Club News 30 September 2018

The senior hurlers advance to the county semi-final, visits from Buff Egan and Seán Kelly to MacDonagh Park, Seán Phelan is honoured in Croke Park and much, much more. Once again this week’s notes are swarming, with news on the Blues……and you can, believe that!!!

Minor Camogie championship V Moyle Rovers

Seán Phelen Honoured in Croke Park

Congratulations to Seán Phelan who was honoured in Croke Park on Saturday for his exploits with the Tipperary minor hurlers, picking up an Electric Ireland Minor Star award, as he was named at wing-back on the team of the year. Anyone who saw him in the blue & gold in 2018 were not surprised when the news broke last week as he was instrumental in ensuring that Tipperary won the Munster minor championship. Keep up the great work Seán! 

Seniors Advance to County Semi-Final

John Fitzgerald’s senior hurling team advanced to the Tipperary Water semi-final following a 2-17 to 0-18 win over Loughmore Castleiney in Dolla. First-half goals from Philip Hickey and Tommy Heffernan gave the Blues a vital cushion over their opponents and Loughmore, try as the might, were unable to close the gap. The draw for the semi-finals took place afterwards and we now play Thurles Sarsfields in Semple Stadium next Sunday with Toomevara meeting Clonoulty Rossmore, who defeated Kiladangan 1-19 to 1-15, in the other match. The times of both these games have yet to be confirmed. 

County Quarter-Finals in MacDonagh Park

Jim Kennedy, Bartley Ryan, Noel Coonan and Matt Lillis pose for a photograph with Snapchat sensation Buff Egan

On Saturday afternoon last, two of the Tipperary Water county senior hurling quarter-finals were held in MacDonagh Park with Toomevara overcoming the challenge of Drom & Inch while Thurles Sarsfields snatched a dramatic injury time winning goal to break the hearts of Kilruane MacDonaghs.

Once again our army of volunteers excelled themselves to ensure that the occasion ran smoothly and passed off without any hitch. The club would like to thank everyone that helped out including those who sold lotto tickets, parked cars, looked after the shop and worked in the complex.

In attendance amongst the large crowd were Snapchat sensation Buff Egan, who kept his legion of followers updated on proceedings in the two games, and former Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Seán Kelly. 

Buff happily stood in for selfies with his many fans on the day, greeted everyone he encountered with a smile and mesmerised the crowd at half-time with a “tantalizing” exhibition of sideline cuts…..and you can believe that! We can’t wait for Buff to visit MacDonagh Park again.

The full-time scores in the two games were:

Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-16 Thurles Sarsfields 2-14

Toomevara 3-15 Drom & Inch 1-20

Seán Kelly photographed on Saturday in MacDonagh Park

If you would like to see highlights from these two fantastic matches tune into TG4 on Monday evening at 8pm.

Juvenile News

The under-11 D side who defeated a gallant Kilruane MacDonagh’s in the plate final on Friday evening in MacDonagh Park

Hurling training continues this week at the usual times on Wednesday and Saturday.

The under-8 Gaelic footballers in Dr. Morris Park

Seán Phelan with under-11 captain Michael Ryan

The under-8 Gaelic footballers in Dr. Morris Park

Camogie News

Under-10

There was great craic (not to mention goodie bags!) to end the year for the under-10 Camogie girls on Thursday evening. Many thanks to all for coming to the training, matches and on road trips throughout the year. The best of luck to those who will move onto under-12, they are well prepared for it. Coaches are hoping to organise a weekly slot at the ball wall in Nenagh College and will be in touch. They would also recommend that all girls consider joining the athletics club for the winter. The track is indoor and it’s a great way to keep the girls active during the cold nights of winter. The parents would like to thank mentors Tom Boland, Barry Grace and David Peters for their hard work, dedication and most of all the love of Camogie that they have instilled in their players this year.

Under-12

Our under- 12s travelled to the Camogie Grounds, The Ragg on Saturday 22nd to face Mullinahone in the league final.

This team have been working hard under the guidance of James O’ Dwyer, Noel Nagle, Martin Kelly and Rose Sheridan and their hard work really paid off on Saturday with a fine win against a fancied Mullinahone side. The final score was 2-0 to 1-2 with the goals coming from Ella O’ Brien and a long range free from centre-back Clodagh Spain. The work rate, hooking and blocking defined the team in this fine win from a dedicated bunch of young ladies. Captain fantastic and full back Samantha Howard was happy to receive the trophy on behalf of her team who celebrated their win as if it was an All-Ireland.

Panel: Isabel O’ Farrell, Faye Sheridan, Samantha Howard, Naoimh Boland, Aishling Colleran, Clodagh Spain (1.0), Laura Nagle, Eimer Brislane, Grace Cleary, Ella O’ Brien (1.0), Anna O Dwyer, Mairead O’ Brien, Cliodhna Morris, Laura Corish, Katie Ryan, Oriana O’ Brien, Elenor Boland, Holly Tucker.

Minors

Our minor team travelled to Carrick on Suir last Saturday week to play the first round of the championship and despite many of the girls taking time off work and parents and management having to make the long trip the game was called off due to the non-appearance of the referee much to the disappointed of the players from both Carrick Swan and Nenagh Éire Óg.

On Sunday, the minors played Moyle Rovers in what was a very disappointing encounter. The Monroe side were put in the unenviable position of being asked to play Nenagh Éire Óg in the under-18 Camogie championship while at the same time playing a ladies under-19 football match with the result that they visited MacDonagh Park with a severely weakened team. Both clubs are doing their best to promote women’s sports and this situation completely defied any sort of logic with the result that we had a game that was of absolutely no use to either side. Those that were able to make the trip to Nenagh are to be commended for their efforts as they battled all the way through and never let their heads drop. One player in particular who caught the attention of the spectators was Rover’s Makayala O’ Donnell who gave an exhibition of goalkeeping, making a number of miraculous saves. There’s no doubt that we will be hearing more about her in the future.

Juvenile Club Clothes Collection

Nenagh Éire Óg Juvenile Club will host a clothes collection on Saturday morning, October 6th.

Unwanted clothes can be dropped to the complex in a black bag between 10am and 11am on the day.

Handball

Congratulations to Emmet Jones who won the Ballydesmond Invitational under-12 plate on Saturday. Emmet is a great clubman and recently helped out with our flag day and, as well as being an exceptional handballer, is a talented hurler and Gaelic footballer. Keep up the great work, Emmet!

Tipperary

Congratulations to Portroe man Liam Sheedy who was appointed manager of the Tipperary senior hurlers for 2018. In his previous stint in the role, Liam led the county to All-Ireland glory in 2010.

One of Liam’s first matches will be on Saturday, November 3rd in Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh as the Premier legends face their old nemesis from Kilkenny in a fundraising event for Amanda Stapleton who was recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Greats like Eoin Kelly and Henry Shefflin will dust off the helmets and hurleys to tog out and it will be a fantastic opportunity to see real heroes of the past one more time in their county colours.

As well as the match that throws in at 6pm, there will be a 5KM club colours fun run at 11am the same day and it would be fantastic to see lots of Éire Óg tops participate for what is a worthy cause. Already Mark Long can be regularly seen pounding the pavements of Nenagh in preparation for the run in his determination to be the first Éire Óg man across the finish line. 

Tipperary Website

Recently the Tipperary County Board launched their rebranded website http://tipperary.gaa.ie

 The website is a lot more user friendly than its previous incarnation and the results/fixtures section is a dramatic improvement on its predecessor. We would encourage all Nenagh Éire Óg supporters to visit it and familiarise yourself with all it has to offer.