TIPPERARY GAA SCENE

Sport

TIPPERARY GAA SCENE

BY COUNTY PRO GER RYAN


ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINALS

Good luck to the Tipperary senior hurlers for the Allianz Hurling League semi-final against Dublin on Sunday next April 21 at Semple Stadium at 2pm. Brian Gavin of Offaly will referee the game. It will be the 30th league encounter between the counties with 17 wins for Tipperary, 8 for Dublin and 4 draws in the previous 29 games. They last met in the 2012 group stages at Croke Park on March 24 with the result a draw on a scoreline of 0-21 to 2-15. Tipperary’s last win against Dublin in the league was on March 29, 2009 at Semple Stadium by 2-19 to 4-11. Dublin’s last win was on February 19, 2011 at Croke Park by 1-16 to 1-15. Dublin’s last league win against Tipperary on Tipp soil was in Thurles on February 10, 1946 when they had a comprehensive 9-6 to 2-2 victory – let’s hope there’s no repeat of that on Sunday. Sunday’s game will also be the first semi-final meeting between the sides – they previously met in quarter-finals in 1947 and 1997 with Tipp winning on both occasions.

Sunday’s games are all ticket with both stands and no terraces open. Tickets cost €20 each and can be purchased online at www.gaa.ie, at selected Centra and SuperValu stores or at ticket booths on the day. Student/OAP tickets cost €10 - purchase €20 ticket at booth and receive €10 concession refund at Stiles 1 Old stand and 53 New stand. Juvenile tickets are €5 accompanied by adult. All tickets are stand specific unreserved seating. Group passes cost €3 per child with 1 adult free with every 10 – application details have been sent to clubs. Season ticket holders can use their pass at Stiles 14 Old Stand and 50 New Stand. All ticket booths will be open 2 hours before the start of the first game. Supporters are encouraged to come early and to purchase tickets in advance if at all possible.


CADBURY’S MUNSTER UNDER 21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Commiserations to the Tipperary under 21 footballers on their defeat in last week’s Munster under 21 football final. Thanks are due to the players, to Manager, David Power, Selectors Gerry McGill and Pat Moroney and the backroom team for the great efforts to put in to preparing for this championship. With many of the side underage again next year, a second Munster under 21 football title for Tipperary is a realistic goal in the coming years.


ELECTRIC IRELAND MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Well done to the Tipperary minor hurlers on their 2-18 to 1-15 victory over Waterford at Walsh Park last Thursday night in the Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling championship quarter-final. They will play Limerick in the semi-final at Semple Stadium on June 26.


ELECTRIC IRELAND MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Good luck to the Tipperary minor footballers and management for their opening game in the Electric Ireland Munster championship on Saturday next, April 20 against Clare in Ennis at 7pm. The game will be refereed by Brendan Stack of Limerick. The winners will play the winners of the Cork v Kerry quarter-final in the semi-final on May 15 while the losers will play the losers of the Waterford v Limerick semi-final on Saturday April 27.


NEW YORK FUNDRAISING

Tipperary County Board would like to thank all the Tipperary people who supported its New York Fundraising Gathering at Gaelic Park, New York on Saturday April 6 last. It was a very successful venture and the travelling party led by County Chairman, Sean Nugent, and Senior Hurling manager, Eamon O’Shea are very grateful for both the welcome and support received during the visit.


CHALLENGE GAME IN COMMEMORATION OF MAURICE DAVIN

Tipperary will play Waterford in a senior hurling challenge game at Davin Park, Carrick-on-Suir on Friday May 17 at 7.30pm as part of a series of events commemorating the GAA’s founder, first President and Carrick-on-Suir native, Maurice Davin. A statue of Davin will be unveiled at Davin Park on Saturday June 1. Further details of all the events on June 1 weekend will be published shortly.  Maurice Davin’s role in the founding and development of the GAA has often been understated but his contribution was significant and without the foresight, passion and commitment of Davin and his co-founders, we would have no GAA today. We hope there will be a big attendance for the game on May 17 and the unveiling on June 1 to honour this great Tipperary and Irish man.


TIPPERARY V CORK CHALLENGE GAME

Tipperary will play Cork in a senior hurling challenge game at Cloughduv, Co. Cork on Sunday May 11 at 7pm to mark the official opening of Cloughduv GAA’s new complex. Entertainment for the weekend is being provided by John Spillane on Saturday 11th May and by Natural Gas Dance Band on the Sunday evening of the 12th.


MICHAEL DUNDON WINS MCNAMEE HALL OF FAME AWARD

The winners of the 2011 and 2012 McNamee Awards have been confirmed by the GAA. These Awards, the GAA National Communication and Media Awards named after the late Pádraig McNamee, former President of the GAA, Chairman of the GAA Commission (1969-1971) and member of RTÉ authority. They are presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals and Association units in the area of media and communications. From a Tipperary perspective, the most notable award winner is the 2011 Hall of Fame winner, Michael Dundon, former editor of the Tipperary Star and still a practicing journalist. His son Noel is also a Tipperary Star journalist. A Thurles native, Michael is synonymous with Gaelic games and Premier County activity specifically and is still active on the GAA scene covering local games for the Tipperary Star and other papers, a paper he first worked as a trainee in 1963.  A former Thurles Sarsfields hurler, he brought his passion and expertise to bear on his coverage of games at all levels, not least those at inter-county level right up to All-Ireland finals over the course of many years.  Michael has been involved in the publication of 2500 editions of the Tipperary Star and served as editor between the years of 1987 and 2011 covering major successes for the county in that period. We congratulate Michael on his award which was presented to him by Uachtaran, Liam O’Neill at a special function in Croke Park last Saturday night. Well done also to the other award winners and to the Committee responsible for the McNamee Awards, which is chaired by Liz Howard.


SCÓR SINSEAR NA MUMHAN 2013

The Munster Final of Scór Sinsear took place in Templemore on Saturday evening last. Bhí an Saol Fódhlach i láthair chun scoth na siamsaíochta a bhlaiseadh. Bean an Tí for the evening was Seosaimhín Ní Chathail, Oifigeach Gaeilge is Cultúir an Chontae agus chuir sí fáilte croíiúil roimh na hiomaitheoirí, na haíonna, na moltóirí agus an lucht féachana ó cheann ceann na Cúige. Bhí scoth den cheol, den rince, den amhránaíocht, den drámaíocht agus dar ndóigh den aithriseoireacht le clos is le feiscint i rith na hóiche agus bhí ard mholadh tuillte ag na hiomaitheoirí uile. Nuair a d’fhógair an Bhean an Tí na torthaí ag deireadh na hóiche, thóg Tiobraid Árann ceithre Chraobh leo. Bhí an bua ag Sinéad Grant as An Chaisleán Nua san Amhránaíocht Aonair. Bhuaigh an Tulach Sheasta an Bhailéad Ghrúpa. Thóg Nollaig Seoighe, Cathaoirleach Scór an Chontae, an Craobh leis san Aithriseoireacht le  scéilin iontach faoi iománaí bocht a dhein éacht ar an bpáirc imeartha! B’iad J.K.Brackens a chuir na sluaite ag rince arís nuair a bhuadar Comórtas an Rince Seit faoi stiúir Johnny Delaney. Bhíodar go léir gealgháireach ag ceiliúradh agus tá súil againn go léir go ndéanfaidh siad gaisce i gCraobh Na hÉireann i nDoire ar an seachtú lá is fichead. Tiobraid Árann Abú. Comhghairdeas le na clubanna uile ó Thiobraid Árann a ghlac páirt in imeachtaí na hóiche. We salute you all for your excellent participation.


TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB GOLF CLASSIC

The Tipperary Supporters Club Annual Golf Classic will take place on May 16 and 15 in the County Tipperary Golf and Country Club, Dundrum. Teams cost €600 for a team of four with four course meal included. This is an important event to raise funds for the training and preparation of the Tipperary senior hurling team and any support by way of team or tee sponsorship is greatly appreciated.  For details of teams and tee/green sponsorship please go to www.tippsupportersclub.com