Tipperary GAA Scene
CO-OP SUPERSTORES MUNSTER LEAGUE
The Tipperary senior hurlers get the 2020 season underway with their first-round match of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group A fixture on Sunday next, December 15th, against Clare in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh where throw-in will be at 2pm. The referee will be Colm Lyons (Cork).
MUNSTER CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Commiserations to Mullinahone who lost out to a much stronger outfit Na Gaeil (Kerry) in the AIB Munster Junior Club Football Final last weekend. The elements had a big bearing on result with the final score reading 3-13 to 1-3 in favour of Na Gaeil.
U21 CLUB HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The remaining FBD Insurance county hurling championships have reached their penultimate stage with the U21 A and B county semi-finals down for decision on Sunday next, December 15th, all with 1pm throw-in times and extra-time if required. The semi-final line ups are as follows;
FBD Insurance County U/21 (A) Hurling Championship Semi Finals
In Templetuohy - Kiladangan v Ballingarry
In Boherlahan – Holycross-Ballycahill v Clonoulty-Rossmore
FBD Insurance County U/21 (B) Hurling Championship Semi Finals
In Leahy Park Cashel - Borrisokane v Grangemockler-Ballyneale
In Golden - Gortnahoe-Glengoole v Treacys/Emly
COUNTY CONVENTION
The Tipperary GAA County Convention will take place on Monday night next, December 16th at 8pm in the Dome, Semple Stadium. Mass in memory of deceased members of the Association will be celebrated by His Grace Dr. Kieran O'Reilly prior to the commencement of Convention in the Dome Gym upstairs at 7.15pm
Ahead of that, the Tipperary Football Committee A.G.M. will be held in the Anner Hotel, Thurles this Thursday night, 12th December at 8pm.
MUNSTER GAA AWARDS
Tipperary collected four prestigious awards at the Munster GAA Awards banquet in the Castletroy Park Hotel last Saturday night.
Congratulations to the award winners; Munster GAA Club of the Year is Borris-Ileigh, Munster GAA Manager of the Year is Liam Sheedy, Munster U20 Hurler of the Year is Conor Bowe and Munster GAA Hall of Fame in Hurling is Tony Wall.
Munster GAA Club of the Year - Borris-Ileigh
If, as by destiny, the people of Borris-Ileigh parish found unity and a collective spirit after all they went through in the past twelve months, which has shone like a beacon on the hurling front and remembrance too for what they have recently experienced.
When matters turned to hurling, in their county campaign they set out their stall, it was measured and timed to perfection as they bridged a 33-year gap to claim their 7th county title. Then, the Munster campaign beckoned, with a semi-final berth secured against Glen Rovers. An impressive start had the Borris’ men in firm control and though the Glen found their feet and rallied Borris-Ileigh held out for a narrow victory. This was probably their key result as it opened the gateway to success.
Ranked as outsiders for the Munster showpiece, Borris-Ileigh tossed the formbook out the window on the way to victory. Each to a man hustled and harried with every muscle straining by the sinew as they carved a way through the Ballygunner resistance to also bridge a 33-year gap for Provincial honours. They are worthy Munster Club of the Year 2019 winners.
Munster GAA Manager of the Year - Liam Sheedy
With the spotlight of the nation focused on his every managerial move, 2019 proved to be a defining year for Munster GAA Manager of the Year, Liam Sheedy. When news of his second coming was announced it opened a chapter on unfinished business and with it much analysis of the pros and cons of such a move. Unperturbed, he laid out his plans.
The news also heralded great excitement as the ante would surely be raised in the weeks and months ahead. And so, it was. The core principle of building and creating for the future underpinned his sides league campaign, the championship is where the ultimate test would lay. A blistering Munster championship league campaign had the pulses racing as his side hurled with a huge amount of expression and belief. What was being professed was now being delivered. Though a dip in proceedings arrived on Munster’s golden day, the wheels quickly found traction and once again purred and spun to the maestro’s rhythm, where the last twenty-minute spell against Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final will long be remembered. August’s holy grail of winning back the Liam MacCarthy Cup was the ultimate reward for a manager and team at the height of their powers.
Munster U20 Hurler of the Year - Conor Bowe
Two appearances in the Bord Gais Energy Munster U20 Hurling Championship and two Man of the Match performances catapulted the Munster GAA U20 Hurler of the Year, Conor Bowe, to the forefront of the underage limelight this Summer. Though his side were sluggish in the first half in the semi-final against Waterford, they motored better in the second half to secure safe passage to the Munster final aided by two goals from this exciting young player.
In that final the sun shone gloriously on Semple Stadium where Tipperary and Cork produced an absolute thriller of a contest, with the Premier men emerging victorious after an often frantic and titanic battle. It was end to end throughout, where Conor contributed 1-4 of his side’s tally.
He kept his form through the campaign culminating in All-Ireland success on August 24th and he is sure to have a terrific career ahead of him.
Munster GAA Hall of Fame in Hurling - Tony Wall.
The Munster GAA Hall of Fame in Hurling recipient for 2019 is Tony Wall, captain of Tipperary’s 1958 All-Ireland winning team. He represented Tipperary during a golden era for the county and during a hugely successful career he won five All-Ireland medals, six Munster medals and six National Hurling League medals. He also accepted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1962 after Jimmy Doyle, team captain, went off injured against Wexford. He similarly had a massively successful club career winning eleven county titles with Thurles Sarsfields. He was the first Caltex Hurler of the Year in 1958 and was centre back on the Tipperary team of the millennium in 1999. Equally adept with the pen, he wrote a book called ‘Hurling’ in 1965 dealing with coaching and training techniques. He was dedicated to training ensuring he would be the best he could be. A brilliant reader of the game, Tony Wall is a worthy recipient of the Hall of Fame Award.
Receiving Munster medals on the night were Tipperary referees for taking charge of Munster finals in 2018/2019. Congratulations to Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers), Derek O'Mahoney (Ardfinnan), David Grogan (Aherlow) and Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels).
DECEMBER GAA COUNTY BOARD DRAW
Congratulations to the winners of the December County Board Draw which was held in conjunction with Solohead GAA Club in the Hideout Bar, Solohead last Friday night. First prize of a Skoda Fabia/Renault Clio or €15k went to James Hogan with Lorrha-Dorrha the promoting club. Second prize of a Holiday or €5k went to Kay Kearney with Clonoulty-Rossmore the promoting club.
TIPPERARY GAA CLUB ALL COUNTY MATCH PASS 2020
The match pass for 2020 is currently on sale at the price of €120. This pass gives you access to all adult matches within the County during 2020. 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 Thursday, December 19th to ensure pre-Christmas delivery.
OFFICIAL TIPPERARY MERCHANDISE
Currently on sale from any of the Tipperary senior hurling panel or from Lár na Páirce, while stocks last, is a framed 2019 All-Ireland Tipperary hurling team photo for €200 or a signed Tipperary jersey for €150 (framed for €250). There is also the exclusive combination of team photo and signed jersey in one frame which is available for €500.
The opportunity to purchase the 5 Tipperary All-Ireland framed team photographs of recent times for €500 is on offer as well and includes the 2019 All-Ireland SH panel, 2019 All-Ireland U20H panel, 2018 All-Ireland U21H panel, 2016 All-Ireland SH panel and 2016 All-Ireland MH panel. Any two of the above five is also available for €300.
All proceeds are in support of the 2019 SH team holiday fund.
TIPPERARY G.A.A. YEARBOOK 2020
The Tipperary GAA Yearbook 2020 is now on sale and retails at €15. Tipperary GAA Yearbook 2020 is a bumper edition, which includes a comprehensive account of the county’s glorious year in senior and Under 20 hurling as well as Ladies football. It also includes saturation coverage of all the other GAA activities in the county during 2019. Probably the highlights of the publication are the extensive interviews with Tipperary All Ireland winning managers – Liam Sheedy (Senior Hurling), Liam Cahill (Under 20 Hurling) and Shane Ronayne (Intermediate Ladies Football). There is also interview with former Tipperary senior football manager, Liam Kearns.
The Yearbook which is in full colour also includes a magnificent selection of pictures covering a range of activities, such as Bord na nÓg, Cumann na mBunscol, Post Primary Schools, Scór, Camogie, Ladies Football and Handball.
The progress of all Tipperary teams in both hurling and football are well documented. The county senior hurling and senior football championships are covered plus there are many other articles including a tribute to the late Tipperary hurler John Coffey who sadly passed away during 2019. The All Ireland diary by senior hurler Seamus Kennedy takes us inside an exhilarating and emotional week in Tipperary. The legendary Paddy Leahy’s contribution to Tipperary hurling is recalled and the Tipperary Bloody Sunday Commemoration Committee outlines their plans for to the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in 2020. Scoreboard 2019 gives the results of both club and inter-county championships and County Teams includes the lineout of every team that represented Tipperary in all grades of football and hurling during 2019.
Tipperary GAA Yearbooks can be purchased at the following locations:
In Mid Tipperary
Thurles - Easons; Bookworm, Scanlon’s Newsagents
Littleton - Clohessys
Templemore - Fitzpatricks; Centra; Mulrooneys; Ryans
In North Tipperary
Ballina - TJ's Angling Centre; Larkin's.
Borrisoleigh - Shanahan's Centra; Hurley's Gala
Borrisokane - PJ Heenans
Cloughjordan - Austin's Centra
Lorrha - SCEAL Shop
Nenagh - JKC's; Eason; The Book Shop
Newport - Gully's; Sweeney's; Ryan's Centra
Roscrea - Mike's Good News; Carroll's Centra; Mulrooneys Gala; Bernie's SuperValu
In South Tipperary
Clonmel - Easons Gladstone Street; Easons, The Showgrounds; Carries; McDermotts Irishtown; Bergins; Supervalu
Cahir - Sampsons; Supervalue
Burncourt - Maureen Creed’s
Ardfinnan - Burkes
Newcastle - O Duibhir
Carrick-on-Suir - Clerys Newsagents
Drangan - O’Halloran’s Gala Shop/Post Office
Cloneen - Noonans Shop/Post Office
Fethard - Post Office
Killenaule - Hassetts
Mullinahone - Wilsons; Lonergans Supermarket
Ballingarry - Tobins; Caseys
In West Tipperary
Cashel - Supervalu; Halls; Elys
Golden - O’Sullivans
Bansha - O’Connells
Tipperary - Supervalu; Jerry’s, Bank Place; Greene’s
Emly - Callanan’s; Post Office
Cappawhite - Ryan Hanna’s
Dundrum - Butler