by Acting PRO Joe Bracken
COUNTY FIXTURES
There was plenty of action in Semple Stadium last weekend with the Clean Ireland Recycling Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-finals down for decision. On Saturday afternoon Drom & Inch were first to reach the semi-finals following their victory over Kildangan and were soon followed into the last four by Kilruane MacDonaghs who accounted for Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill in the second match of the day. On Sunday then Nenagh Éire Óg defeated Portroe and in claiming the fourth semi-final spot Thurles Sarsfields ended Clonoulty Rossmore’s season in the last of the quarter-finals. The eagerly awaited semi-final draw was going to produce mouth-watering ties one way or another and resulted as follows; Drom & Inch v Nenagh Éire Óg and Kilruane MacDonaghs v Thurles Sarsfields, those ties to be played on Sunday October 11th next.
In the Clean Ireland Recycling Intermediate Hurling Championship Clonakenny and Golden Kilfeacle reached the quarter-finals over the weekend. The two remaining Preliminary Quarter-Final ties will be played this Wednesday night, September 30th, with St. Mary’s Clonmel v Cashel King Cormacs in Dr. Morris Park at 7.30pm and Drom & Inch v Kilsheelan Kilcash in Clonoulty 8pm. The Quarter-Final fixtures also made on Monday night resulted as follows; Newport v Golden Kilfeacle which goes ahead this Saturday October 3rd in Drombane at 3pm; Thurles Sarsfields v St. Marys Clonmel or Cashel King Cormacs; Lattin Cullen Gales v Clonakenny which goes ahead on Sunday next October 4th in Holycross at 1pm and Ballinahinch v Drom & Inch or Kilsheelan Kilcash.
Elsewhere in the Clean Ireland Recycling Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship the semi-final line-up for this Saturday, October 3rd is as follows; Clonoulty Rossmore v Ballylooby Castlegrace in Cahir at 3pm and Thurles Sarsfields v Roscrea in Templemore also at 3pm.
On the football front the Preliminary Quarter-Finals of the Clean Ireland Recycling County Senior Football Championship also took place with Loughmore Castleiney overcoming Kilsheelan Kilcash, Aherlow Gaels defeated Thomas MacDonaghs while Galtee Rovers/St Pecaun put paid to Cahir’s hopes of progressing further overcoming them in Golden. With Killenaule having received a bye the pairings for the Quarter-Finals are as follows; Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill v Aherlow Gaels; Arravale Rovers v Killenaule; Clonmel Commercials v Loughmore Castleiney and Moyle Rovers v Galtee Rovers/ St Pecaun. With some very interesting fixtures here too all eyes will be peeled to the destination of this year’s crown.
The first quarter-final is on this Saturday afternoon October 3rd, between Arravale Rovers and Killenaule in Boherlahan at 3.30pm , a double header on Sunday next October 4th, in Leahy Park, Cashel sees Moyle Rovers meet Galtee Rovers/ St Pecaun to get proceedings under way at 1.30pm followed by Clonmel Commercials against Loughmore Castleiney at 3pm. The last remaining fixture goes ahead on Wednesday next October 7th in New Inn between Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill and Aherlow Gaels which throws in at 7.30pm.
The Clean Ireland Recycling Senior Football Relegation tie between Ballyporeen and Moyne Templetuohy goes ahead on Sunday next October 4th at 12noon in Golden.
The results in the Clean Ireland Recycling Intermediate Football Championship saw Holycross Ballycahill, Mullinahone and Clonmel Óg all progress to the semi-finals of that competition.
This weekend also sees two fixtures in the Clean Ireland Recycling Junior ‘A’ Football Championship with Ballina meeting Thurles Sarsfields on Sunday October 4th at 2pm in Dolla while over in Borrisoleigh Gortnahoe Glengoole meet Newport also at 2pm.
So a lot to digest there please check the fixtures section for all current information on upcoming county and divisional matches in relation to dates, times and venues across the Premier County.
U21 HURLING TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year will be announced live on Newstalk FM’s Off the Ball over four days from this Wednesday September 30th and those selected in the top fifteen will be presented with their awards at a special ceremony in Dublin on this Saturday, October 3rd. Tipperary has three players nominated, Michael Breen Ballina, Ronan Maher Thurles Sarsfields and Colin O’Riordan JK Brackens and we send best wishes to the three lads as they carry the Tipp flag with their nominations.
COUNTY BOARD DRAW
The October County Board Draw takes place this Friday night, October 2nd, in Stapleton’s Bar, Borrisoleigh at 10.30pm. So make sure you tune in to Tipp FM at 10.45pm to see if you are a winner this month.
MUNSTER UNDER 17 FOOTBALL
Tipperary will get their campaign underway in the Munster Under 17 Football competition on Monday next October 5th with a meeting with Clare in Dr. Morris Park Thurles at 7.30pm with David Murnane (Cork) as referee. Further games versus Waterford on Monday October 12th in Carriganore and Limerick again on Monday October 19th in Dr. Morris Park Thurles are scheduled with the top two counties scheduled to take part in the Cup Final and the 3rd and 4th place teams taking part in a Shield Final. Both finals are planned to go ahead on Bank Holiday Monday, October 26th. All the fixture details as they exist at present can be found at http://munster.gaa.ie/2015/09/24/munster-under-17-football-competition-2015/.
This is a good opportunity for the counties involved to get competitive games ahead of formulating next year’s Minor panel. Tipperary are the defending Munster Under 17 Football champions after 0-12 to 0-10 final victory over Clare last October. The winning county is presented annually with the Daryl Darcy Cup in memory of the former Shannon Rovers and Tipperary footballer whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident in 2008. Emmet Moloney from Drom & Inch had the honour of captaining last year’s successful Tipperary side. Seven of that winning team from last October went on to start the recent All-Ireland Minor Football Final for Tipperary which shows the benefit of such a competition to the counties involved.
HANDBALL
Congratulations to all the Tipperary players who helped the Premier County dominate proceedings at the 2015 60X30 Munster Juvenile Singles-Doubles Finals, which were held in Ballymac over three days last weekend between the 25th-27th September.
STANDING MY GROUND
It is two weeks to the launch of Standing My Ground – The Brendan Cummins autobiography with the official launch set to take place at the Dome, Semple Stadium, on Thursday, October 15th 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 set to become another Tipperary best seller.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The following is a brief reminder of books which are particularly of a Tipperary interest which are on the shopping list of many GAA enthusiasts. The biography of Tom Semple and his legendary Thurles Blues, by Liam Ó Donnchú, launched back in June is available from bookshops in Tipperary or online from www.bookworm.ie costing €30. Books may also be ordered by post (€35) from: Liam Ó Donnchú, Lár na Páirce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
A full history on the Cross of Cashel published earlier this year by Jim Fogarty is now a must have in any GAA book collection following the last presentation of the trophy in this year’s U21 All Ireland Hurling Final. 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
The story of Tipperary hurling legend the late Jimmy Doyle, “The Boy Wonder of Hurling” was launched in August. Written by former Irish Examiner GAA correspondent, Diarmuid O Flynn, and edited by former Tipperary Star Editor, Michael Dundon, the book is also widely available in bookshops.
After a sell-out run this Friday October 2nd, should see “Captains of the Premier Ship” penned by Noel Dundon return back on sale in bookshops and it no doubt will once again be a much sought after book for the GAA archives in every house across the Premier County.
FRIENDS FOOTBALL LOTTO
The Friends of Tipperary Football Lotto continues each week 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.
