Tipperary GAA Scene

By Jonathan Cullen PRO

Allianz Football League

Tipperary will get their 2024 Allianz Football League campaign underway this Saturday evening when they welcome Carlow to FBD Semple Stadium for a 6.00pm throw-in. Tickets are now available and can be purchased from the GAA website and also in selected Centra and Supervalu stores at a cost of €12 for adults and €10 for students and OAP’s. All under 16’s will be admitted free once accompanied by an adult.

Dillon Quirke Foundation Senior Hurling Challenge

Tipperary will play Limerick in a senior hurling challenge game in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation in FBD Semple Stadium this Sunday, January 28th at 2.00pm.

Tickets are available to purchase from the ticket section of the Tipperary GAA website at a cost of €20 Tipperary GAA | Future Ticketing while tap and go card payments will also be accepted at the venue on the day. All under 16’s will have free admission to the game. The game will also be broadcast live by Tipperary GAA’s official streaming partner Clubber with all monies raised being donated to the foundation. Supporters can watch the game by going to https://www.clubber.ie

Respect our Residents

With the busy GAA season about to get underway, Tipperary GAA are once again reminding all supporters to please respect all residents in areas around the various venues that our games will be taking place in 2024. In particular we ask supporters attending games in FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles not to park in the residential areas surrounding the stadium and instead please use the designated car parks that will be publicised ahead of each game. We also ask supporters to respect all our matchday stewards many of whom are there in a voluntary capacity and all of whom are there with the primary aim of helping supporters.

TUS Corn an Artaigh & Corn Uí Mhuirí

There were mixed results for the two Tipperary schools in action last Saturday in the Harty Cup semi-finals as Thurles CBS lost to Árdscoil Rís, Limerick 0-18 to 1-14 in Kilmallock, while in Cappamore, a fascinating finish to the game saw Nenagh CBS secure a heart-stopping 2-18 to 1-17 win over Charleville CBS.

Hard luck to the Abbey CBS Tipperary Town who were defeated by Tralee CBS 2-13 to 1-6 in the Corn Ui Mhuiri quarter final.

County Committee Meeting

A County Committee meeting will take place in the Dome, Thurles on Tuesday, 30th January at 7:30pm. The agenda for this meeting along with minutes of the various Management Committee meetings and last County Committee meeting, will be emailed out to each club secretary.

Hurley presented to Lár na Páirce Museum

Recently, Anne Hayes, niece of Mick Fogarty of Borrisokane & New York, presented the hurley used by him as goalkeeper for the Tipperary team that won the 1953 All-Ireland junior hurling championship, to the Lár na Páirce museum in Thurles.

Mick, who was born in 1927, is still alive and well in New York, where he emigrated to in 1954. Although born in the parish of Borrisokane, he went to school in the Pike, Ballingarry, which was nearer to him, and played hurling with Knockshegowna. The club were beaten in three North junior hurling finals in 1946, 1947 & 1951, but Mick made such an impression on goals in the last year, that he was drafted into the number 1 position on the Tipperary junior team that won the 1953 All-Ireland. The hurley he used was a very ordinary stick with an eleven centimetre bas, unlike some of the hurleys goalies use today.

Mick emigrated to the U.S. the following year and began playing with Tipperary N.Y., and they won the New York championship the same year. In 1955 he was a member of the New York team that came to Dublin to play Tipperary in the St. Brendan Cup competition. They were beaten by 4-17 to 4-7.

Earlier in his life Mick was a member of the Tipperary cross-country team that won the 1948 All-Ireland.

Contacting Underage Players

The GAA policy re texting/emailing information to underage players states that when we pass on information regarding games, training, or other activities for the attention of our underage players that we do so via group texts and that these group texts should be sent to the parents/guardians of underage players.

The same good practice guidance applies when using emails or social media sites. The team Coach, Club Registrar, or the Club Runaì should obtain these relevant contact numbers/emails when an underage player is being registered on an annual basis. This recommendation only applies to underage players i.e., under 18 year of age.

If, for whatever reason, a parent/guardian insists or requests that the information is sent directly by the club to their child and gives this request in writing, the club may, if they so wish, accede to this request. However, if the club accedes to the request the information can only be sent as part of a group text and cannot be communicated individually to the underage player. A parental/guardian request to have such information sent directly to their child may be refused by the club in the interest of good practice.

The GAA would regard the individual texting of an underage player by their coach or mentor as being inappropriate and unacceptable and a breach of the above code.

An underage player is a person who is eligible to play in a game or event for persons under 18 years of age or a player who is under 18 years of age and playing above his age group. Legislation in Ireland also defines a child as any person under 18 years of age and parents/guardians therefore have a particular level of responsibility for their child’s welfare while they remain under 18 years of age.

The recommended group text mechanism is still preferred when texting county underage development squads and minor squads but if you have parental/guardian permission to group text underage players, you may avail of this option.

If an underage player is on the club’s senior panel, the same recommendation applies, and parental/guardian permission must be sought if you wish to directly communicate with the young person as part of a group text scheme.

Social Inclusion

The GAA would not exist without the communities we represent and serve. Every club in the Association already supports the development of its communities in a broad variety of ways, whether that's offering young people the chance to better themselves through sport or by supporting local charities through fundraising events and functions. The programs outlined in this section aim to highlight how clubs can maximize their positive influence, be that by becoming more age-friendly in engaging older members, supporting diversity and inclusion by encouraging individuals from all backgrounds, religions, sexual orientation, and populations, or supporting the engagement of people with additional needs to become involved in GAA activities. For more information contact Wheelchair Hurling/Camogie Coordinator Tony Watene 086 1733563

Physical Activity

It is recommended by the World Health Organisation that children and young people (aged 2-18) should be active moderate to vigorous level, for at least 60 minutes every day. This should include muscle-strengthening, flexibility, and bone-strengthening exercises 3 times a week. Adults (aged 18 - 64) should be active for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate activity on 5 days a week (or 150 minutes a week). Older people (aged 65+) should be active for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity activity on 5 days a week, or 150 minutes a week with a focus on aerobic activity, muscle strengthening and balance. People with disabilities should be as active as their ability allows and should aim to meet adult guidelines of at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on 5 days a week.

The Irish Government launched a national physical activity plan in 2016. It's key target is to increase the number of people taking regular exercise by 1% a year over ten years – that’s around 50,000 people every year or half a million in total – by making exercise a normal part of everyday life and giving people more opportunities to be active. While GAA clubs and coaches assist countless people in achieving their recommended physical activity levels through training for and playing our games, we can always do more to help those who are less physically active.

Tipperary GAA Scene

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