Tipperary GAA Scene

By Jonathan Cullen PRO

Munster Senior Football Championship

Our senior footballers got their championship campaign off to a winning start last Sunday in FBD Semple Stadium with a well-deserved 3-9 to 1-11 win over Waterford.

Tipperary will be very happy with this result as Waterford provided a very stern test, a test that our players stood up to very well. A very encouraging aspect of Tipperary’s play on Sunday was their ability to make and convert goal chances and also the manner in how they responded when Waterford raised the green flag.

Tipperary’s reward for last Sunday’s win is an away trip to Killarney and a Munster semi-final clash with the kingpins of Gaelic football Kerry at 4.00pm on Saturday, April 22nd.

Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship

Tipperary took on Cork last Wednesday in their second game of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship and were defeated 1-28 to 1-19.

This result now means that anything but a victory in our final two games against Limerick on Friday, April 21st and Waterford on Friday, April 28th, will mean the end of our under 20’s season. Both these games will be played in FBD Semple Stadium providing a great opportunity for all Tipperary supporters to come out and support the team.

Munster Under 20 Football Championship

Clare were the visitors to FBD Semple Stadium last Monday evening for the Munster Under 20 Football Championship quarter final.

Having prepared extremely well under the watchful eye of manager Niall Fitzgerald and his management team, Tipperary took to the field well in the knowledge that a victory over Clare was well within their capabilities despite the fact that when the same group of players had met at previous age grades, Clare had always held the upper hand. The game itself was always fairly close with never more than a score or two between the sides, the main difference for the majority of the game was Clare’s second minute goal, which was their first score of the game and proved to be their most important as it was that goal which separated the sides at the full-time whistle, 1-11 to 0-11.

While victory was not too be on this occasion, and the players and management will be very disappointed to have exited the championship at the first hurdle, there is also a lot to be encouraged about as Tipperary played some very good football and were unlucky on several occasions not to have raised a green flag. With a large number of the team and panel still eligible to play in 2024, the future for this group of players could be very bright.

Munster Minor Hurling Championship

Pairc Uí Chaoimh was the destination for James Woodlock and his charges last Tuesday, April 4th, where they took on Cork in round 3 of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship.

Having already lost to Clare in round 1, the players and management were hoping to get back to winning ways in this game, however it was not to be as Cork dominated the game from start to finish, winning 2-13 to 1-8.

This result puts Tipperary in a situation that like the under 20’s anything other than wins in the final two games will mean that Tipperary’s involvement in the remainder of the championship will be over.

Next up for the minors will be a home tie with Limerick in FBD Semple Stadium on Tuesday, April 18th at 7.00pm.

Munster Minor Football Championship

Our minor footballers get the 2023 season underway this Thursday when they travel to Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale to play Limerick at 7.00pm.

John McNamara and his backroom team have put a lot of work in to this group of young men and all concerned will be hoping for a positive start to the championship on Thursday evening.

The late Noel Cosgrave

A huge cloud of sadness descended over Tipperary GAA on Wednesday evening as news of the sudden and untimely passing of well-known referee Noel Cosgrave began to emerge.

Noel was a much well liked and well-respected man and there are not enough words to describe Noel’s contribution to Tipperary GAA, he was a true gentleman. At last year’s referees’ presentation night, Noel was presented with no less than seven county final medals for games he had refereed in the previous five years. Noel was also presented with a medal for his 2008 senior hurling county final between Thurles Sarsfields and Toomevara, a game he was very proud to have refereed. Tipperary GAA extends its sincere and heartfelt sympathies to Noel’s family and friends, his club Marlfield, and his refereeing colleagues at this very sad time. As a mark of respect, a minute’s silence was observed ahead of all Tipperary club games last weekend.

Tipperary Association Dublin Awards

The Tipperary Association Dublin Annual Awards Function at which the Tipperary Person of the Year for 2022 will be presented to hurling great Padraic Maher and Tim Floyd, retired GAA Co. Board Secretary, will be inducted in the Association’s Hall of Fame, takes place on this Friday, 14th April in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Newlands Cross, Dublin at 7.30pm. Pre-dinner drinks at 7.00pm.

Tickets €55 each may be purchased from Pat Ryan, Hon Secretary, 11 Foxfield Grove, Raheny, Dublin 5 Tel.: 087 6376663 or proriain@gmail.com or from the GAA Office, Lar Na Pairce, Thurles.