Tipperary GAA Scene
CLUB FIXTURES
The FBD Insurance County Hurling Championships take centre stage this weekend with the County Senior Hurling Final for the Dan Breen Cup the headline fixture. Kiladangan and Borris-Ileigh are in the last stages of preparation as they get ready to square up on Sunday next November 3rd in Semple Stadium for what has all the hallmarks of a fascinating final. Both sides have graced the Field of Legends on County Final day in recent times, with Thurles Sarsfields their nemesis on both occasions. Kiladangan reached their first ever senior final in 2016 to witness Sarsfields complete a three-in-a-row. It was more of the same for Borris-Ileigh in 2017 as Sarsfields made it four on the trot.
So, come Sunday evening a new name will be put on the cup and the question on everyone's lips all week will be 'who?' Kiladangan are going in search of their first title on an historic weekend for the club, while Borris-Ileigh will be looking to bridge the gap back to 1986, when they last were county kingpins. Throw-in will be at 2:30pm. The match referee will be Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams).
In FBD Insurance Seamus Ó Riain Cup Final which gets proceedings under way in Semple Stadium next Sunday at 12:15pm, Holycross-Ballycahill and JK Brackens will contest the final in another divisional pairing. JK Brackens are in a rich vein of form having also reached the FBD Insurance County Senior Football Final and they will relish the chance of creating a unique piece of history if they can secure the first half of the double on Sunday. Holycross-Ballycahill however, will be more than eager for success too and will be looking to capitalise on the great progress made by the club in recent times both on and off the field. Again, a difficult one to call, so expect a cracker to set the tempo for the day's play on Sunday.
The FBD Insurance County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final goes ahead in Littleton on Saturday next, November 2nd and is sure to bring a large crowd to the Mid venue. Kiladangan get their weekend under way at 2:30pm against Sean Treacys, where the North side will be looking to get the weekend off to a winning start for the club. They were last intermediate winners in 2004. Sean Treacy's also back up to senior ranks for 2020 are in their first county intermediate final and will be looking to end their county season on a high with silverware. They will be a formidable outfit and will certainly fancy their chances having already overcome their opponents in the group stage by 2 points at the start of September. Either way, Sean Treacys will represent Tipperary in the Munster Intermediate semi-final on November 10th against Ballysaggart (Waterford) or Causeway (Kerry).
The FBD Insurance County Junior A hurling championship final between Carrick Davins and Arravale Rovers goes ahead in New Inn on Saturday. Carrick Davins will be looking to do the double over Arravale Rovers having previously claimed the Division 4 League Final over the West side back in July. That should be incentive enough for Arravale, so an exciting match is in prospect.
The remaining final is in the FBD Insurance County Junior B hurling championship where Drom & Inch and Borrisokane meet in Templederry at 2:30pm.
Best wishes to all clubs in the finals this weekend.
The FDB Insurance county football championships provided great excitement last weekend with keenly contested games played. Sunday’s play got off to a superb start with a cracking contest in Boherlahan where Clonmel Commercials needed the second period of extra time to just about see off a determined Loughmore-Castleiney challenge to reach the decider. JK Brackens, as mentioned earlier, on a superb run currently, dethroned Moyle Rovers to reach their first ever senior football final.
In the Tom Cusack Cup semi-finals, the results went the way of the South division with Killenaule and Kilsheelan-Kilcash overcoming West opposition to reach the final.
There will be a novel pairing in the FDB Insurance county intermediate football championship final as Clonmel Óg and Moycarkey-Borris came through their respective semi-finals and they will meet in the final in Cashel on Sunday week.
In the FDB Insurance county junior A football championship semi-finals Portroe and Mullinahone progressed to the final
For results of all games and forthcoming county and divisional fixtures please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
RECENT RETIREMENTS
Following the recent retirement announcements from James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane) and Donagh Maher (Burgess), we extend best wishes of all supporters and the County Board to James and Donagh. And in doing so congratulate them on all they have achieved in the blue and gold and wish them both continued success with their clubs.
REFEREES
Best wishes to Tipperary referees on duty next Sunday. Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels) takes charge of the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship quarter final between Sixmilebridge (Clare) and Ballygunner (Waterford), while Philip Kelly (Ballinahinch) will watch over proceedings in the Munster GAA Hurling Intermediate Club Championship quarter-final between Blackrock (Limerick) and Fr. O’Neill’s (Cork).
POST PRIMARY
In Corn Uí Mhuiri 19A Group B Round 1, High School Clonmel drew 1-8 apiece with De La Salle College Macroom in Mallow, last week.
For all post primary fixtures and results please check https://munstergaapps.ie/fixtures-results/
GAA ALL-STARS
Best wishes to Tipperary players Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha), Pádraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Séamus Callanan (Drom-Inch) and John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) who are on the shortlist of nominations for this year’s PwC All-Stars hurling team, which will be announced on Thursday.
Best wishes to Séamus Callanan who is also in the running for PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year.
LADIES FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Aishling Moloney (Tipperary) and Orla O’Dwyer (Tipperary) who were last week nominated for the TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year Award. Aishling is also nominated for a TG4 All Star award.
The TG4 All-Star Awards Banquet, in association with Lidl, will be held at the Citywest Hotel on Saturday, November 16.
NOVEMBER GAA COUNTY BOARD DRAW
The November County Board Draw will take place this Friday, November 1st, in the Clough Inn, Cloughjordan with the Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA Club to coincide with the presentation of the October first prize to Eileen McCarthy, Ballycapple, Cloughjordan.
TIPPERARY GAA YEARBOOK
The 2020 Tipperary GAA Yearbook is being compiled at present and the Yearbook committee is seeking articles and information for inclusion. Clubs that have accomplished any unique achievement in 2019 are requested to send through an appropriate article for inclusion.
The Yearbook committee are looking to all clubs to submit any obituaries of their deceased members in the last 12 months. The maximum number of words for an obituary is 150 and please include the club name and the years also, e.g. 1939-2019, as well as his/her G.A.A. achievements and a photograph of the deceased person.
The deadline for sending information is next Wednesday, November 6th. Please e-mail information and photographs which must be named to John Smith, Secretary Tipperary Yearbook Committee at yearbook.tipperary@gaa.ie
Please note information must be submitted as outlined above and all articles, photographs etc will be acknowledged. If an acknowledgement is not received please contact the Yearbook Secretary at 087 9960710.
WORKSHOP
The Club Annual General Meeting is the most important meeting of the year and it is important that it is organised in accordance with the rules of the Association. Therefore, a workshop will be held in the Anner Hotel, Thurles, on Wednesday next, 6th November, with registration and tea/coffee at 7.15pm. The workshop commences at 7.45pm and will conclude at 10.00pm. It will focus on procedures for the AGM, preparing for and running the AGM, club governance and structures, best practices, etc. The second part of the night will look at recruiting volunteers, getting people involved in the club, holding on to volunteers, etc.
The workshop will be conducted by a trained, experienced Croke Park facilitator and should be a great opportunity for club leaders to equip themselves to tackle the challenges which they face at local level.
AWARD 1 HURLING COACHING COURSE
Tipperary GAA will offer an Award 1 Hurling coaching course aimed at Youth and Adult hurling coaches, under 14 to senior level club coaches. Due to the large volume of interest last year, we are currently offering two courses prior to Christmas, one in Cashel and the second in Templederry. You may enrol in which ever course is more geographically suitable.
The course covers a number of key modules including: -Technical Proficiency -Tactical Prowess -Team Play -Physical Fitness -Playing Facts -Psychological Focus-Communication
Dates for the course are as follows starting with Venue 1 - Cashel Community School on November 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th and December 2nd, from 7pm - 9.30pm each night.
Venue 2 is in Templederry GAA Club on November 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th and December 4th, again at 7pm -9.30pm each night.
Cost of course is €50 per coach payable on the first night. To enrol on either of these Award 1 courses please follow the link below.
Cashel Community School link; https://learning.gaa.ie/lms/course/view.php?id=7235
Templederry venue link; https://learning.gaa.ie/lms/course/view.php?id=7238
Enrolment must be completed by this Friday November 1st. Registration is strictly online via links provided; any issues please email, kevin.halley.gda.tipperary@gaa.ie
SCÓR
The County Final of Tipperary Scór na nÓg will take place on Sunday, 1st December at 2pm in Holycross. The Scór committee welcome entries from all clubs to participate in the eight categories; Tráth na gCeist (Team of four), Rince Seit, Ballad Group, Solo Signing, Novelty Act, Recitation/Storytelling and Instrumental Music.
Expressions of interest or entries can be made to Mary Bourke maryboylebourke@hotmail.com Josephine Cahill, Mark Dunne or Anthony Floyd on or before 25th November.
Bí linn! Bain triail as!
PRIMARY SCHOOLS TABLE QUIZ
The annual Primary Schools Table Quiz County Final will also be held in the Sarsfields Centre, Thurles on Sunday 1st December at 6.00 pm.
Each division is asked to hold their own quiz and select 5 teams of 4 primary school students to go forward to the county final.
SYMPATHY
We express sympathy to the family of Jim Ryan Fenor, who passed away during last week. He ran the Coach and Horses public house in Covent Garden, London for many years. He was born just over the Kilkenny border outside Gortnahoe and he was on the Tipperary GAA minor hurling team that beat Kilkenny in the 1959 All-Ireland final. There were three from Gortnahoe-Glengoole on that team, Jim and Larry Kiely and Murt Duggan.
STARS IN THEIR EYES
The Tipperary GAA Supporters Club is hosting a fundraiser for the Tipperary Senior Hurling All Ireland Champions 2019 and Camogie Team by staging “Stars in Their Eyes” at The Dome, Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday week, 9th November.
Tickets priced at €25 are now available for what promises to be a great evening of celebration, entertainment and competition and are selling fast. They are available at Lar na Páirce Thurles, Elvery’s Sports outlets in Thurles, Clonmel and Nenagh and through Eventbrite at this link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/stars-in-their-eyes-tickets-74711481051?aff=eand