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Author Liam Ó Donnchú’s long-awaited biography of ‘Tom Semple and The Thurles Blues’ will, I am happy to relate, be launched at the Thurles Sarsfields Centre, (beside Semple Stadium, Thurles), on Saturday June 13th at 8:00 p.m.
Tom Semple, a GAA icon and whose name is immortalised in the name “Semple Stadium” here in Thurles, is synonymous worldwide with the game of hurling, having led the legendary ‘Thurles Blues’ to All-Ireland glory in 1906 and 1908.
The Book’s Contents:
This well researched publication will discuss in great detail these earlier heroes of the ‘camán’ (Irish: Hurl), together with Tom Semple’s training regime and tactics. Readers can follow ‘The Blues’ on their amazing tour in 1910 to Brussels in Belgium and historic Fontenoy in France. They can also learn the fascinating story of the early years of the Thurles Sports field; now Semple Stadium, and how same developed into today’s ‘Field of Legends’. They can observe the role played by Tomas Semple and others in the local War of Independence and which is also detailed in this hardback publication; containing more than 400 truly well researched and fascinating pages.
The book is beautifully illustrated throughout and offers new insights, in many cases erased through time, into the life and times of a yesteryear.
Note: All are welcome to attend this book-launch and books costing €30 will be available from bookshops in Tipperary or signed copies can be ordered by post (€35) from the author: Liam Ó Donnchú, Lár na Páirce, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The burial place of Tom Semple can be located in the grounds (north side) of St Mary’s Churchyard, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, close to St Mary’s Famine Museum.
Thurles Leisure Centre gym remained closed to the public today (Sunday 12th April) to allow for staff training in final preparations ahead of the re-opening of Thurles swimming pool tomorrow.
This magnificent leisure facility here in Thurles has been closed for 11 months after tiles had been identified as lifting from the base of the pool, during May of 2014.
 Now it is all systems go for tomorrow morning with the pool fully refilled with water and the temperature brought up to correct levels, [Between 77° to 82° F (25°-28°C)].
Tipperary Co. Councillor Seamus Hanafin, who has been most vocal in keeping local people up-to-date on this issue, has explained some of the reasons for the delays over the past 11 months.
“It was a case of ensuring that this project was undertaken to the highest possible standards using correct public procurement procedures. It was most important also that through these procedures, an engineer be identified with the necessary hands on knowledge and experience; thus ensuring that into the future there would be no further recurrence of previously identified structural problems and the inevitable waste of taxpayer funding,” stated Mr Hanafin.
“Once the correct tiles and adhesive had been identified and replaced, it was imperative that expansion joints be allowed to set, before water was slowly added; to give the tank time to properly expand as massive water pressure was increased. A ‘back wash process’, latter which flushes water in the tank back through sand filters, had also to be undertaken to flush out all / any dirt which may have accumulated from previous filtration,” continued Councillor Hanafin.
The Councillor also stated that; “To further ensure a successful conclusion to previous issues the Co. Council had also re-commissioned both the filtration and chlorination systems, as part of this latest refurbishment.”
From tomorrow (Monday 13th April) the Thurles Leisure Centre will re open at 7.00am, as was previously usual for a Monday, with valued customers once more having full access to the Swimming Pool, Sauna, Steam Room and Spa Pool, hopefully long into the future.
 Hawk-Eye score verification technology is expected to be up and running here in Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co Tipperary this summer, 2015, in time for the Munster SHC quarter-final between Clare and Limerick.
This technology was given the green light for installation in several major stadia outside Croke Park at last year’s GAA Congress. However with Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Casement Park both undergoing complete reconstruction at present, this technology is expected to be undertaken at Semple Stadium first.
With a feasibility study of Semple Stadium now completed, it is expected that this technology can be installed in time for the start of this summer’s Munster hurling championship, scheduled for the end of May initially, while using a temporary screen.
Semple Stadium will also host a Munster football quarter-final between Tipperary and Waterford, followed by a provincial hurling semi-final between Cork and Waterford before the second week of June, so for testing purposes alone, getting this technology up and running by May ‘s end would represent good planning.
This verification technology was called into use to decide the All-Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary last September 2014 in Croke Park Stadium, ruling that John O’Dwyer’s final action free, before full-time, was indeed narrowly outside the target zone, thus resulting in both teams having to replay.
 In front of an attendance of some 7,895, Tipperary made an extraordinary comeback in Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday to finish top of Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League, having squandered perhaps numerous possible opportunities in the opening half.
Cork were leading by 0-15 (15 pts) to 0-13 (13 pts) after a rather frenzied first half yesterday, thanks to six accurate frees from Patrick Horgan.
In a breathless, heart pounding second half, Cork would now increase their lead by a further 12 points at one stage, thanks to four goals courtesy of Patrick Horgan, Paudie O’Sullivan and Conor Lehane. Despite two answering points from Tipp, Cork’s Lehane was to get the first goal, before Horgan’s first goal placed the side ahead by seven; the scoreboard reading Cork 2-16 (22 pts) to Tipperary 0-15 (15 pts).
Further points from both Tipp and Cork were to follow before Hogan would strike yet again with his second goal, leaving Cork visibly safe with a healthy 12 point lead over the Premier county – Cork 4-19 (31 pts) to Tipperary 0-19 (19 pts).
However Cork had not bargained for the sheer belief and spirited attitude of, in particular, Tipperary’s Woodlock, Bergin, Callanan, McGrath and late substitute Kenny.
On the 54th minute Kieran Bergin scored a goal which was to set in motion Tipperary’s remarkable recovery, while Seamus Callanan scored that important free to sever Cork’s lead to just 8 pts in front – Cork 4-21 (33 pts) to Tipperary 1-22 (25 pts).
Noel McGrath then further narrowed this gap to just one single point, before Conor Kenny hit over the equalising point on the 68th minute – Cork 4-21 (33 pts) to Tipperary 2-27 (33 pts), – and then came that 35 metre distance point from once again Noel McGrath, to finally clinch Tipperary’s hard fought victory.
Final Score: Round 5 Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Final Score: Tipperary 2-28 (34 pts) – Cork (33 pts).
Tipperary Scorers: S. Callanan 0-10 (10 pts), N. McGrath 0-7 (7 pts), J. Forde 1-4 (7 pts), N. O’Meara 0-3 (3 pts), K. Bergin 1-0 (3 pts) and T. Stapleton, J. O’Dwyer, C. Kenny, R. Maher 0-1 (1 pt) each.
Tipperary Team: D. Egan, P. Stapleton, C. O’Mahony, C. O’Brien; K. Bergin, P. Maher, R. Maher; S. McGrath, T. Stapleton, N. McGrath, B. Maher, J. Forde, J O’Dwyer, S. Callanan and N. O’Meara.
Substitutes: P. Maher for B. Maher (1st half blood sub.), P. Maher for B. Maher, M. Breen for S. McGrath, S. Bourke for O’Dwyer, J. Woodlock for T. Stapleton and C. Kenny for N. O’Meara.
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).
Division 1A Quarter Finals will be played next weekend (28th/29th March).
Tipperary v Offaly (Toss for home venue) – Cork v Wexford (Toss for home venue) – Dublin v Limerick (Toss for home venue) – Galway v Waterford (Waterford venue).
A moment’s silence was held in Semple Stadium today for legendary Tipperary goalkeeper Mr Tony Reddin, amongst others, before today’s throw-in for the much anticipated battle between Tipperary and Kilkenny, the results of which would decide progress to the Quarter-Finals of the Allianz Hurling League.
In front of a reported attendance of almost 10,500, Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan rattled home a magnificent 1-07 (10 pts), thus leaving Kilkenny guaranteed to be in a relegation play-off in their fight to preserve their Division 1A status.
This will be the first time under manager Brian Cody’s watch that Kilkenny has suffered three straight competitive defeats, possibly due to injuries and retirements. All eyes will be most firmly focused on the Nowlan Park fixture – Kilkenny V Clare – scheduled for next weekend.
Today’s game in the first half demonstrated all the indications of being a true championship experience, as both sides sought dominance. The game started with a goal in the first 30 seconds of play, from Kilkenny’s Jonjo Farrell, but Tipp’s Seamus Callanan had both sides level within three minutes, firing past the Cat’s Eoin Murphy leaving both teams all square by the 4th minute of play. Aided by this one goal (3 pts) in the first half and a second goal from N. O’Meara in the second half, it was to be Tipperary’s first victory against Kilkenny since their League success some two years ago and just their second in the last 12 League and Championship outings.
Nevertheless by half-time today Tipperary were showing a healthy seven point divide over their rivals – Tipperary 1-16 (19 pts) to Kilkenny’s 1-09 (12 pts) – and showing the names of nine of their players firmly engraved on the scoreboard. No doubt the discussion during the break in the Tipp dressing room did express concerns over the activities of Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan, latter who had almost single-handedly kept Kilkenny in touch.
In the second half the scoring rate dropped significantly but a 42nd minute penalty from the hurl of Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan failed to pass the vigilance of Brendan Maher, guarding the goal line. The setting up of Tipp’s Noel O’Meara by Seamus Callanan for his 54th-minute goal now saw the Premier County run a full 11 points clear: Tipperary 2-18 (24 pts) to Kilkenny 1-10 (13 pts).
Tipperary were again 13 points ahead just before the final whistle and finally declared the day with a prized 12 points lead, thus confirming their rightful place in the upcoming quarter-finals.
Final Score: Tipperary 2-22 (28 pts) – Kilkenny 1-13 (16 pts).
Tipperary Scorers: S. Callanan 1-07 (10 pts), N. O’Meara 1-02 (5 pts), J. O’Dwyer 0-04 (4 pts), N. McGrath 0-03 (3 pts), M. Breen 0-02 (2 pts), P. Maher, J. Woodlock, J. Forde and S. Bourke 0-01 each (1 pt).
Tipperary Team: D. Gleeson, P. Curran, C. O’Mahony, C. Barrett, M. Breen, P. Maher, R. Maher; K. Bergin, J. Woodlock, J. O’Dwyer, B. Maher, J. Forde, N. McGrath, S. Callanan, and N. O’Meara.
Substitutions: C. O’Brien for injured P. Curran, S. McGrath for J. Forde, J. McGrath for N. O’Meara, S. Bourke for N. McGrath and D. Egan for injured D. Gleeson.
Referee: J. McGrath (Westmeath).
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