Tipperary GAA Scene 14th Feb

BY COUNTY PRO GER RYAN

WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP SENIOR HURLING

Congratulations to the Tipperary senior hurling team on their 0-26 to 1-19 victory over Cork in the semi-final of the Waterford Crystal Cup on Sunday last at Templemore. They will play Clare in the final at Sixmilebridge on a date to be decided. It is not possible to play the game this weekend as Munster will play Leinster in the Interprovincial semi-finals. Thanks to the JK Brackens club for hosting last Sunday’s game in their usual efficient and effective way.

ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tipperary’s disappointing start to the Allianz Football League Division 3 campaign continued on Sunday last when, despite a strong finish, they were defeated by 1-13 to 0-13 by Antrim. Tipperary’s next game will be against Wexford at Wexford Park on Sunday March 4.

INTER PROVINCIAL SEMI-FINALS

The semi-finals of the M Donnelly Inter Provincial hurling and football competitions take place on Sunday next February 19 with Munster playing Leinster in both codes. The football semi-final takes place in Parnell Park Dublin at 2pm. The Munster footballers will be managed by Ger O’Sullivan of Cork. Ger was also manager of Munster when they last won the competition in 2008 when goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald (Fethard) and substitute Robbie Costigan (Cahir) were part of the Munster team.  The hurling semi-final is fixed for Nowlan Park Kilkenny at 2pm, also on Sunday. Liam Sheedy is the Munster manager aided by Eamon O’Shea who is coach to the team. The selectors are Stephen Frampton of Waterford and Jamesie O’Connor of Clare. Munster last won the title in 2007 captained by John Mullane (Waterford) with full-back Declan Fanning (Killenaule), wing-forward Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) and corner-forward Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields) the Tipperary representatives on the team. Gerry Kennedy (Killenaule) and Conor O’Mahony (Newport) were involved in the 2007 semi-final. 12 Tipperary hurlers have captained Munster to Inter-Provincial honours and are as follows – Phil Purcell (1931, Moycarkey-Borris), Jim Lanigan (1938, Thurles Sarsfields), Bill O’Donnell (1942, Eire Og Annacarty), Ger Cornally (1946, Thurles Sarsfields), Pat Stakelum (1950 and 1952, Holycross-Ballycahill), Sean Kenny (1951, Borris-Ileigh), Tony Wall (1959 and 1961, Thurles Sarsfields), Jimmy Doyle (1963 and 1966, Thurles Sarsfields), Mick Roche (1968, Carrick Davins), PJ Ryan (1969, Carrick Davins), Noel Sheehy (1992, Silvermines) and Brendan Cummins (2001, Ballybacon-Grange).

SCÓR NA BPÁISTÍ

Bhí na sluaite i láthair i Halla na Féile i gCaiseal na Rí ar an Domhnach seo caite ag Craobh Chontae Scór na bPáistí. Bhí iomaitheoirí den scoth ar an stáitse i rith an lae agus dhein siad uile éacht is gaisce ag rince, ag amhránaíocht, ag casadh ceoil, ag aithriseoireacht, ag freagairt na gceisteanna, ag aisteoireacht agus ag baint taitneamh as an ócáid. Ba dheacair a chreidiúint gur pháistí bunscoile iad such was the standard set by these young enthusiastic, energetic, lively bunch. The results were  Rince Foirne: 1st Sean Treacys, 2nd Newcastle; Amhranaiocht Aonair: 1st Clonmel Commercials, Joint 2nd  Portroe and Drom and Inch; Ceol Uirlise: 1st Sean Treacys, 2nd Newport;  Aithriseoireacht: 1st Kilsheelan / Kilcash,  2nd Drom and Inch; Bailead Ghrupa:  1st  Templederry Kenyons, 2nd Cashel King Cormacs; Trath na gCeist: 1st Loughmore Castleiney, 2nd Cahir; Nuachleas: 1st Moyne Templetuohy, 2nd Borris-Ileigh; Rince Seit: 1st Moneygall. 2nd Drom and Inch. Bhronn Seamus Callanan na boinn agus mhol sé na hiomaitheoirí uile as páirt a ghlacadh sa chomórtas. They all did their families, clubs and mentors proud.  Ghabh Noel Joyce, Cathaoirleach Scór an Chontae, buíochas ó chroí le muintir Scór ach go háirithe an Rúnaí Máire Ní Bhaoill a dhéanann sárobair chun na himeachtaí a reachtáil. Bean an Tí ag an ócáid was Elisha Slattery who ably introduced all the contestants who took part in this great celebration of Irish culture. Maith sibh go léir a pháistí!

TIPPERARY CLUBS DRAW

Congratulations to Regina and Tazio Haddad, Newtown (sold by Youghalarra Handball Club) who won a car or €15,000 and Philip Kennedy, Dublin who won €10,000 in the February Tipperary Clubs Draw held at Paddy’s Pub in Terryglass. Kilsheelan Kilcash won the club prize of €1,000.

SOUTH REFEREES PRESENTATION NIGHT

The South Division Referees are having a Presentation Night on Friday February 17 in the GAA Centre Clonmel starting at 9 pm sharp. A number of recently retired referees who have given outstanding service to the GAA throughout the county will be honoured on the night. A surprise guest will also attend. It is hoped there will be a a large turnout of referees, umpires and club colleagues of the people being recognised. Presentations will be made to the following referees: Christy Aylward (Clonmel Og), Frank O’Brien (Fr. Sheehys), Paudie Sweeney (Newcastle), Padraig Ryan (Ardfinnan),  John McCormack (Mullinahone), Tom O’Donnell (Cahir) and Seamus Roche (Kilsheelan-Kilcash).

REFEREES COURSES

Refresher courses for Tipperary referees will be run by Kevin Walsh and Willie Barrett during February. All referees in the county are expected to attend and Certificates will be issued by Croke Park afterwards.  The dates and venues are as follows: Monday February 20 at 8pm: Nenagh GAA Sports Complex for all North Division referees; Wednesday February 22 at 8pm in Cahir House Hotel for All South Division referees and half West Division referees; and Monday February 27 at 8pm in Park Avenue Thurles for all Mid Division referees and other half West referees. Fitness assessments will take place on Friday, March 2 in Dr Morris Park, Thurles with registration at 7:30pm for all referees in the county. The assessment will be based on the Bangsbo Yo Yo test which is run at National and Provincial Level. There will then be a rules test immediately after the fitness assessment is complete. The rules test will comprise of approx 30 questions. It is worth noting the effort that referees put in to being knowledgeable and fit for their duties. Criticism and condemnation are far too frequently directed at referees without any justification. Respect from players, team officials and supporters for referees is essential at all times and will encourage more people to become referees. We congratulate the Referees Administrator, John Lonergan and the referees committee on their good work with the recruitment, training and ongoing development of referees.

SYMPATHY

Tipperary County Board extends its deepest sympathy to the families of the late Phil Shanahan and Eamonn Egan on their recent bereavements. Phil Shanahan played minor hurling with Tipperary in 1946 and won All Ireland and Munster senior hurling medals with Tipperary in the three in a row victories of 1949, 50 and 51.  He also played senior hurling with Dublin in 1954 and 55. He won 4 National Hurling League medals in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957 and 4 Railway Cup medals in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953. He won a county senior hurling medal in 1960 with Toomevara and will be remembered as one of hurling’s finest midfielders. Eamonn Egan was a native of Gortnahoe Glengoole and liver in Clonoulty where he was killed in a tragic accident last week. His brother is former Secretary of Semple Stadium Management Committee, Micheal Egan and his nephew-in-law is Tipperary senior hurling panellist, Timmy Hammersley. Ar dheis De go raibh a anamacha uasail.

TIPPERARY INVOLVEMENT WITH DOON CBS

Doon CBS have qualified for the Corn Phadraig (Munster Colleges Senior Hurling B) final next Saturday, February 18 in Cahir at 2.30pm and the Corn an Runai (Munster Colleges Senior Football C) final on February 25 (venue tbc). They will play Dungarvan CBS and Patrician Academy Mallow respectively. Tipperary representation on both panels include Sean Ryan (Hurling Captain), Russell Quirke, Kevin Stapleton and David Orr (all Cappawhite), Tom Fox (Eire Og Annacarty) and Andrew O’Brien (Sean Treacys). The hurling team is coached by Micheál Hassett (Moycarkey-Borris) and Diarmuid Carr (Golden Kilfeacle). The football team is coached by Thomas Lynch (Cappawhite) and Micheál Hassett. We wish both teams the very best of luck in the finals.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ST. PATRICK’S BALLYRAGGETT

It’s rare for this column to be congratulating Kilkenny clubs but this week we do. Well done to St. Patrick’s of Ballyraggett on their win by a single point over Charleville of Cork in the All Ireland club junior hurling championship final played at Croke Park last Saturday evening. The reason for our delight at the Ballyraggett win is the involvement in the club of Roscrea native, Seamus O’Doherty who is also Secretary of the Tipperary GAA Communications Committee, a contributor of note to programmes in Semple Stadium and elsewhere, and a researcher for press packs and other publications. Seamus has also edited publications for Ballyraggett.  His loyalty to Tipp is unquestionable but he will have taken great delight in the win of the club where he now resides and makes his usual notable contribution.

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: 0pm 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.