New Tipp sponsors to be named within weeks

NEWS ROUND-UP:THE TIPPERARY County Board are confident they will have a new sponsor in place well in advance of the championship.

It was confirmed yesterday Enfer Scientific would be ending their 10-year sponsorship of Tipp hurling and football, across all grades, with the conclusion of the 2011 Allianz National Leagues.

It means Tipperary will defend their All-Ireland hurling title with new sponsors – negotiations have been under way with a replacement sponsor for the past number of weeks, and details of that deal – which is understood to be very close to fruition – is expected to be announced within weeks.

It is also expected the replacement sponsors will once again apply across all grades of hurling and football, as the Enfer deal did. The conclusion of the Enfer deal has been described as very amicable, and Tipperary County Board chairman Barry O’Brien paid tribute to their input over the last 10 years.

“Enfer have been wonderful sponsorship partners and we wish to thank them wholeheartedly for their support,” he said.

“Their contribution has been of enormous benefit to the promotion of hurling and football in Tipperary and the success achieved during this period would not have been possible without the backing of such a loyal and dedicated sponsor.”

Coincidentally, Tipperary also changed sponsorship as reigning All-Ireland hurling champions in 2001, when the then partnership with the Finches drinks company was replaced by Enfer, an animal health biotechnology company, thus beginning that 10-year agreement.

There had been speculation Enfer had pulled out before Christmas, and the Tipperary hurlers in fact lined out in the Waterford Crystal Cup without any sponsorship on their jerseys, and likewise the footballers in the McGrath Cup.

Car manufacturers Skoda Motors were strongly rumoured to be interested in taking over, and could yet emerge as the replacement sponsor.

Meanwhile, the Munster Council have confirmed the Cadbury under-21 football final between Cork and Kerry will take place next Wednesday, April 6th, at Páirc Uí Rinn, with a 7.30pm throw-in.

As it marks the 50th year of the competition, the Munster Council have also announced plans to honour the teams which contested the first Munster final in the grade, back in 1962 – which also involved Cork against Kerry.

Kerry proved successful on that occasion, beating Cork 2-7 to 1-4 in a game played at Kenmare on December 9th, 1962. The panels of both 1962 teams will be the guests of honour at next week’s final.

The Leinster under-21 football final will also take place next Wednesday evening, when Longford take on Wexford, at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

The venue for the Ulster under-21 football final has yet to be decided, and will depend on who comes through this evening’s second semi-final replay between Down and Tyrone at the Athletic Grounds (8pm), while the Connacht under-21 football final between Galway and Roscommon takes place on Saturday at Pearse Stadium (3pm).

Seven of Crossmaglen Rangers’ All-Ireland-winning side are included in the Armagh squad for Sunday’s football league game against strugglers Galway.

The Kernan brothers, Aaron and Tony, Paul Hearty, Jamie Clarke, Paul McKeown and David McKenna are all available to manager Paddy O’Rourke for the visit of the Tribesmen, while Aaron Cunningham has been added to the panel for the first time.