Tipperary county football team

Tipperary

Sport:	Football
Irish:	Tiobraid Árann
Nickname(s):	The Premier men [1]
County board:	Tipperary GAA
Manager:	Philly Ryan
Captain:	Conor Sweeney
Home venue(s):	Semple Stadium, Thurles
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:	Munster (SF) in 2022
Last championship title:	1920
Current NFL Division:	4 (2nd in 2022; promoted)
Last league title:	None
First colours
Current season

The Tipperary county football team represents Tipperary in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Tipperary GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Munster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Tipperary's home ground is Semple Stadium, Thurles. The team's manager is Paul Kelly.

Tipperary was the second Munster county to win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC), as well as to appear in the final, following Limerick. The team last won the Munster Senior Championship in 2020, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1920 and has never won the National League. ^[2]

History

Team of Tipperary that won the 1889 All-Ireland championship

Tipperary has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) on four occasions — in 1889, 1895, 1900, and 1920. Munster Senior Football Championships also followed in 1922 and 1935 but seven provincial final defeats spanning 85 years followed those until winning against Cork in the 2020 Munster Senior Football Championship Final. ^[3]

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.

Kearns era: 2015–2019

Tipperary playing Wexford in a 2012 All-Ireland SFC Round 2 Qualifier at Semple Stadium

In November 2015, Liam Kearns, from the Kerry GAA club Austin Stacks, was appointed manager, with under-21, minor and junior manager Tommy Toomey as selector and Kearns's other selectors were Paul Fitzgerald of Fethard (Tipperary) and Shane Stapleton of Golden-Kilfeacle (Tipperary). ^[4]

In the 2016 All-Ireland SFC, the county reached the semi-final for the first time since 1935. ^[5] Michael Quinlivan scored an early goal against Galway in the quarter-final victory. ^[6] Conor Sweeney scored two more goals for Tipperary in that game. ^[7]

But the following three seasons brought only two championship wins, against Waterford and Cavan, ^[6] the former in 2017 and the latter in 2018. The 2017 Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final was lost to a last-minute goal conceded to opponents Cork. ^[6]

Tippeary achieved promotion to Division 2 in 2017, sealed late on in the concluding game against Armagh with the completion of by a second-half hat-trick from Michael Quinlivan. ^{[6] [8]}

The team was relegated to Division 3 in 2019. ^[6] Exit from the 2019 Munster Senior Football Championship swiftly followed, the defeat to Limerick that county's first championship victory in seven years. ^[6] An All-Ireland SFC qualifier defeat to Down in Newry ended Tipperary's season and Kearns's time as manager. ^[6] It was the first year since 2013 that Tipperary did not win a single championship match. ^[6]

Power era: 2019–2023

In September 2019, David Power was named as the new manager of the Tipperary senior team on a two-year term. ^{[9] [10]}

On 22 November 2020, Tipperary won the 2020 Munster Senior Football Championship after a 0-17 to 0-14 win against Cork in the final. It was Tipperary's first Munster SFC title in 85 years. ^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]} This achievement was all the more noteworthy as Tipperary had won only four league games in their previous two campaigns. ^[6]

On 6 December 2020, Tipperary played a second All-Ireland SFC semi-final in four years and again faced Mayo. In foggy conditions and losing by 16 points at half-time, the team eventually lost the game by a scoreline of 5-20 to 3-13. ^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}

Power resigned in June 2023, ^[21] leaving the role vacant until Paul Kelly was appointed in late 2023. ^[22]

Support

Friends of Tipperary Football was established in 1993. ^[23] It organises fundarsing events and provides support for football in a county where hurling traditionally dominates. ^[24] It has an officer board and executive committee. ^[25]

Crest and colours

The Tipperary players wore a white and green commemorative jersey for the 2020 Munster Senior Football Championship final - a replica of the jersey colours worn by the Tipperary team which was attacked on Bloody Sunday of 1920. ^[26] At that time the county wore the colours of its county champions, not having an official jersey. The then county champions Fethard wore blue and white but Grangemockler's white and green was worn instead. ^[27]

Current panel

Team as per Tipperary vs Kerry in the 2023 Munster SFC semi-final, 22 April 2023

No. Player Position Club 1 Evan Comerford Goalkeeper Kilsheelan-Kilcash 2 Shane O'Connell Right corner back Golden Kilfeacle 3 Jimmy Feehan Full back Killenaule 4 Willie Eviston Left corner back Loughmore-Castleiney 5 Kevin Fahey Right half back Clonmel Commercials 6 Colman Kennedy Centre back Clonmel Commercials 7 Colm O'Shaughnessy Left half back Ardfinnan 8 Mark Russell Midfield Aherlow 9 Jack Kennedy Midfield Clonmel Commercials 10 Emmet Moloney Right half forward Drom & Inch 11 Teddy Doyle Centre forward Ballina 12 Keith Ryan Left half forward Upperchurch–Drombane 13 Stephen O'Brien Right corner forward Ballina 14 Stephen Quirke Full forward Moyle Rovers 15 Cathal Deeley Left corner forward Clonmel Commercials

No. Player Position Club 16 Kuba Beben Substitute J.K. Bracken's 17 Luke Boland Substitute Moyle Rovers 18 Dáire Brennan Substitute Ballyporeen 19 Conor Cadell Substitute J.K. Bracken's 20 Martin Kehoe Substitute Mullinahone 21 Conal Kennedy Substitute Clonmel Commercials 22 Donough Leahy Substitute Arravale Rovers 23 Tommy Maher Substitute Loughmore-Castleiney 24 Liam McGrath Substitute Loughmore-Castleiney 25 Sean O'Connor Substitute Clonmel Commercials 26 Mikey O'Shea Substitute Mullinahone

^INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
^RET Player has since retired from the county team.
^WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.

Current management team

• Manager: Philly Ryan
• Management team:
• Selectors:
• Coach:
• S&C Coach:
• Physio:
• Forwards coach:

Managerial history

This is an incomplete list of Tipperary county football team managers (senior).

Dates	Name	Origin	Provincial titles	National titles
1985–1990	Johnny Mulvihill		—	—
1990–1991	Mickey Niblock	Clonmel Commercials	—	—
1991–1996	Séamus McCarthy	Galtee Rovers	—	—
1996–1997	Paddy Morrissey	Galtee Rovers	—	—
1997–1999	Colm Browne		—	—
1999–2000	Colm O'Flaherty	Cahir	—	—
2000–2003	Tom McGlinchey	Newport	—	—
2003–2004	Andy Shorthall		—	—
2004–2006	Séamus McCarthy (2)	Galtee Rovers	—	2005 Tommy Murphy Cup
2006–2007	John Owens	Moyle Rovers	—	—
2007–2012 [28] [29]	John Evans		—	2009 NFL Division 3
2012–2015 [30] [31]	Peter Creedon		—	2014 NFL Division 4
2015–2019 [4] [32]	Liam Kearns		—	2017 NFL Division 3
2019–2023	David Power	Kilsheelan-Kilcash	2020 Munster Senior Football Championship	—
2023–2024	Paul Kelly	Thomas Davis	—	—
2024–	Philly Ryan	Clonmel Commercials	—	—

Players

Notable players

For individual player details, see Category:Tipperary inter-county Gaelic footballers.

Notable players include:

• Philip Austin: 2006–2020 ^{[33] [34] [35]}
• Tommy Doyle
• Michael Hogan ^[36]
• Peter Lambert
• Declan Browne ^[37]
• John O'Callaghan
• Michael Quinlivan
• Conor Sweeney

All Stars

Tipperary have won four football All Stars. ^[38]

All Star winners
Awards	Players
2	Declan Browne (1998, 2003)
1	Michael Quinlivan (2016)
	Conor Sweeney (2020)

Team sponsorship

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

• 1991–1992: Cidona
• 1993–1995: Hayes Hotel
• 1995–1997: Moy Insulation
• 1998–2001: Finches
• 2002–2011: Enfer Scientific
• 2011–2014: Škoda
• 2015–2018: Intersport/Elverys
• 2019–2021: Teneo
• 2022–: Fiserv

Honours

Main article: Tipperary GAA honours § Football

National

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
  • Winners (4): 1889, 1895, 1900, 1920
  • Runners-up (1): 1918
• Tommy Murphy Cup
  • Winners (1): 2005 ^[39]
• All-Ireland Senior B Football Championship
  • Winners (1): 1995
• All-Ireland Junior Football Championship
  • Winners (3): 1912, 1923, 1998
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
  • Runners-up (1): 2015 ^[40]
• All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
  • Winners (2): 1934, 2011 ^[37]

Provincial

• Munster Senior Football Championship
  • Winners (10): 1888, 1889, 1895, 1900, 1902, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1935, 2020
  • Runners-up (18): 1894, 1899, 1907, 1923, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2016
• Munster Junior Football Championship
  • Winners (7): 1910, 1912, 1923, 1935, 1937, 1952, 1998
• Munster Under-21 Football Championship
  • Winners (2): 2010, 2015
• Munster Minor Football Championship
  • Winners (7): 1934, 1935, 1955, 1984, 1995, 2011, ^[41] 2012 ^[41]
• McGrath Cup
  • Winners (3): 1989, 1993, 2003
• Munster Football League
  • Winners (2): 1929–30, 1934–35

References

1. "Team news: Premier men stay the same". Hogan Stand. 16 March 2018.
2. "Premier ambitions — football finding its feet in hurling country once again". RTÉ. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
3. "Premier ambitions — football finding its feet in hurling country once again". RTÉ. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
4. Liam Kearns appointed Tipperary football manager RTÉ
5. Premier Rewind: Putting Tipp football back on the map Tipp FM
6. Crowe, Dermot (6 December 2020). "For the love of club, county and football - why Tipperary's star forward came home". Sunday Independent .
7. All Ireland SFC Q-F: Terrific Tipperary triumph
8. Michael Quinlivan heroics against Armagh sees Tipperary promoted Irish Examiner
9. "Power named as new Tipperary football boss". RTÉ. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
10. "2011 All-Ireland minor winning manager takes over Tipp senior footballers". The42.ie. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
11. "Tipperary end 85-year wait for Munster senior football glory with famous win over Cork". The42.ie. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
12. "Tipperary end 85-year wait to win Munster crown". RTÉ. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
13. "It's a long way to Tipperary glory, a long way to go". RTÉ. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
14. "Munster SFC final: terrific Tipp bridge 85-year gap". Hogan Stand. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
15. "Stars align as heroic Tipperary shock Cork for first Munster SFC title in 85 years". Irish Examiner . 22 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
16. "Every kind of wind imaginable was against Tipperary football — and they came through". The Irish Times. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
17. "All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Mayo 5–20 Tipperary 3–13 (FT)". The Irish Times. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
18. "MAYO 5–20 TIPPERARY 3–13". GAA.ie. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
19. "All-Ireland semi-final recap: Mayo 5–20 Tipperary 3–13". RTÉ. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
20. "Mayo 5–20 Tipperary 3–13: as it happened". The42.ie. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
21. "David Power steps down as Tipperary senior manager". 6 June 2023.
22. "Paul Kelly set to be announced as new Tipperary manager". 31 October 2023.
23. "It's a long way to Tipperary glory, a long way to go". RTÉ. 23 November 2020.
24. "Friends of Tipperary". New Ross Standard . 22 January 2000.
25. "Friends of Tipperary Football". Tipperary GAA . Retrieved 2 February 2021.
26. "Tipperary's replica Munster SFC final jersey was a 'one-off'". Hogan Stand . 24 November 2020.
27. "Tipperary footballers back in blue and gold for All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo". RTÉ. 25 November 2020.
28. Evans ratified as new Tipperary football manager Irish Independent
29. John Evans resigns as Tipperary senior football manager RTÉ
30. Creedon appointed Tipp senior football manager Irish Examiner
31. Peter Creedon resigns after Tyrone blow away Tipperary The Irish Times
32. Tipperary Manager Liam Kearns Resigns Following Defeat To Down Pundit Arena
33. "Philip Austin calls time on Tipperary career after 15 years". Irish Independent. 23 April 2021.
34. "Austin announces Tipp retirement". Hogan Stand. 23 April 2021.
35. "Tipp stalwart Austin calls time on inter-county days". RTÉ. 23 April 2021.
36. "Bloody Sunday 90th anniversary commemorated". South Tipp Today. 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
37. Declan Browne: 'I've no problem saying it, we all cried, I cried myself in the Hogan Stand' The42.ie
38. "Tipperary All Stars". Tipperary GAA. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
39. "Tipp win Murphy Cup". Hogan Stand. 4 September 2005.
40. "Tyrone seal dramatic Under-21 triumph". RTÉ. 2 May 2015.
41. "Munster MFC final: Tipp comeback downs Kingdom". Hogan Stand. 9 July 2012.