Tipperary GAA Scene
By Jonathan Cullen PRO
AIB Munster Club Championships
Tipperary had three teams in action in last weekend’s AIB Munster Club hurling championship semi-final.
On Saturday in Midleton, Junior ‘A’ champions Moyle Rovers faced Russell Rovers from Cork in the Munster Junior Hurling semi-final. Playing games of this magnitude away from home is always going to be a big ask, and this is how it turned out for Moyle Rovers on Saturday. The home sides ability to score goals was the difference as they raised the green flag on three occasions to run out 3-13 to 0-13 winners.
Moyle Rovers: Brian Gleeson; Cathal McKeown, Luke Boland, Brian McKeown; Rory Collins, Ben Owens, Conor McGrath; Riain Quigley, Kevin Grace; Killian Butler (0-1), Dara Ryan (Capt 0-9, 8f), Shane Ryan; Dean English, Anthony Phelan (0-1), Luke Delahunty (0-2). Subs: Daire Luttrell for S Ryan (39), Sean Keating for Grace (44), Nathan Croke for McGrath (56), Danny Lyne for English (60+1).
On Sunday in Abbeydorney, Cashel King Cormacs were hoping to continue their winning ways when they took on the local side in the Munster Intermediate Hurling semi-final. Despite a shaky start the Cashel men took control of the game and were by far the more dominant side for the majority of the game, winning 3-18 to 1-16. See match report on page 71.
They will now play Cork’s Watergrasshill in the final on Saturday, November 30th at 6.00pm in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
County Senior Hurling champions Loughmore/Castleiney travelled to Walsh Park in Waterford last Sunday to renew rivalries with Ballygunner in the Munster Senior Hurling semi-final.
This was a game that many had hoped and indeed expected to be a very close battle, however in truth the Waterford men proved to be far superior in every area of the pitch as in the end they easily overcame the challenge of the Tipperary champions, 1-26 to 1-16. See match report on page 70.
Next weekend will see a return to the big ball with Tipperary clubs hoping to progress to the provincial finals in three grades.
On Saturday it will be the turn of Cashel King Cormacs, who will take on Kilmurry of Cork in the Munster Junior Football Championship semi-final in New Inn at 1.00pm.
On Sunday, Tipperary Intermediate champions Aherlow will welcome Wolfe Tones of Shannon to the Lattin Cullen for their Munster Intermediate Football semi-final at 1.00pm, while at the same time in Cusack Park Ennis, Loughmore/Castleiney will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they play their Senior Football semi-final against Eire Óg Ennis. Best wishes to all three teams in action at the weekend.
FBD Insurance County Under 21 Championships
Two games down for decision this Sunday in the County Under 21 Hurling championships. In Golden, Carrick Swan will play Clonoulty/Rossmore in the ‘A’ semi-final at 1.30pm with the second semi-final between Borris-Ileigh and Holycross/Ballycahill taking place the following weekend.
At the same time in Templemore, Burgess and Boherlahan-Dualla will meet for their ‘B’ semi-final.
Tickets are available in the ticket section of the Tipperary GAA website. Tap and Go will also be in operation on the day.
County Junior Football Winter League
Following on from last year where a Junior Football Winter League was run, we are looking at the feasibility of running the same over the next few weeks.
For any clubs that have a Junior Football team (‘A’ or ‘B’) and wish to express an interest in participating can you reply with Club name, Grade, name, and contact number of Club Rep/Manager.
This is open to clubs in all divisions and will be run on an all-county basis if appetite is there amongst the clubs. The Tipperary Football Committee are asking interested clubs to contact Football secretary Alan Moloney as soon as possible.
Tipperary GAA Club Season Pass 2025
The 2025 Tipperary GAA club season pass is now on sale and can be purchased via the events section of the Tipperary GAA App or by contacting the Tipperary GAA office on 0504 22702. The pass which will entitle the holder entry into all adult divisional and county games at adult level will cost €170.
2025 Competition Structures Meeting
The November County Committee meeting will take place next Monday, November 25th in the Dome, FBD Semple Stadium.
One of the main items up for discussion will be the motions on the 2025 championship and leagues. The following are the motions:
Éire Óg Annacarty/Donohill
1. That relegation/promotion be incorporated into Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of the 2025 county hurling leagues which will determine the league status of clubs for the year after.
Leagues continue in 2 groups of 6, 12 teams per division. 2025 divisions are decided by 2024 championship performance. This will be the final season whereby this occurs.
Division 1 - County Senior Quarter finalists (8) Third place teams in Senior group (4)
Division 2 - 4th teams in senior groups (4) County premier intermediate quarter finalists (8)
Division 3 - 3rd & 4th teams in Premier intermediate groups (8) Intermediate semi-finalists (4)
Divisions 4+ - Continue to be graded by CCC.
If two or more teams in this sub section performed to the same position, then score difference or margin of defeat will be used to determine who is promoted.
Promotion is the reward to the finalists of Division 2, 3 and 4. The bottom team of each group in Division 1, 2, and 3 are automatically relegated.
Ballylooby/Castlegrace
1. Start the County Football League in early March before the County Hurling League with the aim of playing the Football League Finals in late May or very early June depending on the number of teams in each division. The County Hurling League would start as normal in mid-March.
2. Play the County Junior ‘A’ Football Quarter Finals on the same weekend as the County Junior ‘B’ Football Quarter Finals (Two weeks later usually) as opposed to the same weekend as the Senior/Intermediate/Premier Junior quarter finals.
Upperchurch/Drombane
1. To reduce the possibility of a walkover been given in a competition, we propose that every club pays a bond of €1,500 to the County Board when submitting the annual affiliation details for the club. The bond will be repaid in full when the full schedule of championship games has been completed, if: -
a. The club has fulfilled all of its fixtures in all competitions, i.e., no walkovers given.
2. The following will apply if walkover(s) has been given: -
a. One walkover given by the club; the bond returned will be reduced by €500.
b. More than one walkover given by the club, then none of the bond will be returned.
County CCC
1. “Clubs that withdraw from championships in the following competitions
Senior- Premier Intermediate and Intermediate hurling.
Senior – Intermediate and Premier Junior football, shall be fined €3000 and will be one of the teams automatically relegated as per the structure of the relevant championship”.
Tipperary Football Committee
1. In the case of a team given a walkover in an adult championship or league, apart from the financial penalty the club that gives the walkover are automatically will have a minus one-point deducted from their points tallies in the round robin series of their respective championship table or league table.
2. Where a club that in the previous year their 1st team has played in either of the top 3 county football championships (Senior, Intermediate and Premier Junior) and fails to affiliate a team in these competitions in the following year, or upon affiliating fails to field a team in the competition, the following shall apply:
· Automatic disqualification from fielding an adult football team in any grade for a term of two years
· If they re-enter a team in adult football competitions within a period of five years, from last fielding they will re-enter at the same grade as their 1st team played in their last year of competing
· If they re-enter a team after a period of 5 years has elapsed since last played, the grade they play at will be decided by the county gradings committee in the normal manner.
· This rule does not apply to a team relegated from the premier junior grade in any given year
3. Where a Clubs 1st adult hurling team play’s in either of the top two grades (Senior or Premier Intermediate) in any given year, then in that year the minimum grade that they can compete at in county championship football competition is at Junior ‘A’ grade. The grade at which a club plays in divisional competitions shall be decided by divisional/county boards in the normal manner, but a club playing at either of the top two hurling grades as above, are graded Junior ‘B’ or lower, then they shall not be eligible to go forward beyond the divisional competitions in Junior ‘B’ or lower grades. Divisions may if they wish, nominate an alternative qualifying club (based on the above criteria) to take their place for the county stages of the relevant competitions.
The Tipperary Football Committee and Ardfinnan club both have very detailed motions relating to the 2025 Football championships which are sure to provoke much debate on the night.