by Acting PRO Joe Bracken
ALL IRELAND MINOR HURLING FINAL
In what hopefully will be unprecedented times in Minor affairs for Tipperary, next Sunday, September 6th, the Blue and Gold carriage gets well and truly rolling on a two week rollercoaster as the Tipperary Minor Hurlers run out for their encounter against Galway in this year’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Final in Croke Park at 1.15pm.
We send best wishes to manager Liam Cahill and his squad as they go in search of glory on Sunday. Tipperary’s last victory in this grade came in 2012 when Bill Maher from Kilsheelan Kilcash led the side to All-Ireland success.
This time round the whole county hopes his South Tipp comrade Stephen Quirke from Moyle Rovers can do the same by 2.30pm on Sunday in Croke Park and bring home the Irish Press Cup for the twentieth time.
As indicated last week Tipperary and Galway have met in seven finals with Tipperary six to one up in the head to head. Including these seven finals, there have been twenty-nine previous meetings of Tipperary and Galway in the Minor Hurling Championship, with Tipperary having won nineteen games, Galway eight and there have been two draws.
The last minor meeting was an All-Ireland Semi-Final at Croke Park on August 19th, 2012 when Tipperary scored 2-16 to Galway’s 1-14 on their way to All-Ireland glory. Paud O’Dwyer from Carlow will be the referee on Sunday.
MINOR HURLERS RECEPTION
The Tipperary Association Dublin has announced details of the Post Match Reception and Welcome Dinner for the Tipperary Minor Hurling team and Management on the occasion of the 2015 All-Ireland Hurling Finals. The win over Dublin ensures that Tipperary will be a central part of the All-Ireland Hurling Final programme on Sunday next.
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. Tables for 10 – 12 persons may be purchased, but individual tickets are also available.
Tickets must be paid for in advance and the latest date for accepting bookings is this Thursday 3rd September. Those wishing to purchase tickets should contact the following: Tipperary Association Dublin: 087 6376663 (Pat Ryan) or 087-2866018 (Liam Myles); Co. GAA Board office, Lár Na Páirce, Thurles: 0504 22702; Tipperary Supporters Club: John Coman 087 9087105
ALL IRELAND MINOR FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL
It was a day to savour for players, management and spectators alike in Croke Park on Sunday last as the Tipperary Minor Football team defeated Leinster champions Kildare eleven points to nine in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Football Semi-Final as they continued on their march towards the All-Ireland Final on Sunday, September 20th. Congratulations to captain Danny Owens, manager Charlie McGeever and his squad on their wonderful achievement as the head of steam built up from the Munster Final loss continues forward.
The lads were brilliantly prepared for this match and couldn’t wait to get into action which was evident in their play. This of course was due in no small part to manager Charlie and his backroom team whose close attention to detail created the canvas on which his players brought to life his game plan culminating with the right result.
With nine dual players in the squad it is certainly going to be absorbing and rewarding times for them as the two minor panels, though separate, drive forward together in unity of purpose to hopefully ensure the right results in both the football and hurling finals in the space of two weeks.
Tipperary were All-Ireland Minor Champions in both codes in 1934 when Con Maher of Thurles Sarsfields captained the hurlers and Andy Greensmyth of Arravale Rovers captained the footballers with no apparent dual player evident though some clubs were represented on both teams.
This time round the nine dual squad players are; Michael Connors (Drom-Inch), Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Emmett Moloney (Drom-Inch), Tommy Nolan (Drom-Inch), Ross Peters (Clonmel Commercials and St Mary’s), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers), Jack Skehan (Holycross-Ballycahill).and Alan Tynan (Roscrea and Inane Rovers).
A word of thanks to all Tipperary Supporters in Croke Park on Sunday, you were super throughout and gave the side a tremendous boost on their way to victory.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Congratulations to Jack Kennedy Clonmel Commercials on receiving his Electric Ireland Man of the Match Award following his performance on Sunday in the semi-final.
REFEREE
Johnny Ryan from the Boherlahan Dualla club has been appointed as standby referee for the Senior All-Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday.
DIVISIONAL FINALS
It’s the turn of divisional finals in senior football this weekend with two finals down for decision on Saturday, September 5th. In the South Division the South Tipperary Senior Football Championship Final sees Clonmel Commercials take on Kilsheelan-Kilcash at 6.30pm in Monroe while in the West Division Arravale Rovers and Eire Og Annacarty Donohill meet in the West Senior Football Championship in Dundrum. This final has a 6pm throw in with extra-time scheduled in the event of a draw at the end of normal time.
COUNTY FIXTURES
The fixtures for the next round of the Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship have been confirmed with one fixture down for decision on Friday September 11 in the Preliminary Quarter Final while the other five have been fixed for Sunday September 13. The full list can be seen at https://tipperary.gaa.ie/tipperary-senior-hurling-championship-draws/ on the Tipperary GAA website.
Congratulations to Ballina who secured the James Holohan Cup following their victory over Moyne Templetuohy in the final last Sunday morning.
Elsewhere action continues in the Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior Football and U21’B’ Football Championships in the coming days. Please check the fixtures section for all current information on upcoming matches in relation to dates, times and venues across the Premier County.
COUNTY BOARD DRAW
The September Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw goes ahead this Friday night September 4th, in Nugent’s Bar, Newcastle at 10pm. The August star prize winner, William & Eleanor Devaney will be presented with their €15,000 cheque on the night and two more Skoda car winners will be announced. So make sure you tune in to Tipp FM at 10.45pm to see if you are a winner this month.
ALL-IRELAND SEVENS
Best wishes to all Tipperary clubs taking part in the Kilmacud 7’s tournament this Saturday. It what will now be a hectic day in the capital with the Dublin v Mayo replay, the even more hectic seven’s schedule will take on a life of its own on a glorious weekend in the GAA calendar. The Tipperary teams confirmed are Ballina, Holycross Ballycahill, Moyne Templetuohy, Borris Ileigh, Portroe, Templederry Kenyons, Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams, Borrisokane, Burgess, Roscrea and Moycarkey-Borris.
NIGHT AT THE DOGS FUNDRAISER
The Eddie Connolly Trust Fund will hold a special “Night at the Dogs” on Friday 18th September next at Thurles Greyhound Stadium. The Trust Fund has been established to help fund special cancer treatment for Eddie Connolly. Eddie is 29 years of age and has represented Loughmore Castleiney and Tipperary at all grades of hurling and football including captaining Tipperary to the All-Ireland Intermediate hurling title 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.
You can support this worthy cause in many different ways – there is a buster draw with a top prize of €500 for €10 including entrance fee. You can sponsor a race for €500, nominate a greyhound for €100 or sponsor an item for auction. Children can attend for free. 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! For more information, please contact: Phyllis Connolly 086 0668388, Tom King 087 6274079 or Tom McGrath 087 4132691.
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.
