Tipperary GAA Scene

by PRO Joe Bracken

CO-OP SUPERSTORES MUNSTER LEAGUE

The Tipperary senior hurlers got their 2019 Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League off to a winning start with a three point win over Limerick in Group A Round 1 last Friday night. After a most entertaining match the final score read Tipperary 4-14 Limerick 2-17 before an attendance of 3,224. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) was in sparkling form scoring 2-8 with Tipperary's other goals coming from Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) and Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha).

Congratulations to recent U21 winning captain Colin English (Fr. Sheehy's) as he made his senior debut while Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs) and Mark McCarthy (Toomevara) also received their first taste of senior action when introduced as second half substitutes.

With the trials of a difficult year behind the panel, it was great for the lads to close out 2018 with a welcome and positive boost. Tipperary's second match in the Munster League will be on Saturday, January 5th when the team will play Kerry in Nenagh in Group A Round 3. Throw-in for that match is fixed for 2pm.

CLUB FIXTURES

The fine attendance in Boherlahan last Sunday was treated to a thriller in the Tipperary Water U21 A Hurling final as Clonoulty-Rossmore and Thurles Sarsfields delivered a cracker of a contest. In the end though there could only be one winner and congratulations go to Clonoulty-Rossmore on winning their first U21A title with a 2-12 to 1-12 victory. With some outstanding performances on both sides, it was Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) who was named John Quirke Jewellers Man of the Match.

At divisional level, Galtee Rovers/St. Pecaun claimed the Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Senior Football title following their 2-8 to 1-7 victory over Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill. While in the AIB Thurles Mid Tipperary Intermediate Football final, Loughmore-Castleiney took the title by seeing off the challenge of Moyne-Templetuohy 1-9 to 0-9.

To keep up to date with all fixtures and results please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/

REFEREE

Best wishes to Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) as he is scheduled to referee the Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League Group B Round 1fixture between Clare and Cork in Cusack Park, Ennis on December 29th next.

COUNTY OFFICERS 2019

Following Monday nights' County Convention there are no changes to the various officer roles on the County Board for 2019, details as follows - President: Matt Hassett (Toomevara), Vice-President: John Costigan (JK Brackens), Chairman: John Devane (Boherlahan-Dualla), Vice-Chairman: Joe Kennedy (Moyne-Templetuohy), Treasurer: Michael Power (Newcastle), Assistant Treasurer: Liz Flanagan (Holycross-Ballycahill), PRO: Joe Bracken (Moycarkey-Borris), Development Officer: PJ Maher (Boherlahan-Dualla), Coaching Officer: Tom Dawson (Eire Óg Annacarty-Donohill), Officer for Irish Language and Culture: Josephine Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Children’s Officer: Nicholas Moroney (St. Patrick’s), Central Council Representative: Michael Bourke (Upperchurch-Drombane), Munster Council Representatives: Jimmy Minogue (Nenagh Éire Óg) and Ger Ryan (Templederry Kenyons), IT Officer: Lisa Stapleton (Boherlahan-Dualla).

Elsewhere, the football committee officers are as follows, Chairman: Barry O’Brien (Fr. Sheehy's), Vice Chairman: Conor O’Dwyer (Upperchurch-Drombane), Secretary: Hugh Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy) and P.R.O. Enda O’Sullivan (Nenagh Éire Óg).

The Coiste na nÓg officers for 2019 are also as follows; Chairman: Martin Bourke (Boherlahan-Dualla), Vice-Chairman: Tommy Landers (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Secretary John Sheehy (Sean Treacy's), Treasurer: Ann McGrath (Burgess), PRO: Morgan Lanigan (Thurles Gaels), Rep to Senior Board: Ann Fleming (Fethard) and Rep to CCC: Tom Dawson (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill).

TIPPERARY SENIOR HURLERS FUNDRAISING EVENT

The 2019 Tipperary hurling panel, supported by past players, will take on one of their most important challenges as they embark on a major fundraiser in aid of the ‘Running for Josie’ project and Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund, this Saturday December 22nd.

The venues in each of the four divisions are as follows; Mid - hurling training at Thurles Sarsfields pitch next to Semple Stadium and cycle event at Ely's Centra premises on Slievenamon Rd. Thurles. In the North the hurling will be at Nenagh College and the cycle event at Sportsman's Dream. In the South the hurling will take place at Clonmel Sportsgrounds and the cycling will be held at the Main Guard and finally in the West division, the hurling training will go ahead at Cashel KC GAA grounds and the cycle event will take place on the plaza in front of Mikie Ryan's.

The training sessions for U-12 club squads will see them get an hour-long slot each, with the sessions running from 9am to 4pm. Each session will have a 15minute game at the end. Clubs, which will be asked to make a donation of €200 each, can sign up by contacting any member of the Tipperary squad. To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/four-divisions-charity-fundraiser-tipperary each club will be entered into a draw for Gaelic Armour jerseys.

Pictured right are present and past Tipperary senior hurlers with juveniles from Kiladangan and Loughmore-Castleiney GAA clubs looking forward to the events this weekend.

ANTARTIC ICE MARATHON CHALLENGE

Congratulations to Seamus Hennessy as he completed the Antartic Ice Marathon last Thursday in a time of 7 hours 5 minutes and 33 seconds finishing in 33rd place overall.

TIPPEARY GAA YEARBOOK 2019

The 2019 addition of the Tipperary GAA Yearbook is now on sale and is still a very reasonable €10 and once again this year's volume is a must have item for all Tipperary GAA supporters. It is packed with everything associated with Tipperary GAA in the past year.

Recalling the highs and lows of championship campaigns together with comprehensive reports and photographic content, if it happened in Tipperary GAA this year, it will hopefully be covered in the yearbook.

TIPPERARY GAA CLUB ALL COUNTY MATCH PASS 2019

The match pass for 2019 is currently on sale at the price of €120. This pass gives you access to all adult matches within the County during 2019. Passes can be ordered through the GAA Office Slievenamon Rd., Thurles or by contacting 0504 22702 where you can pay over the phone. You are advised to purchase tickets before this Wednesday, December 19th to ensure pre-Christmas delivery.

POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS

At county post primary level congratulations to Thurles CBS and Cashel CS as both schools collected titles in the past number of days. In the Cusack Cup U/15 A Football final Thurles CBS were 5-12 to 0-7 winners over Abbey CBS while in the Corn Mhic Gabhann U/19 A Football final Cashel C.S defeated Thurles C.B.S 3-10 to 1-7.

The quarter and semi-final draws for the Dr. Harty Cup were made last week and resulted as follows starting with the quarter-finals - Our Lady’s Templemore v Midleton CBS, Thurles CBS v John the Baptist Community School, Hospital, Nenagh CBS v Christian Brothers College and St. Colman’s Fermoy v De La Salle, Waterford.

The semi-final line ups could potentially see a Tipperary derby, depending on results, as the winners of Nenagh CBS/Christian Brothers College will play either Thurles CBS/John the Baptist Community School.

The other semi-final will see the winners of Our Lady’s Templemore/Midleton CBS take on St. Colman’s/De La Salle.

January 9th is the scheduled date for the Dr. Harty Cup quarter-finals with January 26th pencilled in for the semi-finals and the final is set for February 16th.

AWARD 1 FOOTBALL COURSE

Tipperary GAA will offer an Award 1 Football course aimed at Youth and Adult Football coaches, under 14 to senior level club coaches.

The course covers a number of key modules including: Technical Proficiency, Tactical Prowess, Team Play, Physical Fitness, Playing Facts, Psychological Focus and Communication.

The focus of the course is the further development of the ‘How to Coach’ skills by placing the participant in situations that they will face as coaches – the organisation of games, skill development, activities to develop skill and activities to develop the various aspects of physical fitness.

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

Organise a programme of games and skill development activities appropriate to each participant's needs and abilities.
Organise progressive activities (drills and games) to develop five key skills
Organise progressive activities to develop movement skills appropriate to Gaelic Games
Organise and manage players for an effective practice session through six "How to coach skills" including;
Build Rapport, Observe, Analyse, Explain, Provide Demonstration and Provide Positive Feedback to Players

The course philosophy states that Tipperary GAA is committed to implementing an integrated Coach Education Programme with a view to maximizing participation, optimising playing standards and ensuring that players' needs are catered for in a balanced way.

The dates for the course include January 21st, 24th, 28th and 31st and February 4th from 7.30pm - 9.30pm each evening. The venues Lar na Páirce and Dr Morris Park for practical and the cost is €50 per coach.

To register your place on the course please e-mail kevin.halley.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie as soon as possible as places will be limited.

TIPPERARY GAA YEARBOOKS AND PROGRAMMES ONLINE

In relation to the ongoing digitisation of GAA divisional final programmes, South Tipperary senior hurling and football final programmes and match reports from 1978-2018 are now also live at the following links.

http://tipperarystudies.ie/south-tipperary-senior-hurling-final-match-programmes-reports/ http://tipperarystudies.ie/south-tipperary-senior-football-final-match-programmes-reports/

SEEKING FAMILY MEMBERS

Michael Robert Ryan died in England on 24 September 2018. We have been asked to help trace family members of the deceased. It is understood that he was born in Tipperary on 4 August 1944 and that as a young man he played hurling. If you can help, please contact the Tipperary GAA Office, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, 0504 22702 or email secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie

SEASONS GREETING AND THANKS

The GAA Scene will take a break for the next couple of weeks and will return in the New Year.

It's the time of year where once again I sincerely thank each and everyone at club, divisional and county level that have helped me and contributed towards the GAA Scene during the year of which Seamus O'Doherty, Josephine Cahill, Cora Moroney and Paddy Collins were once again regular contributors among others.

I wish to thank also those who make our games possible, host clubs and grounds people, all the referees and their officials, our GDA's, gate checkers and programme sellers and all those too numerous to include for their marvellous and selfless contribution throughout the year. I wish to thank my wife and family and my fellow officers and communications committee for their enormous support throughout the year as well.

Tipperary County Board would like to wish each and everyone a Peaceful and Happy Christmas and New Year.

In 2018 Tipperary said goodbye to dear family members and friends many who have made enormous contributions to the GAA in the county and further afield through their involvement with club or county or just as a supporter, may they rest in peace. Each will be sorely missed by those dearest and nearest, may the hope and spirit of Christmas bring comfort to the bereaved.

Beannachtaí na Féile agus na hAthbhliana dár léithéoirí go léir. Guímid gach rath agus sonas oraibh ó CLG Thiobraid Árann. Bainigí taitneamh as saoire na Nollag.Tipperary GAA