by Acting PRO Joe Bracken
ALL IRELAND MINOR FOOTBALL FINAL
In a repeat of their earlier provincial decider, next Sunday, September 20th, sees Tipperary once again line out against Kerry in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Final in Croke Park at 1.15pm.
There is no disputing the desire and talent of this Tipperary squad who regrouped brilliantly after the Munster Final loss and who are now really looking forward to the rematch and to hopefully confound the pundits by securing another famous Tipperary victory. A Tipperary win on Sunday would be a third for the Premier County at the grade having previously secured the title last held in 2011 with Liam McGrath as captain and then we go back to 1934 for the inaugural success when Andy Greensmith captained his side.
In this seasons championship campaign Charlie McGeever’s side have scored 4-64 with 5-45 against. This is a fine return for a side that has shown tremendous resilience and craft in their last two outings on their way to Sunday’s final.
We send best wishes to captain Danny Owens and his fellow players as well as manager Charlie McGeever and his management and backroom teams who have defined their campaign with a fantastic work ethic which has deservedly delivered them a place at Sunday’s table in Croke Park. What a fitting end to the championship season for Tipperary it would be if the Tom Markham Cup was presented Danny on Sunday afternoon in the Hogan stand and then to the Tipperary supporters on the steps of Thurles Cathedral on Monday evening next..
ALL IRELAND MINOR RECEPTION
The Tipperary Association Dublin is hosting the Post Match Reception and Welcome Dinner for the Tipperary Minor Football team and Management on the occasion of the 2015 All-Ireland Football Finals. The win over Kildare ensured that Tipperary once again will be a central part of the All-Ireland Football Final programme next Sunday.
The Association will host a Dinner in honour of the team and the management in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin which continues a tradition lasting over 50 years, where Tipperary teams appearing in finals in Croke Park are hosted by the Tipperary Association Dublin. The dinner will begin at 8.00pm and will be followed by entertainment/disco. Tickets for the dinner reception are priced at €35 each per person. Individual tickets and tables of 10 to 12 persons may also be purchased. Rates for children under 12 years of age is €10 for chicken and chips and for those between 12 – 15 years of age €20.
Tickets must be paid for in advance and the latest date for accepting bookings is Thursday 17th September. Those wishing to purchase tickets should contact one of the following: Tipperary Association Dublin: 087 6376663 (Pat Ryan) or 087-2866018 (Liam Myles); Co. GAA Board office, Lár Na Páirce, Thurles: 0504 22702.
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Seamus Callanan from Drom & Inch who was voted as GAA/Gaelic Players Association Opel All Star Hurling Player of the Month for August. In completing a magnificent performance where he bagged 3-09 for Tipperary against Galway in the All-Ireland Semi-final, Seamus was rightly rewarded for his exploits on that fateful day.
GPA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Next Saturday, September 19th, will be a very special day for Tipperary hurling legend Jimmy Finn from the Borris Ileigh club as he will be honoured by the Gaelic Players Association at the annual Former Players Event in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park at 2.30pm
Jimmy will be presented with the prestigious GPA Lifetime Achievement Awards for his contribution to hurling at a gathering of over 300 former county players. Former Kerry player and managerial legend Mick O’Dwyer will receive the football equivalent also at the event.
Jimmy won three senior All-Irelands with Tipperary in 1950, ’51 and ’58. He was only 19 years of age when as captain he collected the Liam McCarthy Cup in ‘51 which was the last of the 3 in a row for that great Tipperary side. With six National League medals, four Munster titles and four Railway Cups (two as a sub), one All-Ireland Minor title, one Munster Minor title, along with three Tipperary Senior Club Hurling titles Jimmy Finn had built a wonderful reputation for himself before an eye injury brought his career to an untimely end.
A stylish wing back Jimmy was also named on the Hurling Team of the Century and the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century at right half back position. Congratulations to Jimmy and his family on this wonderful recognition of another celebrated son of Borris Ileigh and Tipperary.
COUNTY FIXTURES
The draws for the Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals were made on Monday night last resulting as follows; Nenagh Éire Óg v Portroe; Drom & Inch v Kildangan; Clonoulty Rossmore v Thurles Sarsfields and Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill v Kilruane MacDonaghs. The games will take place in Semple Stadium on the weekend of September 26th/27th next.
The Preliminary Quarter-Finals of the Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Senior Football Championship were also made on Monday and resulted as follows; Aherlow Gaels v Thomas MacDonaghs; Loughmore Castleiney v Kilsheelan Kilcash; Cahir v Galtee Rovers while Killenaule received a bye.
The Preliminary Quarter-Finals of the Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship have also been drawn and resulted with the following pairings; Rockwell Rovers v Clonakenny; Golden Kilfeacle v Carrick Davins and Cashel King Cormacs v St. Marys.
Please check the fixtures section for all current information on upcoming matches in relation to dates, times and venues across the Premier County.
DIVISIONAL FINAL
Congratulations to Loughmore Castleiney on their hard earned success in the Mid Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final last Wednesday night overcoming Drom & Inch after extra time.
THE CROSS OF CASHEL
Last Saturday in Semple Stadium signalled the last time the Cross of Cashel trophy will be presented to the winning All Ireland U21 hurling captain. Since its introduction in 1967 when Tipperary’s PJ Ryan was the first man to hold aloft the distinctive trophy, Tipperary captains have lifted the trophy on eight occasions with Padraic Maher the last to do so in 2010. The eight occasions are as follows – 1967 (P.J. Ryan), 1979 (Michael Doyle), 1980 (Philip Kennedy), 1981 (Philip Kennedy), 1985 (Michael Scully), 1989 (Declan Ryan), 1995 (Brian Horgan), 2010 (Padraic Maher). Francis Loughnane in 1964 was the first Tipperary All-Ireland U21 winning captain to complete the set of nine titles won by the county.
A full history on the Cross of Cashel was published this year by Jim Fogarty and is now a must have in any GAA book collection. For further information on “The Cross of Cashel – All-Ireland Hurling U21 Finals 1964 to 2014”, the book is available in bookshops in Thurles and Clonmel. If any interested party wants to contact Jim directly, they can do so at 086 1512946 or email jkfog1@gmail.com
STANDING MY GROUND
Another book destined to be a best seller is “Standing My Ground” – The Brendan Cummins autobiography with the official launch set to take place at the Dome, Semple Stadium, on Thursday, October 15th next at 8pm and also in Dublin on Thursday, October 22, at the Palace Bar. Co-written by Jackie Cahill, GAA writer and columnist, Standing My Ground is sure to be a popular item on the wants list of all Tipperary Supporters. Best wishes to Brendan and Jackie with the publication.
NIGHT AT THE DOGS FUNDRAISER
The Eddie Connolly Trust Fund will hold a special “Night at the Dogs” this Friday September 18th at Thurles Greyhound Stadium. The Trust Fund has been established to help fund special cancer treatment for Eddie Connolly. Eddie was born on October 22nd 1985 and played for the Loughmore Castleiney GAA club. Eddie won County and Munster Club Championship honours with his club in 2007.
Eddie played for the Tipperary U21 Footballers in 2006 and was part of the Tipperary Senior Football panel in 2006 and 2007. Eddie was part of the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel in 2011, making his National Hurling League debut against Offaly at corner-back in March 2011. Eddie captained Tipperary to Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling honours in 2012. In late 2013, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Since then he has been bravely and courageously battling to overcome his illness. Presently he is undergoing a new form of cancer treatment in Spain which is not covered by medical insurance.
The “Night at the Dogs” will be a night of fun for all the family which will include a monster auction. The event was recently launched at Thurles Greyhound Stadium by top sports stars, Denis Leamy and Noel McGrath. There will be many sports stars attending and Paul Collins of Today FM will be MC for the evening.
Tom McGrath of the organising committee has requested it be known that “the response from Clubs to date has been terrific and much appreciated”. There is also a bank account to which donations can be made directly: Bank: AIB Thurles; Name: Eddie Connolly Trust Fund; Account:23828075; Sort Code: 93 53 01; IBAN:IE19AIBK93530123828075; BIK: AIBKIE2D.
Please support Eddie at this challenging time by coming along to Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Friday 18th September. Every little contribution will help a lot!
FRIENDS FOOTBALL LOTTO
The Friends of Tipperary Football Lotto is continuing to build and all Tipperary supporters are encouraged to please support by playing online now – http://bit.ly/1HU6W9H
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.
