Tipperary GAA Scene
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
One of the greatest displays in recent times brimming with passion, driven on by heart, determination and a never say die approach saw Tipperary defy the odds, with 20 minutes or so left to play, to secure a place in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on August 18th. After an epic contest in Croke Park on Sunday last, Tipperary march on, as they eventually overcame a superb contest with Wexford with two points to spare on a 1-28 to 3-10 score-line before an attendance of 61,852. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch) with an exquisite ground strike, which will surely rank as one of the goals of the year when that comes around later in the season, was the Tipperary goal scorer. Other shots found the target too but were ruled out for various infringements.
Congratulations to Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), left, who was named man of the match on RTE and to Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) who received the award on Sky Sports coverage.
The Tipperary support, though understandably outnumbered on the day, was outstanding and if ever the team needed it, Sunday was the day and Tipp supporters were not found wanting. With that in mind and to say thanks for the support over the year, there will be an open training session this Wednesday evening in Semple Stadium from 7 to 9pm with an opportunity for fans, especially all the young boys and girls to meet and greet players from 8:15pm.
All the attention then will focus on All-Ireland Final Sunday, when Tipperary will renew rivalry with Kilkenny who overcame the Limerick challenge in the first semi-final last Saturday. Two traditional powerhouses colliding once again will have expectations on both sides of the county border in overdrive ahead of another highly anticipated showpiece. It may be still the height of summer, but where else would you want to be?
MUNSTER U20 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The sun shone magnificently on Semple Stadium last Tuesday night, 23rd July, as Tipperary and Cork produced an absolute thriller in the Bord Gais Energy Munster U20 Hurling Championship final, with the Premier men emerging victorious as the inaugural winners of the new grade after a tremendous battle with the Rebels. It was end to end throughout until Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg, 1-4) delivered a killer blow in the last minute of injury time to send Tipperary supporters wild with euphoria as his goal edged his side in front by a point to seal a memorable 3-15 to 2-17 win before an attendance of 9,117 captivated supporters.
Tipp had many candidates for Bord Gais Energy Man of the Match, but the honour once again went to Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy) who scored 1-4, pictured left receiving his award from Eoghan Kennedy, (picture courtesy George Hatchell), with Tipp’s other goal coming from Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs).
Tuesday’s win sets Tipperary up for an All-Ireland semi-final appearance against Wexford this Sunday 4th August in Nowlan Park where throw-in will be at 1:45pm. The referee will be Cathal McAllister
Tipperary with twenty U21 titles to their name had only two one-point wins previously, those away from home when defeating Limerick in 1984 and Clare in 2008.
Congratulations to the team, led by captain Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) right and their management of Liam Cahill, Michael Bevans, TJ Ryan and Seán Corbett as they now switch attention to the All-Ireland semi-final.
So, in terms of championship rivalry there were only two meetings between Tipperary and Wexford in the former under 21 championship and both were All-Ireland finals. The details are - 4/10/1964 at Nowlan Park, Tipperary 8-9 Wexford 3-1 and 12/9/1965 again at Nowlan Park, Wexford 3-7 Tipperary 1-4.
The Tipperary captains were, 1964 Francis Loughnane (Roscrea) and 1965 Owen Killoran (Roscrea).
There was only one other occasion that both counties won a provincial title in the same year and that was in 1979. Tipperary beat Cork in the Munster Final 1-13 to 2-7 at Semple Stadium and then beat Antrim in the All-Ireland semi Final. Wexford, who defeated Kilkenny 1-8 to 0-10 in the replayed Leinster final, lost to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Tipperary, captained by Michael Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill), then beat Galway in the final at Portlaoise by 2-12 to 1-9. It was the first of three consecutive All-Ireland title wins for the Premier County. Then in 2018, the new system which gave provincial winners and runners up entry to the All-Ireland semi-final, saw Tipperary beating Galway and Wexford losing to Cork, so the Premier and Model counties avoided each other again.
Overall, Tipperary won 20 Munster and 10 All Ireland titles, while Wexford won 17 Leinster and 1 All-Ireland title when Willie O'Neill captained them to victory in 1965.
We send best wishes to the team and management this Sunday and hopefully they can follow the lead of the seniors and make it to the final on the 25th of August.
CAMOGIE
Best wishes to the Tipperary senior camogie team as they prepare to meet Limerick in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship All-Ireland quarter final in Semple Stadium this Saturday, 3rd August at 5:30pm.
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL
The Tipperary ladies continued their winning ways with a 4-17 to 3-12 defeat of Wicklow in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship last weekend.
Best wishes to them as them now play Clare in the All-Ireland quarter final.
REFEREE
Best wishes to Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) as he will referee this Saturday’s EirGrid U20 All-Ireland Football Final between Cork and Dublin in Portlaoise at 4pm.
CLUB FIXTURES
Two Tipperary Water County Hurling League finals were played within the last week and congratulations to both winning clubs.
Tipperary Water County Hurling League Division 3 Final
Drom & Inch 3-14 Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams 1-8
Tipperary Water County Hurling League Division 5 Final
Newcastle 2-19 Ballylooby-Castlegrace 3-17
The following fixture is for this week’s final,
Tipperary Water ‘Pauline Coonan Plaque’ County Hurling League Division 6 Final
02/08/2019 – at 7:30pm in Drombane – Killea v Solohead
For results of all other games and forthcoming fixtures please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW
The August GAA draw will be in the Roundhill Bar, Carrigatogher with Ballina GAA club this Friday night August 2nd. Kevin Gleeson will be presented with his €5,000 cheque.
KELLOGG'S CÚL CAMPS
Best wishes to all clubs running Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps this week in the following venues – Ballingarry, Clerihan, Clonakenny, Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams, Knockshegowna and Mullinahone.
The Tipperary Cúl Camp ambassadors are Jason Forde and Michael Breen.
TEAM TIPPERARY GAA RACE DAY
The Team Tipperary GAA Race Day at the Galway Races last Monday was an outstanding success coming on the back of a wonderful week for Tipperary GAA with victories for the senior and U20 hurling teams.
The board wishes to thank most sincerely all those who most generously supported the event and took part in the fundraising auction, which was hosted by the one and only Paul Collins, pictured right with Tim Floyd.
The event would not have been the success it was either without the enormous effort of Co. Secretary Tim Floyd and his boundless energy and enthusiasm. Thanks to Tim and his team and all at Ballybrit Racecourse for the wonderful day, which also got the build up to the All-Ireland Final under way.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
Now that the Tipperary senior hurling team have qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny, any supporters wishing to still join the Tipperary Supporters Club in support of our teams can do so 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 All-Ireland Championship Final match tickets.
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.