Sport | Thurles Information

€9 Million Upgrade To Semple Stadium Delayed.

Tipperary GAA County Board secretary, Mr Tim Floyd has confirmed that plans to upgrade facilities on the Kinane Stand in Semple Stadium will be delayed for some time in the near future.

Planning permission, granted for 5 year, to undertake a €9 million upgrade, within ‘Semples field’, latter which including a state of the art gymnasium at nearby Dr. Morris Park, had been granted just last year
[Note: Tipperary have been hiring the gym in the LIT Thurles Campus].

Same planning had also included a corporate area, under the Kinane stand, that would have had a capacity for 250 patrons.

We understand that plans to extend player dressing rooms in Dr. Morris Park and the all-weather pitch in Thurles LIT will continue as planned, with the development at Dr. Morris Park, coming to fruition at the end of this year, just as soon as Munster Council and Croke Park finances are made available.

Three Months Ban For Clare Horse Trainer, Following Thurles COVID-19 Breach.

Horse Trainer, Mr Brian McMahon, Kilmaley, Co. Clare, has been fined €1,000 and banned from attending all Irish race tracks for three months, having been found in breach of Level 5 Covid-19 regulations.

Mr McMahon, had attended the races at Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Dec. 20th before Christmas 2020, despite having attended the Goff’s sale at Yorton Farm in the United Kingdom three days previous, and having failed to continue to restrict his movements upon his return, under Irish National Public Health Guidelines.

Mr McMahon is also understood to have falsified his health screening questionnaire, in order to gain access to the Thurles track, answering ‘No‘ to the question of whether he had travelled outside the State, within the previous 14 calendar days. Mr McMahon also failed to provide the required negative COVID-19 result result, latter required when attending an Irish race meeting.

The Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board became aware of the true facts relating Mr McMahon travel arrangements, but only following his attendance at the Thurles meeting.

The referrals committee convened via “Zoom” on Wednesday last, finding McMahon in breach of Rule 272(i), in that he had acted in a manner which was “prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct, or good reputation of horse racing”.

He was also found guilty under Rule 272(ii) as he had provided misleading information to a racing official by falsifying the health screening questionnaire.

McMahon is now prohibited from attending all races here in Ireland from Jan. 21st last to April 2nd, next 2021.

Tipperary Win Munster Senior Football Championship 2020

Tipperary marked the centenary of Bloody Sunday with a truly excellent performance at Páirc Uí Chaoimh today, seeing off Cork to win the Munster Senior Football Championship (SFC) ending their 85 year drought; last achieved back in 1935.

Today November 22nd, from the 16th minute of commencement Tipperary were on top and despite Cork’s efforts remained there throughout the rest of the game, with Conor Sweeney (0-07, 0-02f, 0-02m) and Michael Quinlivan (0-05, 0-01f) jointly providing 12 points between them, ably assisted by Evan Comerford (0-01 45), Kevin Fahey (0-01), Liam Casey (0-01m) substitute Philip Austin (0-01) and Steven O’Brien (0-01).

Representing Tipperary today were: Evan Comerford; Jimmy Feehan; Alan Campbell; Colm O’Shaughnessy; Bill Maher; Kevin Fahey; Robbie Kiely; Liam Casey; Colin O’Riordan; Brian Fox; Conal Kennedy; Steven O’Brien; Conor Sweene; Colman Kennedy; Michael Quinlivan.

Subs: Liam Boland replacing Kennedy, Paudie Feehan for Fahey, Emmet Moloney for Fox, Pádraic Looram for Kiely and Philip Austin for Casey.

Final score at close of play today, Tipperary 0-17, Cork 0-14.

Today, Tipperary were wearing the white and green banded jerseys of Grangemockler, as their county had done on that fateful afternoon back in 1920, when thousands of football fans were assembled in Croke Park, to watch a challenge match between two of the game’s giants, Co. Tipperary and Co. Dublin.

Troops from the Duke of Wellington’s regiment, together with 2 police units, one of undisciplined Black and Tans and one of Auxiliaries, deploying into Croke Park, before Black and Tans began opening fire on the assembled gathering, discharging was over one hundred rounds of rifle fire, and an unknown number of pistol rounds.

**The Tipperary team, which had assembled at Croke Park, on November 21st 1920**.

All the shots were fired indiscriminately by the Black and Tans before control was regained by Major Edward Mills (latter Commander of the Auxiliary force). Major Mills would later report to his immediate superior, Brigadier-General Frank Crozier, stating “A rotten show, the worst I’ve ever seen.”
Following the aftermath of the firing, there were dead and injured civilians, both players and spectators, strewn across the field, 14 of whom would never see home alive again. The true number of injured has never been agreed upon, but is suggested possibly somewhere between sixty and one hundred.
Despite searches undertaken on that November afternoon, on every person still within Croke Park, not one weapon was ever located.

Tipperary To Wear Bloody Sunday Jerseys In Munster Football Final

**Left to Right**: – Picture **(A)** Tipperary & Dublin Jerseys. Picture **(B)** Michael Hogan. Picture **(C)** Rear of Tipperary Jersey worn on that day in 1920.

Tipperary Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) have confirmed that its county footballers will wear a replica jersey of that which was worn by the Premier county players on ‘Bloody Sunday’, when they take on Cork in the Munster final officially set for November 22nd 2020.

This decision was taken initially and announced by Tipperary GAA at a press conference in Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, on February 22nd 2020, as part of the counties Bloody Sunday Commemoration Day. Croke Park has recently approved this jersey as the first official Tipperary Bloody Sunday replica, which will feature an image of Tipperary Football player Michael Hogan on the sleeve, along with the official Co. Tipperary and GAA crests.

Michael Hogan
Michael Hogan (Irish – Mícheál Ó hÓgáin), from Grangemockler, South Co. Tipperary, had been chosen to take part in a challenge match between Tipperary and Dublin on November 21st, 1920, and was one of 14 people killed by British military forces in Croke Park, Dublin.

The 2020 Munster Senior Football final will take place this year on Sunday November 22nd 2020; a day after the 100th anniversary of those who sadly were shot during the match, by “Black and Tans” who entered Croke Park and opened fire on the crowd.

On the Saturday prior to match day, November 20th 1920, Michael Hogan had travelled on the train to Dublin with some other members of his team. He and others got involved in a fight with soldiers from the Lincolnshire Regiment, before throwing them from the train.

Having arrived at Kingsbridge Station Dublin (Now renamed Heustan Station), they decided to split up going their separate ways in anticipation of possibly being arrested. Michael and another man, named as Thomas Ryan, both IRA team members, stayed at Philip Shanahan’s pub in Monto (Montgomery Street, latter then the largest red light district in Europe at the time), on that night, rather than staying in Barry’s Hotel as had been planned. Here both men became aware that some IRA action being planned, but were unaware of any of the actual details.

The following morning, publican Phil Shanahan informed them about the shooting of certain known British spies and agents. This operation by an elite assassination unit known as ‘The Squad’ had mounted an operation planned by General Michael Collins, latter then the director of IRA Intelligence; thus virtually crippling the British intelligence operation, which was working out of Dublin Castle.

Thomas Ryan would later claim that Dan Breen had advised them that it would be better not to attend the challenge match, but to return instead back to Co. Tipperary.

It was during this challenge match, in front of a crowd of some 15,000 people that Black and Tans entered Croke Park and opened fire. Michael Hogan was one of 14 people who sadly lost their lives. Also among the thirteen other victims were fourteen-year-old John Scott and eleven-year-old William Robinson, latter shot while sitting in a tree watching the game.

Today, the Hogan Stand within Croke Park; latter built in 1924, is named after the Co. Tipperary player Michael Hogan.

Death Of Paddy Doyle, Thurles, Co. Tipperary

It was with a great personal sadness that I learned of the death this morning, Monday 10th August 2020, of Mr Patrick (Paddy) Doyle, No.7 Moyne Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Doyle who made a total of three championship appearances with Tipperary between 1965 and 1966, was vice-president of Thurles Sarsfield’s and a former All-Ireland winner. A winner of seven senior county titles with Thurles Sarsfields, he also managed the Laois hurlers and coached the Tipperary minor team for some three years.

Mr Doyle passed away this morning, peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.

Predeceased by his beloved wife Kay, his brother Jimmy and his sister Olive; the passing of Mr Doyle will be most deeply regretted by his heartbroken children Karen and David, son-in-law Liam; Richelle; sisters Anna and Breda; his grandchildren Eve and Kate to whom he was devoted; nieces; nephews; extended relatives; GAA associates; neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Doyle will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles on tomorrow evening Wednesday, 12th August, from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, with strict adherence, as always, to social distancing and face coverings.
Mr Doyle will be received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, on Thursday morning, August 13th, for Requiem Mass at 11:00am.
[Note: Due to HSE and Government restrictions, numbers are limited within the Cathedral Church, building].

Those unable to attend the Requiem Mass for Mr Doyle, due to virus restrictions, can view same live online HERE.

Interment will take place immediately following Requiem Mass, in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road, Thurles.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

The extended Doyle family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society.