Dear Tipperary Supporter
Allianz Football League
From Tipperary GAA Scene by Jonathan Cullen, County Board PRO
Our senior footballers welcome Antrim to FBD Semple Stadium this Saturday evening, February 18th for their Allianz football league round 3 clash which has a 6pm throw in. Having had a tough start to the league campaign, David Power and his players will be really eager to record their first win of the league in what is seen by many as a must win game if Tipperary are to retain our Division 3 status for 2024. The players will be under no illusions and will know that Antrim will come to Thurles full of confidence for this game, a game that they too will feel they can win. Tipperary have suffered a number of personnel losses since the commencement of the league due to injury which makes the teams task more challenging. However there is a very capable panel of players ready to step up to the mark, with every player hoping to nail down a permenant starting place on the team. I would encourage as many Tipperary supporters as possible to get to FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday evening to show your support for the players. Tickets for the game are now available to purchase on the GAA website.
Allianz Hurling League
UPMC Nowlan Park was the venue for the Round 2 clash of our senior hurlers with Kilkenny last Sunday afternoon in round 2 of the Allianz hurling league. In front of a crowd of over 10,000 spectators, Liam Cahill’s charges sprinted in to a 12 point lead at the end of the first half which gave the team a real chance of an away victory. To their credit and as we would have expected, Kilkenny were not going to roll over and concede victory easily in the second half. They really came out fighting and had Tipperary’s lead down to 4 points as the game entered the final straight. However Tipperary held firm to claim victory by a six point margin to record their second win of the league campaign. Unfortunately the win came with a bit of a cost as both Paddy Cadell and Cathal Barrett suffered injuries in the early stages of the game. Both players will continue to be assessed over the course of the coming days and it is hoped that they will be back on the field of play before too long. On Tuesday, Tipperary sharp shooter Jason Forde was named as the GAA PLayer of the Week based on his outstanding performance against Kilkenny. The senior hurlers next outing in the Allianz hurling league will be on Saturday February 25th when they play Dublin in Croke Park.
Retirement of John O’Dwyer
Killenaule’s John O’Dwyer has today confirmed his retirement from Intercounty hurling with Tipperary.
John first played for Tipperary as a 16-year-old when he joined the minor panel during the 2008 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on the 30th April 2008 and scored two points in the 3-21 to 1-12 defeat of Limerick.
John joined the Tipperary under 21 panel in 2010 and he made his debut for the team on the 14th July 2010 scoring a point from full-forward in a 2-17 to 0-21 extra-time defeat of Cork. John won Munster and All Ireland championship medals in 2010. John went on to captain the Tipperary under 21 team in 2012.
John joined the Tipperary senior panel in 2013. He made his first appearance for the team on the 23rd February 2013 and scored three points from centre-forward in a 0-26 to 1-11 defeat by Cork. During his time on the Tipperary Senior hurling panel John won All Ireland senior hurling championship medals in 2016 and 2019, Munster senior hurling championship medals in 2015 and 2016. a Railway cup medal in 2016 and an All Star in 2014.
In a short statement John said “I would like to thank all the management teams from Minor level up to Senior who helped me over the last 15 years. It was a great pleasure to represent my county and win some silverware along the way. Thanks to those close to me and to my club Killenaule, who without their support it wouldn’t have been possible, So long”.
Tipperary GAA thank John for the contribution he made while wearing the blue and gold jersey from underage level right up to senior and we wish him well for the future.
On behalf of the Tipperary Supporters Club, we would like to thank John for the great memories he gave to Tipperary Supporters during his career and to wish him all the very best in the future.
Tipperary Clubs Draw
The February club draw took place last Friday February 10th in Tony Brennans Bar Clonoulty. The star prize of a car or €15000 was won by David O’Connell who is a member with the Borris-Ileigh club. Second prize of €5000 went to Cahir’s John McNamara, while Durlas Óg’s Nellie Bourke claimed the €2000 prize. Congratulations to all the winners on the night and thanks once again for your continued support of the Tipperary Clubs Draw.
Club Officer Training
The next phase of Club Officer Training is an in person event taking place in The Anner Hotel on this Wednesday February 15th at 7.30pm.
The Leading, Managing and Governing your Club module focuses on 4 areas.
Leading a GAA / LGFA / Camogie Club
Building your off the field teams
Developing a vision as a Club Officer
Evaluating and improving your Club’s governance
This workshop aims to cover the key aspects of Leading, Managing and Governing a Club. It is an interactive workshop which focuses on sharing the knowledge and experience of participants.
This is open to all club officers. Please share this information with your club officers and make sure your club is represented at this worthwhile event.
Junior B Series All Ireland Semi Final
Hard luck to Thurles Sarsfields who narrowly lost out to Sarsfields of Galway in last Sundays Junior B Series All Ireland Hurling Semi Final which was played in Raheenagh Co. Limerick. A brave effort by the Thurles lads faded in the closing stages as the Galway men took charge to outscore their rivals 1-8 to 0-4 in the final twenty minutes, and they had their place in the decider well secured before referee Eamon Stapleton sounded the full time whistle.
The Thurles Sarsfields Team was: Myles Fitzgerald; Stephen Mawe, Mikey Stakelum, Peter Maher; Jack O’Connell, Paddy Carroll, Conor Stapleton; Alex Moloney (0-1), Paddy Stakelum (0-1); Rory Fogarty, Cian Treacy (0-5), David Keogh (0-1); Barry McCormack (1-1), Ger O Grady (0-1), David Bourke (0-3). Subs: Conor Wall, Cathal McElgunn (0-1) , Mark Purcell (0-2), John Lawlor.
GAA President’s Award
Congratulations to Rockwell Rovers Sandra English who was recently presented with the GAA Presidents Award at a function held in Dublin. Although Sandra English is mostly associated with the Rockwell Rovers GAA Club, she is also renowned in the parish of New Inn and Knockgraffon for her community involvement. The old adage, which states that if you want something done, ask a busy person, is absolutely true in her case.
Sandra first came to the fore with her active involvement in the promotion of TG’s Celebrity Bainisteoir when the Rockwell Rovers GAA Club was featured in 2009. She is now PRO of Rockwell Rovers, having completed four years as secretary, during which time the club developed and opened the new all-weather playing area and walkway at Páirc na nGael, New Inn. She is a most active member of the club and was foremost on the committee that produced the club history in 2019, with the involvement of GAA historian Seamus King. Her mother Eileen Bell was a well-known local reporter in the New Inn area for The Nationalist newspaper since the 70s and when she passed away in 2015, Sandra took on the role and is still doing it to this day.
Her father Gerry Bell is still hale and hearty in Whitelands, New Inn and he also instilled in her an interest in politics. Sandra continues to report on the activities of the club and local area in the newspaper and local radio, being equally adept at communicating in print or in speech. She loves her native parish and does everything possible to promote it, volunteering in many areas of parish activity and being available to serve on many committees.
She is a great worker and efficient in whatever she does. Whatever needs to be done, Sandra ensures that it is done with maximum efficiency and minimum fuss. Indeed, one wonders where she gets time for everything while also holding down a job as a full-time librarian.
She is married to Conor, who is also embedded in the GAA, having just stepped down as chairman of West Tipperary Bord na nÓg following many years’ service in various roles. They married in 1993 and have six sons – Cormac (26), Cillian (24), Fergus (22), twins Finbarr and Diarmuid (20) and not forgetting “baby” Gearoid (13). Her great commitment to the GAA and to life in general in the parish of New Inn and Knockgraffon is an indication of the great generosity in heart and spirit of Sandra English.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation Senior Hurling Challenge
On Sunday February 19th at 2pm in FBD Semple Stadium, Tipperary and Kilkenny will play a senior hurling challenge in aid of the Dillon Quirke Foundation. The foundation was set up in honour of Dillon who collapsed during a hurling match and died of SADS on the 5th of August 2022 in FBD Semple Stadium Thurles.
Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) takes 100 young lives in Ireland every year. With your help, our aim is to raise awareness and save lives by screening every GAA player both male and female from the age of 12 upwards.
Tickets for the game are now available on both the Dillon Quirke Foundation and the Tipperary GAA websites where there is also the option of purchasing a non-attendance ticket which will give access to the full match day programme. In addition, if you cannot attend the game but would like to watch it, the game is being streamed live on the day and again you can purchase the stream via both websites.
Tipperary GAA Full Time Employment Opportunity
Tipperary County Board are currently recruiting for the role of Accounts/Administration/IT Assistant in our Thurles office. The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association – Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Coiste Chontae Thiobraid Árann) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tipperary and the Tipperary County teams.
The successful candidate must have experience in an accounts position, and administration and enjoy a varied role which will be focused on accounting data input, administration of our County Board Draw and management of our match day scanners and Tap & Go machines, as well as their associated systems online and our match Streaming service. You will be working with the accounts, administration, IT and management team in our Thurles office.
If you feel you have got what it takes to fill the above role, Please email your full CV to The County Treasurer, Eleanor Lahart, on: treasurer.tipperary@gaa.ie by Friday 24th February 2023.
Full details of the position are available via the news section of the Tipperary GAA Website or by following this link: https://tipperary.gaa.ie/job-vacancy-accounts-administration-it-assistant/
Munster GAA to employ 20 new Games Development Staff
There was good news for Tipperary earlier this week with the announcement that Munster GAA is set to employ 20 new Games Development staff. This announcement will mean that Tipperary GAA and the clubs of the county will soon be welcoming new Games Development Administrators which can only be a positive step for everyone concerned. These new roles provide an ideal opportunity for educated, highly motivated and enthusiastic people who would like to make a career in the GAA. New working conditions and salaries will reflect the importance of these positions. An online recruitment information session will take place on Monday 20th February at 4pm. E-mail info.munster@gaa.ie if you are interested in attending or check back here in advance.
Molly O’Connell in Glór Tíre
Tipperary Country Singer, Molly O’Connell, is looking to make it back to back Glór Tíre victories for The Premier County
The Grand Final takes place on TG4 next Tuesday 21st February at 9.30 pm
Please Vote for Molly & her mentor Tipperary’s Louise Morrissey to bring the Glór Tíre Title back to Tipperary
How to Vote – Its simple
On your Smart Phone –
Download Glor Tire App (Prior to show start)
In App there is 5 FREE Votes
Find Molly O Connell
Add your Votes for her when show starts
Good luck Molly from all in Tipperary GAA
Ar aghaidh le Tiobraid Árann
John Coman
Public Relations Officer
Tipperary Supporters Club
Supporting Tipperary Hurling
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