won 6 National Leagues in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1957; 5 Railway Cup medals with Munster from 1950 to 1953 and 1955, and 1 Oireachtas medal. His toughest game was probably the 1950 Munster final against Cork at Killarney. He faced many hazards that day and recalled having his jersey held by a spectator!
Tony was named the GAA’s Hurling goalkeeper of the century in 1984 and was named on the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000.
Tony would win one more North Tipperary championship medal with Lorrha in 1956 but a county title would elude him.
Tony moved to nearby Banagher, Co. Offaly in 1960 when he got a job with Bord na Móna and having finished playing with Lorrha, his hurling genius continued as a coach. He became senior trainer with St Rynagh’s hurling club in Banagher and was part of the set-up which saw the club win ten Offaly county championships between 1965 and 1976.
Tony was a regular attender at games until recently and always proved popular with the public, who loved his modest affable manner.
Tipperary County Board Chairman Michael Bourke paid tribute to the late Tony Reddin earlier today – “The name of Tony Reddin will go down in hurling folklore as one of hurling’s legends. His achievements list high among the greats not only of his own era, but also of those of modern times. However, his goal-keeping genius which inspired many is as vibrant today, not alone to Tipperary people, but all Gaels in general as we recall the greatness of his unique talent. On behalf of Tipperary County Board we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Maura, sons Eamon, Dermot & Cathal and daughters Catherine, Jacinta, Majella, Collette, Brenda and Noelle”.
Requiem Mass on Wednesday, March 4th, at 12 noon followed by burial in Bonoham Cemetery, Rathcabbin.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
SCÓR NA bPAISTI 2015 CRAOBH AN CHONTAE
Bhí Halla na Féile i gCaiseal dubh le daoine ar an Domhnach 1 Márta for the County Final of Scór na bPáistí. There was a wonderful exhibition of talent from the children who performed on stage in nine competitions. Each can be proud of themselves for giving such rich displays of all that is best in Irish Culture.
Over 15 clubs were represented from the various divisions and it was heartening to see new clubs coming to the fore at county level. Maith sibh a bhuachaillí is a chailíní. Dhein sibh éacht. Check out the website for more details and a full list of winners and runners up on www.tipperary.gaa.ie
SCÓR SINSEAR
The County Final of Scór Sinsear takes place in Borrisoleigh on Saturday night next March 7th. Now that the children have led the way the Scór committee hope for increased participation on the night at senior level and for a lively competition. Clubs are requested to let your County or Divisional Secretary know before Thursday if your club are taking part in the event.
Trath na gCeist-Scór Sinsear –Saturday night 14th March is the date for our County Final of Scór Sinsear. The victorious team will represent Tipperary in the All-Ireland Final in City West, Dublin and again the Scór committee would like to see representation from all clubs on the night. The new Community Hall in Littleton is the venue for the night.
SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE
Is leatsa í an Ghaeilge. Ná biodh aon leisce ort an cúpla focal a úsáid –Don’t be afraid to use the cúpla focal as you chat, write, text, communicate on your facebook page, on twitter etc. Cleachtadh a dhéanann máistreacht. Bain triail as…..
COLLEGES HURLING
Tipperary had fine representation in the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals and final last weekend. The final between University of Limerick and Waterford IT went to a replay after a thriller. Tipperary players with UL were Paul Maher (Moyne-Templetuohy), Daire Quinn (Éire Óg Nenagh), Brian Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Jason Forde (Silvermines), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Tommy Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg). While for Waterford IT, the Tipperary players lining out for them were Thomas Hamill (Moyne-Templetuohy), Tom Fox (Éire Óg-Annacarty) and Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney). Colm Bonnar (formally of Cashel King Cormacs) was also Bainisteoir of the Waterford IT side.
Elsewhere, in the Division 3 final, Shane Kenny (Gortnahoe Glengoole) captained IT Blanchardstown who lost out to University of Liverpool by 8 points.
POST PRIMARY SEMI-FINALS
Best wishes to two Tipperary Post Primary Schools who are in All-Ireland semi-finals next Saturday, March 7th.
Cisterican College, Roscrea play Ballyhaunis CS in Ballinasloe also at 2pm in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Michael Cusack Cup Senior Hurling “C” Semi-Final.
While Ballingarry Presentation Secondary take on Magherafelt NRC at 2pm in Trim, in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Rice Cup Senior Football ‘D’ semi-final.
TIPPERARY GAA MEMBERS DRAW
The March Monthly Draw will take place next Friday, 6th March in Johnsies Bar, Toem Cappawhite at 10.30pm.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2015
The Tipperary Supporters Club membership for 2015 is now available and is growing week on week. Already hundreds of memberships have been bought and if the goal to extend the adult membership base further can be achieved early in the season it would help alleviate the burden on the supporters club later in the year.
Membership is €30 per person, unchanged since 2006.
The Committee is actively seeking more people interested in helping the Tipperary hurling effort. Anybody who would like to take some Supporters Club memberships to join up their friends is welcome to contact Supporters Club PRO, John Coman on 087-9087105 or by email at 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.
