TIPPERARY GAA SCENE

Sport

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE

Tipperary’s performance in the opening league game against Cork last Sunday was very disappointing and resulted in a comprehensive defeat by 0-26 to 1-11. Tipperary has suffered 4 worse defeats in the league against Cork – 1936 (twice), 1975 and 1984. However, one bad result is no cause for panic and early season results are not necessarily a good pointer to how the year ahead will go. The next game will be against Kilkenny in Semple Stadium on Sunday March 10 and we look forward to everybody getting behind the team that day in what will be an important game to determining both counties’ league prospects this year.


ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tipperary welcome London to Semple Stadium on Sunday next, March 3 for their Allianz League Division 4 game with throw in at 1pm. Both teams have lost to Carlow by 1 point and in their other games Tipperary were defeated by Waterford and London by Offaly. We wish Tipperary luck in their efforts to secure their first league points.


COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHALLENGE CUPS 2013

This weekend sees the launch of the county senior hurling challenge cups competition. There are games on Saturday and Sunday and some games during the week next week – see the fixtures section in the local papers or on the Tipperary website, www.tipperary.gaa.ie, for details of all 16 games.  Entry to these games is only €5 and the new format means that every game matters with winners going onto the next stage of the competition and losers going into a different competition. An added attraction this Sunday is that county panellists not on duty with the Munster inter-provincial team will be available to play with their clubs.


ALL IRELAND SCÓR FINAL

The sound of Sliabh Na mBan rang out in the” Venue” in the city of Derry on Saturday Evening last when Templederry Kenyons’  Novelty Act, The Blitz, won All Ireland honours at the All Ireland Finals of Scór na nÓg  2013. Scenes of joy and jubilation greeted the announcement and our excited young Templederry players were honoured to receive such a prestigious award from the President of the GAA Liam Ó Néill. Parents, mentors and supporters joined the young Oscars, Amy Kennedy ,Liam Kennedy, Conor Brennan, Mark Brennan, Eimear Murphy, Nessa Murray ,Aisling Ryan, Róisín Ryan and sub Colm Murray the Templederry as the Tipperary flags swayed side by side in the auditorium. B’iontach an gaisce é agus bhí na páistí breá sásta leothu féin agus iad ag canadh in ard a ngutha. Congratulations to all concerned and well done to the many people who travelled with the group to lend their much valued support. On a day when the sun shone for the Kenyons our competitors in the Ballad Group and the Question Time, despite wonderful performances, did not emerge as winners. Newport’s rendition of “Ag Teacht Abhaile” and “We’ll all meet again some day” were music to the ears and though Ciara, Lorna, Kealan, Conor and Brian will be justifiably disappointed, they will know that they represented their club county and province with an excellent performance. Similarly so with our boys from Seán Treacy’s club Brian, Patrick and Shane. While leading the competition in the early stages they were unfortunate in the final round of the competition. They acquitted themselves excellently on a national stage. Great credit is due to the young people and their mentors fom Teampall Doire, Tulach Seasta  agus Séan Ó Treasaigh who spent countless hours in preparation for this National Scór event. As the President of the GAA said in his address “The Scór Finals are to the participants what the All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals are to the players who are lucky enough to compete in them. These competitions provide a platform for those with unique and cherished traditional talents to showcase them in an off-field setting” Míle buíochas agus comhghairdeas to all .Tiobraid Árann Abú !


SCÓR ENCORE

A reminder to all Scór and GAA enthusiasts that a new programme Scór Encore will be televised on Sunday nights on TG4 from 8 to 9.Look out for some familiar faces!!


SENIOR SCÓR

The First rounds of senior Scór will commence on Saturday March 2 in Drombane Hall (Mid and West divisions) and on Friday March 8 in Borrisoleigh (North and South divisions). Don’t hide your latent acting, singing, dancing, musical talents or maybe enter Tráth Na gCeist and learn from our young people to Go for Glory. If interested contact our County Scór Chairperson Noel at 087-9050226 or Rúnaí an Chontae Máire at 087-2160430.


FITZGIBBON CUP FINALS

There will be a big Tipperary interest in this weekend’s Fitzgibbon Cup universities hurling finals which will be hosted by GMIT in Galway. There are Tipperary representatives on all 4 teams so there is sure to be Tipperary medallists by Saturday evening. UCD, managed by former Tipperary All Star and manager, Nicky English, take on UCC, managed by former Tipperary All Star and Thurles Sarsfields player, Eddie Enright play in one semi-final. The other semi-final will be between Waterford IT, also managed by a former Tipperary All Star and also former Tipperary selector and Wexford manager, Colm Bonnar and Mary Immaculate College Limerick, with whom Tipperary senior hurling panellist, Timmy Hammersley of Clonoulty Rossmore is a selector.  There are 23 Tipperary players in total involved in the various panels:   UCD: Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Paddy Murphy (Nenagh Éire Óg); UCC: Stephen Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Bobby Bergin (Clonakenny), Liam Butler (Moyne Templetouhy), James Barry (Upperchurch Drombane), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) and Pat Lupton (Drom and Inch); WIT: Liam McGrath, Aidan McGrath (both Loughmore Castleiney), Michael Sheedy (Portroe), Ciaran Hough (Lorrha and Dorrha), Jim Walsh (Carrick Davins), Tommy Kavanagh (Borris-Ileigh), Kieran Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore) and Tomas Hamill (Killea); Mary I: Sean Curran (Mullinahone), Niall O’Meara, Eanna Hogan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Shane Nolan, Tomas McGrath (both Loughmore Castleiney), Andrew Ryan (Toomevara) and Eoin Hogan (Burgess).  We wish them all luck for the weekend and may they enjoy good hurling and fine weather.


M DONNELLY INTER-PROVINCIAL HURLING FINAL
Munster will take on Connacht in the M Donnelly Inter-Provincial Hurling Final on Sunday next March 3rd at 2:00pm in Cusack Park Ennis. The Munster team is managed by Liam Sheedy (Portroe) aided by selectors Jamesie O’Connor (Clare) and Stephen Frampton (Waterford). In the semi-final victory over Ulster, the Munster team was captained by Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) with Patrick “Bonner” Maher (Lorrha) & Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) also part of the starting line-up. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh) was introduced as a substitute in the semi-final while Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone) and Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange) were also part of the Munster panel.

The involvement of Brendan Cummins on this year’s Munster panel marks the 10th year the long-time Tipperary netminder has been involved with his province. Brendan made his debut for Munster back in 1996 as sub-goalie to Davy Fitzgerald (Clare) as Munster defeated Leinster by 0-14 to 0-10 in the final. Brendan then secured the number 1 jersey for Munster in 1999 and lined out in that position for 6 consecutive years, securing further winners medals in 2000 and 2001 (as captain).  Brendan returned to the goalkeeper position for Munster in 2008 and 2009 before making the panel for the 10th time this season, acting as sub-goalie to 2012 All-Star Anthony Nash of Cork in the semi-final.  During the past 70 years, the other prominent goalies to represent the Munster hurlers have included Tommy Quaid (Limerick – 11 appearances – 1979 through 1991 – note 9 of these were as sub-goalie), Seamus Durack (Clare – 9 appearances – 1973 through 1982), Ger Cunningham (Cork – 8 appearances – 1983 through 1994), Davy Fitzgerald (Clare - 7 appearances – 1993 through 2005), Tony Reddin (Lorrha, Tipperary – 7 appearances – 1950 through 1956), Mick Cashman (Cork – 7 appearances – 1957 through 1963) and Donal Og Cusack (Cork – 6 appearances – 1999 through 2012).


TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW

The Tipperary GAA Draw takes place this Friday night, March 1 in The Corner Stone Lounge, Golden at 10pm.  Results will be going out live on Tipp FM on the night at 10.40pm approx. There are two Cars to be won plus 25 x €500 prizes. Josephine O'Dwyer, Comen, Kilfeacle will be presented with the €15,000 prize which she won in the February GAA Draw. Come along for a great night’s entertainment.


ROSCREA IN MUNSTER JUNIOR B FINAL

Well done to the Roscrea junior B hurling team which defeated Castlemagner of Cork by 3-13 to 0-15 after extra time in the Munster junior B hurling tournament organised by the Limerick club, Killeedy. Roscreas will play Tubber of Clare in the final at the Kileedy Grounds, Raheenagh, Ballagh, Co. Limerick on Sunday next, March 3 at 2pm. We wish them the best of luck.