Tipperary GAA Scene
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
The new season is under way and the Tipperary hurlers got their campaign up and running with a high intensity performance in Semple Stadium last Saturday night before an attendance of 8,217. In doing so Tipp recorded a deserved 2-16 to 1-11 victory over Clare with captain Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) leading by example scoring both goals and finishing up with 2-7 in total. Congratulations to Padraic Maher who was the eir Sport Allianz man of the match and is pictured left receiving his award from Anna Geary. Congratulations also to Robert Byrne (Portroe) and Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) as they both made their full league debuts and also to Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) and Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule) who were introduced in the second half.
This weekend the focus turns towards the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening next, February 2nd, when Tipperary will play Limerick in round 2 of the league with throw-in at 7pm. In the league Tipperary and Limerick have met on 62 occasions with Tipp winning 36, Limerick 19 and 7 draws also recorded between them.
The last time the sides met in the league when Limerick were All Ireland champions was in the 1973/74 season with two meetings and honours shared. Tipp won by 1-14 to 1-13 at Semple Stadium in the group match, on February 24th, 1974 thanks to 'Babs' Keating's (Ballybacon-Grange) palmed point just before full time. Limerick, however, won the subsequent semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, on April 21st by 1-16 to 3-8. The respective attendances were 12,000 and 26,280, with Francis Loughnane (Roscrea) top scorer for Tipp on both occasions with 0-7 and 2-5.
Outside of last year's meeting in the semi-final when Limerick came through from 1B, 2010 was the last time the sides met in league rounds. As a result the last 10 meetings read as follows; 31/3/2018, at Thurles, Tipp 2-31 Limerick 1-31 aet (semi-final); 21/3/2010 at Limerick, Tipp 2-24 Limerick 0-8; 19/4/2009 at Thurles, Tipp 1-17 Limerick 1-11; 17/2/2008 at Thurles, Tipp 2-20 Limerick 2-9; 18/2/2007 at Nenagh, Limerick 2-13 Tipp 0-16; 19/2/2006, at Limerick, Tipp 2-15 Limerick 2-15; 27/2/2005, at Limerick, Tipp 4-14 Limerick 3-11; 29/2/2004, at Limerick, Tipp 2-21 Limerick 1-12; 8/3/2003, at Thurles, Tipp 1-17 Limerick 1-8 and lastly for now 10/3/2002 at Thurles, Limerick 2-13 Tipp 1-12.
The referee on Saturday night will be Sean Cleere (Cill Chainnigh)
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Unfortunately, a below par performance in Páirc Tailteann, saw the Tipperary footballers come away from the Navan venue empty handed as Meath took the points in a 0-15 to 1-8 victory. Tipp seriously hindered with injuries introduced fresh blood into the side and congratulations to Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) and Dan O'Meara (Kiladangan) on their Allianz league debuts.
On Sunday next, February 3rd, in Semple Stadium, Tipperary will take on Fermanagh who make the journey to the Field of Legends for round 2. In their opening match Fermanagh drew with Cork 0-8 to 1-5 at home.
Rory Hickey (An Clár) will referee this fixture.
We send best wishes to both panel’s and their management teams again this weekend.
NEW TIPPERARY JERSEY
Last week saw the arrival of the much-anticipated new Tipperary inter-county jersey which was launched on Friday. With Teneo the new official sponsor of Tipperary GAA, chairman and CEO, Declan Kelly was present for the launch.
So, as we welcome in the new, we give thanks to Elvery’s Intersport for their sponsorship since 2015 and wish them success with their soon to be opened new Tipperary GAA shop at Thurles Shopping Centre as part of a long term retail agreement with Tipperary GAA.
TIPPERARY SENIOR HURLERS FUNDRAISING EVENT
Following on from the tremendous success of the Tipperary hurling panel's fundraiser efforts in aid of the ‘Running for Josie’ project and Amanda Stapleton Benefit Fund, Brendan Maher and Jerome Cahill on behalf of the panel presented the proceeds at half time in the Allianz league match last Saturday night. In raising the huge sum of €20,410 in the one-day event, both benefit projects received €10,205 each.
Pictured is Brendan Maher presenting Shane Stapleton with a cheque accompanied by Borris-Ileigh juveniles Eoin Boyle, Lar Stapleton and Eamonn Groome. Next Kilruane MacDonaghs juveniles Senan O'Leary, Colin Gaynor and Dara Gaynor joined Jerome Cahill as he presented Seamus Hennessy Snr. with the share of the proceeds for the Running for Josie fund.
Congratulations to the Tipp hurlers once again on this wonderful initiative. Photographs courtesy Bridget Delaney.
REFEREES
Best wishes to our referees on inter-county duty this weekend. Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) will take charge of the Allianz Football League Roinn 2 fixture between Cork and Kildare, while Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) will preside over the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2A tie between Meath and Antrim.
MUNSTER CONVENTION
Congratulations to Ger Ryan (Templederry Kenyons) left, who was elected as Vice-Chairman of Munster Council last Friday night. This is a wonderful honour for Ger, his family and club and indeed the county. Ger served as Tipperary Co. Board PRO following his tenure as chairman of Tipperary Supporters Club. Following his stint as county pro, Ger went forward and served the Munster province with equal dedication for a three-year term. Currently Ger is Munster delegate for Tipperary and will relinquish that position now that he is vice chairman. Ger has also worked on many committees in Croke Park some of which he has served as chairperson. Ger is pictured right with his family and Tipperary delegates at the convention.
We wish Ger every success in his term as Munster Council vice-chairman and offer him the full support of all the county.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Commiserations to Thurles CBS whose interest in the Dr. Harty Cup U19 A ended last Saturday as they lost out to Christian Brothers College, Cork in the semi-final 2-12 to 0-13.
In the Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm 19 B hurling semi-final commiserations also to Cashel C.S. who went down 1-13 to 0-14 to Árdscoil Uí Urmaltaigh Bandon.
There was more positive news on Monday in the Corn Risteard Ui Mhathuna 19 C hurling semi-final, as Borrisokane C.C. reached the final following a 3-17 to 2-8 defeat of Coláiste An Phiarsaigh Glanmire. Best wishes to Borrisokane C.C. who will now play St. Anne's Community College Killaloe in the final.
GAELTACHT SCHOLARSHIPS
The following will be the procedure for obtaining a Gaeltacht Scholarship from Coiste Chontae Thiobraid Árann in 2019.
· The scholarships are confined to 2nd Year, TY and 5th Year Students in 2019 and previous recipients of Tipperary GAA Gaeltacht scholarships cannot apply in 2019.
· Students should immediately book a course directly from one of the three nominated Munster Irish Colleges on the application Form. This should be done ASAP as popular dates are booked out quickly.
· Students wishing to secure a scholarship from Tipperary GAA should complete the attached application form and submit it through their own local GAA Club.
· The secretary of the GAA Club must sign the form and attach a reference letter supporting the applicant's application before returning it to the Co Rúnaí. Please note the club recommending the successful applicant will be contributing €75 to the scholarship along with the Division, Co Board and Munster Council.
· Interviews for the scholarships will be held in Lár na Páirce during February to establish each candidate's suitability.
· Once the student is notified that they have been successful they must secure a receipt for their fee payment from the Irish College where they have registered.
· Once this receipt is received by the Co Rúnaí the scholarship cheque for €300 will be posted out directly to the student's home.
The closing date for the receipt of Gaeltacht Scholarship applications is Friday, February 8th, 2019.
THIRD LEVEL COLLEGES COMPETITIONS
The following is a short recap of last week’s action in the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup.
In Group A, UCC made it two wins out of two, to reach the quarter-finals when defeating UCD 2-21 to 1-13 in the Mardyke. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) was in great form scoring 1-4 for UCC with Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule)and Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens) both introduced in the second half. For UCD Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha) and Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields) both started with Hogan scoring 1-1 from placed balls while Purcell scored 0-1 from play. His brother Rory joined proceedings also and he too scored 0-1 from play. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) also came on for UCD.
In the other match in the group NUIG knocked out defending champions UL on a 1-19 to 0-17 score line. Shane Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg) was again in goal for NUIG with Conor Sheedy (Roscrea) up front and on the score board with a point from play. A disappointing outcome for UL who had Barry Hogan (Kiladangan) in goal and Jack Shelly (Mullinahone) and Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) further up the field with both scoring 0-1. Next up it’s the clash of UCC v NUIG and UCD v UL.
There were also two games in Group B and first up the tie which saw Limerick IT also progressing to the quarter-finals when seeing off the Garda College 4-24 to 0-12. Rian Doody (Cappawhite) with 0-3 right and Robert Byrnes (Portroe) with 0-2 were also joined on the starting fifteen for LIT by Sean Ryan (Sean Treacy's). For Garda, Kevin Slattery (Gortnahoe-Glengoole) was again among the scorers with 0-2 (1f) while Joey O'Keeffe (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Aidan Ryan (Thurles Sarsfields) were again in the inside back line. Michael Brislane (Toomevara) saw his first taste of action this year when introduced in the second half.
In the other game IT Carlow with Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch) on board with 0-3 from play remain in the hunt following their 0-24 to 1-8 defeat of TCD. Gerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh) also had his first taste of Fitzgibbon action and duly delivered with a point from play when brought on in the second half. TCD had no Tipp player on the field in this fixture.
In Group C, a three-team group there was just the one game with DCU Dóchas Éireann in their second match collecting a successive victory as they defeated CIT 0-23 to 0-12 and will go through to the next round as group winners. There is no Tipp representative with DCU while for CIT Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) started at centre back and Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg) came on in the second half to score a point from play. The final group game will be between CIT and WIT with the winner going through.
All remaining group games will be played this week with the quarter-finals down for decision on Thursday, February 7th.