Tipperary GAA Scene
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
Although the surreal atmosphere of Sunday evening has moved on, behind each dark cloud is a bright blue sky, one which will glow when the gloom has lifted. That of course wouldn't have entered the minds at the time to the Premier faithful heading towards the exits after the fulltime whistle in Nowlan Park as all tried to comprehend the unexpected outcome just witnessed.
History will show Kilkenny claimed the Allianz League title following a 2-23 to 2-17 win over Tipperary before an attendance of 17,608. Unfortunately, this was not the performance required or expected from a Tipp perspective where an out of character second half showing put paid to any hopes of a title last held in 2008.
So a search for a win on Kilkenny soil still goes on, Tipperary wins are scarce with the following 9 dates the only recorded positives; 6/3/1927 (St. James' Park), 29/3/1931, 5/4/1936, 23/3/1969, 7/10/1973, 15/11/1992, 13/4/2003, 4/3/2007 and 13/4/2008 (all Nowlan Park).
Jason Forde was again Tipperary's main scoring threat as he notched up 2-12 in what has been an exemplary league campaign for the Silvermines clubman. In all Jason has contributed 7-72 for the league which also earned him two man of the match awards for his performances. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) and Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) were the other recipients of those match accolades in the course of another wise extremely productive and satisfactory league campaign. Though other players may have hit a collective off day on Sunday and with more chomping at the bit to get back into action following injury lay-off, the summer can still be bright and beautiful before the Liam MacCarthy is presented to the All-Ireland champions in August for which Tipperary are still serious contenders.
For now though the focus and ambition turns immediately towards the revised Munster hurling championship, where first up in a run of four weeks, is a visit to the Gaelic Grounds on May 20th, where Limerick provides the opposition at 2pm. It has all the hallmarks of a thrilling summer and Tipperary will be in the thick of the action. Let the games begin.
As a footnote to a reference of an item in last week's 'scene' I wish to clarify that John Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill) has 11 league medals and not the figure as previously indicated.
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Best wishes to the Tipperary minor football team who play Kerry in the Electric Ireland Munster Championship Quarter-Final this Wednesday night, April 11th in Semple Stadium where throw-in is at 7pm. The team lines out as follows; Callan Scully (Nenagh Éire Óg), Tommy McDonagh (Cahir), Shane Lowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Christy McDonagh (Cahir), Mark O'Meara (Capt.) (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Kevin Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Billy Murphy (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane), Max Hackett (Moycarkey-Borris), Alan Flannery (Galtee Rovers), Devon Ryan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Christy English (Ballyporeen), Kyle Shelly (Vice Capt.) (Moycarkey-Borris) and Eddie Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams). The subs are - Cian O'Mahony (Ardfinnan), John O'Sullivan (Galtee Rovers), Conor Power (Ballina), Gavin Meagher (Inane Rovers), Conor Whelan (Mullinahone), Rhys Byron (Galtee Rovers), Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swan), Dylan Farrelly (Clerihan) and Seán Ó'Connor (Clonmel Commercials). Extended panel players are Killian Fitzgerald, Donagh Hickey (both Arravale Rovers), Kevin Moore (Inane Rovers), Kieran Costello, Paddy Creedon, Joe Dwan (all Durlas Óg), Joey Lyons (Grangemockler-Ballyneale) and Jake Kiely (Cahir).
The panel have worked hard under the guidance of manager Matt O'Doherty (Arravale Rovers), coach Benny Hickey (Cahir), selectors - Viv Downey (Upperchurch-Drombane), James Boland (Inane Rovers), Johnny Nevin (JK Brackens), strength and conditioning coaches Jason Coffey (Ardfinnan) and Mark Butler (Loughmore-Castleiney) and physio Tomás Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris) and will be eager to get off to a winning start in what is always a difficult task against Kerry as the first of the Munster Championships gets under way.
Wednesday's winner will play the winner of the Cork/Waterford game in one Munster semi-final. The loser will play the loser of Limerick/Clare in a playoff match. The winners of this will then play the loser of Cork/Waterford for a place in the Munster semi-final against the winners of Limerick/Clare.
The referee on Wednesday will be Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick).
COUNTY FIXTURES
With the inter-county scene now off the agenda until May, club action will take precedence in the coming weeks where hopefully weather and ground conditions will continue to improve to allow matches to go ahead.
The Tipperary Water County Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championship along with fixtures in the Tipperary Water Seamus Ó Riain Cup fill the timeslots for this weekend across the county; please check http://people.gaa.ie/club/tipperary/ for all current fixtures and results.
NEW TIPPERARY CLUB DRAW
The new Tipperary GAA Club Draw material is being printed at the moment for distribution before the end of this week. The first draw for the new season is scheduled for Friday, May 4th.
TIPPERARY FUN RUN/WALK
The Tipperary Supporters Club and the County Camogie Board are once again hosting a 5k fun run/walk which is a fundraiser for both the Supporters Club and the County Camogie Board, to aid county teams in their preparation for their respective 2018 championships.
The run / walk has been launched and follows on from the outstanding success when first held last year. The event will take place once again at the Dome, Semple Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7th with an 11am start and will be followed by an open Tipperary training session in Semple Stadium.
Pre-registrations is available on www.tipperarysupportersclub.com or on the morning, adults entry is €10 and U16's €5. All participants are encouraged to wear your club colours on the day. For more information contact Eamonn Buckley (Tipperary Supporters Club) 086 3838767 or Bridget Bourke (Tipperary Camogie) 087 6255427.
HANDBALL
Tipperary contested three 40x20 Doubles All-Ireland Finals and one 40x20 refixed singles All-Ireland Final last weekend. In the doubles hosted by Kingscourt in Cavan, congratulations to the pairing of Sinéad Meagher (Nenagh) and Roisín Cahill (Lahorna) who had a good win over Aoife Holden and Claire Love from Kilkenny winning 21/16 , 21/1 in the ladies Junior Doubles. Unfortunately, in the U21 Doubles Colin Ryan and Jason English (Cashel) were beaten by Shane Dunne and Padraig Cooney from Kilkenny 21/7, 21/13. In the Ruby Masters Paddy Collins (Ballina) and Jim Ryan (Silvermines) were also defeated by Eugene Kennedy and Vinny Farley (Dublin) 21/12, 21/12. In the refixed DMAS in Carrick On Suir, Billy Mullins (Clonmel) was victorious over Michael Rossiter (Wexford) 21/8, 21/7. Well done to all who are Munster Champions and reached All-Ireland Finals.
In the Munster Juvenile 40x20 finals held in Newmarket On Fergus in Clare, congratulations to the U12D pairing of Christine Percy and Lucy Gould who defeated Lauren O'Reilly and Rachel Danaher (Clare) 15/1, 15/4. Congratulations also to Hannah Grace and Leanne Gould who defeated Eimear Rodgers and Áine Lenihan (Clare) 15/6, 15/2 in the GU13D.
CELTIC CHALLENGE
The Celtic Challenge takes place again this year during the exam period and Tipperary will again have two teams in the competition. Tipperary Blue - representing players from Mid and North and Tipperary Gold - representing players from South and West will participate. Management teams are now in place and the selection process has commenced.
The following is criteria for selection on these teams; 1 - Players doing state examinations are not eligible for selection. 2 - Players must be 17 years of age (No U16 players eligible) and 3 - Players currently on the county minor hurling squad are not required to attend.
Clubs are asked to nominate players to attend trials for both the above teams, trials commenced on Monday last in Dr Morris Park.
For further information contact Dinny Maher, Games Manager Tipperary GAA 086-3551830
HEALTY CLUB OFFICER TRAINING SEMINAR
Croke Park will run a training seminar for Healthy Club Officers in Thurles on April 26th next.
Clubs should have forwarded to county secretary Tim Floyd secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie by last Monday the name and contact details of their Healthy Club Officer (Health & Wellbeing) or the details of someone from the club who would like to attend this session. For this training to go ahead we need to ensure we have sufficient numbers, so if for some reason anyone missed out on the notice, please contact Tim and an immediate response would be appreciated.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
The County Health and Wellbeing Committee would like to encourage GAA clubs to becoming involved in the 2018 Pieta House Darkness into Light campaign which commences in the small hours of May 12th and finishes as the sun is rising.
Clubs might consider encouraging all adult members or just an adult team to participate and to invite family and friends to join them at an event closest to you. By participating in their Darkness into Light flagship fundraiser in one of the many venues in Tipperary your club will be helping the wider community to support Pieta House.
To find your nearest venue and for registration details check https://dil.pieta.ie/event-information/venues
Has your club appointed a Healthy Club Officer recently if you have please send name and contact details to County Secretary immediately.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP 2018
Click here to join: http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/adult-members/
The Tipperary Supporters Club member’s gift in 2018 is a specially produced Tipperary Supporters Club Cap, in the traditional Blue and Gold and featuring the Tipperary Supporters Club Official Logo.
Membership is €40 per person and there are several payment options. All proceeds from membership go directly towards the preparation and training of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Team.
FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL
If you would like to be entered into the draw for some fantastic prizes the Friends of Tipperary Football are selling membership for 2018 and once again it is a very reasonable €20.
Membership enters each supporter into the following draws:
Two All-Ireland Final Football tickets 2018
Two All-Ireland Final Hurling tickets 2018
Two Tickets for each Tipperary Senior Football Championship matches 2018
Plus, all members will receive an exclusive car sticker.
If you would like to join online you can do so at http://www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com/join/ or contact any Friends of Tipperary Football committee member.
TIPPERARY GAA SCENE
Information concerning all areas in the GAA will appear in this section in the future. If you wish to include any item of interest in future articles, please e-mail at pro.tipperary@gaa.ie on or before 3.00pm on Monday. Visit the Tipperary GAA web site at http://tipperary.gaa.ie to keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary GAA circles