Sport - Thurles Information

Tipperary Bow Out Of Hurling Championship

Despite Tipp’s best efforts, Brian Cody’s Kilkenny team put an end to Eamonn O’Shea’s Tipperary 2013 hurling championship, having secured a 0-20 (20 pts) to 1-14 (17 pts) win at Nowlan Park this evening and the former will now go on to face Waterford in Phase III of the All-Ireland qualifiers next Saturday.

In front of 23,307 spectators it had started well for Tipperary, with Lar Corbett, once again mirroring the image of the man who deservedly won hurler of the year in 2010, stealing a goal on the 14th minute, following a fatal miscue from John O’Dwyer had found its way into his possession.

However, despite this Tipperary lead, Lar Corbett suffered a hamstring injury, forcing him off the field during the first half, to be replaced by Seamus Callanan.

Both Eoin Kelly and Jason Forde missed second half goal chances that could have delivered a completely different reading on the scoreboard.

In a game full of intensity on a very hot day and played at a maddening pace, with both sides wasting equal chances, in the end it was a deserved win for the Cats, mainly thanks to the focus of Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin, through his point-taking and defensive ability.

With just six minutes remaining, Henry Shefflin left the bench to enter the fray for Kilkenny, sending fans at Nowlan Park into deservedly rapturous jubilation.

However on the 70th minute mark, Tipperary’s failure to conjure up that badly needed goal, towards the closing stages of the game, left Kilkenny holding on for a three-point win, and a disappointed Tipperary team heading for the dressing rooms with very little to be ashamed about.

Thurles Credit Union & Gaelscoil In Sporting Harmony

Thurles Credit Union renewed their ongoing relationship with Gaelscoil Bhríde recently for a most successful night at Thurles Greyhound Stadium.

The event, promoted as a night to “Unite – Reunite”, was the brainchild of the Parents’ Council of the Gaelscoil and was intended to achieve a double outcome. The first of these was to provide an occasion for a get-together of parents, past and present, for a great sporting and social occasion. It also provided an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for the upgrading of the school’s IT facilities, to improve car parking facilities and safety and to go some way towards offsetting the drastic reductions in Government funding in recent years.

With the generous sponsorship of Thurles Credit Union and a splendid turn-out of parents and friends, all the objectives were achieved on an outstanding evening in one of Thurles’ premier sporting locations. Some excellent racing was enjoyed, the occasional winner was backed, old friendships were renewed and new friendships were cemented.

Caroline Egan, representing the Parents’ Council, was a very efficient Bean a’ Tí and coordinated activities professionally. Seamus Ó Dubhagáin, Príomhoide of Gaelscoil Bhríde, was loud in his praise of all concerned with the organisation and staging of the evening.

Firstly, he thanked Thurles Credit Union for their very generous financial support and acknowledged the assistance they had given to Gaelscoil Bhríde over the years. He also paid special tribute to the Parents’ Council and his teaching and administration staff for all their hard work.

The school very much appreciated the cooperation and courtesy of the management and staff of Thurles Greyhound Stadium. One of the first big “Gathering” events in Thurles has certainly set the standard for others to follow, so well done, Gaelscoil Bhríde and Thurles Credit Union.

Clean Ireland Recycling New GAA Tipperary Title Sponsors

Clean Ireland Recycling are delighted to announce that it is to come on board as title sponsors of the Tipperary GAA senior, Intermediate, Junior, U-21 and Minor Football and Hurling Championships for 2013.

The deal is effective from this weekend’s games and will see the multi-award winning company sponsor adult championships in both codes, through to the end of this year’s championship, with an option to extend for further and successive years.

Announcing the sponsorship, Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Sales Manager Mr Bill Ryan, from Thurles, said he are delighted to have agreed this partnership with Tipperary GAA. The company operate, what has been voted by the industry, as Ireland’s leading kerbside collection and in recent months have expanded that service to all of County Tipperary and see this sport sponsorship as a really good fit for both their company and Tipperary GAA.

Welcoming Clean Ireland Recycling on board as sponsors, Tipperary GAA Chairman Mr Sean Nugent stated that this sponsorship was a timely boost for the championships and to have a keen sponsor come on board at this stage once again showed the reach and popularity of club games.

Pictured In Semple Stadium Thurles (L – R):- Bill Ryan (Clean Ireland Recycling Tipperary Sales Manager ), with Caroline Walsh, (Financial Controller, Clean Ireland Recycling ) and Sean Nugent, (Tipperary GAA County Board Chairman ).

In 2011 Clean Ireland Recycling took over the South Tipperary local authority’s waste service and has since then have gone on to expand its operations across the entire county by taking over services in both the Thurles and Nenagh areas. It now provides a waste management service from Clonmel right up to Roscrea and even into Birr, Co. Offaly.

Update On Sarsfields International Hurling Festival

Photo courtesy J.O’Loughlin.

John Enright, Chairman of the Thurles Sarsfields Organising Committee reports:

The third Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival, to be held on Munster hurling final week-end, July 12th and 13th, was officially launched by the Minister of State for Sport and Tourism, Alan Kelly TD at Sarsfields Social Centre, Thurles, on Friday night May 31st last.

Camogie Teams

Glamour has been added to the Tipperary International Hurling Festival with the addition of eight Camogie teams competing for the Helen O’Mara Cup donated by the Thurles Camogie Club in memory of Helen. Helen was a dedicated camogie player from Kilkenny who was club treasurer for many years and a long serving committee member. It is indeed fitting therefore, that our first ever camogie tournament is honoured by her name.
The competing teams are – Indianapolis USA, Na Piarsaig Cork, Kildangan and Roscrea Tipperary, Patrickswell Limerick, Lixnaw Kerry, Feakle/Broadford Clare, and Portlaw Waterford. All are very welcome.
The games will be played in the grounds of St Patrick’s Third level College of Education Thurles, by kind permission of Very Rev Tom Fogarty, College President.

The Cork Connection

There is nearly always a Cork presence in Thurles on Munster Final weekend. Combined with our festival there is great representation, hurling from Kilbrin, home of current Cork Senior star William Egan, and former Cork hurler Jack Field. It will be a Cork take over on Friday night with the road bowling. Saturday will see the biggest GAA club in the North city side, Na Piarsaig, playing Camogie, and as always expecting to win.

North Kerry Hurling

Hurling is endemic in North Kerry. We had Kilmoyley last year who were in hard luck not to take the title, this year we have Ballyduff and Causeway for the Tom Semple Cup and Lixnaw for the Camogie. A Kerry presence on Munster Final Weekend very much adds to the occasion.

Mayo In Force

Hurling Officer, Adrian Hessian, loves his hurling and is bringing two teams from Mayo, Tureen, current Carew Cup Holders, and Castlebar who are trained by Gerry Lane (Noel’s brother) who caused Tipp many headaches in the eighties. Westport are the Michael Cusack Cup Road Bowling holders. There is a strong Mayo presence in Thurles, John Moroney’s wife Maureen is a great Mayo woman and Ger O’Hagen is current Chairman of Thurles Sarsfields Ladies football. It was his home club that sold hurleys to Toureen in the fifties to start hurling in that parish.

The Dub’s Are Coming

Under Kevin Broderick, Raheeney Hurling Club are making history, they are coming to Thurles for the first time for our Munster Final weekend festival. They will join Setanta, the all Irish speaking team, for an assault on the Tom Semple Cup. They are both in serious training for the competition and both expect to win.

The Social Side

With twenty four hurling and Camogie teams from all over, the scene is set for a very pleasant weekend. We are also expecting Thurles people from home and abroad to gather in numbers to be part of the Thurles Sarsfields “Gathering weekend.” There will be a great mix of people from the four provinces, The USA, Great Brittan and our own Diaspora.
The Monks are playing in Sarsfield’s Social Centre on Friday night and Silver Dollar is centre stage on Saturday night. The Sarsfields pubs in town are putting on musical entertainment that will be appropriate for the occasion. A friendly mix of hurling, camogie, camán abú and road bowling will be on display. All are welcome to our Festival which promises great entertainment and above all a great sporting weekend.

So Camán Home for the Hurling.

Limerick End Tipperary SHC Reign

Limerick today surprisingly ended Tipperary’s reign as Munster Senior Hurling champions, in front of a large crowd, at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick City. Eamon O’ Shea’s side were beaten by a final score of 1-18 to 1-15 in their provincial Semi-Final clash.

Limerick started well with Captain Donal O’Grady opening the scoring, quickly answered by Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan, with a point apiece in the first minute.

Within the first half however Tipperary’s Pa Bourke misses a 65 & Seamus Callanan misses a free, while Limerick point over another six points with an added goal in the eighteenth minute from Sean Tobin. By the twenty second minute, with the goal at his mercy Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan misses a golden opportunity and by the half time whistle Tipperary had only managed six more points leaving a half time score board reading Limerick 1-07 (10 points) to Tipperary’s 0-07.

The second half saw Tipperary come back with a vengeance matching point for point, with Callanan & O’Dwyer determined to demonstrate that the game was far from over. Nickie Quaid was proving inspirational in goal for Limerick, but Tipperary’s John O’Dwyer finds the top corner of the net, to score Tipperary’s first and only goal leaving the score in the fiftieth minute Tipperary 1-13 (16 points) to Limerick’s 1-10 (13 points). All looked down to the wire.

Tipperary, despite their three point lead now failed to reply adequately to the next five points from Limerick, the latter which put them in front. A poor response from Tipperary, in the last fifteen minutes in particular, ensured that Limerick never relinquished their three point lead, leaving a final score of Limerick 1-18 (21 points) – Tipperary 1-15 (18 points).

Limerick now go on to a Munster Final date with either Cork or Clare, while Tipperary must now lick their wounds & regroup, ready for the qualifiers.

However, there was some good news for Tipperary in the Intermediate Semi-Final with Michael Ryan’s men, now through to the Intermediate Semi-Final, beating Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds, in the afternoon’s curtain raiser, by 0-20 to 0-15.