Tipperary GAA Scene

By Jonathan Cullen PRO

FBD Insurance County Championships

Lots of action last weekend in the FBD championships, as we reached final stage in the majority of our hurling competitions.

See match reports for senior, premier intermediate, intermediate and junior hurling championship games.

Patrons who travelled to Golden on Saturday afternoon were treated to a most entertaining game of hurling as Holycross/Ballycahill and St. Marys locked horns to claim the Under 19 ‘A’ Hurling title. Coming into the game, Holycross/Ballycahill would possibly have been seen as the most likely team to emerge on top, but not without a big battle, and this is how it turned out. St Mary’s pushed their opponents all the way in a titanic battle, and in the end the men in green & white claimed victory 1-16 to 1-14.

Next weekend will see the focus turn to the football championships as we have a number of finals and a semi-final taking place.

On Saturday afternoon, Templederry will be the venue for the clash of Kiladangan and Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams in the Junior ‘A’ Football final with a 12.30pm throw-in time.

Bansha will host the clash between Rosegreen and Aherlow in the Junior ‘B’ Football Championship semi-final at 2.00pm.

It’s onto the Ragg for the clash of neighbours Loughmore/Castleiney and JK Brackens in the Premier Junior Football Final at 3.30pm.

On Sunday, there are three more finals down for decision, starting with the clash of Moyne-Templetuohy and Arravale Rovers in the Under 19 ‘B’ Football final at 12.00pm in Cashel.

Then, it’s on to FBD Semple Stadium for a huge double header of action, starting with the Intermediate Football final between Aherlow and Galtee Rovers at 2.00pm. Then at 4.00pm, we have the eagerly awaited clash of Loughmore/Castleiney and Clonmel Commercials in the Senior final.

Ticket for all games are now available to purchase on the ticket section of the Tipperary GAA website and App. Tap and Go will also be in operation at each venue.

Coiste na nÓg

The Knockmealdown Gaels combination of Fr Sheehy’s and Ballylooby/Castlegrace took the County Under 15 ‘B’ Hurling honours on Saturday in Leahy Park, Cashel, proving too strong for Holycross/Ballycahill on a 4-13 to 3-5 scoreline. Joint-Captains Liam Proven and Harry Byrne accepted the trophy from Bord Na nÓg Chairman PJ Bowden.

Tipperary Bord Na nÓg were delighted to accept the Katie Manton Cup to present to the inaugural winners of the Under 15 ‘C’ Hurling Championship for teams with 2nd teams on Saturday.

This competition was a huge success in its inaugural year saw Newport and St. Mary’s meet in its decider. Newport proved too strong for their South counterparts and captain Mike Coffey lifted the Katie Manton Cup for 2024.

Ray & Aoife Manton also kindly sponsored two player of the match awards for the game. Tipperary Under 20 Hurling manager Brendan Cummins was on hand to present Harry Moloney (Newport) and Daniel Tobin (St. Mary’s) with their awards.

Tipperary Bord Na nÓg would like to sincerely thank the Manton family for this wonderful gesture in memory of their late daughter Katie, whose memory will live on.

Kilsheelan provided the venue for the Under 15 ‘D’ Hurling Final on Saturday which saw Carrick Davins and Thurles Gaels meet in the decider. Played in lovely conditions, Carrick Davins proved the stronger of the sides running out 3-13 to 2-5 winners. Tomás O’Leary was on hand to present captain Ky Adekunte with the trophy.

Cashel King Cormacs and Boherlahan-Dualla met in the first U15 ‘D’ Final for 2nd teams on Saturday. The West side proved too strong for their Mid opponents and ran out winners. Captain Oisín Quirke played a pivotal role in his sides win and gladfully collected the shield from County Bord na nOg Chairperson PJ Bowden.

Win a House Fundraiser

Tickets for the ‘Win a House’ draw are now on sale and can be purchased on the winehouse.ie website or from any Tipperary GAA club.

The grand prize is a fully furnished home in Bregawn, Cashel, valued at €350,000. Alternatively, the winner can choose a cash prize of €300,000.

Tickets are priced at €100 and will be available for purchase through the official ‘Win a House’ website www.winahouse.ie and all GAA clubs. To encourage local engagement, €30 from each physical ticket sold by a club will remain with that club. A target has been set to sell 20,000 tickets over the next six months, with the final draw taking place on St. Patrick’s Weekend 2025.

Munster Football Championship 2025

Tipperary have been drawn with Waterford in the quarter final of the 2025 Munster Senior Football Championship following the draw made last Saturday.

Should Philly Ryan’s charges be successful, they will face Clare in a semi-final. Cork will play Limerick in the other quarter final with the winners to play defending champions Kerry.

All-Star

Congratulations to Kilruane MacDonaghs Cian Darcy who was presented with the Lory Meagher Player of the Year Award last Friday night at Croke Park following his successful campaign this year with Longford.

GAA, GPA and Gaelchultúr announce Landmark Partnership

The GAA, GPA and Gaelchultúr, the world’s leading provider of Irish-language education, are proud to announce an exciting new collaboration, offering 100 scholarships to inter-county male and female players.

This innovative partnership aims to deepen the longstanding relationship between Ireland’s national language and Gaelic Games, creating new pathways for inter-county players to reconnect with and promote the Irish language.

The GAA, GPA and Gaelchultúr are also being supported by An Cumann Camógaíochta and the LGFA in this initiative and hope that all inter-county Gaelic games’ players will benefit from this scheme.

The scholarships will enable these sporting icons to immerse themselves in Irish, becoming ambassadors for the language within their clubs, counties, and communities.

This landmark initiative follows close on the heels of Gaelchultúr's recent national study, which revealed a substantial desire among the Irish public to improve their command of the Irish language. According to the study, 66% of adults in Ireland regret not having better spoken Irish, while 74% of them wish to improve their proficiency in the language.

The value of the Irish language to the cultural fabric of Ireland was highlighted in the same survey, with 73% of respondents agreeing that the language is essential to the identity of the Irish people, and 70% stating that Ireland would be culturally impoverished without it.

The launch of this collaboration is a source of great pride for all relevant organisations as well as Coiste Náisiúnta Gaeilge CLG under the leadership of Chairperson Áine Uí Choinn, as they work together to ensure that the Irish language thrives both on and off the field.

100 inter-county players will have the opportunity to begin their Irish-language journey in inspiring, interactive courses starting this week.