Tipperary GAA

Governance

Tipperary GAA has jurisdiction over the area that is associated with the traditional county of County Tipperary. There are 9 officers on the Board including the Cathaoirleach (Chairperson), Sean Nugent.

Colours and symbols

The original colours of Tipperary GAA were a white jersey with a green diagonal sash. This jersey design is associated with Tipperary's most historic match in either code, the Bloody Sunday senior football encounter with Dublin at Croke Park in 1920. The current jersey is blue with a gold central band. There have been several minor adjustments especially to the sleeve and collar areas over the years and especially since the introduction of sponsorship in recent decades which necessitates the reservation of space for company logos.

The Tipperary GAA crest originally used was the coat of arms of the Butler Family, Dukes and Earls of Ormond, whose arms were adopted by local authorities within their geographic area of influence in South Leinster and East Munster, most notably the County councils of Tipperary (South Riding), Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford and which among other refinements, included a central band of colours, surrounded by star-like designs. This crest was used until the late 1990s when the current crest, depicting the Rock of Cashel with two crossed hurleys and a football was adopted.

Past presidents

Four Tipperary men have served as President of the GAA. Maurice Davin is also the only man to have served two terms as President while Seán Ryan represented Dublin from 1928 to 1932, though a native of Kilfeacle, County Tipperary. Mr. Ryan a solicitor based in the capital, was the Association's legal advisor over a long period and played a central role in the acquisition and vesting of many club and county grounds in the GAA.

Rivalries and support

In the All-Ireland series, Kilkenny are Tipp's main rivals. This rivalry has lasted since Kilkenny's coming to power in the early 20th century. Tipp are the only team to have beaten Kilkenny in the All Ireland senior hurling championship (and also in All-Ireland senior hurling finals) more times than they have lost.

Another rival of Tipperary is Cork in the Munster Championship. These teams have met 80 times in the championship, more than any other rivalry in hurling. They have also met them countless times in the National League and pre-season challenge tournaments. A Tipp and Cork Munster hurling final in Semple Stadium is often claimed by supporters of both counties to be the most traditional Munster final and the games between them are nearly always close. The draw and replay games of 1987 and 1991 and the 1949–1954 rivalry encapsulates this rivalry and the 1991 replayed final in Thurles is claimed to be one of the greatest Munster hurling finals. This is one of the few rivalries in the provincial championships that is contested by two teams of similar stature whose honours and titles complement each other on a fairly equal basis. Kilkenny and Wexford in hurling have major difference in titles and in football, Dublin and Meath also have a gap between their respective winnings. The football teams of Galway and Mayo enjoy a similar rivalry and whose honours are divided in equal measure.

Tipp also have a strong rivalry with the other county teams in Munster and have had major tussles with Limerick in the 1930s and 40s when the latter's star was in the ascendent,though Tipp enjoy a major advantage in titles and honours won. The Tipp – Clare rivalry came with Clare's coming to power in the 1990s and the Tipp-Waterford rivalry was forged in the period 1957-63 and renewed again due to Waterford's resurgence in the 2000s, when that county enjoyed its most successful period of the modern era.

Crest and colors

Tipperary's team colors are royal blue and gold. Tipperary wear blue jerseys with a horizontal gold bar across the center along with white shorts and blue socks.

The Tippeary team crest features the Rock of Cashel prominently with two crossed hurleys and a Gaelic football below. In the year '1884' when Tipperary GAA was founded is in the center of the crest.

Hurling

The teams of the Tipperary County Board, together with Kilkenny GAA and Cork GAA lead the roll of honour in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The Board's teams have won 27 All-Ireland titles as of 2016 - the third most successful of all county boards. Three teams also have the distinction of twice winning three All-Ireland Finals in a row (1898, 1899, 1900) and (1949, 1950, 1951). The team of the 1960s is considered the greatest of all Tipperary teams. The County's fortunes have declined significantly during the last half-century to the extent that only five All-Ireland Championships have been annexed in the period 1966 - 2014. For more detail on hurling history, see here.

Current hurling squad

Squad as per Tipperary v Kilkenny, 2017 National Hurling League Round 4, 11 March 2017

Senior Hurling Captain

Historically, the Tipperary Senior Hurling Captain for the season was decided by the winners of the Tipperary Club Senior Hurling Championship. For example, Willie Ryan was the team captain for 2009 as chosen by his club Toomevara. This system however meant there was little consistency from year to year and often meant that the team captain was not an integral part of the team or even a first choice player (as in the Willie Ryan example).

For the 2010 inter-county season the responsibility for choosing the Senior Captain has been given to the Tipperary Management Team. On 12 February 2010 it was announced that Eoin Kelly from the Mullinahone club will captain the county with Declan Fanning acting as Vice Captain. Eoin Kelly was once again selected as captain for the 2011 season. Paul Curran was named as the hurling captain in January 2012.

In February 2013, Shane McGrath was appointed captain for the 2013 season.

In October 2013, Brendan Maher was named as the new Tipperary captain for 2014. Maher continued as captain for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

In November 2016, it was announced that Padraig Maher has been nominated as the new Tipperary Senior hurling captain for the 2017 season.

Honours and notable players

For details of hurling honours, see Tipperary GAA honours#Hurling and for details on notable hurlers see List of Tipperary hurlers.

Team sponsorship

Since 1991 the following companies have sponsored all of the Tipperary hurling teams.

Gaelic football

Tipp has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on four occasions - in 1889, 1895, 1900 and 1920. As the football championship is contested by a much larger number of teams than in hurling, success is hard won because of the high standard attained by many counties. For details on football history, see here.

Current football squad

Squad as per Tipperary v Mayo, 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final, 21 August 2016

Honours and notable players

For details on football honours, see Tipperary GAA honours#Football. Notable players include:

Managerial history

This is an incomplete list of Tipperary Senior football managers.

Team sponsorship

Since 1991 the following companies have sponsored all of the Tipperary football teams.

Camogie

For more details on camogie history, see Tipperary GAA History#Camogie.

Tipperary’s sudden progress to senior status (junior title in 1992, Intermediate in 1997) was followed by five All Ireland senior titles in a six-year period 1999 to 2004. Since 1949 they had previously contested seven unsuccessful All Ireland finals during Dublin’s period of dominance in the game, also losing to Antrim in 1979. They won the inaugural National Camogie League (click on date for teams) in 1976 and won a second title in 2004. St Patrick’s, Glengoole won the All Ireland senior club championship in 1966 and 1967. Cashel won the title in 2007 and 2009.

Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010–2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” five new camogie clubs are to be established in the county by 2015.

Player records

Deirdre Hughes, who was played in the "full forward" position, was a member of "The Sligo Boyz".

Honours

For details on camogie honours, see here.

Notable players

Ladies' Football

For details on football history, see here.

Honours

For details on football honours, see here.

Handball

Tipperary have not just excelled or contested the team sports regularly, Tipp also have competed in the handball competitions. By winning Senior titles in both Senior Hardball and Softball singles, Tipp are the only county to have won an All-Ireland in every sport under the GAA except Rounders, in which there is no official Senior inter-county championship.

Hardball singles

Tipperary have won two All-Ireland Senior Hardball singles titles. These have been both won by Pat Hickey in 1966 and 1971. Tipp are currently 10th on the all time Hardball roll of honour, 11 titles behind 2nd place, 13 time winnersKilkenny and 15 times winners, 1st place Dublin

Hardball doubles

Tipperary have won eight All-Ireland Senior Hardball doubles titles. These were won in 1929, 1931, 1962, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1989 and 1995.

Softball singles

Tipperary have won three All-Ireland Senior Softball singles titles. These were won in 1948, 1950 and 1983. Tipp are currently 7th in the all time Softball roll of honour, 9 behind 12 times winners, 2nd place Dublin and way behind 25 times winners Kilkenny.

Softball doubles

Tipperary have won eight All-Ireland Senior Softball doubles titles. These were won in 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1949 and 1950. Tipp are currently 3rd on the all time roll of honour, just 4 behind Kerry in second place with 12 and Kilkenny in first place, with 19.

40x20 singles

Tipperary have won five All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Singles titles. They were won in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1993 and 1994.

40x20 doubles

Tipperary won an All-Ireland Senior 40x20 Doubles title in 1991.

Stadium information

Also known as Thurles Sportsfield, re-developed in 1981 and renamed 'Semple Stadium' after Tom Semple, one of the famous Thurles Blues. The second biggest GAA stadium in Ireland.