By PRO Joe Bracken
COUNTY FIXTURES
The shape of this year’s Tipperary Water County Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships and Seamus O Riain Cup have been defined to a large degree by a very busy schedule of final round group games played last weekend.
Taking a brief look at these competitions after the weekend results, starting with Senior Hurling, the Quarter Final teams will be made up as follows; group winners will play group runners up except where a divisional winner has not qualified through the county system. In that case that team or teams will play one of the group runners up in the Preliminary Quarter Final(s).
The group winners are Loughmore-Castleiney, Clonoulty-Rossmore, Thurles Sarsfields, and Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill while the group runners up are Borris-Ileigh, Drom and Inch, Kilruane MacDonaghs and Mullinahone.
The four teams facing relegation are Kiladangan, Ballina, Carrick Swan and Burgess of which two teams go back to Seamus Ó Riain. An open draw will be made with the loser of both games relegated to Seamus O Riain. In the case of one or more of those four teams winning their division, they will be removed from the relegation game(s).
A quick overview of the four Groups in Tipperary Water County Senior Hurling Championship looks like this;
In Group 1, Loughmore-Castleiney topped the standings on 5 points as a result of 2 wins and a draw. Borris-Ileigh were runners up on 3 points with 1 win, 1 draw. While Kiladangan though level with Upperchurch-Drombane on 2 points each, face a relegation playoff by virtue of losing the head to head with the ‘Church.
The Group 2 table sees Clonoulty-Rossmore on top following 2 wins and a draw leaving them on 5 points. Drom & Inch with 2 wins take the runners up spot on 4 points, Portroe are safe on 2 points and Ballina look to hold onto their status via the relegation play-off as they finish the Group on 1 point.
In Group 3, Thurles Sarsfields with a 100% record top the group on 6 points and Kilruane MacDonaghs on 4 points following 2 wins are runners up with Nenagh Éire Óg on 2 points in third while Carrick Swan head into the relegation playoff on zero points.
Group 4 then, the final group, saw 3 teams on 4 points each with Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill taking top spot following their 2 wins with Mullinahone in the runners up spot with Killenaule in third spot. Burgess the odd one out of the four teams are heading to the relegation play-off also on zero points.
In the Tipperary Water Seamus Ó Riain Cup the Quarter-Finals will be straight forward as group winners play runners up. The group winners are Toomevara, Templederry Kenyons, JK Brackens and Holycross-Ballycahill while the group runners up are Roscrea, Silvermines, Clonakenny and Lorrha-Dorrha.
Heading into the relegation battle are Ballingarry, Moycarkey-Borris, Borrisokane and Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams. Those four teams play off in a round robin format with the two bottom teams relegated to Intermediate. If a team wins their division, they will not take part in the relegation games.
A quick overview of the four Groups in Tipperary Water County Seamus Ó Riain Cup looks like this;
In Group 1, Toomevara with a 100% record top the group on 6 points with Roscrea coming through in second on 4 points following 2 wins. Newport last year’s Intermediate champions are third while Ballingarry with zero points head to the relegation round robin route.
Groups 2, 3 and 4 were 3 team groups and the arithmetic was more straightforward. In Group 2 Templederry-Kenyons topped the group with 2 wins; Silvermines took the runners up spot with 1 win with Moycarkey-Borris on zero points heading to the relegation route.
Group3 saw JK Brackens take top spot over Clonakenny though both finished on 3 points each, with a win and a draw apiece. Scoring difference separated first and second as the head to head match was a draw, while Borrisokane with zero points head to the relegation round robin series.
Finally, in Group 4, with 2 wins Holycross-Ballycahill top the Group on 4 points, with Lorrha-Dorrha on 2 points taking the runners up spot with Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams also on zero points the remaining team to head into the relegation round robin series.
Elsewhere, in the Tipperary Water County Intermediate Hurling Championship the Preliminary Quarter-Finals will be made up of the 6 group runners-up plus Moyne-Templetuohy and Kilsheelan-Kilcash. Needing 8 teams for the preliminary quarter-finals a draw was made last February to decide which group winners would join the group runners up and groups 3 and 6 were drawn at the time. If a team wins their division and did not come through the county system, they will play one of the remaining group winners in the preliminary quarter finals.
The Group winners were Ballinahinch, Drom & Inch, Moyne-Templetuohy, Sean Treacys, Cappawhite and Kilsheelan-Kilcash. The 6 Group runners up are Thurles Sarsfields, Moneygall, St. Marys, Carrick Davins, Kiladangan and Moyle Rovers.
The 6 teams heading into relegation are Gortnahoe-Glengoole, Roscrea, Boherlahan-Dualla, Cashel King Cormac’s, Lattin Cullen Gaels and Galtee Rovers-St. Pecaun. The relegation format will be divided into two groups of three, with the two groups playing a round robin and the bottom team in each group relegated. If a team wins their division, they will be removed from the relegation.
A look over the 6 Groups reveals the following;
In Group 1, Ballinahinch top the group on 5 points following 2 wins and a draw, with Thurles Sarsfields also on 5 points with the same set of statistics in the runners up spot. That draw mentioned was between the top two with Ballinahinch taking top spot on better scoring difference. Golden-Kilfeacle finished in third while Gortnahoe-Glengoole with zero points head into one of the relegation round robin groups.
Group 2 consisting of 3 teams saw Drom & Inch and Moneygall both finish on 3 points courtesy of a win and a draw each with Drom taking top spot. Here again that draw mentioned was between the top two with Drom taking top spot on better scoring difference. Roscrea on zero points head to the relegation route.
Group 3 was another 3 team group, with Moyne-Templetuohy taking top spot on 3 points with a win and a draw. St. Mary’s Clonmel with 1 win take the runners up spot while Boherlahan-Dualla on 1 point head to the relegation round robin groups.
Back to 4 teams in Group 4, Sean Treacys with a 100% record win the group on 6 points. Though the 3 other teams, Carrick Davins, Shannon Rovers and Cashel King Cormacs all finish on 2 points each, scoring difference saw Carrick Davins take the runners up spot, Shannon Rovers third place with Cashel King Cormacs heading to one of the relegation round robin groups.
In Group 5 another 4 team group, Cappawhite top the group on 4 points following 2 wins with Kiladangan taking the runners up spot also on 4 points having lost the head to head with Cappawhite. Arravale Rovers nestled in the pack are safe in third while Lattin-Cullen Gaels on 1 point also head to the relegation round robin series.
Lastly then, in Group 6, another group of 3, Kilsheelan-Kilcash top the group on 4 points with Moyle Rovers on 2 points taking the runners up spot. Galtee Rovers-St. Pecaun on zero points are the remaining team heading into the relegation route.
This weekend, will equally be of huge interest to clubs as Divisional Championships take precedence.
For a full round up on all results and fixtures, please check the Tipperary GAA website https://tipperary.gaa.ie/ or the fixtures/results section in your local newspaper.
ALL-IRELAND FINAL REFEREES
Now that the All-Ireland Senior Hurling finalists are known, it is perhaps worth noting, in advance of who the man in charge will be this year, previous Tipperary referees who have had the honour of officiating in the annual showpiece.
In 1887 Pat White (Offaly) a native of Toomevara parish was the first when Tipperary and Galway met in the first All-Ireland at Birr, on April 1st, 1888. The following then were the other officials, 1940 J.J. Callanan, 1941 Bill O’Donnell, 1947 Phil Purcell, 1955 Bob Stakelum, 1974 John Moloney, 1979 & 1985 George Ryan, 1994 & 2000 Willie Barrett and finally 2005 Seamus Roche.
SEMPLE STADIUM AWARD
Having previously been announced as the inaugural winners of the 2017 Pitch Award, Co. Board Chairman Michael Bourke and Semple Stadium representatives – Chairman Con Hogan, Stadium Director David Morgan and the main man himself the hardworking and diligent chief Semple Stadium groundsman David Hanley, were in Croke Park on Sunday last where Uachtarain Cumann Luthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail made the official presentation. Also present were Mick Carroll and Eamon Darmody, Sports Turf Care.
Congratulations to all on a fantastic achievement and a worthy recognition of the huge efforts being undertaken in the Field of Legends.
TIPPERARY GAA MEMBERS DRAW
The results of the August Tipperary GAA members draw saw 1st prize of a Renault Megane or €15,000 go to Padraig Killeen, Munnia Aglish, Roscrea and the promoting club was Knockshegowna.
Second prize of a Renault Clio or €10,000 went to Owen Sheedy, Kiltillane, Templemore with JK Brackens the promoting club here. While St. Patrick’s Drangan were promoters of the 3rd winner in the draw with Australian Flights for 2 or €3,000 going to Patrick Power, Tullowcussaune, Drangan. Congratulations to all this month’s draw winners.
ARRABAWN CO-OP U16 TOURNAMENT
The annual Arrabawn Co-Op U16 Tournament takes on extra prestige on Saturday, August 26th next, as the competition being hosted by the South division, is in effect a forerunner to the new minor championship from next year on. With that in mind, large crowds are expected at all venues to see first-hand future stars as they lock horns to see who will take home the coveted prize by the end of a hectic days play.
Tipperary are in Group 1 and play their 3 round games in Moyle Rovers grounds at Monroe, joined by Offaly, Clare and Dublin starting at 10am. At 3.45pm in Kilsheelan the Group 1 runners up will play Group 4 winner (either Limerick/Kilkenny/Wexford) in a Cup Semi-Final, while at the same time in Monroe in the other Cup Semi-Final – Group 1 winner will play Group 3 winner (Waterford/Cork/Galway).
The finals will be held in Clonmel Sportsfield with the Shield Final between both semi-final losers and the Cup Final following at 6.30pm.
Contesting the John Doyle Cup U16B also on August 26th, Tipperary are in Group 3 along with Carlow, Westmeath and Clare with their base being Fr. Sheehy’s GAA grounds in Clogheen. The action starts here at 10:30am. The Semi-Finals are scheduled to throw in at 3:15pm with Group 3 winners playing Group 2 winners (Galway/Kilkenny/Waterford/Cork) in Ballylooby while the other Semi-Final takes place in Cahir between Group 1 winner (Limerick/Kerry/Meath/Laois) and the first runner up.
The final will also be played in Clonmel Sportsfield with a 5pm throw in. All games 20 minutes per half.
LADIES FOOTBALL
Congratulations to the Tipperary Ladies Football Intermediate team who defeated Wexford 2-15 to 3-11 AET in the TG4 All-Ireland Championship Quarter-Final last Sunday. Best wishes to the team in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Meath on August 26th.
LOYALTY CARD
Tipperary GAA has launched a loyalty CashBack Card which as a Tipperary supporter each individual that registers is doing their small bit in support of the county cause. Loyalty cards were sent out with club draw receipts to all members and as there is no charge in registering you can opt in immediately. If anyone who doesn’t have a loyalty card and flyer please call to Lár na Páirce to pick up one. Register as per details on the CashBack flyer. To activate the card, holders must complete the registration and then please email, post or drop off your registration details to Lar na Páirce, Slievenamon Road, Thurles or secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie
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-mailpro.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.
By Jonathan Cullen Wed 16th Aug
