Tipperary GAA Scene
It’s a New Year and a new decade, so Happy New Year to all supporters and friends and best wishes to all at club and county level for every success in the year and decade ahead.
AIB CLUB HURLING ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL
Another fantastic team performance by Borris-Ileigh saw the club reach the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Final following a richly deserved 1-21 to 1-14 victory over St. Thomas (Galway) in the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Sunday last.
Borris had heroes on all areas of the field, typified by Conor Kenny who claimed the TG4 Man of the Match Award. Brendan Maher was superb once more, on his 31st birthday, contributing 0-10, with 0-8 from placed balls book ended by two glorious points from play.
In the final on Sunday week, January 19th, Borris-Ileigh will meet Ballyhale Shamrocks in Croke Park where throw-in is at 2pm.
MCGRATH CUP
It was a busy week for new Tipperary senior football manager, David Power and his team as they played two rounds of the McGrath Cup in quick succession. First up last Thursday, they played Cork in Mallow with the home side securing the win on a 3-19 to 0-14 score line.
Tipperary quickly followed this up with a deserving 1-13 to 1-11 victory over Kerry on Sunday last in Clonmel Sportsfield, Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen) with Tipp’s goal from the penalty spot.
Tipperary commences their Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign at home to Down on Sunday, January 26th.
CO-OP SUPERSTORES MUNSTER LEAGUE
Since the last ‘scene’ of 2019, Tipperary completed the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League with a 2-22 to 1-17 loss to Limerick in LIT Gaelic Grounds on December 20th. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) was Tipperary’s goal-scorer on a night when his younger brother Brian made his full senior debut.
Both sides will meet in the opening round of the Allianz Hurling League in Semple Stadium on Saturday, January 25th.
ANDREW CORDEN CUP
The Tipperary U20 football panel got their Andrew Corden Cup campaign under way last Friday night, January 3rd, at St. Mollerans GAA Club, Carrick-on-Suir with a 1-15 to 0-7 victory over Waterford.
The Tipperary panel and scorers were as follows;
1. Kuba Beben (JK Brackens), 2. Brian McKeown (Moyle Rovers), 3. Dara O’Leary (Ardfinnan), 4. Paul Devlin (Eire Óg Annacarty-Donohill), 5. Mark O’Meara (Grangemockler-Ballyneale) 0-1, 6. Martin Kehoe (Mullinahone), 7. Eanna McBride (JK Brackens) 0-1, 8. Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields) 0-2, 9. Kevin Grogan (Cahir) 0-2, 10. Conor Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney) 0-2, 11. Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) 0-1, 12. AJ Willis (Portroe) 0-1, 13. Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris) 1-0, 14. Christy English (Ballyporeen), 15. Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris) 0-4, 1f. Subs: 16. Fabian Kerton (Clonmel Óg), 17. Eanna Ryan (Mullinahone), 18. Shane Lowe (JK Brackens), 19. Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swan), 20. Manus McFadden (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), 21. Billy Murphy (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), 22. Rian Quigley (Moyle Rovers) 0-1, 23. Lorcan Roche (JK Brackens), 24. Steven Grogan (Cahir), 25. Eddie Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), 26. Ciarán O’Dwyer (Killenaule), 27. Conor Shanahan (Inane Rovers) and 28. Noel Oblior (Carrick Swan).
Tipperary’s next match is against Wexford this Sunday, January 12th at 12 noon, with venue yet to be confirmed.
The third-round match will be on Sunday, January 19th at 1pm in Dr. Morris Park.
The final of the competition is set for January 25th at 2pm.
Tipperary get their Munster Under-20 championship campaign up and running on Wednesday, February 19th, when Limerick will provide the opposition at LIT Gaelic Grounds.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The quarter-finals of the Dr. Harty Cup U19A Senior Hurling post primary schools competition take place this Wednesday, with a Tipperary derby one of the stand out fixtures. In the Ragg at 1pm best wishes go out to Thurles CBS and Our Lady’s Templemore who meet to decide which school progresses to the semi-final. Extra-time will be played required if necessary as it will be result on the day.
The other semi-finals are CBC Cork v St. Colman’s Fermoy, Midleton CBS v DLS Waterford and St. Flannans Ennis v St. Joseph’s Tulla.
REFEREES
Well done to Tipperary referees on duty in the AIB Club Championships last weekend. Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) was first into action when Kilcoo and Ballyboden St. Enda’s met in Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday. While on Sunday, in Páirc Esler Newry, Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) was in charge of the Ballyhale Shamrocks and Slaughtneil encounter.
Best wishes to our referees on duty this week. Michael Kennedy (Newcastle) takes charge of the above mentioned Dr. Harty Cup quarter-final between Midleton CBS and DLS Waterford this Wednesday.
On Saturday next, January 11th, Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels) will referee the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Final between Cork and Limerick at the LIT Gaelic Grounds.
MUNSTER JUNIOR B HURLING
Best wishes to Drom & Inch who take on Garryspillane in Raheenagh, Co. Limerick in the Munster Junior B hurling final this Saturday, January 11th at 1pm. The competition is hosted by Killeedy GAA Club.
TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW
The January GAA Draw takes place this Friday night, January 10th, in Louis McCormacks Bar Abbyville Lorrha at 10pm. James Hogan, top winner in the December draw, will receive his prize on the night.
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.
SCÓR NA NÓG
The Munster Final of Scór na nÓg 2020 took place in Ovens Co. Cork on Sunday afternoon last January 5th where the Premier County collected 4 Munster titles. As all 6 counties were participating competition was extremely keen and the reinstatement of three judges to judge each competition was extremely welcome. The Trath na gCeist preliminary rounds took place at 12noon and all counties then went on to a stage performance after the break.Congratulations to a very brave young Moyne-Templetuohy team that represented the county so well and will no doubt bring their experience to bear to future battles of wills in Scór. Míle buíochas to Cathal, Éanna, Bláthnaid agus Máirtín and their hard-working mentors. Dhein sibh éacht.
Mhol an Fear an Tí - Fionnán Mac Gearailt na hiomaitheoirí uile as dul ar an stáitse agus a ndícheall a dheanamh sna comórtaisí éagsúla. He spoke eloquently to those taking part of the importance of taking part and representing club and county in their chosen disciplines ‘Our culture and heritage is such an important part of who we are and long may it flourish’ a dúirt an Cathaoirleach nuair a labhair sí leis na sluaite.
Tipperary were represented in 6 of the on-stage disciplines and one can only imagine the joy and excitement when Tipperary were announced winners in no less than four of these. Competitors, mentors, families and supporters were hopeful as each announcement was greeted with cheers and tears of happiness as our winners went to the stage to collect their cups and medals. Bhí lúcháir is riméad ar na sluaite gan dabht. Our Bailéad ghrúpa and Rince Seite troupe performed beautifully on the day but they will no doubt share in the joy of the occasion and know that they too have brought honour to family, club and county. A sincere míle buíochas from Coiste an Chontae for all your hard work and effort
Tipperary's Provincial Champions pictured right are as follows; Rince Foirne (Corn Chontae Phortlairge) Newcastle; Amhránaíocht Aonair (Corn Chontae Chiarraí) Cailín Nic Tréinir Portroe; Aithriseoireacht (Corn Chomhairle na Mumhan) Canice Ó Riain Seán Treacy’s agus Nuachleas (Corn Luimní) Borris-Ileigh.
Just a few hours earlier the Borris-Ileigh senior hurlers had emerged victorious in the All Ireland Club Semi-Final with a victory over St. Thomas’ and for all those involved in the Nuachleas it was a wonderful double for the club. Many of those involved had close connections to the team and victory on stage was all the more precious. Maith sibh go léir.
Saturday, February 1st is the date for the All Ireland finals. Please let the Scór committee members know as soon as possible re ticket requests.
HANDBALL
The Tipperary Cumann na mBunscoil finals were hosted by Youghalarra and Nenagh Clubs on Saturday last, January 4th. There were entries from 14 Schools with 68 players taking part and 38 games of handball played. Supporters turned out in large numbers with both galleries packed to capacity. The schools that competed were – Carrig, St Mary’s Nenagh, Gaelscoil Nenagh, Ardcroney, Silvermines, Lissenhall, Kilruane, Newport, Youghalarra, Ballina, CBS Carrick On Suir, Gaelscoil Carrick on Suir, Burgess and Cloughjordan.
Ardcroney won 4, Lissenhall 2, Youghalarra 1 and CBS Carrick on Suir 1, pictured left are the winners.
The Games Co-Ordinator Paddy Collins presented the winners and runners up medals to the players and thanked both clubs and officials for hosting the games. He thanked all who helped out with refreshments and especially all who refereed games on the day. He wished all the winners going forward to represent the County in the Munster Finals on February 16th the best of luck. Munster winners will go forward to the National CNB day in the New Handball Centre in Croke Park on the March 7th. Full results of all games are on the Tipperary Handball website CNB page http://handball.tipperary.gaa.ie/home/schools-scene
ELECTRIC IRELAND FITZGIBBON & SIGERSON CUP
Third level action gets under way this weekend when the first fixtures of this year's Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups take place. As January 9th is the deadline date for panel declaration, next week's scene will include a list of Tipperary players involved with the various colleges.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
On December 1st, Tipperary Supporters Club launched it’s 2020 Membership Scheme and the membership pack includes the following benefits:
• A specially-designed Tipperary Supporters Club dual trolley keyring
• All members are entered into a prize draw for championship match tickets for all Tipperary Senior games.
• 2020 Car Sticker
• Text alerts for all League and Championship team news
• Regular news to your email about all the latest in Tipperary GAA circles
• Only Tipperary Supporters Club members will be eligible to vote for the official 2020 Tipperary Senior Hurler of the Year award at the end of next season.
• Only Tipperary Supporters Club members can nominate a young Tipperary supporter to be the team mascot for our league games in Semple Stadium
Tipperary Supporters Club sincerely thank members for their continued support and facilitating payment by way of direct debit.
If you haven’t renewed your membership already you can do so online at www.tippsupportersclub.com or by calling Jim Reidy, Membership Officer on 086 3580718.
SYMPATHY
We express sympathy with the family of the late Sean Kearney, Ballyporeen and a native of Loughmore-Castleiney who passed away recently. Sean played football at both club and county level in his time