by PRO Joe Bracken
TIPPERARY WATER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tipperary Water Senior Hurling Championship has really ignited and this weekend the quarter-final fixture double headers will certainly see the temperature rise as the eight remaining clubs battle it out in a bid to reach the semi-finals.
Semple Stadium will play host to two double headers with the action commencing this Saturday afternoon October 1st at 1.30pm where Killenaule meet Kilruane MacDonaghs followed at 3pm by the clash of Thurles Sarsfields and Borris-Ileigh. On Sunday, October 2nd, first up is Clonoulty-Rossmore and Mullinahone at 2pm with Kiladangan v Drom & Inch throwing in at 3.30pm. Extra time will be played in all games in the event of a draw at the end of normal time.
With two exciting days play to look forward to opinions will be divided across the county as to who the likely winners will be. The first match down for decision sees recent south and north divisional finalists Killenaule and Kilruane MacDonaghs meet in an appetizing clash. Kilruane bounced back from their divisional final loss to record an emphatic victory over a luckless Carrick Swan on Sunday in Holycross. The sizeable Killenaule contingent present will certainly be impressed with the Kilruane work ethic and are forewarned of the challenge facing them. Though through to the quarter final on merit by winning their respective Roinn 1group earlier in the season, participation in the recent south final will also stand to Killenaule as they head to Thurles on Saturday intent on reaching the semi-finals.
The second game on Saturday sees reigning champions Thurles Sarsfields return to action after a long layoff as they line out to meet Borris-Ileigh fresh from their victory over Burgess on Sunday. Sarsfields will hope to hit the ground running knowing that the benefit of serious competitive action for a while might impede their play. That said most of their marquee players haven’t been idle but that still doesn’t allay the intrigue that surrounds this decorated side. Borris having been made to work hard by Burgess in last Sunday’s encounter will certainly relish the challenge of meeting Thurles Sarsfields and won’t fear the Mid lads as they look to claim a notable scalp on Saturday. The answer to this conundrum will be known around quarter past four in Semple Stadium.
If that wasn’t enough for the hurling enthusiast, it is back to Semple Stadium on Sunday for another double helping of the ancient game. Recent divisional winners in the west and south, Clonoulty-Rossmore and Mullinahone meet in the first match at 2pm. Clonoulty captained by county player John O’Keeffe easily saw off the challenge of Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams in the West Final and also as respective Roinn 1 group winners they will provide a formidable challenge to Mullinahone if they wish to progress. A last minute pointed free by talisman Eoin Kelly earned victory for his side in the South Final and the benefit of a stern encounter with Ballina will have strengthened their resolve ahead of Sunday’s game. It’s all in the melting pot as they say and this is another game which could go down to the wire.
The last game of the quarter finals sees recently crowned north champions Kiladangan take on Drom & Inch at 3.30pm. In very difficult conditions Kiladangan ground out a solid victory over Kilruane in their final and will look to build on that experience and their work rate to lay down the gauntlet to Drom & Inch on Sunday. Following on from two tough encounters against Loughmore-Castleiney, Drom will know they need to fire on all cylinders if they want their name to be in the hat when the semi-final draws are being made, so it’s all to play for.
In the preliminary quarter finals last weekend, it was even enough in three of the four matches played with the Kilruane MacDonaghs v Carrick Swan match being the odd one out, Kilruane winning the opening match in Holycross by 5-27 to 0-6. The goal scorers for Kilruane MacDonaghs were Cian Darcy, Seamus Hennessy, Ciarán Cahill, Darragh Peters and Thomas Cleary. It was much tighter in the second match with Drom & Inch just about doing enough to pip a determined Loughmore-Castleiney by a single point, 1-16 o 0-18 the Drom goal coming courtesy of Seamus Butler. Meanwhile in Dolla, Borris-Ileigh were made to work all the way by Burgess in this all north contest, with Borris eventually edging it 1-17 to 1-13, Niall Kenny finding the net for Borris-Ileigh while Bill O’Flaherty was the Burgess goal scorer. The final game of Sunday’s quartet of fixtures was held in Templetuohy with South Champions Mullinahone taking on Ballina. And it was Mullinahone who dictated affairs from the off and though four up at the break they were able to hold off the Ballina challenge with a 0-19 to 0-16 result.
In the Tipperary Water County Intermediate Hurling Championship there are five games down for decision on Sunday at various venues across the county. Four of the matches throw in at 12noon, with Thurles Sarsfields meeting Galtee Rovers/St. Pecaun in Leahy Park, Cashel. In Holycross, Ballinahinch take on Carrick Davins while in Templemore, Lattin Cullen Gaels meet Shannon Rovers. Moneygall is the venue for the Gortnahoe-Glengoole v Newport tie. After all these have finished Sean Treacys meet Cappawhite in Dundrum at 3pm.
The Tipperary Water Minor Hurling Championships are down to semi-final stage in both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ grade with all fixtures set for this Saturday October 1st. In the Tipperary Water Minor A Hurling Championship, Clonakenny/Moneygall meet St. Mary’s Clonmel in Clonoulty at 1pm while in Holycross, JK Brackens Óg take on Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams at 2.30pm.
Elsewhere, in the Tipperary Water Minor B Hurling Championship, Borrisokane meet South opposition in Templetuohy at 2pm and at the same time in Fethard GAA Park, Gortnahoe-Glengoole travel to meet Cashel King Cormacs in the other semi-final.
There is one fixture in the Tipperary Water County Junior ‘A’ Championship fixture this weekend with Clonoulty-Rossmore taking on Loughmore-Castleiney in the Ragg on Saturday at 3pm.
There are also two quarter finals to be played on Sunday in the Tipperary Water County Intermediate Football Championship also with 12noon throw in with Moyne-Templetuohy taking on Rockwell Rovers in Boherlahan and Golden-Kilfeacle meeting Moycarkey-Borris in New Inn.
In the Tipperary Water Minor A Football Championship semi-finals Galtee-Golden eventually overcame JK Brackens Óg after extra time on a score-line of 1-15 to 2-10. The second semi-final goes ahead this Wednesday night, 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 Kilsheelan-Kilcash had a comfortable win over Borrisokane 2-13 to 1-4 while Cashel King Cormacs also proved too strong for Upperchurch-Drombane with Cashel winning 2-10 to 0-10.
The first round games in the County Senior Hurling Relegation also went ahead last weekend with Silvermines defeating Moyne-Templetuohy 0-19 to 0-15 and Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams defeating Moneygall 4-06 to 1-13.
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Aherlow Gaels are the West Senior Football Champions for 2016 courtesy of a 2-12 to 1-6 victory over Galtee Rovers on Sunday last. Aherlow last won this title back in 2010 and have captured the West SFC title 8 occasions. The first back in 1968 was under the guise of St.Ailbies as Emly and Aherlow combined to win the West title for the first time. The Aherlow club won the title in their own right in 1997 before the club’s most successful era from 2005 to 2010 when 5 West titles were captured along with 2 County Senior Football crowns in 2006 and 2010, both captained by Mark O’Brien. The Aherlow Gaels are currently a combination of Aherlow and Lattin-Cullen, the latter of whom are no strangers to Football success in the past. In all, Lattin-Cullen won the West Senior Football title on 10 occasions, including 4 titles in a row back in the 1960s while their last West SFC title came back in 1994. Aherlow Gaels will now play Drom & Inch in the County Senior Football Championship on Wednesday October 5th at 8pm in Clonoulty.
The last senior football divisional final goes ahead on Sunday as the South Final goes ahead in Kilsheelan at 3pm between Clonmel Commercials and Cahir.
For a full round up of all fixtures and results across the Premier County please view the county website at https://tipperary.gaa.ie
COUNTY BOARD DRAW
The next County Board Draw will be held a week later than usual and it will take place on Friday, October 14th in Murphy’s Bar, Templemore to coincide with JK Bracken’s reception for their recent three All Ireland Hurling winning minor players, Tom Murphy, Paddy Cadell and Lyndon Fairbrother.
SCÓR SEASON 2016-2017
As the Scór Season gets underway again we would like to advise all Scór members of a meeting in Lár na Páirce on Monday night next, October 3rd, at 8pm. We would appreciate full attendance from all divisions to discuss recent changes in competitions and to discuss the future contribution of Scór as a GAA entity. Looking forward to seeing you there, ní neart go cur le chéile.
ALL-IRELAND CUP VISITS
As most are well aware at this stage, All-Ireland Cup visits to schools and clubs are underway at present and the following is once again a reminder to all concerned of the procedure 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.
HANDBALL
Congratulations to the Tipperary Juveniles that travelled to Broadford in Limerick on Sunday and beat the home team Limerick in the U12/13 Team Munster semi-Final. They then met Cork in the Finals and with some great displays by all they were crowned Munster Champions winning by 78-53. Tipperary were represented by Ballina & Lahorna Clubs, well done to all involved.
The adults competed in the Singles All-Ireland Finals with Billy Mullins Clonmel having a good win over Kevin Geraty Mayo in DMAS and in the O35B Singles John Ferncombe (Cashel) had a comprehensive win over Trevor Hannon from Galway. Martin Ryan from Silvermines lost his first game and was narrowly beaten in the second in the EMBS final. In the Ladies Minor Singles Sinead Meagher Nenagh lost out to Fiona Tully from Roscommon.
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.
