Tipperary GAA Scene
MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Tipperary will attempt to go where no team has gone before in Munster when they take to the field in the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Sunday next, June 30th, to play Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final. With four wins already under their belt in this year’s championship and the first to do so since the round-robin format was introduced last year, Tipp will look to make it five on Sunday and create another piece of Premier history.
However, what will happen when these two great rivals enter the amphitheatre of battle, formed by the white lines of play, is the question on the lips of spectators and punters alike since their round 5 prologue. There will be nothing left to chance ahead of the action on Sunday, and with the possibility of a third clash before the championship has concluded, both sides will want to have the winning advantage in the event of any future meeting.
There is only one previous Munster Final between the sides in Limerick and that was in 1996 when 43,525 packed into the LIT Gaelic Grounds to see the match end in a draw, Tipperary 1-16 Limerick 0-19. Expect even more in attendance on Sunday as those holding the precious tickets make their way early the Treaty city to savour the special atmosphere that the Munster Final brings each year.
Sunday will be the 71st championship instalment between Tipperary and Limerick. Tipperary have now won 36 games to Limerick's 24 with 10 draws balancing the books.
Tipperary has 42 Munster senior titles, with the last won in 2016 when Brendan Maher was captain. Limerick on the other hand has 19 and their last success was in 2013 when Donal O'Grady captained the side. The last Munster final between the counties was in 2001 in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, when Tipperary captained by current coach and selector Tommy Dunne had two points to spare in a 2-16 to 1-17 victory before an attendance of 43,500. Hopefully, with Tommy's involvement on the line, history will repeat itself on Sunday.
The referee will be Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow). This will be Paud’s third match in the Munster Championship this year having previously officiated the round 2 fixture between Cork and Limerick and the round 5 fixture between Clare and Cork.
We convey our best wishes and those of all Tipperary supporters far and near to the team and management and look forward to what promises to be a wonderful occasion on Sunday.
MUNSTER U20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The EirGrid U20 Munster Championship gets under way next week when Tipperary will be at home on Tuesday July 2nd in Semple Stadium where they will play Limerick in the quarter-final which throws in at 7pm.
Tipperary’s management team are in the final stages of preparation for the game and are photographed before a recent training session including left to right; Paddy O'Flaherty – Coach/Selector, Vivienne Glynn - Physio, Brian Murray – Strength & Conditioning Coach, Tom McGlinchey - Manager, Niall Fitzgerald - Coach/Selector, Adrian Condon – Logistics. Missing from photo is Tommy Toomey – Statistics/Analysis.
The team have just completed the Andrew Corden Cup competition winning three of their four matches.
The Tipperary U20 panel is as follows; Jack Harney (Capt.) - Moyle Rovers, Darragh O'Leary (Vice-Capt.) – Ardfinnan, Aaron O'Neill – Newport, Adam McGrath - Galtee Rovers, Aidan Loughman - Clonoulty-Rossmore, AJ Willis – Portroe, Brian Quirke – Moyle Rovers, Cian O'Sullivan - Clonmel Óg, Cillian Crowe - Moyle Rovers, Conall Kennedy - Clonmel Commercials, Conor Fahy - Upperchurch-Drombane, Cormac Maher - Arravale Rovers, Darragh Bolger - Moyle Rovers, Dean Finn – Ballyporeen, Diarmuid Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers), Dylan Nugent – Ardfinnan, Eanna McBride - JK Brackens, Eanna Ryan – Mullinahone, Jack Dolan – Fethard, Kevin Grogan – Cahir, Kevin Hayes - Moycarkey-Borris, Kuba Beben - JK Brackens, Liam Cleary – Borrisokane, Luke Fogarty - Moyle Rovers, Mark O'Meara - Grangemockler-Ballyneale, Matthew Moroney - Arravale Rovers, Mike Egan - JK Brackens, Mike Heenan – Borrisokane, Paul Devlin - Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill, Rhys Shelly - Moycarkey-Borris, Riain Quigley - Moyle Rovers, Sean O'Connor - Clonmel Commercials, Shane Doyle - JK Brackens, Shane Lowe - Moyne-Templetuohy, Shane O'Connor - Clonmel Óg and Tommy McDonagh – Cahir.
Best wishes to the team and management ahead of the game next Tuesday.
MUNSTER U20 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Tipperary will play Waterford in the Bord Gais Energy Munster U20 Hurling Championship semi-final in Semple Stadium on Tuesday, July 9th next with throw-in at 7:30pm
REFEREE
Well done to Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) as he refereed the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Final on Saturday evening last between Kerry and Cork.
CLUB FIXTURES
There is an attractive Tipperary Water County Minor Football Championship double header in Leahy Park, Cashel this Saturday evening, June 29th, with two semi-finals down for decision.
At 5:30pm in the ‘B’ championship Boherlahan-Dualla will play Aherlow Gaels while at 7pm in the ‘A’ championship Thurles Sarsfields will play Arravale Rovers. Extra time will be played in both games if required.
Action continues this weekend in the Tipperary Water County Hurling and Football Leagues. For results of all games and forthcoming fixtures please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
TEAM TIPPERARAY GAA RACE DAY
The Team Tipperary GAA Race Day at the Galway Races is on Monday, July 29th next and is the fifth Galway Races venture continuing very successful outings for the past 4 years.
The Galway Races Summer Festival is renowned as a premier and most colourful racing festival. While it is a major sporting event, it also appeals to a much wider audience than just the racing fans. With the Killanin Stand Suites, there is something for everyone whether you are entertaining family, friends or business clients. This is the ideal format for mixing business with pleasure, whilst surrounded by the atmosphere and excitement that is the Galway Races.
Past fundraising from the Galway Race Day has gone towards the completion of astro turf and floodlighting on the hurling wall in Dr. Morris Park in 2017 and new car parking facilities catering for 120 cars at the same venue in 2018.
Development plans for 2019 and onwards are in progress and the Team Tipperary GAA Race Day is now firmly established as a successful fundraising venture.
The planning application has been submitted for new facilities in the Kinane (Old) Stand as part of the Centre of Excellence adjacent to Dr. Morris Park and we await approval. Plans for extension and revamping of dressing rooms in Dr. Morris Park are currently being prepared for planning and it is hoped that work will commence before the end of 2019. With planning permission granted Tipperary GAA in partnership with LIT await grant approval for the new all-weather pitch on their Thurles Campus. Great work done and much more to do, all thanks to the tremendous support of our patrons.
If you or anyone you know is interested in racing, or just a good day out and who might take a seat or two or a table and support our fundraising efforts, please contact Tim Floyd, County Secretary, 087 2591747 secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie for bookings and further details.
KELLOGG'S CÚL CAMPS
Best wishes to all clubs taking part and running the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps over the summer months. Special thanks also to the Tipperary Coaching and Games and GDA’s for the wonderful work they do in promoting and organising the camps.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Munster Inter Provincial Wheelchair Hurling.
It has been confirmed that the rescheduled date for this event is September 14th in Newport and as soon as information becomes available it will be forwarded to all clubs in the county.
SYMPATHY
We convey sympathies to those bereaved in the past week including the following; Damian Lawlor, most recently selector with Tipp U20 football in 2018, author and journalist and the Lawlor family and Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA Club, on the passing of his father John last week.
Sympathy also to the Brislane family and Toomevara GAA club on the death of Mick Brislane.
We remember also John Hyland, Cahir who passed away last week. John represented Tipperary at minor level in 1954 winning a Munster hurling title and later lost out to Dublin in the All-Ireland final. Sympathy to his family and Cahir GAA Club.
John Dillon, Roscrea, remembered as follows by Seamus O’ Doherty.
Tipperary GAA is in mourning, following the death on Sunday last, of a very popular former hurler, John Dillon from Roscrea.
On the inter-county scene John played for Tipperary at four grades. He started in the minor hurling championship of 1960 (first round against Limerick) and 1961 when he was a regular at right corner back. While Munster honours were won, Kilkenny proved too good in both All Ireland finals. John played intermediate hurling for Tipp in 1964, but they lost to Galway in their opening game. There was success at under 21 level, as John was a stalwart on the Tipperary team which won the inaugural Munster and All Ireland titles. He was at right corner forward against Wexford, on a team which included club mates Owen Killoran and Francis Loughnane - the captain.
In 1965 John was on the training panel with Tipperary seniors who beat Wexford in the All Ireland final to win the Premier county's 21st All-Ireland title.
Always a gentleman, John spoke gracefully, saying all the right things in a respectful manner, after lifting the Dan Breen Cup in 1968 for his club. He will be missed by all hurling people in Tipperary and beyond. Sympathy to his family.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
Ahead of Tipperary’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final appearance against Limerick on Sunday next, supporters can join the Tipperary Supporters Club at www.tippsupportersclub.com or by calling Jim Reidy, Membership Officer on 086 3580718.
The membership pack includes the following benefits:
All members are entered into a prize draw for championship match tickets for all Tipperary Senior games.
A specially designed Tipperary Supporters Club pen with stylus for use on touch-screen devices
2019 Car Sticker
Text alerts for all Championship team news
Regular news to your email about all the latest in Tipperary GAA circles.