North Tipperary GAA Affairs

Under 21 'A' Hurling: The final round of the group stages of the North Under 21 'A' Hurling Championship took place last Sunday.

In Group 1, Kiladangan had a 1-19 to 2-9 win over Ballina. Kiladangan enjoyed a purple patch early in the game, scoring 1-5 without reply with Sean Hayes finding the back of the net to give Kiladangan a 1-6 to 0-2 lead on the eighteen minute mark. Ballina finished the half well and clawed back the deficit to five points at half time - 1-7 to 0-5.

Matthew Power found the back of the net for Ballina from the penalty spot on 48 minuteS to put the scoreline 1-14 to 1-9. Kiladangan responded well with five points in a row before Power scoring another goal from a free with the last puck of the game to give a final score of 1-19 to 2-9. Conor Byrne finished with 0-9 (seven from placed balls) for Kiladangan whilst Sean Hayes (1-3) and Neil Cahalan (0-3) were also prominent. Matthew Power finished with 2-2 from placed balls for Ballina whilst Charlie King was very impressive scoring 0-5 from play from corner forward for Ballina.

This win means that Kiladangan finish second in the group and progress with Borris-Ileigh to the semi-finals.

In Group 2, Nenagh Eire Og continued their good form with a 0-19 to 0-16 win over Roscrea. Eire Og enjoyed a 0-10 to 0-6 half time lead with Jamie Cottrell impressing in the first half for Nenagh with five points. Nenagh managed to hold into their lead throughout the second half and came away with the victory. Cottrell top scored for Nenagh whilst Cian O'Farrell finished with three points. Jack Lee was a prominent scorer for Roscrea throughout the game.

Nenagh top the group and are joined in the semi-finals by Toomevara who finish second.

The semi-finals take place this Sunday 27th November with both games throwing in at 2.00pm. Borris-Ileigh take on Toomevara in Borrisoleigh whilst Nenagh Eire Og will host Kiladangan in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh.

Under 21 'B' Hurling: The second round of the North Under 21 'B' Hurling championship took place last weekend.

In Group 1, Moneygall/Clonakenny qualified for the knockout stages after winning their second game after defeating Borrisokane last Sunday in Moneygall 1-19 to 2-11. Sean Kenneally’s goal midway through the first half gave Moneygall/Clonakenny a five-point lead, 1-5 to 0-3. But Borrisokane dominated the rest of the half and two well-taken goals by Conor Ryan helped them into a half time lead of 2-7 to 1-6. Moneygall/Clonakenny had the elements at their backs for the second half, and had drawn level by the 40th minute, 1-11 to 2-8. With ten minutes left, the teams were level again, 1-13 to 2-10. The home team then finished stronger and pulled clear in the closing stages to win by five points.

Round 3 will take place this Sunday 27th November when Borrisokane host Ballinahinch/Templederry at 12 noon with the winner to join Moneygall/Clonakenny in the knockout stages. A draw will be sufficient for Ballinahinch/Templederry to progress.

In Group 2, Lorrha Rovers and Kilruane MacDonaghs played out a pulsating 1-19 to 3-13 draw last Saturday in Lorrha.

Playing against the wind, Lorrha got off to a great start with a Colm Fogarty goal in the first minute. The sides traded points throughout the half with Lorrha Rovers leading 1-8 to 0-9 at half time. MacDonaghs found their goal-scoring form in the second half with three goals from Páidi Williams, Jack Mulcahy and Nathan Lynch giving Kilruane a five-point lead with five minutes left. Colm Fogarty was the Lorrha/Rovers saviour, scoring five points from frees to level the game, the last one late into injury time. Fogarty finished with 1-13 in total for the combo. This draw secures a spot in the knock out stages for Lorrha Rovers.

Round 3 will see Cloughjordan host the meeting of Kilruane MacDonaghs v Silvermines on the weekend after next due to Kilruane being in a county junior ‘B’ football semi-final this weekend. Silvermines need a victory to progress whilst a draw will be sufficient for Kilruane.

In Group 3, Newport had an exciting 1-13 to 0-15 win over Portroe last Sunday in Newport. Portroe enjoyed a five-point lead through the first half until a turning point in the game when Portroe were reduced to fourteen men. Niall Duffy scored the Newport goal soon after and they went onto score a number of points to gain a foothold in the game. Newport had a 1-9 to 0-9 to half time lead. The teams traded points throughout the second half, but Portroe were unable to claw back the Newport lead. Thomas Floyd gave a commanding performance at centre back for Newport whilst Stephen Coffey finished with six points for the victors whilst he was well aided by Niall Duffy (1-1) and Lee Ryan (0-3). Brian Keating was prominent for Portroe from centre back with four frees whilst Oisin O'Connor and Sam Madden did the bulk of the Portroe scoring up front.

Round 3 will take place this Sunday, 27th November as Portroe host neighbours Burgess at 12 noon. A Burgess win will secure their progression to the knockout stages whilst Newport would also join them. A Portroe win would mean that all three teams finish on two points with score difference determining the two teams that will progress from the group.

Munster Championships: Well done to Roscrea who had a 1-17 to 3-9 win over Inniscarra of Cork last Saturday in Semple Stadium in the Munster Intermediate Hurling Semi Final. They will now take on Monaleen of Limerick in the Munster Final on Sunday, 4th December.

Best of luck to Ballina who take on Na Piarsaigh of Limerick this Sunday 27th November at 1.00pm in Kilmallock in the Munster Intermediate Football Semi Final.

County Championship: Congratulations to Borris-Ileigh who claimed the County Under 19 ‘B’ Hurling title last Sunday in Templederry after a 2-17 to 1-12 final win over Cappawhite.

Best of luck to Kilruane MacDonaghs who take on Cappawhite this Sunday 27th November at 1.00pm in Newport in the County Junior 'B' Football semi-final.

Under 17 Football: The North 'A' & 'B' Football Finals took place last Saturday. Ballina claimed the 'A' title after a 2-8 to 1-7 win over Newport in Cloughjordan whilst Kilruane MacDonaghs won the 'B' title after a 0-9 to 2-2 win over Silvermines in Ballina. Congratulations to both Ballina and Kilruane MacDonaghs and commiserations to Newport and Silvermines. See match reports.

North Tipperary Primary School Quiz: Newport Boys NS 1 won the North Tipperary Primary School GAA Quiz held in Puckane last Sunday.

Scoring 52 marks out of a possible 60 they had three to spare over joint second place held by Kilruane NS and Newport Boys NS 3. Ardcroney NS came next with 46. There was a three-way play-off for fifth place and Carrig NS emerged when fighting off the best of Nenagh CBS and Rathcabbin NS.

Tipperary and Kiladangan hurlers James Quigley and Barry Hogan were present at the quiz and presented medals to the five winning teams who progress to the County Final to be held at the Dome, FBD Semple Stadium next Sunday at 6.00pm.

The annual quiz, which was last held in 2019, was organised by Cora Moroney (Newport) who is GAA Youth Officer for North Tipperary. Catherine Gleeson (Kiladangan) and Catherine McTiernan (Nenagh Eire Og) were the busy scorekeepers and Liam Hogan was quizmaster.