Tipperary GAA Scene

by PRO Joe Bracken

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE

Unfortunately, in last Sunday’s Allianz hurling league fixture, Tipperary were reeled in during added time as Kilkenny scored two late points to win this round 4 encounter. Before an attendance of 8,773, Kilkenny as mentioned took the honours in the 12th league meeting between the sides to be decided by a point, 0-18 to 0-17. The result making it six wins each for Tipp and Kilkenny in league games with a one point deficit.

The result for Tipp makes their final league round a must win affair if desires for further progression are to be met. That of course also means other results falling in Tipp's favour on Sunday next.

What has happened in between will matter little if Tipperary can bookend their league campaign with their best performances of the five games played. After an explosive start against Clare in the first game and hopefully a positive result on Sunday, the prospect of quarter final action will also have Tipp attention focused on events at Innovate Wexford Park and Cusack Park.

So as Tipp head to Páirc Uí Rinn next Sunday, March 3rd to play Cork in round 5 of the Allianz hurling league at 2pm, the records show there have been 62 previous league meetings between Tipp and Cork. The Rebels lead the way on 30 wins to the Premier County's 27, with 5 drawn games.

A brief recap of the last ten meetings reads as follows - 4/4/2010 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork 1-16 Tipp 1-15; 27/3/2011 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork 1-14 Tipp 1-14; 1/4/2012, Semple Stadium , Tipp 1-23 Cork 1-23; 22/4/2012, Semple Stadium, Cork 1-25 Tipp 2-15 (Semi-Final); 23/2/2013, Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork 0-26 Tipp 1-11; 30/3/2014 Semple Stadium, Tipp 3-25 Cork 4-10 (Quarter-Final); 22/3/2015, Páirc Uí Rinn, Tipp 2-28 Cork 4-21; 20/3/2016 Semple Stadium, Tipp 2-27 Cork 2-15; 26/3/2017, Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork 0-26 Tipp 3-16 and last year 11/3/2018, Semple Stadium, Tipp 1-24 Cork 1-21.

There have been 6 games played at Páirc Uí Rinn which don't look great from a Tipp perspective as Cork have won 5 (1995, 1996, 1998, 2013 & 2017) to Tipperary's one (2015). Sunday would be a perfect occasion for the balance to tip back towards the Premier County.

Adult pre-purchase tickets are available up to midnight on Saturday night for €15 and adult match day tickets are €20, U16’s go free.

Best wishes to the team and management on Sunday and the referee will be Sean Cleere (Cill Chainnigh)

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Without many of the first team regulars due to injury, the Tipperary footballers came away empty handed from the Athletic Grounds last Sunday with Armagh winning 1-15 to 0-12. Worse was to come as further injuries were picked up and will make it all the more difficult for the side ahead of their next encounter against Cork this Saturday. Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) and Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) made their senior league starting debut while Ben Hyland (Fr. Sheehy's) made his league debut when introduced in the second half.

Semple Stadium then is the venue on Saturday evening next, March 2nd when Tipperary will play Cork in round 5 of the Allianz league. In the corresponding fixture last year Tipp opened that campaign with a deserved 3-16 to 1-16 win and will be hoping to create some of that magic this weekend. With a team decimated by injuries all support in the ground will be essential as the team look to get back to winning ways and towards securing their place in the division for next season.

Best wishes to the team and management on Saturday. Buy tickets before match day and get 25% off adult tickets, U16’s go free. The referee for this match will be Fergal Smyth (Uíbh Fhailí)

REFEREES

Best wishes to our referees on duty in the Allianz hurling and football leagues this weekend. In hurling, Johnny Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla) will be in the middle when Carlow and Offaly meet in Netwatch Cullen Park in division 1B. Meanwhile, in the football league Derek O'Mahoney (Ardfinnan) will be in charge of the Allianz league 2 round 5 tie between Meath and Kildare in Navan.

LADIES FOOTBALL

The performance of the weekend goees to the Tipperary ladies football team who recorded a memorable 3-13 to 1-18 win over Cork in the Lidl National Ladies Football League. Star performer was Aishling Moloney with a hugely impressive 2-9 (8f) of her sides tally.

SCÓR

Scór Sinsear Caoga Bliain -Craobh an Chontae

The County final of Scór Sinsear on Chontae was held in Newport Community Centre on Saturday night last. Oíche den scoth a bhí ann agus taispeantas bríomhar ar an stáitse i rith na hoíche. Tráth na gCeist took place at 7pm with the kind permission of Newport National School. Maistir na gCeist Jim Enright truly challenged the contestants with eight rounds of ten questions to test their metal. Sár iomaíocht a bhí ann ach thóg Moyne Templetuohy an Craobh leo ag deireadh na hoíche. Comghairdeas le Jim O'Meara, Patrick Moran, Francis Cleere and Tom Collier agus go neirí go geal leo sa Chraobh in Castlebar. Míle buíochas le Mark Dunne for his assisting Jim on the night and ensuring the smooth running of the competition agus mile buíochas also to all competing teams and it was certainly a very close contest.

Newport Community Centre was the venue for the stage competitions and the true spirit of community was evident in the warm welcome extended to all by the local Coiste. Fear an Tí for the evening was Anthony Floyd, Scór Chairperson in North Tipperary, fear cumasach deisbhéalach who also donned his dancing shoes in the Rince Set competition. Welcoming all to Newport, Anthony fondly remembered two great stalwarts of Tipperary Scór who passed to their eternal rewards le déanaí, Tom Gleeson agus Mary Ryan Cooper, go ndéana Dia trócaire orthu and sympathy was expressed to their families on their loss. Beirt a dhein éacht ar son Scór thar na blianta.

A packed audience was treated to an excellent night's entertainment of all that is best of our rich culture. Young and old enjoyed song, dance, recitation and acting par excellence. Competition was keen ach bhí spiorad na Féile le brath ó thus go deireadh na hoíche. County Chairperson Seosaimhín Ní Chathail spoke of the legacy of Derry Gowen and the importance of passing on our traditions to the generations to come while saluting all those involved as competitors, mentors, judges, committee members, supporters and spectators. Pride of place agus grá don chultúr is what brings us all together and the celebration of fifty years of Scór tradition was certainly alive and well in Newport on Saturday night. Chuir sí fáilte faoi leith roimh Margaret Whelan ó Choiste Scór na Mumhan, John Devane Cathaoirleach an Chontae agus Tim Floyd Rúnaí an Chontae a bhí i láthair don Chraobh. She also wished ádh mhór to all those going forward to Craobh na Mumhan in the City Hall in Cork on Saturday evening next and thanked all the competitors for making such a special effort to celebrate 50 years of Scór.

Buaiteoirí na hoíche were as follows; Rince Foirne - Newcastle; Amhránaíocht Aonair - Katie Shanahan Borrisoleigh; Aithriseoireacht - Treasa McGrath Newcastle; Bailéad Ghrúpa - Upperchurch- Drombane; Leiriú - Newport; Ceol Uirlise - J.K. Brackens; Rince Seit - Newcastle agus Tráth na gCeist - Loughmore-Castleiney.

Go néirí go geal libh, Tiobraid Árann abú.

Scór na bPáistí

Míle buíochas to all those involved in preparing for and organising parish and divisional finals in Scór na bPáistí. Details of art and poetry competition coming soon to local papers and on Tipperary GAA website. The County final will take place on Sunday 31st March in Cashel.

THIRD LEVEL COLLEGES COMPETITIONS

The curtain has come down on the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups with both finals played in the past week. And what a week it has been for University College Cork as it made history by winning both competitions and claiming the unique double since their last occasion back in 1988.

In the Fitzgibbon Cup final against Mary Immaculate College, Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) was in devastating form scoring 1-4 from play in a man of the match performance as his side claimed their 39th title on a 2-21 to 0-13 score-line. Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule) also lined out at corner back and congratulations to both on their Fitzgibbon success.

It wasn't to be for Mary I. who had Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney) and Philip Hickey (Nenagh Éire Óg) in their starting line-up. It was great to see Colin English (Fr. Sheehy's) return to action at half time following his recent hand injury and he duly obliged with a point for his side. Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) was also introduced in the second half.

Turning the attention to the Sigerson Cup held last Wednesday night, where congratulations go to Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) who was a member of the successful UCC team that collected their 22nd Sigerson title. Jack, influential all through the competition, lined out at midfield as UCC defeated St. Mary's (Belfast) 0-16 to 1-9.

SYMPATHY

We express our sympathy and that of all our supporters to Tipperary senior footballer Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials) and the Fahey family on the passing of his father Philip last week, may he rest in peace.

HANDBALL

The Munster Juvenile Finals were hosted by Tipperary at venues in Nenagh, Kilcoleman and Carrick On Suir. Tipperary were involved in 7 Munster finals winning 4 which were Boys U12S, Boys U16S, Girls U13D and Girls U14D. Well done to Stefan Tobin, Rory Grace, Christine Percy, Lucy Gould, Hannah Grace and Leanne Gould. U14 and U16 go forward to contest the All-Ireland Semi Finals against Leinster opposition on March 10th

In the Adult 40x20 Singles Munster Championships, Tipperary Players have won 8 Munster titles and will go forward to the All-Ireland Semi Finals also against Leinster opposition on Saturday March 9th.

In Munster venues will be - Jim Ryan O70S, Brian O'Brien Master BS, Aiden Supple O35BS, John Corbett SMAS and Sinéad Meagher LIS. While at Leinster Venues will be Jason English U21S, John Kennedy SMBS and Siobhán Prentice LJBS. Best wishes to all the players in the semi-finals.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

A reminder to clubs please appoint a Healthy Club officer whose role is to help your club become a healthier, safer and enjoyable place for all club members. Training for new officers is on April 11th, so clubs still have time on their side. The county committee are asking all clubs to adopt and implement the Give Respect- Get Respect initiative which encourages the principles of fair play and respect not just for players themselves but coaches, clubs, parents, referees and supporters. Check out the Code of Behaviour Underage on gaa.ie for more information. Remember any policies and initiatives your club implements help make your club a safer and healthier place for members and the local community to enjoy.