Tipperary GAA Scene
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
The Allianz hurling leagues are the main focus of attention this weekend and Tipperary get their first outing in daylight when they take on Galway in Roinn 1 Group A Round 3 in Pearse Stadium on Sunday next, February 16th where throw-in is at 2pm.
As things currently stand, Galway are two points ahead of Tipperary as the midway mark is reached in the league series ahead of the knockout stages. There have been 72 previous league meetings between the sides and Tipperary lead with 46 wins to Galway's 20 and 6 games drawn.
As the countdown to Sunday continues, a quick look back at the last ten meetings between the sides show results as follows -
2008 at LIT Gaelic Grounds - Tipperary 3-18 Galway 3-16 (Final)
2009 at Pearse Stadium -Tipperary 1-17 Galway 1-15
2010 at Semple Stadium- Tipperary 2-17 Galway 0-14
2011 at Pearse Stadium -Tipperary 4-23 Galway 1-14
2012 at Semple Stadium - Tipperary 2-20 Galway 2-18
2013 at Pearse Stadium- Tipperary 4-22 Galway 1-20
2014 at Pearse Stadium Galway 3-16 Tipperary 1-19
2015 at Semple Stadium -Tipperary 2-18 Galway 0-20
2016 at Pearse Stadium -Tipperary 1-22 Galway 2-19
2017 at LIT Gaelic Grounds - Galway 3-21 Tipperary 0-14 (Final)
We send best wishes to the team and management and hope that our supporters will travel in great numbers behind the team on Sunday. The referee will be Johnny Murphy (Limerick).
Ahead of Sunday’s encounter Tipperary played Antrim in a very entertaining match in Belfast last Saturday ending on 2-23 apiece for the Fr. Reid Trophy. Thanks to all in Antrim for the wonderful reception afforded to the Tipperary team and management, it is very much appreciated.
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
In difficult conditions for football last Sunday, the Tipperary footballers tasted their first defeat of this year’s Allianz League campaign when going down 0-10 to 0-6 to Derry in Celtic Park.
Tipperary’s next match is at home to Cork in Semple Stadium on Saturday week, February 22nd.
MUNSTER U20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Tipperary get their Munster Under-20 football championship campaign up and running next Wednesday, February 19th, when they will take on Limerick in the quarter-final at LIT Gaelic Grounds. Throw-in is at 7pm. The winners will have home advantage against Kerry in the semi-final on February 26th.
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL
The Tipperary Ladies Lidl Senior National Football League Round 3 fixture against Westmeath has been refixed for this Sunday, February 16th, in Templetuohy with throw in at 1pm. Best wishes to the team on Sunday and all support is most welcome.
REFEREES
Well done to Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) as he refereed the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final between UCC and DCU last Saturday.
Best wishes to our referees on duty on Sunday next, Fergal Horgan is in action again as he takes charge of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 fixture between Wexford and Kilkenny in Chadwicks Wexford Park. Elsewhere, Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels) watches over proceedings in the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2B fixture between Roscommon and London in Dr. Hyde Park.
TIPPERARY GAA CLUBS DRAW
Congratulations to all the winners in the February Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw held last Friday, in Byrnes Tavern, Church Street, in Emly, hosted by the Emly GAA Club.
The main prize of a Skoda Fabia/Renault Clio or €15,000 was won by Mark Hickey with Moyle Rovers the promoting club. Second prize of a Holiday or €5,000 was won by Thomas and Rita Fanning with Moycarkey-Borris the promoting club.
GAA REFEREE RECRUITMENT TIPPERARY
Due to ongoing and increasing demands placed on our club referees, Basic Club Referee Training Courses are now provided every year by trained referee tutors in County Tipperary. Modules will be held over 3 nights in Thurles, and the course is developed in conjunction with Croke Park while supported through the Provincial Munster Referees Administrators. Dates for the Training Course are as follows –
New Referees Foundation Course
(Lár na Páirce, Thurles – 7:30pm each night)
Module 1 - Wednesday 20th February, Module 2 - Wednesday 27th February, Module 3 - Tuesday 3rd March.
The referees committee are now seeking applications from interested individuals, who are considering taking up the role as club referee and applications must be submitted through their respective club secretary on the relevant application form which is available online on the Tipperary GAA website.
Please note all applications must be accompanied by a cheque for €100, from the applicant’s home club, which will be refunded after officiating at ten games. Completed application forms accompanied by €100 cheque only should be forwarded to Jim O’Shea, Secretary, Tipperary Referees Administration Committee, Lár na Páirce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
All clubs who do not currently have a referee in their club are encouraged to trawl their membership for prospective candidates.
For further information and clarification please contact, John Ryan 086 816 2752 Chairperson Tipperary Referees Administration Committee or Jim O’Shea 085 1744791 Secretary Tipperary Referees Administration Committee.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Best wishes to Cashel C.S. in the Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm U19B Hurling Final this Saturday February 15th, where they will take on Scoil na Trioniode Doon in Bansha at 12 noon.
Commiserations to Clonmel High School who were defeated in the Munster U15A football semi-final last week by Tralee CBS 1-16 to 2-8.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
Tipperary Supporters Club AGM and Membership Launch by Liam Sheedy
The 33rd AGM of the Tipperary Supporters Club saw a great gathering of Tipperary Supporters in the Anner Hotel, Thurles on 30th January with members travelling from all parts of Tipperary and from far for the AGM.
Bryan Maher, Assistant Treasurer, presented the detailed audited accounts for the year to 31st October 2019 which resulted in grants of over €93,000 to expenses connected with the Intercounty Hurling panels including training camps, medical treatment, specialist training, travel and accommodation. Major sources of income were membership, golf classics in Tipperary and Dublin and sponsorship/donations.
In his report to the AGM as Secretary Billy Coman summarised the highlights of the Club’s activities. In his address as Chairperson, Terry O’Neill thanked all the Tipperary Supporters for their generosity in supporting the fund-raising efforts of the Club including club members, sponsors, funders, committee members, county board officials, team management and of course the players.
John Coman, Public Relations Officer, reported on a record year with 2,565 joining as adult members, 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 discounted membership rate of €30 for 2020 and reported that many members had already joined for 2020.
The following officers were appointed: Terry O’Neill, Chairperson; Billy Coman, Secretary; Michael Power, Treasurer (automatic re-appointment); Bryan Maher, Assistant Treasurer; John Coman, PRO; and Jim Reidy, Membership Officer.
Terry O’Neill invited John Devane, Chairperson of the County Board to address the meeting. John Devane thanked the Supporters Club for being a vital element in the Tipperary Hurling set up. He commented on the great co-operation between the County Board and the Tipperary Supporters Club in their work. Michael Fenton on behalf of Liam Myles, President, Tipperary Association Dublin (who could not be present) also congratulated the Club and assured it of every support from the Tipperary Association, Dublin.
Chairperson Terry O’Neill welcomed Liam Sheedy and Brian Hogan to the meeting. Liam Sheedy, Senior Team Bainisteoir, addressed the meeting and thanked the Tipperary Supporters Club for their invaluable help which was an integral part of the Tipperary team's preparation. Liam emphasised the importance of the team being closely connected with the Tipperary Supporters and that the Tipperary Supporters Club had a key role to play in that. Liam said he was delighted to launch the Tipperary Supporters Club Membership 2020, see details below, and he urged all Tipperary Supporters to join up.
The 2020 Tipperary Supporters Club Membership was officially launched on the night and, in addition to the membership gift of the special Tipperary Supporters dual trolley token, other features of membership were a special car sticker, membership card and draws for 5 pairs of stand tickets to each of Tipperary’s Munster and All-Ireland SH Championship games as well as entry in the Team Mascot competition for home matches in the Allianz Hurling League and a vote to decide on the Tipperary Senior Hurler of the Year.
The direct debit payment option is encouraged by the committee, which saves greatly on administration and costs, a major point for any organisation which relies totally on voluntary effort. Just log on to http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/ to get the direct debit form.
If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order for €40 payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15.
We want to extend the membership base further and we would urge all supporters to join our Team Tipperary fund raising effort by contacting Supporters Club Membership Officer, Jim Reidy on 086-3580718 or by email at info@tippsupportersclub.com
ELECTRIC IRELAND FITZGIBBON CUP
The semi-finals of the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup took place last Saturday with the results reading as follows;
IT Carlow 5-14 Mary Immaculate College Limerick 0-15
University College Cork 0-18 DCU Dóchas Éireann 0-17.
IT Carlow proved too strong in the second half for Mary I as they powered to the final, which is a wonderful result for Carlow as their football team reached the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup final two weeks ago. IT Carlow had only reached the final on one previous occasion which was in 2017 and on that day, Mary I were the victors. Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh) was on the scoreboard early for Carlow as his side opened up a three-point lead. Though the lead changed hands, it was a second half scoring blitz which gave Carlow the defining advantage. Kelly finished up with 0-2 to his name and was joined on the Carlow side by Fergal Hayes (Kiladangan). Cathal Bourke (Clonoulty-Rossmore) was the placed ball expert for Mary I once again as his 0-9 (7f, 2’65) accounted for most of his side’s points total. Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eanna McBride and Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens) all lined out for Mary I.
UCC after a tough encounter are back in the final following their narrow win over DCU. Finding themselves 0-9 to 0-3 up, UCC were pegged back by a DCU side buoyed up by the college’s recent Sigerson Cup victory, to go in level at half time 0-11 apiece. DCU edged ahead in the second period and went 0-16 to 0-12 up at one stage below late points for UCC including one from Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) tied up proceedings before a 65th minute side-line from Cork’s Mark Coleman went between the posts to give UCC victory. Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule) and Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens) with Kehoe all played the full match for UCC.
The final will be played this Wednesday, February 12th between IT Carlow and University College Cork in Dublin City University Sportsgrounds, throw-in is at 7.30pm