by PRO Joe Bracken
ALL-IRELAND HURLING ROUNDUP
Two weeks on from Tipperary’s double All-Ireland success, a quick look back on the history of hurling’s greatest honours shows that at senior grade the top four All-Ireland titles rank as follows; Kilkenny 36 (last 2015), Cork 30 (2005), Tipperary 27 (2016) and Limerick 7 (1973).
At Minor grade it is a lot closer with Kilkenny 21 (last 2014), Tipperary 20 (2016), Cork 18 (2001) and Galway 10 (2015).
In terms of senior rivalry between Tipperary and Kilkenny there have been 19 finals contested between the counties with Tipperary ahead 11 to 8 including the 2014 replay.
Tipperary won the 1916 final played at Croke Park on January 21st, 1917, when Boherlahan topped Tullaroan by 5-4 to 3-2, in a game refereed by Willie Walsh (Waterford) and watched by an attendance of about 5,000.
The 1991 All-Ireland day was the last time that Tipperary played in both finals the same year, which incidentally was against Kilkenny in each. Tipperary went on to win the senior 1-16 to 0-15 but lost out in the minor 0-15 to 1-10. The senior team were honoured as the 25 year jubilee team on All-Ireland Finals day.
Back in 1930 Tipperary won Minor, Junior and Senior All-Irelands, in 1989 Tipperary won Under 21, Junior and senior titles. Prior to 2016, 1949 was last time Tipperary won the minor and senior double with Pat Stakelum (Holycross-Ballycahill) Senior Captain and John O’Grady (Cúlbaire – Moycarkey-Borris) Minor Captain. In the senior final Tipp beat Laois 3-11 to 0-3and in the minor Tipp beat Kilkenny 6-5 to 2-4.
And finally as there was much talk of Tipperary’s high points tally in this year’s showpiece, the top six points tally scored in All-Ireland Finals are as follows; 30 Kilkenny 2008 v Waterford, 29 Tipperary 2016 v Kilkenny, 28 Tipperary 2014 v Kilkenny (Draw), 25 Clare 2013 v Cork (Draw), 24 Tipperary 1989 v Antrim and 24 Kilkenny 1972 v Cork.
TIPPERARY WATER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
With the senior divisional championships completed, the impetus is fully geared towards the Tipperary Water Senior Hurling Championship which throws in next weekend. Fantastic attendances have been witnessed at all recent games following on from the county’s All-Ireland successes and this weekend should be no different as supporters are encouraged to come out in huge numbers to keep up their terrific momentum of backing to clubs and players.
The preliminary quarter finals next Sunday, September 25th, will have supporters buzzing for the week in anticipation of how events will unfold. A hugely attractive double header in Holycross sees Drom and Inch take on Loughmore-Castleiney at 3.30pm in a repeat of the recent Mid Final. With Seamus Callanan back for Drom it has all the hallmarks of an enthralling tie as one of the heavyweights will have their Dan Breen aspirations for 2016 quenched early on Sunday evening next. Starting proceedings in Holycross, Kilruane MacDonaghs will be looking to make amends for their loss in the North final as they meet Carrick Swan in what will also be an interesting fixture with the whistle sounding at 1.45pm.
South champions Mullinahone head to Templetuohy for 3pm to meet Ballina who make the trip to the Mid venue once again having last played out a draw there against Ballingarry in the group stages. On the strength of their recent divisional success Mullinahone will be expected by many to progress, but Ballina however will be eager to put a quick halt to their gallop.
Dolla then is the venue for the other fixture between the North pairing of Borris-Ileigh and Burgess which also throws in at 3pm. This game will certainly draw a large attendance as both sides will favour their chances of progressing to the quarter finals proper.
The first round games in the County Senior Hurling Relegation also go ahead this weekend with Moyne-Templetuohy meeting Silvermines in Borrisoleigh on Saturday next September 24th, at 4pm while on Sunday, in Templetuohy at 1.30pm, Moneygall meet Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams ahead of the Mullinahone and Ballina tie.
The Tipperary Water Minor A Football Championship semi-finals throw in on Saturday next with JK Brackens Óg taking on Galtee-Golden in Drombane at 4.15pm while the second semi-final goes ahead next Wednesday, September 28th in Dr. Morris Park at 7.30pm between Clonakenny-Moneygall and Clonmel Commercials.
In the Tipperary Water Minor B Football Championship semi-finals Borrisokane meet Kilsheelan-Kilcash in Boherlahan at 2pm on Saturday next, while on Sunday Upperchurch-Drombane and Cashel King Cormacs meet in Clonoulty at 12noon.
Note, extra time to be played in all above fixtures in the event of a draw at the end of normal time, except in the case of the two relegation games.
TIPPERARY FIXTURES – DIVISIONAL FINALS
The Divisional Hurling Final roll of honour for 2016 is complete courtesy of victories for Kiladangan and Clonoulty-Rossmore in the North and West Finals respectively on Sunday last.
Kiladangan had four points to spare in a 2-18 to 1-17 victory over Kilruane MacDonaghs in the North Final played at Cloughjordan. Both clubs still remain in the County Championship and will harbour dreams of lifting the Dan Breen Cup next month. For Kiladangan, this was their fourth North Senior Hurling title since 2008 and their third in the last four seasons. Considering Kiladangan have only won six North Senior Hurling titles in their history (1938 and 1943 being their previous wins before their current run of success), the club are reaping the benefits of a lot of hard work at underage level with County titles at Minor B (1998 and 2014) and Under 21 B (2004 and 2010) helping to backbone their current crop of hurlers captained this year by Darragh Egan. With the Mid Division trio of Thurles Sarsfields, Drom & Inch and Loughmore-Castleiney keeping a hold on the Dan Breen Cup for the past 7 years, Kiladangan will be many people’s favourites to break the stranglehold of these three strong clubs and bring home the Dan Breen Cup to Puckane for the first time.
Clonoulty-Rossmore on the other hand are back in the winners enclosure in the West after a three year gap, courtesy of a 2-19 to 0-7 victory over Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in the Final played at Leahy Park Cashel. Similar to Kiladangan, Clonoulty’s successes would not have been too frequent for many years. A County Minor A Hurling title in 1981 signalled a possible rising in the Clonoulty club and after a number of years of trying, Clonoulty captured the 1989 West Senior Hurling title to bridge a gap of 48 years. Clonoulty would of course go on that season to capture the Dan Breen Cup for the first time and win their second ever County Senior Hurling title, the first coming back in 1888. Back in 1989, Clonoulty’s success brought them on to 6 West titles, well behind Kickhams and Cashel King Cormacs and who had 14 and 13 West titles respectively. Such has been the dominance of Clonoulty-Rossmore in the intervening 27 years; Sunday’s victory now sees them move level with Kickhams on the Roll of Honour with 17 West titles and moving just one behind Cashel King Cormacs. It has been an incredible period of dominance for the Clonoulty club with this year’s side captained by John O’Keeffe now setting their sights on bringing home the County Senior Hurling title to the parish for just the fourth time
Loughmore-Castleiney made it double senior titles in the Mid following their Football Final win over Upperchurch-Drombane in The Ragg last Sunday. In a game which saw the ‘Church men well in command at half time, Loughmore failed to yield and made the second half their own to claim their second senior Mid title in eight days on a 1-11 to 1-8 score line.
Elsewhere, in the ‘Tipperary Water’ County Senior Football Championship ‘Group 3’ round 3, Loughmore-Castleiney defeated Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill last Wednesday night, 1-16 to 0-7.
The final of this year’s West Senior Football championship is scheduled to take place this Sunday at 3pm in Dundrum, where Galtee Rovers will play the winners of this Wednesday night’s semi-final between Aherlow Gaels and Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill. Galtee Rovers last won the title in 2014 and are currently top the roll of honour on 25 titles, 13 ahead of Arravale Rovers in second.
For a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
ALL-IRELAND CUP VISITS
Now that the school visits have commenced with All-Ireland Cup visits, the following is an item and indeed one of many over the years that should be of interest to Primary School children. On the Tipperary Primary Games team, during the interval of the Tipperary v Clare, Munster senior hurling championship semi-final, on 3 June 2001 at Páirc Úi Chaoimh, Seamus Callanan (Inch NS), Donagh Maher (Burgess NS), Gearoid Ryan (Templederry NS) and John O’Keeffe (Rossmore NS) were on the squad of seventeen for that day. Fifteen years on they are senior All-Ireland medal winners, so plenty of incentive for today’s Primary Games players to be stars of the future. Once again as a reminder to all concerned, the following procedure was adopted for club and school cup visits;
Clubs must first discuss a visit to your local schools with the local County Games Development Administrator (GDA) as they have the responsibility of co-ordinating cup visits for clubs and schools.
Priority will be given to clubs and schools that had players involved in either the All-Ireland Senior or Minor Hurling panels but the onus will be on those clubs and schools to have their own local county players available so a date will have to be selected to suit them.
The Games Development Officers will sit down on a weekly basis and plan the schedule of visits for the following few weeks based on expressions of interest. Clubs without a member on the panels may avail of a cup only visit, but the onus is on the club to secure the services of a panel member to accompany the cup if they are in a position to do so.
The Co. Secretary will be in charge of bookings for all commercial purposes and can be contacted by email secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie or 0504 22702. We look forward to the co-operation of clubs and schools in this regard as we celebrate our two great All Ireland titles.
16-T-LIAM NUMBER PLATES
To commemorate the success of Tipperary Senior Hurlers in capturing the 2016 All-Ireland title with a 2-29 to 2-20 victory over Kilkenny, a unique number plate is now available for sale retailing at €5.
Supporters are advised that proceeds from the sale of our product will go directly to the Tipperary Players Training Fund.
The following outlets in Tipperary are currently selling the number plates so don’t miss out; Borrisoleigh:- Shanahans Centra, Borrisoleigh; Cahir:- John Quirke Jeweller; Carrick-on-Suir: Applegreen Centra (Anne Skelly); Cashel:- William Boles Electrical; Clonmel:- Ronan Quirke Pharmacy; Nenagh:- Starr’s Drapery; Roscrea:- Market House Pub (Paul Phelan); Templemore:- O’Connell’s Centra; Thurles:- Lar na Pairce and in Tipperary Town:- Tod O’Rahelly Sports and Greenes Stationary.
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.
