Tipperary GAA Scene
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE
Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions which have become unwelcome and more increasingly common occurrences in recent times, saw Tipperary’s Allianz hurling league fixture with Galway postponed last Sunday. The date for a re-fixture will be confirmed by the CCCC.
With that on the back burner for now, Tipperary prepare for their next match which is the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1 Group A Round 4 tie against Westmeath on Sunday next, February 23rd in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, where throw-in is at 2pm.
Westmeath with the extra game under their belt are getting accustomed to topflight action and will provide stiff opposition on Sunday. There have been at least eight previous league meetings between the counties with Tipperary winning 6 and Westmeath 2. Westmeath have never beaten Tipp on Premier soil; their two wins were at Mullingar.
Three previous games were played in Thurles and five in Mullingar, while this is first meeting at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh. Tipperary's last league win against Westmeath was in February 1957, when Tipp won by 3-9 to 3-0 at Mullingar. As Tipperary was emerging from ‘famine’ times, Westmeath held the upper hand, with both of their victories coming in the 80’s. On October 2nd, 1983 in Division 2, Westmeath won by 5-12 to 3-11 at Mullingar which was their first win over Tipp. The last meeting was also at Mullingar on 3/11/1985 again in Division 2 which Westmeath won by 1-18 to 1-11.
Sunday next is the dawn of new era between the counties under the new league format and one both counties will look forward too.
We send best wishes to the team and management and call on our supporters to get behind the team again on Sunday. The referee will be Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tipperary are at home on Saturday night as they line out in Semple Stadium against Cork in round 4 of the Allianz Football League where throw in is at 7pm. Cork are on an upward curve at the moment and head the division on 6 points, while Tipperary are on 3 points along with Derry, Down and Offaly.
In the reverse fixture last year, Cork held out for 1-12 to 0-12 win in Semple Stadium. The 2018 result, however, was much more favourable for the Premier County in what was an historic night for Tipperary in the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Tipperary became the first team to win an intercounty football match in the new arena in their Division 2 match against Cork, winning 3-16 to 1-16.
A win for Tipp on Saturday night would be a massive boost to their promotion prospects and all Tipp support is crucial as the team get ready for what will be a huge test.
Best wishes to the side and management on Saturday night and the referee will be Brendan Cawley (Kildare).
EIRGRID MUNSTER U20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Tipperary U20 football team are the first county side into championship action this Wednesday night, February 19th, when they will take on Limerick in the EirGrid Munster Quarter-Final at LIT Gaelic Grounds, where throw-in is at 7pm.
Best wishes to the team and management and it would be brilliant for the lads if there was a great Tipperary presence in the LIT Gaelic Grounds to support them. The referee for this match is Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).
The winners will have home advantage against Kerry in the semi-final on February 26th.
LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL
The Tipperary ladies football team had a 0-11 to 1-6 win over Westmeath on Sunday last in the Lidl Senior National Football League. Ten points came from the boot of Aishling Moloney (Cahir). Next up is a Round 4 fixture away to Waterford this weekend. Best wishes to the team on Sunday and all support is most welcome.
CAMOGIE
Tipperary play Dublin in the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie League Division 1 Group 2 in the Camogie Grounds the Ragg on Sunday next. This is part of a double header with Tipperary’s Division 2 meeting against Laois also going ahead. Best wishes to both teams on Sunday and here too, all support is most welcome.
REFEREES
Best wishes to our referees on duty on this weekend, which includes Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan) when he takes charge of the Allianz Football League Division 1 clash between Kerry and Meath in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. On duty this Saturday is Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels) as he referees the Allianz Hurling League Roinn 3B fixture between Lancashire and Fermanagh in Abbottstown GAA Centre of Excellence.
REFEREE RECRUITMENT
Due to ongoing and increasing demands placed on our club referees, Basic Club Referee Training Courses are now provided every year by trained referee tutors in County Tipperary. Modules will be held over 3 nights in Thurles, and the course is developed in conjunction with Croke Park while supported through the Provincial Munster Referees Administrators. Dates for the Training Course are as follows –
New Referees Foundation Course
(Lár na Páirce, Thurles – 7:30pm each night)
Module 1 - Wednesday 20th February, Module 2 - Wednesday 27th February, Module 3 - Tuesday 3rd March.
Training as a club referee involves the following modules: Rules of Specification / The Play / Scores/ Powers and Duties of the Referee Technical Fouls / Set Play / Aggressive Fouls / Dissent / Referee’s Report / Rules Test / Fitness Test
Modules are ‘classroom’ based and involve attendance and participation by the prospective referees. A timed Rules Test is centrally organised by Croke Park, which the participants complete on-line, with a pass-mark set which must be achieved for successful progression. An initial trial fitness test, i.e. a ‘BANGSBO or BEEP Test’ will be used to familiarise new entrants with the levels required. A standard test will be used later in the year to monitor progression with a view to the achievement of a minimum standard required for further development and qualification.
Following completion of the training course the successful candidate is certified as qualified by Coiste Ríaracháin Réiteoirí Contae Tiobrad Árann as a club level referee. It is recommended for foundation referees to be appointed to referee games up to and including U14 for a period of 2 years.
We are now seeking applications from interested individuals, who are considering taking up the role as club referee and applications must be submitted through their respective club secretary on the relevant application form which is available online on the Tipperary GAA website.
Please note all applications must be accompanied by a cheque for €100, from the applicant’s home club, which will be refunded after officiating at ten games. Completed application forms accompanied by €100 cheque only should be forwarded to Jim O’Shea, Secretary, Tipperary Referees Administration Committee, Lár na Páirce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
All clubs who do not currently have a referee in their club are encouraged to trawl their membership for prospective candidates.
For further information and clarification please contact, John Ryan 086 816 2752 Chairperson Tipperary Referees Administration Committee or Jim O’Shea 085 1744791 Secretary Tipperary Referees Administration Committee.
POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS
After last weekend’s cancellation due to bad weather we send best wishes again to Cashel C.S. in the Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm U19B Hurling Final which has been refixed for this Saturday February 22nd, where they will take on Scoil na Trioniode Doon in Bansha at 12 noon.
ELECTRIC IRELAND FITZGIBBON CUP
For the 40th time UCC are the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup champions following their 0-18 to 2-11 victory over IT Carlow last week. Congratulations to Mark Kehoe (0-1) (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens) and Killian O’Dwyer (Killenaule) on helping UCC to their success. For IT Carlow, commiserations to Jerry Kelly (0-1) (Borris-Ileigh) and Fergal Hayes (Kiladangan) who again were prominent for Carlow and though their side led for a long period it wasn’t to be their night.
UPMC ASHBOURNE CUP
University of Limerick made sure it wouldn’t be a UCC colleges double as they made it five-in-a-row in the Ashbourne Cup following a 3-14 to 0-12 win last Sunday. Congratulations to Tipperary players Ciardha Maher (1-1) (Burgess-Duharra), Karen Kennedy (Thurles Sarsfields), Roisín Howard (0-1) (Cahir) who were all part of the UL success story. Commiserations to Caoimhe Perdue (0-2) and Karen Blair (both Cashel) and Hazel McAuliffe (Éire Óg Nenagh) who lined out for UCC.
GRADAIM AN UACHTARÁIN 2020
Congratulations to Breda Fitzgibbon, Skeheenarinky on receiving the Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2020 Munster Award from Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael John Horan at a function in Croke Park last Friday night.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
The committee is holding a meeting in Lar na Páirce on this Wednesday 19th February commencing at 8pm under the heading ‘Normal Responses to Abnormal Incidents in our Community’. Every club should have a plan in place to help ensure it can support its members and community in the aftermath of an unexpected crisis. Preparing a response plan will better enable your club deal with such crisis situations. Clubs are encouraged to have their Healthy Club Officer attend or another representative.
Health and Wellbeing is now very much part of what the GAA is encouraging in clubs and communities. Clubs are encouraged to appoint a Healthy Club Officer for 2020 who will help your club tap into the many initiatives the GAA promotes in conjunction with outside organisations. Please send the name of and contact details of your Healthy Club officer to: chair.hwc.tipperary@gaa.ie
Many teenagers are holding down a job while studying meaning they can have access to their own money. Mabs Money Management and Education Resources have a spending diary called Penny Wise designed by teenagers, for teenagers which is an excellent way to help them get into the habit of recording spending and helping them take responsibility on how to manage financial resources.
Copies of Penny Wise can be had by going to: education@mabs.ie
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
The 2020 Tipperary Supporters Club Membership has been officially launched and in addition to the membership gift of the special Tipperary Supporters dual trolley token, other features of membership are a special car sticker, membership card and draws for 5 pairs of stand tickets to each of Tipperary’s Munster and All-Ireland SH Championship games as well as entry in the Team Mascot competition for home matches in the Allianz Hurling League and a vote to decide on the Tipperary Senior Hurler of the Year. Details of all prize winners are on tippsupportersclub.com and many members joined online there. The direct debit payment option is encouraged by the committee, which saves greatly on administration and costs, a major point for any organisation which relies totally on voluntary effort. Just log on to http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/join/ to get the direct debit form. If joining by post please send a cheque or postal order for €40 payable to Tipperary Supporters Club to Jim Reidy, 13 Castleknock Close, Dublin 15.