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Thurles Sarsfields Take Dan Breen Cup For 2012

    Padraig Maher holds aloft the Dan Breen Cup.          Photo: J.O’Loughlin

The Premier County’s most successful hurling team Thurles Sarsfields defeated their neighbouring rivals and 2011 champions, Drom & Inch by three points in a riveting final at Semple Stadium, Thurles, this weekend with a full time score Thurles Sarsfields 1-21 Drom & Inch 2-15.

Sarsfields won the Tipperary senior club hurling championship to hold aloft the Dan Breen cup for the 32nd time. Drom & Inch had won the competition for the first time in their history last year, however loosing yesterday was their fourth final defeat in eight years, having lost in 2005, 2007, 2009 and now 2012.

Sarsfields must now turn their thoughts to the Munster Club Championship, one competition which has previously avoided them. They now face Limerick champions Kilmallock in an away match, on October 28th next .

Thurles  Sarsfields Team: P McCormack; S Maher, K O’Gorman, David Maher; M Cahill, P Maher;  D Kennedy; M Gleeson; J Enright ; P Bourke; L Corbett, J Corbett; M O’Brien; Denis Maher & A McCormack.
Subs: G O’Grady for J Corbett;  J Maher for O’Brien; R Ruth for Enright & J Lawlor for Denis Maher .

Drom / Inch Team: D Young; E Costello; M Butler; M Costello; E Walsh, E Buckley; L Ryan; S Delaney;  J Ryan; P Lupton; J Woodlock; S Callanan; S Butler; J Lupton & D Butler.
Subs: P Stapleton for E Costello, P Kennedy for J Lupton, J Moloney for Delaney, K Butler for P Lupton, & D Collins for Moloney .

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Tipperary Minors Get A Hero’s Welcome

 

Thurles Sarsfields reps Conor Lanigan, Ronan Maher & Stephen Cahill – Photo Courtesy J.O’Loughlin.

The Co Tipperary All Ireland minor hurling team returned home to a hero’s welcome in Thurles, Co Tipperary, (European Town of Sport 2012) on Monday evening last, proudly bearing the Irish Press Cup for the 19th time.

As is the custom, the victorious team were welcomed by several thousand supporters, firstly outside the Cathedral of the Assumption, where they were met by His Grace Archbishop Dr Demot Clifford, and later paraded with pride in front of a large gathering of faithful followers.

It was Tipperary’s first MHC All Ireland win since 2007, thanks to the scoring accuracy of M. McCarthy & T. Gallagher 1-02 each, J. McGrath 0-10, S. Maher 0-02, S. Cahill & B. Maher with 0-01 each

The occasion was also a special event for their manager William Maher, Ballingarry, himself in his own right a former winner as player and who had set about preparing this team so expertly for their second chance at this title, in just a few weeks.

Congratulations to all involved.

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Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon 2012 Thurles

Last Sunday’s Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon here in Thurles (European Town of Sport for 2012) was without doubt a resounding success.
The forecast of heavy rain & wind, accurately predicted by Met Eireann, arrived as expected somewhat spoiling the race warm up which began under the expert guidance of Thurles Leisure Centre fitness instructors Maria and Serena, in the grounds of LIT Tipperary. However this in no way dampened the spirits of the 1,246 women who gathered to enter the 2012 Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon organised by North and South Tipperary Sports partnership here in Thurles. As the Moycarkey Pipe Band led the participants up to the ‘Start Arch,’ positioned on the Jimmy Doyle road, the rain cleared away and thankfully continued in that mode for the remaining part of the day.

Catherina McKiernan addressed the crowd just before the start, saying how delighted she was to be back in Tipperary for her second Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon, and wished everybody the best of luck. Mayor of Thurles local Cllr Michael Cleary then welcomed everyone to Thurles while  the Mayor of South Tipperary County Council, Cllr John Crosse also welcomed the runners and wished all participants the best of luck. North Tipperary Councillor, John Hogan, then blew the starting whistle to commence the 2012 Tipperary Women’s Mini Marathon.

Some thirty five minutes later the first runners were back and entering the grounds of LIT Tipperary. In first place was Nenagh’s Siobhan Doherty, in a chip time of 35.51 followed very quickly by Catherina McKiernan in a chip time of 36.14. Third place went to Clonmel AC’s Angela McCann in 37.58, while fourth position went to Claire Annan in a time of 39.47. In fifth position was Aine Roche in a time of 41.00 and in sixth place was Marie Fitzgibbon in just 41.06.

All commented that the route was very fair and much less hilly than the 2010 route used previously in Thurles.

All the participants taking part, between runners, joggers and walkers were back in a time of less than 2 hours and 5 mins, which is faster than previous years and perhaps an indication of the continued success of the ‘Meet and Train,’ groups around Co Tipperary.

The local Thurles Meet and Train group had a huge number of participants taking part on Sunday, and were very striking in their yellow NTSP tee shirts. This Meet and Train group was set up by the North Tipperary Sports Partnership (NTSP) in February 2012, in partnership with Thurles Crokes AC, with the aim of increasing the numbers of women jogging, running and getting fit in the Thurles area.

This was the first ever Mini Marathon for Thurles lady Margueritte Hayes aged 52, who trains with this Thurles group and she later commented “There was an absolutely cracking atmosphere at the event, and it was just great to be a part of it. From the send off to the finish line, it was just thoroughly enjoyable and I can’t thank all the organisers and the volunteers enough. I was delighted to finish with my training partner Maeve McKevitt in a time of 57.03.  My thanks also to Marion Hughes who trains our group week in week out and to the North Tipperary Sports Partnership for their constant support. I’m looking out for my next 10k now.”

Carol O’Donovan from the Canon Hayes Meet & Train Group in Tipperary town also completed her first ever mini marathon in a time of 1.13.48. Carol commented “I am delighted to have completed my first 10k and it was not as gruelling as I had expected. As a first time participant I would highly recommend it, since I started training for the mini marathon, I feel better, toned up and lost over 8lbs. It wasn’t as daunting as I expected and I am so looking forward to doing my next 10k, thanks to the STSP for the support, Ruairi Davitt and the Meet n Train organisation in Tipperary Town.

The 2012 Tipperary Mini Marathon was supported by a groundswell of local businesses and civic organisations. There was huge praise for the superb organisation and months of careful preparation from the hard working committee who were led by Elaine Cullinan and Valerie Connolly of NTSP and STSP. The organising committee included representatives from both Sport’s Partnerships, Thurles Town Council, LIT Tipperary, Thurles Gardaí, Tipperary County Athletics, Thurles Crokes AC, Tipp FM Radio and North Tipperary Civil Defence.

Elaine Cullinan, NTSP commented “From an organiser’s point of view we are delighted with how the event went today. Every single participant from a 35 min finish time to a 2 hour finishing time is leaving with a smile on their face and having had an enjoyable experience. A big thank you to the town of Thurles for really getting behind the event and to our many sponsors who gave so generously, Tom Harvey Motor Company Ltd, who provided the Lead Car, and provided the water and refreshments needed for the event. Thurles Fresh Milk provided all the milk at the finish line, as well as generously providing a sponsorship donation and Thurles European Town of Sport Committee also provided sponsorship. A host of local businesses provided items for the goody bags and spot prizes, and these are all listed on our website www.tippminimarathon.ie

All results and some photographs will be posted on this website very shortly. Thanks again to one and all who contributed to the biggest and most successful Tipp Mini Marathon we have staged to date, and how fitting that Thurles is also the first Irish town to be designated  European Town of Sport for 2012.”

Valerie Connolly, STSP thanked all the Volunteers who helped out saying “Volunteers are essential for any successful event. Without the 70 people who volunteered, this wouldn’t have been the great success it was today. We are delighted with the numbers of women who participated this year, and with the success of the many Meet and Train groups around the county, that have all fed into this event in huge numbers.”
If you are interested in taking part next year get started now, with helpful advice to be found HERE

For further details on these groups in North and South Tipperary, do check out www.ntsp.ie and www.stsp.ie

Photographs courtesy G.Willoughby, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

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Tipperary Defeat Dublin In MHC Final Replay

Tipperary had to improve all round in Croke Park today, based on their last performance, but our boys had learned a lot from their previous draw and that experience truly stood to them today, as they set about annihilating Dublin in the All-Ireland MHC final replay, thus adding one more to their counties already total of 18 Irish Press Cup titles.

Tadhg Gallagher & Mark McCarthy grabbed 1-02 each, and when 0-10 was added from John McGrath, 0-02 from S. Maher , & 0-01 each from S. Cahill, & B. Maher, the final full-time score showed Tipperary 2-18 – Dublin 1-11.

It was corner forwards McCarthy and Gallagher who displayed the real sweat and no little intelligence, through their fast-moving attacks which ripped through Dublin defences, allowing the Tipperary side to respond with quality scores from play through team members John McGrath, Sean Maher and Bill Maher.

First blood went to Dublin, with Paul Winters knocking over a free from inside his own half, but Stephen Cahill wins a free about 45 yards out and John McGrath cancels the debt.

In the third minute Shelly draws a foul close to the sideline and McGrath again taps over his second free of the day. Now Dublin half-back O’Donnell, finds his mark from the half-way line showing the score Dublin 0-02 Tipperary 0-02.

McGrath soon puts Tipperary back in front with another free and this is followed by a goal from Mark McCarthy from a loose ball leaving Dublin 0-02 to Tipperary’s 1-03, on the scoreboard.

McGrath fires over a 65 to extend Tipperary’s lead but this is answered by  James Roche, gets two points back for Dublin leaving the score Dublin 0-04 Tipperary 1-04

The speed of corner-forward Tadhg Gallagher, bursting through the Dublin defence, finds the back of the Dublin net and a point from Sean Maher adds further to Dublin’s misery and Tipperary have a seven point lead.

Dublin’s Winters taps over a close-range free, but Tipperary’s Cahill points a snap shot from 50 yards & McGrath is again on target from a resulting foul by E Lowndes on McCarthy. Two further points from McGrath & McCarthy see the half-time scoreboard reading Dublin 0-05 Tipperary 2-10.

Scoring in the second half begins with a sideline point from John McGrath, but Costello pulls a point back for Dublin. Tadhg Gallagher and Winters swap 2 points each, one from a free, having been fouled by Barry Heffernan. Two further points from Tipp captain Bill Maher & Sean Maher leave Dublin 1-09 Tipperary 2-16

Tipperary seem to ease off on the pressure, following Winters fifth point of the day and Dublin’s Oisin O’Rorke blasts past Paul Maher to score a goal.

Another point from Dublin’s O’Rorke was merely a consolation and was answered by two points from John McGrath making the full time score Tipperary 2-18, Dublin 1-11.

While in the latter half of the second half Tipperary never reached the annihilating levels of style & performance shown in their first-half display, they never showed any sign of being troubled by Dublin either.

Tipperary Scorers: M McCarthy, T Gallagher 1-02 each, J McGrath 0-10, S Maher 0-02, S Cahill, B Maher 0-01 each

Tipperary Team: P Maher, R Maher, M Breen, J Peters, T Fox, T Hamill, B Heffernan, B Maher, S Cahill, J McGrath, D Fitzell, S Maher, T Gallagher, J Shelly, M McCarthy.

Substitutes: S. Ryan for Cahill, S. O’Brien for S. Maher, R. Tierney for O’Callaghan,  C. Lanigan for Gallagher.

Referee: Alan Kelly from Galway

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Tipperary County Board Ratify Eamon O’Shea

As we earlier forecast, former Tipperary coach, under All-Ireland-winning manager Liam Sheedy, NUIG professor Eamon O’Shea has been ratified as the new Tipperary senior hurling manager for 2013, succeeding former manager Declan Ryan.

This ratification will be seen as welcome news by the Premier County, latter who were humiliated by their arch rivals Kilkenny, in the All-Ireland semi-final last month, beaten 4-24 to 1-15.

In a statement last evening the Tipperary county board said that the County Board had ratified the appointment of Eamon O’Shea as senior hurling manager & other members of the management team will be decided following consultation in due course

The appointment of O’Shea is now expected to attract former defender Eamonn Corcoran & former Tipperary work comrade Michael Ryan, to join the management team.

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