Tipperary GAA Scene
By PRO Joe Bracken
MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Tipperary's participation in this year's Munster Senior Hurling Championship came to a premature end on Sunday last as an added time surge by Clare saw the Banner edge over the line by 2 points 1-23 to 1-21. It is a very disappointing result for a fabulous group of Tipperary players, management and backroom team, who put every ounce of energy into the cause again this year and we thank them most sincerely for the tremendous efforts which, alas for all, failed to bear fruit. But such are the highs and lows of sport and that is the alluring thing about it. For now though it will be back to club action before the collective of players and management come together again later in the year to prepare for new league and championship campaigns.
To bow out on their best performance, in which Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields) was the Tipp goal scorer, has been widely acknowledged across the county as all supporters share in the disappointment and heartbreak in what was Tipp's earliest championship exit since 1998, when Waterford won the Munster semi-final on June 7th of that year 0-21 to 2-12.
Prior to Sunday, Clare’s senior hurling championship record against Tipp on Premier County soil was played 6 won 1 and lost 5, reading as follows - 1887 at Nenagh, Tipp 1-7 Clare 0-2;1923 at Clonmel ,Tipp 1-2 Clare 1-4; 1928 at Thurles, Clare 5-5 Tipp 2-5; 1929 at Thurles, Tipp 6-5 Clare 3-3. An extremely long gap then to 1984 at Thurles, Tipp 1-15 Clare 2-11 and 1985 at Thurles, Tipp 5-14 Clare 4-6 (replay).
So it is 90 years since their only win on Tipp soil - June 24th 1928. The attendance was about 14,000 and Willie Hough (Limerick) was the referee. Tull Considine captained Clare while Johnny Leahy led Tipperary who were ahead at half-time 2-4 to 2-1.
Best wishes to Borris-Ileigh duo Dan McCormack and Brendan Maher for speedy recovery from their injuries picked up on Sunday.
MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
In the Electric Ireland Munster Hurling Minor Championship the Tipperary hurlers completed their round robin series with a deserved victory over Clare in round 4 on Sunday; 2-14 to 1-12 the final score line. With goals from Cian O'Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg) and Seán Hayes (Kiladangan) and 7 points from James Devaney (Borris-Ileigh), Tommy Dunne's side were full value for their win and must wait on next Sunday's two results to see if they are still in the hunt for a Munster Final berth.
ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
When the draw was made for round 2 of the All-Ireland football qualifiers on Monday morning, Tipperary were first out of the bowl securing home advantage against Mayo (second out) on Saturday week, June 23rd in Semple Stadium at 5pm.
This will be the fifth championship meeting between the sides with honours even on 2 wins apiece going into it. The last occasion both sides met was in the All-Ireland Football Championship Semi-Final of 2016 which Mayo won 2-13 to 0-14 in Croke Park.
An unexpected below par performance against Cork in the Munster Semi-Final has chartered the immediate course for Tipperary. Manager Liam Kearns and his players will no doubt be looking for a much improved effort to curtail last year's All-Ireland finalists. An intriguing battle awaits.
MUNSTER U20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
All roads lead to Páirc Uí Rinn this Saturday evening, June 16th, as Tipperary take on Cork in the Munster U20 Football Championship Quarter-Final where throw in is at 7:30pm.
With the change in format from U21 to U20 there should be great interest with the new structure as it sets out to find its footing in the GAA calendar. Heretofore as we know the previous U21 system was boxed off by now so its change on many levels for this year's championship.
We send best wishes to the panel and management as they make final preparations ahead of Saturday evening's match.
The U20 panel is as follows; Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan), Conn Bonnar (Cashel King Cormacs), Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Dean Carew (Upperchurch-Drombane), Jack Delahunty (Newport), Paul Devlin (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donohill), Jack Dolan (Fethard), Shane Doyle (JK Brackens), Daire Egan (Galtee Rovers), Brian Fitzpatrick (Cashel King Cormacs), Colin Floyd (Newport), Stephen Grogan (Cahir), Jack Harney Capt. (Moyle Rovers), Ben Hyland Vice-Capt. (Fr. Sheehys), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Ryan Lambe (Clonmel Commercials), John Lyons (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Eoin McCormack (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Conor McGeever (Clonmel Commercials), Eanna McBride (JK Brackens), Conor McCarthy (Nenagh Éire Óg), Liam Meagher (Killenaule), Matthew Moroney (Arravale Rovers), Darragh O'Leary (Ardfinnan), Dan O'Meara (Kiladangan), Conor O'Sullivan (Clonmel Commercials), Rian Quigley (Moyle Rovers), Kian Quinn (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney), John Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Gavin Ryan (Clonmel Commercials) and Gavin Whelan (Ardfinnan).
The management team consists of; Manager - David Power (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Coach - Mick O'Sullivan (Drom & Inch), Assistant Coach - Kieran Maguire (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Mentor - Tommy Toomey (Arravale Rovers), Mentor - Damian Lawlor (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Strength and Conditioning Coach - DJ O'Dwyer, Physio - James Maxwell, Goalkeeper Coach - Adrian Walsh (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) and Sport Nutritionist - Amy Maguire.
The referee will be Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).
MUNSTER U21 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Thursday week, June 21st at 7:30pm in Semple Stadium, the Tipperary U21 team will play Limerick in the Munster Semi-Final. This will be the first championship action of 2018 for Liam Cahill's side who come into the match with a series of challenge matches under their belt. Limerick on the other hand have a quarter-final victory over Clare to set their stall against and will prove to be stiff opposition.
The Tipp U21 panel is as follows; Podge Campion (Drom-Inch), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule), Darragh Woods (Holycross-Ballycahill), Dylan Walsh (Ballingarry), Anthony McKelvey (Moycarkey-Borris), Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Cathal Moloney (Thurles Sarsfields), Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Colin English Capt. (Fr. Sheehys), Cian Flanagan (Newport), David Gleeson (Ballinahinch), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Paddy Cadell Vice-Capt. (JK Brackens), Jimmy Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens), Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen), Rian Doody (Cappawhite), Robert Byrne (Portroe), Michael Whelan (Carrick Davins), Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Tom Murphy (JK Brackens), Darragh Carey (Templederry-Kenyons), Ciaran Barrett (Clonmel Óg), Gavin Dunne (Holycross-Ballycahill), Stephen Nolan (Drom-Inch), Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), Ger Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Dillion Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Paudie Feehan (Killenaule).
The Tipperary U21 management team is; Manager - Liam Cahill (Ballingarry), Coach - Michael Bevans (Toomevara), Selectors - John Sheedy (Portroe), Sean Corbett (Boherlahan-Dualla) and TJ Ryan (Clonoulty-Rossmore).
CAMOGIE
Well done to the Tipperary senior camogie team as they got their Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship off to a winning start by defeating Meath 6-14 to 0-10 last Saturday afternoon.
CLUB FIXTURES
This week there is action in the Tipperary Water County Football Leagues and to keep up to date with all fixtures and results please check http://people.gaa.ie/club/tipperary/
CELTIC CHALLENGE
In their final game in the group stage of the competition which took place in Glanworth last Wednesday South Tipperary were defeated by East Cork on a score line of East Cork 0-19 South Tipperary 2-11 with Daire O'Brien (Mullinahone) receiving the Best and Fairest award.
On the basis of results to date South Tipperary will play in Division 2 (Corn John Scott) for the remainder of the competition. Their next game will be a Quarter-Final against Offaly on Saturday 16th June at 5pm in Bord na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
In Group A, North Tipperary finished this final group match with a hard-fought 2-18 to 3-12 victory over Galway McDonagh on a warm sunny evening in Nenagh. Conor McGrath for North Tipperary picked up the Best and Fairest Player along with Conor Hynes (Galway McDonagh).
North Tipperary will contest the Corn Michael Hogan (Div.1) Quarter-Final against Kilkenny also on Saturday June 16th with venue and time to be confirmed.
POC FADA
The Tipperary County Poc Fada competition took place last Saturday. June 9th. in the scenic views of Pike Cross, Knockshegowna on the premises of Bike Park Ireland hosted by Graham Kenny. On a perfect day, six U16 and two senior competitors took part.
Proceedings commenced with the U16 competition where Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey Borris), Robert Gleeson (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), Conor Kirwan (Cahir), Jack Breen and Stephen Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) and Darragh Quigley (Borris-Ileigh) all lined up at the start of the 2km course at the foot of the pike with their first poc. The competition was very tight and nothing separated all the participants as poc after poc the participants matched each other's distance. In the end, it came down to the final poc with Kyle Shelly of Moycarkey Borris winning the competition and Conor Kirwan of Cahir in the runner up position all under the watchful eye of Andy Ryan GDA, congratulations to Kyle.
The senior route took a longer course of approximately 2.5km under the guidance of Colm Canning GDA. Again as per the juvenile competition, nothing separated the participants and it was only on the final stretch that a winner would become evident. Congratulations to Mike Flannery (Newport) winning on 29 pocs over Conor O’Donovan (Nenagh Éire Óg) on 28 pocs.
Each of the winners was presented with a county winner's medal by Tom Dawson, Chairman Coaching and Games, Donie Nealon Munster Poc Fada Committee and Graham Kenny, Bike Park Ireland. The afternoon finished off with refreshments provided by Bike Park Ireland.
The winners go on to represent Tipperary in the Munster Competition on Saturday next, June 16th in the Michael Cusack Centre in the Burren commencing at 10am, best wishes to our contestants there.
Thanks to the Kenny family and Bike Park Ireland for providing a fantastic venue for the competition and making the organisation of the event so easy and pleasant for all concerned.
FÉILE NA NGAEL
Commiserations to Durlas Óg who lost out by 2 points 0-8 to 0-6 to Turloughmore in the Division 1 Cup final of Féile na nFael on Sunday last.
KELLOGGS CÚL CAMPS
The GAA Kelloggs Cúl Camp registration is now open. With over 50 camps in the county there is a plentiful supply of locations for kids from 6 to 13 years of age to choose from for GAA camps over the summer. The camps run from 10am to 2.30pm each day at the various locations.
Experienced and trained coaches will provide fun activities in the realms of Football, Hurling, Camogie and Rounders at each location. Further details and bookings can be made for your local camp at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie
NICKY RACKARD CUP
Roscrea’s Davin Flynn scored 2-11 (0-8 frees) for Donegal in the Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final against Monaghan at Owenbeg. Donegal will now play Warwickshire in the final in Croke Park on Saturday June 23rd.
Warwickshire are captained by Donnacha Kennedy from Drom & Inch originally and also have Ian Dwyer from Gortnahoe-Glengoole in their side. Ian now plays for Roger Casements who are based in Coventry.