Tipperary GAA Scene

By Jonathan Cullen PRO

Munster Hurling League

The Tipperary senior hurling team got their competitive season underway in Mallow on January 3rd when they played Waterford in the Munster Hurling League. Although the result did not go Tipp’s way, there were many positives to take from the performance as the players battled very well all through the game, but in the end had to give second best to Waterford, 1-15 to 0-21.

Next up for Liam Cahill’s men was a date with Clare in Nenagh last Sunday. This game was played in front of a very large crowd who came out to show their support for the team. Making ten changes from the opening game, the Tipperary management would have been very happy with hoe the players performed as they emerged victorious 2-22 to 0-20.

This result means that should Clare defeat Waterford in their fixture, Tipperary will in all likelihood qualify for the final.

McGrath Cup Senior Football

David Powers senior football side travelled to Waterford last Sunday where they played the home side in their opening game in the McGrath Cup. A winning start to 2023 was what the players and management were hoping for and that was how things ended up as Tipperary proved much too strong for their opponents. 24 players were given game time with scores coming from a wide range of players as they recorded a well deserved 2-14 to 0-7 win.

Next up is a home tie against Limerick this Saturday January 14th at 2.00pm in Templetuohy.

Tipperary GAA 5 Year Strategic Plan

Tipperary GAA has begun a consultation process for its next strategic plan which will be launched in 2023.

This Friday, 13th January at 7.30pm in the Dome, Semple Stadium, our official main sponsor, Fiserv, represented by Brian Fogarty, Patsy Hennebry and Conor Long will facilitate a discussion on a strategy to realise Tipperary GAA’s vision as a sustainable community-based and volunteer-led Association where as many as possible, participate in Gaelic games and culture for as long as possible. This will be done in line with the Croke Park 5-Year strategic plan which can be viewed online or by recent post circulated on Tipperary GAA social media and through your club representatives.

The night will be an open forum for people to come along and give their views around areas such as Games, Communications, Governance, Operations, People, Resourcing, Environmental sustainability, Diversity and inclusion, Infrastructure, and much more.

The night will consist of some group discussions with an open forum to ensure all voices are heard. Fiserv will impartially facilitate the night ensuring to gain as much information as possible to present to Tipperary GAA so as to formulate a strategic plan to bring Tipperary GAA to the next level.

Tipperary Clubs Draw

The January Clubs Draw was held last Friday in Seymour’s Bar, Portroe and was hosted by the Portroe club. The top prize of €15,000 was won by Clonoulty/Rossmore’s Brian Butler, while Kilruane Camogie Club claimed the €5000 second prize. The lotto jackpot stood at €3,000 and was won by Dermot Sullivan from Carrig-Riverstown.

Munster Junior B Hurling Series

Congratulations to Thurles Sarsfields Junior ‘B’ hurling team who have qualified for the Munster final by virtue of a 2-22 to 1-13 win over Cork champions Freemount in the semi-final in Killeedy last weekend.

Tipperary Supporters Club AGM

The 36th Annual General Meeting of the Tipperary Supporters Club was back to the successful online format last month and again connected with a large number of members from Tipperary and beyond.

Bryan Maher, Assistant Treasurer, presented the audited accounts for the year to 30th September 2022, which resulted in grants of over €60,000 to expenses including training camps, physiotherapy, nutrition, medical treatment, physical training and performance analysis, catering, transport and accommodation connected with the Senior Hurling panel. A contribution was also made to the expenses incurred by the Minor Hurling panel in their successful All-Ireland campaign.

It was again a difficult year for fundraising but it was great to be able to hold the usual Golf Classic in Nenagh Golf Club. Great efforts were made to keep membership numbers up despite the effects of the pandemic and expenses such as the cost of membership gifts and prizes and postage of membership packs had been kept to a minimum. In addition to the activities of the Tipperary Supporters Club a summary of fundraising conducted by the Tipperary GAA Commercial Board were given to the meeting. The Commercial Board made a contribution of over €50,000 to Tipperary GAA during the period.

In his report as Secretary, Billy Coman summarised the highlights of the Club’s activities in 2022. He also urged Tipp supporters to get fully behind the team in 2023 and bring a strong vocal support to their games. His full report is available to all TSC members on request to info@tippsupportersclub.com. Billy especially thanked committee member Ed Donnelly for his work on the AGM booklet and for the arrangements for the meeting.

Terry O’Neill thanked Billy for his very comprehensive report and for all his work during the year. In his address as Chairperson, Terry thanked all the Tipperary supporters including club members, sponsors, funders, committee members and fellow officers, county board officials, team management and of course the players for their generosity in supporting the fund-raising efforts of the Club. Terry commented on the ongoing co-operation with all County Board Officers including Joe Kennedy - Chairperson, Tim Floyd - Secretary, Tom Maher - Assistant Secretary, and Jonathan Cullen - PRO.

Terry also thanked Tim Floyd on the major contribution he had made to Tipperary GAA as Secretary of the County Board and wished him all the very best for the future. Terry congratulated Murtagh Brennan on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the County Board and wished him every success in that role.

John Coman, Public Relations Officer, reported on the membership scheme and asked all members to make a special effort to encourage extra members to join up and to ask existing members to re-join using the direct debit facility. Members paying by direct debit for the first time will enjoy a special half-price membership rate of €20 for 2023. He outlined the membership benefits for 2023 including draws for €1,000 for members as well as €1,000 for their nominated Tipperary GAA Club, concert tickets, an overnight hotel stay, a signed Tipperary jersey and meet your favourite Tipperary player.

Master Fixture Plan

The GAA has published its Master Fixtures schedule for 2023. Round 1 of the Allianz Football League takes place on January 28/29, with the four divisional finals taking place on April 1/2.

The Allianz Hurling League begins on February 4/5 with the Divisions 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B Finals taking place on April 1/2, and the Division 1 Final taking place on April 8/9.

The provincial football championships begin on April 8/9, with the All-Ireland Senior Football Final listed for Sunday, July 30. The Tailteann Cup Final will take place on Saturday, July 15.

The provincial hurling championships begin on April 22/23, with the All-Ireland Final on Sunday, July 23.

Ireland Lights Up

Ireland Lights Up, the country’s biggest community walking initiative returns to GAA clubs across the county this month in partnership with RTE’s Operation Transformation and the support of get Ireland walking.

Over 350 clubs have so far registered to take part in ‘Ireland Lights Up’ on Wednesday, January 11th. The initiative encourages all GAA clubs across the 32 counties to light up their walking tracks and bring communities together to walk and talk in a safe environment during the dark winter evenings, while contributing to their physical, mental and social wellbeing.

As ever, a club participating in Ireland Lights Up will be showcased each week on RTE’s Operation Transformation. The ‘Every Steps Counts Challenge’ delivered through the ‘MyLife’ app, in partnership with the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme returns in 2023 and three participating clubs from each province will win gear vouchers worth a total of €5,000, kindly provided by Irish Life (T&Cs apply). If energy costs are likely to prevent your club from participating in Ireland Lights Up, it is acceptable to ask participants for a once-off optional donation to cover any additional lighting costs the club may incur (we recommend no more than €2 per person/family). You could leave a donation box by your walking track one night of the initiative to collect this.

Also, thanks to support from Healthy Ireland and Sport Ireland, a grant of approximately €100 per club (based on last year’s registration numbers) will be issued on completion of Ireland Lights Up 2023 to clubs that register their weekly walking numbers with Croke Park.