Local TD slams ‘mindless vandals' who defaced GAA sign ahead of All-Ireland Semi-Final
A TD has hit out at 'so called fans' from his own county who defaced a GAA sign on the Tipperary Kilkenny border.
Ahead of this Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi final between the two counties at Croke Park Emeralds GAA Club in Urlingford in Co Kilkenny erected a sign wishing their young star Killian Doyle (20) the best of luck in the high stakes game.
The sign was dubbed with red paint and signs of 'Up Tipp' written on it. The location is all the more significant as it's the home club and area of senior boss Derek Lyng.
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News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3
Tipperary North and Kilkenny North-West TD, Michael Lowry, described the actions of those who defaced the sign wishing the Kilkenny team the best of luck against Tipperary on Sunday as "the behaviour of mindless vandals".
The independent TD who is a former chairman of the Tipperary County GAA Board said: "Whoever did this is not a true GAA supporter. No genuine supporter would behave in this way.
"They should hang their head in shame for bringing this kind of behaviour to the game".
He added: "There is huge excitement in the build-up to this game, as there always is when these rival teams meet on the pitch.
"There is also the usual banter between the two counties, it's all part of the build-up and enjoyed by the followers of both counties. It symbolises the great rivalry between the two and the huge respect that they have for each other''.
The last time both counties met in the championship was in the 2019 decider when Tipperary emerged victorious.
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That's my job, to make sure they're doing that. Once you get injuries out of the way, and you pick the team and the fellas are in good form going up there, I think that's the most enjoyable thing. 'There's always pressure to perform. But that pressure is from ourselves, making sure we're doing right by the players.' *****
