Tipperary GAA Scene
By Joe Bracken, Tipperary County Board PRO
CO-OP SUPERSTORES MUNSTER LEAGUE
Unfortunately, an out of sorts display in the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday meant Tipperary went home empty handed on the silverware front after Clare took the spoils in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Final. But nonetheless Tipperary will have learned much from the encounter and though the score line read 4-19 to 1-18, the concession of perceived soft goals and missed opportunities to take 'half-goal' chances at the opposite end from a Tipp perspective contributed to the margin between the sides. Tipp's goal scorer was Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) who rifled the net when introduced in the second half.
After three worthwhile games in the Co-Op superstores league, the focus moves swiftly towards the opening Allianz hurling league fixture also against Clare in Semple Stadium on Saturday week, January 26th, at 7pm.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
In the Dr. Harty Cup U19 A last week, there was no shortage of entertainment and excitement, where in the heel of the hunt only one Tipperary team remains standing with a replay required to confirm their fate. That team is Thurles CBS who went toe to toe with John the Baptist Community School, Hospital in an enthralling match which required two separate periods of extra time when stalemate ultimately prevailed. With an amazing score line of 3-31 to 4-28 this was a match which had everything and now both sides must go to the well again next Saturday, January 19th, in the quarter-final replay which will go ahead in Dundrum at 1pm.
Nenagh CBS were very unfortunate as an injury time goal from Christian Brothers College (Cork) halted their progression in their cup run, with 2-14 to 2-12 the full time score.
Elsewhere, Our Lady’s Templemore went down to Midleton CBS 7-15 to 0-19.
In the Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm 19 B hurling quarter-finals Cashel C.S. progressed to the semi-final when they defeated St. Josephs Secondary School Tulla 2-16 to 2-14. However, Clonmel High School lost out to Scoil Na mBraithre Rathluirc 1-16 to 2-8 while Abbey C.B.S also fell to St. Francis College Rochestown 1-14 to 0-5.
Finally, in the Corn Risteard Ui Mhathuna 19 C hurling quarter-final Borrisokane C.C. had a good victory as they defeated Coláiste Treasa Kanturk 5-14 to 1-8.
Locally in county post primary schools action congratulations to Scoil Ruain Killenaule who had a narrow 3-10 to 1-15 victory over Carrick on Suir C.B.S in the Corn Bhrathair Ui Dhaltuin U19 B Football final last Friday.
REFEREE
Best wishes to Seán Lonergan (Moyle Rovers) as he takes charge of the AIB All-Ireland junior club football semi-final on Sunday next in Portlaoise between Dundalk Young Irelands and Beaufort.
SEMPLE STADIUM
The first of the New Year's action in Semple Stadium gets under way on Saturday next when Graigue-Ballycallan, managed by Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers), will meet Charleville in the AIB All-Ireland intermediate club hurling championship semi-final at 2pm.
Not alone do we send best wishes to the Semple Stadium crew for another successful season, we also send best wishes to Declan Browne and congratulate him on his success to date.
TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW
Congratulations to all winners in the January draw which was held in Paddy's Bar, Terryglass in conjunction with Shannon Rovers GAA club last Friday night. First prize of a Skoda Octavia / Renault Megane or €15,000 went to Marie Danagher with Fethard GAA the promoting club. Mullinahone was the promoting club for Michael Ryan who won the second prize of €5,000 or Holiday.
SCÓR
Scór 2019 - Scór na nÓg Munster Final
Best of luck to all our young people taking part in the Munster Final of Scór na nÓg in Cappaquinn on Sunday afternoon next. Dhein sibh éacht cheana. Go néirí go geal libh. Also, best wishes to Seosamh Ó Baoill as Fear an Tí for the occasion. Ta súil againn go mbeidh an lá agaibh .
Ceolchoirm Scór
Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be the venue for the Scór Jubilee Concert which will take place on Saturday evening January 26th. Guests from all 6 Munster counties who have won honours on the county, provincial and national stage will entertain guests in a celebration of all that is best of the various disciplines of Scór.
Fifty years of Scór will be celebrated on the night agus beidh taispeántas den scoth ar an stáitse again.
Scór na bPaistí agus Scór Sinsear
The following are the proposed dates for county finals; Scór Sinsear on February 23rd and Scór na bPáistí on March 31st. The Scór committee are appealing to all clubs to do their very best as we celebrate Scór 50 to participate in both these competitions. Details of divisional finals can be had from divisional secretaries.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
A Happy & Healthy New Year to everyone from the Health & Wellbeing Committee. As you are all aware the county chairman has asked every club to appoint a Healthy Club Officer in 2019. Training for new officers will take place in Thurles on April 11th with time and venue to be confirmed. Please forward the name and contact details of your Healthy Club Officer to the county secretary Tim Floyd secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie as soon as possible.
Best of luck to clubs who are participating in the Operation Transformation Ireland Lights Up Walking Programme starting on January 17th. Rockwell Rovers & Fr. Sheehy’s have forwarded details of their very impressive plans to get their whole communities involved in this event and if any other club would like to forward information for our records please send to chair.hwc.tipperary@gaa.ie
PADDY DOYLE FOR HALL OF FAME
Next Saturday, January 19th, Paddy Doyle will be inducted into Thurles Sarsfields Hall of Fame. Paddy has served Sarsfields as a player, coach, selector, manager, club chairman and is at present the club’s vice-president.
Outside of his GAA roles with Sarsfields, Paddy has managed Tipperary minor hurling teams and has been involved with coaching Moycarkey-Borris, Lorrha-Dorrha, Borris-Ileigh and the Laois county hurling team. All in all, a lifetime of immense service to the GAA. All are welcome to attend the celebration, starting at 8.00 p.m. in Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre.
HANDBALL
The North Tipperary 40 x 20 juvenile finals were hosted by Nenagh last weekend and a full roundup of results can be seen at http://handball.tipperary.gaa.ie/club-executive/bord-na-n-og Well done to all the winners who go forward to the County Finals in Cashel on Sunday next, January 20th when the action gets under way from 10.30am.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
You are invited to the Tipperary Supporters Club Annual General Meeting and 2019 Membership Launch in the Anner Hotel, Thurles, this Thursday January 17th at 8pm.
Please come along to hear from Liam Sheedy about plans for the season and to meet with players. This is always a great way to kick off the year. Refreshments will be served and we look forward to a big turnout and to seeing you there. If you haven’t already renewed your membership you can do it on the night or online at www.tippsupportersclub.com or by calling Jim Reidy, Membership Officer on 086 3580718.
CLUB OFFICER TRAINING
The County Development Committee has held successful and well-attended training nights for Club Officers in all 4 divisions over the past 2 years. This year, to cater for those unable to attend previously and for new club officers, just one night will be held as follows on Wednesday 6th February at 7.30pm in The Anner Hotel, Thurles.
Format: The programme will commence at 7.30pm with a general gathering of all officers. Following a cup of tea, representatives will then break into different groups to focus on their own roles in the club. The programme will run for approx. 2½ hours.
Who should attend? There will be separate presentations for Club Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers and PRO’s and officials from adult clubs and juvenile clubs are invited.
Club secretaries are requested to please advance a list of names and roles of those who will be attending, by Wednesday January 30th to the contacts following.
The development committee are looking forward to your support, Denis Floyd, Secretary Co. Development Committee 087-9355750 dfloyd@eircom.net and PJ Maher, Co. Development Officer 087-2489064 pjmaher3000@yahoo.ie
THIRD LEVEL COLLEGES COMPETITIONS
It's that time of year again as the Electric Ireland HE GAA Fitzgibbon Cup and Sigerson Cup competitions are preparing to get under way. In the Fitzgibbon Cup Tipperary has 61 club players named throughout 13 colleges at the declaration stage while there will just be 4 Tipperary club players involved with 3 colleges in the Sigerson Cup.
A breakdown of players in the Fitzgibbon Cup is as follows;
Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) (3 players) - Andrew Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg), Enda Heffernan (Clonoulty-Rossmore) and Eoin Barry (Killenaule)
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) (1) - Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
Garda College (6) Aidan Ryan (Thurles Sarsfields), Kevin Slattery (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), Joey O'Keeffe (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Martin McGrath (Drom & Inch), Michael Brislane (Toomevara) and Brian Kelly (Moyne-Templetuohy)
Institute of Technology Carlow (2) - Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch) and Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh)
Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) (8) - Conn Bonnar (Cashel King Cormacs), Darren Moran (Kiladangan), Rian Doody (Cappawhite), Robert Byrnes (Portroe), Ronan Tucker (Burgess), Ruadhan Mulrooney (Portroe), Sean Ryan (Sean Treacys) and Stephen Flanagan (Holycross-Ballycahill)
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (12) - Craig Morgan and Darragh Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eoghan Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney), Colin English (Fr. Sheehy's), Ronan Bourke (Ballina), Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Philip Hickey (Nenagh Éire Óg), Kyle Peters (St. Mary's), Niall Heffernan (Moycarkey-Borris), Conal Donovan (Arravale Rovers), Stephen O'Brien (Eire Óg Annacarty-Donohill) and Kevin Grace (Moyle Rovers)
Maynooth University (4) - Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch), Cathal Moloney and Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) and Jack Fallon (Moycarkey-Borris)
NUI Galway (3) - Conor Sheedy and Shane Fletcher (Roscrea) and Shane Hennessy (Nenagh Éire Óg)
Trinity College Dublin (1) - Cormac Keating (Portroe)
University College Cork (UCC) (3) - Killian O'Dwyer (Killenaule), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens) and Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
University College Dublin (UCD) (6) - Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha), Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny), Michael Purcell and Rory Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) and James Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
University of Limerick (UL) (7) - Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jack Shelly (Mullinahone), Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) and Shane Neville (Lattin-Cullen)
Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT Vikings) (5) - Delacy Byrne (Clonakenny), Kevin Hassett (Drom & Inch), Loughlin Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane), Michael Whelan (Carrick Davins) and Padraic Hayes (Ballingarry)
The following then are the Tipperary players and their colleges in the Sigerson Cup;
Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) (2) - Ben Hyland (Fr. Sheehy's) and John Lyons (Grangemockler-Ballyneale)
Maynooth University (1) - Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
University College Cork (UCC) (1) - Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
Best wishes to all Tipperary players involved in both competitions where each week we will follow your exploits with interest once the action gets under way.