Tipperary eye plans to double centre of excellence size

Premier County chief executive Murtagh Brennan says the county could increase their Coolmore Dr Morris Park base to six pitches.

Murtagh Brennan says money raised from the current “Win A House in Cashel” fundraiser will go towards the development of a training facility adjacent to Semple Stadium. Pic: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Tipperary GAA are looking to double the size of its Coolmore Dr Morris Park base to a six-pitch centre of excellence.

The county board’s chief executive officer Murtagh Brennan has outlined plans to add three more playing areas to the Thurles hub adjacent to FBD Semple Stadium.

Speaking to Tipperary’s 2016 All-Ireland winning captain Brendan Maher on the county’s new app, Brennan says money raised from the current “Win A House in Cashel” fundraiser will go towards the development of a training facility.

“There are two options available to us: one is expand Coolmore Dr Morris Park and that will be reflected in the strategic plan,” he said. “If we get additional land, once we get additional land, then you’ll see movement. We’ll have a phase two ready to go.

“I suppose I’m slow to pursue a phase two in a facility that only has three pitches. There is no real point in having a dining room or a gymnasium unless we have five pitches.

“Failing to do that, we’ll have to look at option two, which would be a greenfield site and develop a full centre of excellence from there. We’re focusing heavily on option one for the moment. The money generated from ‘Win A House’ will be ringfenced until such time as a) we’re buying land and b) announcing the facility.” 

Brennan has stressed the convenience and cost savings that can be made by all of the county’s teams training in one location. “It’s nice to walk in and see all your teams. If you walk in on a Tuesday night, they won’t all be there because there won’t be enough room. You might have to move our minor hurlers to Templemore or Loughmore or Borrisoleigh.

“We want a central location and we have you them centralised, it’s amazing how much structure you can put around saying management team costs. We’re running buses for all our minor teams and they’re training nearly all over the county because we have to bring them to locations but they can’t train the same night because we don’t have two pitches available the same night.” 

Last year, Tipperary GAA spent €187,931 on its development teams in 2024, €32,029 of which was on facility hire. Across the board, the county’s bill for travel and accommodation almost doubled to €181,900 from €92,768 in ’23. The combined minors’ travel and accommodation costs alone came to €95,749.

Brennan spoke of the standard being raised “by Limerick and by Clare and we keep having to meet it”. He added that appointing an athletic coordinator will be part of the county’s strategic plan. “That’s something I think we can benefit from – a one piece oversight on the development of players physically from 14 (years of age) to senior. Just ensures consistency.

“Sure, these days you have Harty Cup, you’ve got club, you’ve got county, you’ve got different S&Cs operating with the players so we need to have one person overseeing the players to ensure they’re not going to suffer from burnout, even injuries.”