by PRO Joe Bracken
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
After putting in a solid, determined shift at the furnace, unfortunately the Tipperary challenge was left smouldering in the embers as Waterford through Austin Gleeson quenched the Tipperary flame in the dying seconds of an excellent Allianz Hurling League round 3 encounter last Sunday, March 6th in Semple Stadium, with the Déise winning by the slenderest of margins 1-18 to 1-17
With many positives to take from the game, an early trip to the sea side this year sees the Tipperary ensemble head to Salthill next Sunday, March 13th to take on Galway at 2pm in Pearse Stadium, in round 4 of the league.
Tipperary will go, as they always do, in search of victory with manager Michael Ryan and his selectors ensuring that the homework is well and truly done before the togs are pulled on for this fixture. However, Galway manager Micheál Donoghue, no stranger to these parts in the recent past, will have his side primed and ready for the Tipperary machine. So once again an enthralling contest is in prospect with both sides intent on victory.
Over the history of the National Hurling League, Galway are our most frequent League opponents. Of the 70 games played between the sides Tipperary are in front on 46 wins, Galway have 19 and there has been 5 draws. The equivalent fixture in Semple Stadium last year saw Tipp emerge victorious 2-18 to 0-20 with John O’Dwyer and Seamus Callanan the Tipperary goal scorers.
James Owens from Wexford will be the man in the middle on Sunday. We send best wishes to the team again on Sunday and hope the visit to meet the Tribesmen will reap more than building castles in the sand.
Supporters are asked to get your tickets early in the week for this tie and to avail of discount prices which will close at midnight on Saturday night.
Ticket prices as follows; Pre-Purchase Price: Adult: €10 (Pre-Purchase discount ends midnight on the day before the fixture). Match-Day Price: Adult: €15, juveniles under 16: free of charge
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The Tipperary footballers maintained their unbeaten run with a superb victory over Offaly in Sean Treacy Park, last Sunday, March 6th, on a score line of Tipperary 2-11 Offaly 0-12, with Tipperary’s goals coming from Michael Quinlivan and Martin Dunne.
That victory keeps Tipperary’s promotion hopes still very much alive with three games left to play. Two away from home to Longford and Sligo with Roinn 3 leaders Kildare sandwiched in between as they travel south to meet Tipperary on Easter weekend.
The first of the two away fixtures is next Sunday as Tipperary travel to Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford to take on Longford in round 5 in what is now a most crucial fixture in determining the aspirations of the side. Longford sitting right behind Tipp in the table also have two wins but crucially two losses as well so Liam Kearns will be anxious his side add to the negative tally in the Longford statistics.
The referee for this fixture is Shaun McLaughlin from Donegal. Again we send best wishes to our Tipperary footballers hoping they keep their rich vein of form intact.
MUNSTER U21 FOOTBALL
Best wishes to the Tipperary U21 footballers as they start the defence of their Munster crown away to Kerry in the EirGrid GAA Football Munster Quarter-Final in Austin Stack Park, Tralee this Wednesday night, March 9th at 7.30pm.
With a rich blend of experience from last year’s winning side still eligible and the exciting talents of the minor panel coming through, manager Tommy Toomey will put out his usual formidable outfit that will be well prepared for the daunting challenge Kerry lay before them. This game will be the first fixture under the new floodlighting system in Austin Stack Park.
REFEREE
Best wishes to our referees taking charge of vital games in both hurling and football this weekend. First up on Saturday night Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams) takes charge of the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A game between Cork and Kilkenny in Páirc Uí Rinn while Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) takes charge of the Down v Dublin Allianz Football League Roinn 1 tie in Páirc Esler, Newry. Then on Sunday, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) is in the middle when Wexford and Offaly meet in Round 4 of the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1B fixture at Innovate Wexford Park.
COUNTY FIXTURES
Last weekend the County Senior Hurling Challenge Cup and the County Intermediate Hurling Leagues commenced with some interesting results coming through. In the Senior Hurling Challenge Cup Holycross-Ballycahill got their season off to a fine start down South with 5 points to spare over Carrick Swans. Up North in Cloughjordan Kilruane MacDonaghs proved too hot to handle for Portroe as they eased to a comfortable victory.
It was a baptism of fire for Clonakenny on home soil whose first senior outing for many years following their promotion from Intermediate grade resulted in a heavy loss to Clonoulty-Rossmore. Borris-Ileigh at home also proved too strong for Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams as did Roscrea also at home over Killenaule, admittedly though Killenaule were without their county men.
Of the two Mid pairings Thurles Sarsfields had the measure of JK Brackens in Templemore, while Upperchurch-Drombane made the most of their advantage in Castleiney with a one point win over Loughmore-Castleiney who were also without their county contingent. Moycarkey-Borris travelled to Toomevara but left empty handed as the home side won by five.
Elsewhere, Mullinahone welcomed Borrisokane down to Kickham country by inflicting a four point defeat while Nenagh Éire Óg saw off the Templederry Kenyons challenge by two points in Templederry. A fine win for Nenagh who like other clubs were also missing their county players. The other match played saw Éire Óg Annacarty- Donohill travel to and get the measure of Ballingarry by four.
For full round up of scores and upcoming fixtures please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie/tipperary-club-hurling-competitions/
TIPPERARY GAA DRAW
The March Draw was held in Seymours Bar Portroe last Friday night March 4th, with the two main prizes split between both ends of the county. Congratulations to John Heffernan, Clonmel who won a Skoda Octavia or €15,000 and also to Paul Booth, Roscrea who won a Skoda Fabia or €10,000.
CROKE CUP
Congratulations to Our Lady’s Templemore who defeated Gort Community School in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final last Saturday, March 5th in Kilmallock by 1-18 to 0-14 with Anthony Ryan the goal scorer for Our Lady’s. The reward for their victory is a tough assignment as they meet Leinster winners St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Croke Cup (Senior Hurling “A”) Semi-Final this Saturday, March 12th with details of fixture not yet confirmed.
PADDY BUGGY CUP
Best wishes to Abbey CBS who will play the Leinster champions Ard Scoil Ris of Marino or Scoil Mhuire, Johnstown in the Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘B’ Hurling Paddy Buggy Cup Semi-Final this Saturday March 12th, again details of fixture not yet confirmed.
SCÓR SINSIR NA MUMHAN OVENS
Bhí Craobh na Mumhan Scór Sinsir 2016 ar siúl in Cumann Éire Óg Ovens oíche Dé Sathairn ar a sé. Bhí seacht gcomórtas ar an stáitse i rith na hoíche agus clubanna ó Thiobraid Árann ag glacadh páirte iontu. Dhein siad go léir éacht- Newcastle sa Rince Foine agus sa Rince Seit,JK Brackens sa Cheol Uirlise,Borrisoleigh sa Léiriú,Newport sa Bhailéad Ghrúpa agus san Aithriseoireacht ach Foraor nil ach Sinéad Grant ó Newcastle ag dul ar aghaidh chuig Craobh na hÉireann i gCill Áirne ar 2 Aibreán. Ta guth fíoralainn ag Sinéad agus chan sí John Condon dúinn agus giotár mar thionlacan aici. Maith thú Sinéad agus go néirí go geal leat sa Chraobh. Buiochas le Coiste Scór na Mumhan a d,eagraigh na comórtaisí gan dearmad a dhéanamh ar na hiomaitheoirí uile,múinteoirí,teagascóirí, agus arís eile an lucht leanúna dílis a bhí i láthair.
SCÓR NA bPÁISTÍ CRAOBH AN CHONTAE
All roads lead to Cashel on Sunday next, March 13th, for the County Finals of Scór na bPaistí in Halla na Féile. Parish and divisional finals are complete and we would like to thank sincerely all those who have taken part mentored and organised these events, in particular our Coistí Scór around the County. Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí is certainly part of what Scór does and it provides a platform to promote our cultural heritage and traditions in this the 100th Anniversary of 1916. Go néirí le geal le na hiomatheoirí uile.-You have already excelled.
COMÓRTAS EALAINE – ART COMPETITIONS
Ná déan dearmad ar an gComórtas Ealaíne .Dont forget our Art Competition. Winners will be announced on Sunday 13th March in Halla Na Féile Cashel. Dathaigh agus Bígí ag Peinteáil.
SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE
Try out these phrases- Use these nathanna
Bain triail as –give it a go.
Bígí ag ceiliúradh – Make sure to celebrate
Déan do sheacht ndícheall – Do your best
Bain sult agus spraoi as –Enjoy
Cérbh é/í Laoch na hiomána? Who was – Man/Woman of the Match?
An lámh in uachtar – The upper hand
Seol téacs/griangraf chugam – Send me a text/photo
Éirí amach na Cásca-Domhnach Cásca – Luan Cásca – Easter Uprising/Easter Sunday Monday.
Cad iad na himeachtaí atá ar siúl i do cheantar? – What activities are taking place in your area?
Lá Le Pádraig shona duit – Happy St Patricks Day
Beannachtaí na Féile Padraig – Happy St. Patricks Day
An bhfuil tú ag dul chuig Rasaí na gCapall in Cheltenham? – Are you going to Cheltenham?
Cé bheidh ag imirt i lár na páirce? – Who will be playing centre field?
Cad é do mheas ar an mbainisteoir nua? – What do you think of the new manager?
Is dóigh liom go bhfuil sé thar barr/thar cionn/ar fheabhas/ go dona – I think he’s very good/excellent/ poor enough.
Barr na Sraithe – Top of the league.
Bí ag faire amach ar na ticéid – Keep an eye out for tickets.
An mbeidh ag tú ag an mórshiúil?- Will you be at the Parade?
Moladh Teigh ar an suíomh www.snag.ie chun níos mó a fhail amach faoi Seachtain na Gaeilge
Go to www.snag.ie
CAMOGIE
Congratulations to the Cahir ladies who are All-Ireland Club Champions following their superb victory in the AIB All-Ireland Club Intermediate Camogie Championship Final defeating Eyrecourt from Galway 0-14 to 1-2 in the final in Croke Park last Sunday, March 6th.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Tipperary Supporters Club for 2016 is now available and at €30 per person it is unchanged again this year. The Tipperary Supporters Club are delighted to announce that the 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.
