Tipperary GAA Scene

Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues

The Tipperary senior footballers made the trip to Kingspan Breffni to play Cavan in Round 5 of the Allianz Football League last Sunday.

Going in to the game as underdogs against an undefeated home side, Tipperary showed no fear from the word go and were dominant throughout the field taking an early lead which they held right through the game to come out with full points in a well-deserved victory. This win now puts the footballers firmly back in the race promotion and with two home games remaining their faith is now in their own hands.

They now look forward to welcoming Carlow to FBD Semple Stadium this Sunday 20th March at 3.45pm in a game that will form the second half of a double bill as their hurling counterparts play Darren Gleeson’s Antrim at 1.45pm.

We would appeal to all Tipperary supporters to make a big effort to get to FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday and give both Tipperary teams the support they deserve. Tickets for the games are now available via the GAA website and also in selected Centra and SuperValu stores throughout Tipperary. As is now the norm, no tickets will be on sale at the venue, so make sure to purchase your tickets prior to your arrival keeping in mind that under 16’s are free and do not require a ticket.

Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Hurling Team of the Year

Tipperary are very well represented on the 2022 Higher Education GAA Rising Stars Hurling team of the year for 2022 with three players named on the team which was announced this week.

Bryan O’Meara’s man of the match performance in the Fitzgibbon Cup final was one of the determining factors in University of Limerick’s victory. The Holycross-Ballycahill an lifted the Cup for UL for the first time since 2018 which helped to secure his place in this year’s Team of the Year.

Loughmore-Castleiney’s Ciaran Connolly had a massive impact in the middle of the park this year as he often dictated the pace of play in many games. Ciaran had the ability to win balls and score from play. Gearóid O’Connor of Moyne-Templetuohy was one of the top scorers from play in this year's Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup. He also contributed nine points for University of Limerick in the Final to comeback and claim the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup for his side.

Allianz Cumann na mBunscoil

Munster Primary Game: is set to resume over the coming weeks. The Munster GAA Primary Game is an exhibition game like no other. It affords boys and girls from all over the province of Munster the opportunity to play at half time of a Munster senior championship game in front of thousands of intrigued spectators who are all eager to see what the next generation of young players can produce!

The Primary Game was first played in 1996. For many of the boys and girls, it is the first day of many wearing the famous blue and gold jersey. The Tipperary Primary Game hurling & camogie teams have produced so many wonderful players over the years. It is very rewarding for all involved to see so many of these young players develop into minor, U21 and senior intercounty players as they progress up through the ranks.

A Primary Game player in 2008 and All Ireland senior hurling winner in both 2016 & 2019; Ronan Maher is in his eighth year on the Tipperary senior hurling squad. The Tipperary Primary Game hurling ‘Class of 2009’ is another case in point.

The Tipperary starting midfield pair of Willie Connors and Billy McCarthy in the Munster senior hurling championship defeat to Limerick in 2018 both played primary game in 2009. The 2017 Tipperary U21 hurling captain Andrew Coffey was also a member of the 2009 team with his brother and Irish underage and Celtic FC star Barry playing on the 2013 Primary Game Hurling Team while their sister Maeve played on the 2011 Camogie team.

The ‘Class of 2011’ included Jerry Kelly, Adam Hogan, Jake Morris, Jerome Cahill, Brian McGrath, Cian D’Arcy and Shane Neville. All these players played on the same primary game hurling team versus Cork in 2011 and were part of a successful Tipperary All Ireland Minor winning squad in 2016. Brian McGrath captained the 2016 All Ireland minor winning team. Jake Morris, Brian McGrath and Cian Darcy were all members of Tipperary’s 2019 All Ireland Senior winning squad.

Many families have really made their mark on our primary game hurling & camogie teams with Scoil Ailbhe’s Rory Purcell (2010), Michael Purcell (2011) and Eoin Purcell (2014) flying the flag for this famous Thurles hurling nursery! Grace O’Brien and Róisín Howard were members of the ‘Class of 2010’. Grace is a current Tipperary senior camogie player while Róisín is a dual star for both Tipperary camogie and ladies football teams. Róisin Cahill was also a member of the ‘Class of 2010’ with her brother Jerome, an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Medal winner with Tipperary in 2019, featuring on the ‘Class of 2011’.

The strong family link between teams was also evident in recent times with Darragh McCarthy named in the 2018 primary game hurling team who faced Cork; following in the footsteps of his brother Kevin who played on the 2013 primary game hurling team. Many of the Primary Game mentors are also former players with current Tipperary Primary Game mentor and Ayle NS teacher Pat Buckley a Munster Under 21 hurling medallist in 2003 & 2004. Running out in one’s county jersey on Primary Game Match Day is a day to cherish for those boys and girls fortunate enough to experience it; a very proud day for families, schools and clubs. We can’t wait to see how these players develop over the coming years. Remember to enjoy the journey they take you on.

The Venues, Dates and Times for the Selection Days are as follows:

Ladies Football

South/West Trial: Clerihan GAA, Tuesday March 22nd @ 4.00pm

Mid/North Trial: Durlas Og GAA, Thursday March 24th @ 4.00pm.

Gaelic Football

Mid/North Trial: Durlas Og GAA, Tuesday March 22nd @ 3.30pm.

South Trial: Moyle Rovers GAA, Thursday March 24th @ 3.30pm

West Trial: Cashel King Cormacs GAA, Thursday March 31st @ 3.30pm

Camogie

South/West Trial: Golden-Kilfeacle GAA, Tuesday March 22nd @ 4.15pm.

Mid/North Trial: Dr. Morris Park, Thurles, Thurles March 24th @ 4.15pm.

Equipment Scheme: All items of equipment, other than for helmet orders under five, must be collected, at Holycross GAA grounds, between 4.00pm and 7.00pm on Friday, 25th March.

2022 Registration Fee: Schools who do not pay registration cannot participate in Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol activities including matches and the Equipment Scheme. Registration costs €30 and cheques can be made payable to Tipperary Cumann na mBunscol, with cover letter to our Treasurer Jerry McDonnell, 25 Ballingarrane, Clonmel.

National Cumann na mBunscol Week: will take place from June 13th – 17th, and we would encourage as many of our schools as possible to take part in this week. It was a hugely successful week last year and we are really looking forward to it once more.

‘About My School’ Story-Writing Competition: Tipperary Allianz Cumann na mBunscol are inviting pupils in Rang 3 – 6 to submit a piece of writing (no longer than 300 words) on the above topic. They should seek to describe what they love about the culture of GAA in their own school. Any school submitting a piece to us should have parental consent before sending on the piece. Ideally a group photo of any GAA activity in the school should accompany the piece. The winning piece each week will be included with this report and will appear in the local newspapers. The name of the pupil who wrote the piece can appear alongside it. All stories can be emailed to John Manley PRO Tipperary Cumann na mBunscol at pro.cnmb.tipperary@gaa.ie.

28,000 GAA members walk the walk thanks to Irish Life GAA Healthy Club Steps Challenge

The ‘Every Step Counts’ Irish Life GAA Healthy Club Steps Challenge saw 28,600 GAA members from 690 clubs walk a combined total of five million kilometres between January 19th and February 23rd.

With every step once again tracked through Irish Life’s MyLife App, the distance covered is the equivalent of walking all the way to the moon and back five times; a combined step count of seven billion. Each participant walked an average of almost 190 kilometres in the five weeks.

Prof. Niall Moyna, BA, MSc, PhD, FACSM, FFPHMI, Full Professor: Clinical Exercise Physiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, who is also well known for his GAA credentials, said:

“The fact that we have had 28,600 people engaging from almost 700 clubs is phenomenal. The impact this will have on public health is incalculable. It’s not just the acute effect [participants] get from engaging in that bout of activity – but the long-term effects are absolutely astronomical. It will reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, from many forms of cancer and will reduce their likelihood that they will become obese or will assist them in losing weight as well.”

The challenge was the third delivered during the pandemic through the award-winning Irish Life GAA Healthy Club Project and has proven itself as a popular way to motivate the community to get active while also connecting the participants in a fun and healthy way.

The first challenge in June 2020 attracted 12,000 participants from over 400 clubs, with the MyLife App tracking all 2.2 billion steps taken. Last year Every Step Counts Challenge in January saw 28,100 participants from over 600 clubs track an average of 4km per day. This year’s 28,600 participants have increased their average distance to an impressive 5.2 kilometres daily. The stakes were raised this year with the same club target of 4,000km set for the ‘Every Step Counts’ challenge – the equivalent of a circuit of the coast of Ireland – but with just 5 weeks to reach it. More than 450 clubs achieved this goal and were entered into randomised draws in their province for gear vouchers worth €2,500, €1,500, and €1,000, generously provided by Irish Life as part of their on-going partnership of GAA Healthy Clubs with Ballina GAA club among the winners.

While the winning clubs welcomed the prize monies, the benefits of the challenge far exceeded the financial rewards.

GAA President Larry McCarthy said: “The Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs Steps Challenge provides clubs with a healthy and fun way to keep physically active and connected during the dark winter months. It has also helped motivate thousands of participants to achieve their recommended weekly physical activity levels. It is one of our most popular community initiatives and it’s enabling of physical, mental, and social health couldn’t be more timely.”

The Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs grew to 475 participating clubs on March 12th when 172 new clubs commenced their journey with a national orientation day in Croke Park. For more details go to: www.gaa.ie/community

MyLife is a health & wellbeing app that motivates and rewards users to embrace a healthier lifestyle through a personalised AI coach, goal setting and challenge activities. For more details on the MyLife app go to: https://mylife.irishlife.ie/home

Scór Na nÓg Craobh an Chontae 2022

Scór na nÓg made a welcome return to the stage on Sunday where over ten different clubs took part in a range of disciplines in front of a large audience.

Halla Na Féile Cashel was the venue for this year's Craobh an Chontae and what a day of entertainment we were treated to. With acts in all eight categories, a huge thank you must go to all those who helped prepare these acts and most importantly a huge thank you to the acts themselves. The level of competition was second to none and they made life difficult for our wonderful adjudicators on the day.

Our winners now go forward to represent the county in the Munster Scór Na nÓg Final which will also take place in Cashel on Sunday 3rd April with the table quiz commencing at 12noon and the main clár kicking off at 2.00pm. We wish all our winners the very best of luck.

The winners are as follows: Rince Foirne – Newcastle; Amhránaíocht Aonair - Katie O’Mahoney (Holycross/Ballycahill); Aithriseoireacht - Mary Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Ceol Uirlse - JK Brackens; Trath Na gCeist – Newport; Nuachleas – Templederry Kenyons; Bailéad Ghrúpa - Thurles Gaels; Rince Seit - JK Brackens

GAA Development Fund

The Development fund at national level is reopened and will remain open until the end of May.

In line with previous years, clubs making applications will need a recommendation from their county first before the applications can be considered at provincial level. The provincial finance and management committee are scheduled to meet on April 11th and again on May 3rd. It is most likely that they will convene again at the end of May to consider these applications.

The purpose of the GAA development Fund is to provide finance at a reasonable cost for units of the Association that are developing facilitates for the promotion of our games. The GAA Development Fund is now open for both Deposits and Loans to all GAA Clubs. The closing date for Loan applications is May 31st.

Loans Process

1. National Finance, Provincial Operations Managers and County Safety & Facilities Officers promote the GAA Development fund to our clubs. Loans are only available for Core GAA activities i.e., the purchase of property or for the necessary development of property. Development of bar facilities and other facilities for renting to other organisations will not be funded.

2. Club decide at a club meeting to apply for a Loan in the GAA Development fund. 3. Club to download the application forms from the GAA Website https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/administrators/development-fund

4. Club must follow the criteria set out in the Loan application form and submit to the County Safety & Facilities Officer.

5. The County Safety & Facilities Officer will review the application and write a brief report for the next County Management meeting.

6. The County Management committee decide if they wish to recommend and guarantee the Loan. If they are not happy with the submission the County should work with the club on a resubmission.

7. Once guaranteed by the County the application is forwarded to Provincial Council to provide their recommendation.

8. Once the Province have given the recommendation the application form along with all required documentation as set out in the Application form is submitted to the National Finance Management Committee for final review.

9. Applications will be reviewed by the National Finance Management Committee during the Month of June and clubs will be notified of the outcome of their Loan application by the end of June.

Savings Process

1. National Finance, Provincial Operations Managers and County Safety & Facilities Officers promote the GAA Development fund to our clubs.

2. Club decide at a club meeting to put funds on deposit.

3. Club to download the application forms from the GAA Website https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/administrators/development-fund

4. Details of the Unit investing in the Fund must be sent to National Finance.

a. Minute from the club meeting where it was decided to deposit to the GAA Development Fund.

b. A copy of the most recent certified accounts of the club.

c. An indication on how long the club intend to keep the funds on deposit (a. Less than 1 year, b. Between 1-3 years, c. More than 3 years).

5. The form must contain the names and signatures of a minimum of two officials authorised to lodge, transfer and withdraw monies.

6. No withdrawals can be made from the Fund without a withdrawal form signed by at least two signatories.

7. Deposits will be acknowledged upon receipt by National Finance.

8. Notice of Withdrawal

a. Lotto: 10 days’ notice required.

b. 0-100,000: 1 Months’ notice required.

c. 100,000-1,000,000: 1 Years notice required.

d. Over 1,000,000: 2 years notice required.

Tipperary GAA Scene

If there is anything you feel should feature in this column going forward, please feel free to forward it to pro.tipperary@gaa.ie