Tipperary GAA Scene 22nd Nov
BY COUNTY PRO GER RYAN
COUNTY JUNIOR A HURLING FINAL
Pride of place this week goes to the hurlers of Rockwell Rovers who won the club’s first ever adult county title when they defeated Thurles Sarsfields by 1-14 to 0-13 to win the County Junior A hurling title at Golden on Sunday last. The game was postponed from Saturday due to the adverse weather conditions but the extra wait for Rockwell was worthwhile. We congratulate all involved with this great success. Rockwell Rovers will play Charleville of Cork in the Munster Junior Club hurling semi-final at Charleville at 2pm on Sunday next, November 27. We wish them the best of luck for this game. Cappamore of Limerick and Ballinameela of Waterford are in the other semi-final which will also be played next Sunday.
MUNSTER SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL
Commiserations to Moyle Rovers on their defeat to UCC by 5-12 to 1-5 in the Munster Club Football semi-final at Clonmel Sportsfield on Sunday last. A goal spree at the start of the second half by UCC put paid to Moyle Rovers chances. Well done to Gavin Ryan of Rockwell Rovers who was a member of the UCC panel and came on as a substitute. UCC will play Kerry champions, Dr. Crokes, in the Munster final on December 4.
MULLINAHONE IN MUNSTER FINAL
Congratulations to Mullinahone C.J. Kickhams on becoming the first Tipperary club to contest the Munster Club Intermediate Football final. On Sunday afternoon last in famed Fraher Field, Dungarvan the lads from Kickham’s little village proved too strong for the home side and Waterford champions, Dungarvan. The final score was 0-14 to 1-03 in favour of the Mullinahone men. Their reward for this fine semi-final win is a final clash with the Kerry representatives Milltown-Castlemaine in the Munster Final at Mallow on Sunday December 11. It would be a welcome early Christmas present for the club and county if the title came to Tipperary for the first time ever.
MUNSTER JUNIOR A CLUB FOOTBALL
Good luck to Kildangan for their Munster Junior A Football final against Dromid Pearses of Kerry on Sunday next November 27 at 2pm at Moyvane, Co. Kerry. No Tipperary team has ever contested the Munster Junior club final since the competition commenced in 2003. Kerry teams have won 6 titles and Cork teams the other 2. Kildangan won the Munster Intermediate club hurling title (and went on to win the All Ireland) in 2004 so it would be a great achievement to win provincial titles at both codes.
COUNTY MINOR B HURLING FINAL REPLAY
The county minor B hurling final replay between Burgess and Drom and Inch will take place on Saturday, November 26 at Dolla at 1pm.
LAUNCH OF JOHN DOYLE BIOGRAPHY
The much awaited biography of Tipperary hurling legend, the late John Doyle of Holycross Ballycahill, will be launched at the Anner Hotel, Thurles on Thursday, November 24 at 7pm. Entitled “Doyle – The Greatest Hurling Story Ever Told”, the book was written by journalist and Upperchurch native, John Harrington. Special guests on the night will be John Doyle’s wife, Anne and the Doyle family. The speakers will include Tipperary’s great former full back, Michael Maher and legendary Kilkenny forward, Eddie Keher. Also, a key feature of the night is a Q and A with John Doyle’s team-mates and opponents – including Maher, Keher, Donie Nealon, Jimmy Doyle and Mackey McKenna. John Doyle won 8 All Ireland senior hurling medals, the only Tipperary player to do so, as well as 10 Munster senior hurling titles and a record 11 National hurling league titles. He was chosen on the GAA Team of the Century in 1984, and on the GAA Team of the Millennium. John Doyle died in December 2010 and will always be recognised as one of hurling’s iconic figures. All are welcome to attend what is sure to be a great night’s entertainment with many an interesting story to be told no doubt! The book will be on sale at the launch and in bookstores and newsagents in Tipperary and nationwide subsequently.
SEAN GHAEL AWARDS
The 9th annual Sean Ghael Awards took place at the Dome at Semple Stadium last Sunday evening. There was a large crowd in attendance to witness this year’s 32 recipients received their well-deserved accolades for a lifetime of service to the GAA in Tipperary. We congratulate all recipients on their awards. It was great to see them honoured in front of their families, friends and club representatives. The guest of honour was former Tipperary senior hurling coach, Eamon O’Shea, who gave a very interesting address in which he emphasised the importance of the sense of identity which the GAA and its clubs provide and the key role the over 70’s can and should continue to play in the GAA. Other guests included Dr. Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly and Patron of the GAA, and David Power, Manager of the Tipperary Minor Football Team. Donie Nealon spoke on behalf of the recipients. Fear an Ti for the evening was the ever efficient secretary of Cumann na Sean Ghael, Micheál O’Meara. Well done also to the other Sean Ghael Committee members who did such good work arranging the evening – John Costigan (Chairman), Noel Morris, Pat Moroney, Seamus J. King and Seamus McCarthy.
TJ RYAN WINS MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALLER AWARD
Congratulations to TJ Ryan of Rockwell Rovers on winning the Munster Minor Footballer of the Year award for 2011. Sponsored by Bord Gais Energy, these awards recognise the top players in the province each year. TJ was a member of this year’s Tipperary minor football team which won Munster and All Ireland titles.
DEATH OF JIMMY HANNON
The death has occurred of Jimmy Hannon of Lattin-Cullen who won a junior hurling All Ireland medal with Tipperary in 1953. The late Jimmy was a great stalwart of the Lattin-Cullen club and served as club chairman. His work for the club was recognised by the club grounds being named in his honour. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
MUNSTER CLUB SENIOR HURLING FINAL AT SEMPLE STADIUM
The Munster Club senior hurling final between Crusheen of Clare and Na Piarsaigh of Limerick will be played at Semple Stadium on Sunday next November 27 at 2pm. The game will be refereed by Johnny Ryan of Boherlahan Dualla. We wish Johnny and his officials linesmen – Cathal McAllister (Cork) and Fergal Horgan (Tipperary); sideline official – Derek O’Brien (Tipperary); and umpires – Seamus Manton, Willie Cross, Tony Lacey and J C Ryan, the very best of luck for the final. Admission prices are €20 for adults, €15 for students / OAPs with identification.
THURLES NAMED EUROPEAN TOWN OF SPORT 2012
Some good news in the last week was the awarding of the title of European Town of Sport to Thurles for 2012. The award was made after a submission from Shannon Development, North Tipperary County Council, LIT Tipperary and North Tipperary Sports Partnership. Top local sporting venues were inspected by adjudicators as part of the decision process. County Secretary Tim Floyd met the judges on their visit to Thurles and explained the role of the GAA in Thurles’s sporting past and present. Well done to all those who worked for this success.
CIVIC RECEPTION FOR MINOR FOOTBALLERS
Tipperary County Board would like to thank South Tipperary County Council for hosting a civic reception for the Tipperary’s All Ireland final winning minor footballers in Grangemockler last Friday night.
MUNSTER CLUB CAMOGIE FINALS
Congratulations to Tipperary champions, Drom and Inch on defeating Douglas of Cork by 5-8 to 2-13 in the Munster Club Camogie Senior final on Saturday last at Bansha in what was a very good and competitive game despite difficult weather and underfoot conditions. Good luck to Clonoulty for the Munster Intermediate Camogie final against Lismore of Waterford at Bansha on Saturday next, November 26 at 2pm.
LADIES FOOTBALL
Hard luck to the Aherlow Ladies Football team which were narrowly defeated in the All Ireland Ladies Junior Football final by Sperrin Og of Tyrone by 2-9 to 1-10 in Dublin last Sunday.
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 3pm 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.
