Tipperary GAA Scene 8th Dec 2009

by County PRO Ger Ryan

COUNTY U-21 A HURLING FINAL

Congratulations to Thurles Sarsfields on their 0-20 to 1-9 victory over Clonoulty Rossmore in the County U-21 final played in The Ragg on Sunday last. Pa Bourke captained Sarsfields to their fourth title in this grade and their second in a row. If any club wants evidence of the importance of building success from strong juvenile foundations, a look at the records of Thurles Sarsfields and Toomevara is worthwhile. Since 1999, Thurles Sarsfields have won 5 County Minor Hurling titles, 3 County Under 21 Hurling titles and 2 County Senior Hurling titles with perhaps more to come.  In a similar period in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Toomevara built up strong foundations, winning 3 County Minor Hurling titles and 4 County Under 21 Hurling titles between 1985 and 1997 which directly impacted on their achievement of capturing 11 County Senior Hurling titles from 1992 to 2008 and like Thurles they too have ambitions to win more.
COUNTY U-21 B HURLING FINAL

The last county final of the year will take place next Sunday at 2pm at The Ragg when Aherlow play JK Brackens in the county U-21 B final. JK Brackens will be seeking their third title in this grade having previously won in 1997 and 2002 while Aherlow are seeking their second title having previously been champions in 1992. Well done to the County Competitions Control Committee chaired by Sean Nugent with Tom Maher as Secretary on completion of the full fixtures programme and also to clubs for their co-operation and support.
HURLING ALL STAR TOUR TO BUENOS AIRES

Good luck to Liam Sheedy (2009 Team Manager), Brendan Cummins (2008), Padraic Maher (2009), Larry Corbett (2009), Noel McGrath (2009) and Eoin Kelly (Replacement) who will be on the All Star Tour to Buenos Aires, Argentina from December 9th to 16th.  Shane McGrath (2008) and Conor O’Mahony (2008 and 2009) are unavailable to travel.
COUNTY U-21 HURLING SELECTORS RATIFIED

At its recent meeting the County Board ratified the appointment of Ken Hogan (Lorrha and Dorrha – Manager),  Tommy Dunne (Toomevara – Coach), TJ Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs- Selector) and William Maher (Ballingarry – Selector) as the U-21 Hurling Management team for 2010 and 11. We wish them every success. We also thank the outgoing selectors – Declan Carr, Martin Gleeson, Ger Maguire and Noel Russell – for their dedication and positive contribution during their 2 year term.
COUNTY CONVENTION

County Convention will take place on Monday, December 14th in the Dome at Semple Stadium. The blessing of the Dome followed by Mass will commence at 7pm with the Convention commencing at 8pm. All clubs are asked to send their full complement of delegates.
ANNERVILLE SPORTS AWARDS

Four of the sixteen Annerville Award winners who have been chosen by the Tipperary United Sports Panel are from the world of GAA. The hurling award goes to All-Star Lar Corbett, who enjoyed arguably the finest year of his career when he helped Tipperary’s hurlers retain the Munster Championship and reach the All-Ireland Final. Lar also played a key role as Thurles Sarsfields regained the County Senior Hurling Championship. The Gaelic Football Award has been won by Aherlow’s Ciaran McDonald, who played a starring role as Tipperary won promotion in the National League for the second successive year and also captured the Division Three title. The Brian Borus club, which won the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship in such memorable fashion last month, when they beat St. Brigid’s of Dublin by a point in the final, has ensured that their sport has also been recognised. The Knocknagow Award, which each year is presented to a Sportsperson of the Past, will be presented to Phil Shanahan of Toomevara, who played on Tipp’s All-Ireland winning three-in-a-row team from 1949-’51. Congratulations are extended to them all, and they will will be joined by the award winners in the other sports when the Annerville Awards are presented at a function at Hotel Minella, Clonmel on Saturday, January 30th, 2010.
SOUTH TIPP REFEREES AGM

South Tipperary referees held a very successful AGM in Monroe on Thursday December 3rd. John Lonergan, County Referees Co-ordinator and South Tipperary Born na nÓg Secretary, Liam Bolger both addressed the meeting. The Chairman of the South Board, Dick Egan, and Secretary, Noel Byrne, were also present and  complimented the large turnout for their efforts in 2009 when all fixtures were completed. The officer board for 2010 is: Chairman, Brian Tyrrell; Secretary, Noel Cosgrave; Treasurer, Keith O’Brien; Vice Chairman, Michael McCormack. Warm tributes were paid to outgoing Chairman, Seamus Roche for his excellent work during his term. The Referees Committee would like to thank to Pat O’Connor for his help with meetings and Clonmel Óg for the use of their training ground.
CLONMEL AND CARRICK-ON-SUIR SCHOOLS HURLING INITIATIVE

A new Initiative to promote hurling in Clonmel High School is now in operation, and should be good news for the whole Clonmel area. All the Clubs in Clonmel and the surrounding areas have been very supportive of this project, which has been encouraged by Tipperary County Board. The main aim is to improve the standard of hurling for all players. All students attending the school who are interested in hurling will be coached to improve their skills. As the High School is a busy sports school, hurling will take place twice weekly, mainly Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. A bus will take the boys to Clonmel Óg’s grounds for their training sessions.  Thanks are due to Clonmel Óg for making their facilities available.

A similar project is taking place in Carrick-on-Suir in the Carrick CBS and Comeragh College though on a much smaller scale. It is hoped that this project will also help the clubs in Carrick and the surrounding areas.

We wish all involved in the project every success. It is a worthwhile initiative that will benefit the players, local clubs and of course the schools.
LAUNCH OF CAHIR GAA HISTORY

A history of the GAA in Cahir over the past 124 years, entitled “Memories and Achievements” compiled by Colm O’Flaherty and Mattie Hussey, will be officially launched on Friday night next , December 11th at 7.30pm in Cahir House Hotel.  The launch will be performed by former GAA President, Sean Kelly MEP. All are welcome and well done to all concerned with this excellent publication.
CASHEL WIN CAMOGIE SENIOR CLUB ALL IRELAND

Congratulations to Cashel Camogie Club on winning the All Ireland Senior Club Camogie title at the weekend. They defeated Athenry in the final by 0-11 to 0-9 in poor weather conditions in Clarecastle, Co. Clare.
THE LATE MICK WILLIAMS

The death has taken place in Dublin of Mick Williams, formerly of Cloughjordan. Mick won a county juvenile title with Kilruane MacDonaghs in 1944. In Dublin he played hurling with the Faughs club and captained their junior side to win the 1947 county final. He won senior county finals with Faughs in 1950 and 1952. Mick won two Leinster senior championships with Dublin in 1948 and 1952 and he played in the 1948 and 1952 All-Ireland finals for Dublin against Waterford and Cork respectively. Dublin lost both finals. In 1948 Mick won an Oireachtas medal when Dublin beat Waterford in the final. Sympathy is extended to his wife Kitty, daughters Lena, Mary and Catherine, sister Marie, and brother John Joe.
MID SCOR NA NÓG FINAL

The results from the Mid Scor na nÓg final in Loughmore on Saturday December 5th were (two finalists qualify for County Final):  Rince Foirne: J.K. Brackens (1 entry only); Amhranaiocht Aonair: J.K. Brackens – Mairead Delaney and Loughmore Castleiney – Gillian Gleeson; Ceol Uirlise: J.K. Brackens, Loughmore Casteleiney;
Aithriseoireacht: Moyne Templetuohy – Niamh Butler and Moycarkey Borris – Jamie Whelan; Bailead Ghrupa: Upperchurch Drombane and Holycross Ballycahill; Tráth na gCeisteanna: Loughmore Castleiney and Upperchurch Drombane; Nuachleas: Moycarkey Borris and Drom and Inch; Rince Seit: Drom and Inch and  J.K. Brackens.
COUNTY SCOR NA NÓG FINAL

The County Final of Scor na nÓg will take place in Halla na Féile Cashel this Friday night, December 11th at 7.30pm. All are welcome to what is sure to be a very good night’s entertainment.
APPOINTMENT OF CLUB COACHING AND SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS

All clubs are reminded to appoint a Coaching Officer and a School Liaison Officer at their AGMs. These important roles are essential for games and player development and are required to be filled in order to avail of the full coaching and games development services.
GAA SCENE ON HOLIDAYS

Next week’s GAA Scene will be the last of 2009. The GAA Scene will then take a short holiday and reappear in the newspapers dated Saturday January 16th 2010.
TIPPERARY GAA SCENE

Information concerning all areas in the GAA will appear in this section in the future. If you wish to include any item of interest in future articles, please contact the County Public Relations Officer Ger Ryan at 086-8149146 or via e-mail at pro.tipperary@gaa.ie on or before 3:00pm on Monday. Visit the Tipperary GAA web site at http://tipperary.gaa.ie to keep up to date with all the latest news in Tipperary GAA circles.