Tipperary GAA Scene

Sport

TIPPERARY GAA SCENE BY COUNTY PRO GER RYAN

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE FINAL
Congratulations to the Tipperary senior hurlers on qualifying for the county’s first Allianz Hurling League final since 2009 when Kilkenny provided  the opposition just as they will on Sunday May 5. The venue in 2009 was Semple Stadium, on this occasion it will be Nowlan Park at 3.30pm, which will host its first League final since 1966 when Kilkenny beat New York by 7-5 to 0-8 in the second leg of the Final, having previously won the first leg at Croke Park by 3-10 to 2-7. Tipperary won the 1958/59 League Final at Nowlan Park, on May 3, 1959. They beat Waterford by 0-15 to 0-7, having led by 0-12 to 0-4 at half time. Centre back Tony Wall (Thurles Sarsfields) was captain. On November 3, 1963 Waterford (who had beaten Tipp 2-15 to 4-7 in the ‘Home’ Final) beat New York in the League Final ‘proper’ by 3-10 to 1-10 having drawn (3-6 each) in Croke Park the previous week. The attendance at Nowlan Park was 5,711. The late Tipperary All Ireland medallist, Donal O’Brien (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams), was the New York goalkeeper for the drawn game but he was injured for the replay and was replaced by Ken Croke. Eamon England, father of former Tipp hurler and footballer, Liam England (Roscrea) was at full forward for New York.

But back to 2013, a visit to Nowlan Park to take on Kilkenny is never an easy challenge but one which Tipperary will relish all the same. We hope the Tipperary supporters will acknowledge the team’s progress in qualifying for the final by turning out in large numbers. Your support will be a real boost to the team and an acknowledgement of the effort they are putting in to representing the county with skill, commitment, pride and honour. There are excellent ticket prices available as follows: 1) €20 for an adult stand ticket if purchased before match day and €25 if purchased on the day. €10 concession refunds for OAPs and students with valid id at designated stiles; 2) €5 for juveniles accompanied by an adult; 3) Group pass €3 per juvenile, 1 adult free with 10 juveniles, adults outside quota €20. Applications for group passes must be to tickets@gaa.ie from club secretary’s email address.


ELECTRIC IRELAND MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Well done to the Tipperary minor footballers and management on their 1-10 to 0-8 victory over Clare in the Munster quarter-final at Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday night last. They will now play the winners of the Cork v Kerry quarter-final replay in the semi-final on May 15.


PLAY POKER IN AID OF TIPPERARY TEAMS
The Poker Championship of Tipperary to raise funds for Tipperary’s inter-county teams is generating great excitement amongst the Poker playing fraternity and as a result, a huge crowd is expected in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh on Friday night 26th April at 8.30pm. Registration commences at 8pm and it is expected that the first deal will take place at 9pm. The game is Five Card Draw Poker and the prize fund of €10,000 for a €100 ticket with no buy backs has huge appeal and as a result it is expected that Poker players from the four corners of Ireland will converge on the Ormond town next Friday night.

Interest has been shown from Crossmaglen to Cork and from Galway to Wexford with many of the card sharks from the Midlands also making the journey. The big population of card players from Kilkenny are coming in force, perhaps believing that the Tipp opposition is a soft touch. We have no doubt that the challenge will be met head on with all the top players from Nenagh and the lower Ormond region committed to play. The Newport, Toomevara, Upperchurch, Clonmel, Cappawhite, Horse & Jockey and Ballingarry centres of Poker will be well represented and a long night of competition will take place before the Champion Poker Player of Tipperary is known.

Come early on the 26th April to Nenagh's Abbey Court Hotel and enjoy the night. This is a "Team Tipperary" project with the profits going towards preparing our county's Hurling and Gaelic football teams in order that they maximize their potential in the 2013 championships.

SCÓR SINSEAR ALL IRELAND
Go neiri go geal le Sinéad Grant as An Chaisleán Nua san Amhránaíocht Aonair; Tulach Sheasta sa Bhailéad Ghrúpa; Nollaig Seoighe as JK Brackens san Aithriseoireacht; agus J.K.Brackens sa Rince Seit  i gCraobh Na hÉireann i nDoire ar an seachtú lá is fichead. Tiobraid Árann Abú. We hope that our participants in the All Ireland Senior Scor finals in Derry next Saturday, April 27 will follow in the footsteps of our Scor na nOg competitors and bring back All Ireland honours to the Premier County. Good luck to our representatives from Newcastle, Newport and JK Brackens for their long journey to Derry.


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


TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW 2013
Dates have been finalised for the Launch of the new 2013-2014 Tipperary Clubs Draw, which will take on the following dates at 9pm each night: 1) South - Wednesday, April 24 - Moyle Rovers GAA Centre, Clonmel; 2) North - Thursday,  April 25 - Nenagh Eire Og Complex; 3) West  - Friday, April 26 - Community Hall, Annacarty (in conjunction with the Presentation of €15,000 to Damien O Brien, (Eire Og Annacarty); 4) Mid - Monday, April 29 - Hayes Hotel, Thurles (in conjunction with the Presentation of €10,000 to Mairead Clohessy (Moycarkey-Borris). We look forward to seeing all Co-Ordinators and Club Officers in attendance at their respective divisional launch. At this stage all material has been printed for the new draw and Club packages are currently been assembled and will be ready for collection at Divisional Launches. Receipts for the current draw will be posted out to all members week commencing April 29. Those Clubs that have taken up the free personalized brochure offer will have one inserted with every receipt. We hope all current draw patrons will join again and that many new patrons will join for the many attractive monthly prizes. Remember it only costs €100 for the year or €10 per month for 10 months with 2 free draws. We would like to thank all promoters and members of the current draw for their great support this year and over the 25 years of the draw.


TIPP REFEREES IN MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION
Good luck to Tipperary referees David Grogan (Aherlow) and Anthony Sherlock (Kildangan) who are in Munster championship action in the next week. David will referee the replay of the Cork v Kerry Electric Ireland Munster minor football championship quarter-final replay at Tralee on Friday April 26 at 7.30pm. Anthony will referee the refixed Waterford v Clare Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling championship semi-final play-off at Fraher Field Dungarvan on Wednesday May 1 at 7pm.


HIGHER EDUCATION FUTURE CHAMPIONS AWARDS PRESENTED
Well done to Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney and UCD- hurling), Michael Sheedy (Portroe and WIT – hurling), Peter Acheson (Moyle Rovers and UCC – football) and Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen and UCC – football) who received their awards recently in Croke Park as members of the Irish Daily Mail Future Champions Teams of 2013 chosen from the participants in the Higher Education Fitzgibbon Cup, Sigerson Cup and other inter-varsity competitions.