North end with a win as the West claim the Miller Shield

North Tipperary 3-23

Mid Tipperary 1-15

Report: Shane Brophy in Boherlahan

The revived Miller Shield concluded on a bitterly cold Saturday in Boherlahan and Cashel as the West claimed the title but the North ended the campaign on a high.

Once more, new Tipperary manager Colm Bonnar and his management team of Tommy Dunne, Paul Curran and Johnny Enright were on hand to run the rule over the players as they put the final touches to their first training panel ahead of the start of collective training this Wednesday night.

In terms of the Miller Shield competition itself, the North were strong on five of the six halves of hurling played over the three games but the costly first half against the West when they fell twelve points down at half time proved decisive, as their scoring difference was the strongest by far of all four divisions but not enough to claim the title.

However, the competition was about giving players an opportunity to impress the new Tipperary management and from a North point of view, a number have done through the three games, particularly Ballinahinch’s David Gleeson who scored 1-2 off the bench on Saturday, adding to the 2-4 in the previous two games, with his movement into space and good outlet for passes. Indeed, the North’s bench was impressive with Alan Tynan scoring three and added to his performance against the South, should get another go with Tipperary.

Of the other players that haven’t been on the senior panel before, Declan McGrath of Kiladangan cannot do much more to impress and was strong again while behind him, Templederry’s Darragh Carey’s strong send of season form won’t have gone unnoticed.

On the day, Toomevara’s Jack Delaney shone brightly with six points from play from midfield and is certainly a player with plenty of talent, while his clubmate Andrew Ryan was another to impress at full back and is a player who looks hungry for another opportunity at the highest level.

In fairness to the Mid, without the Loughmore/Castleiney, Thurles Sarsfields and Drom & Inch contingent throughout the three games, they struggled in this campaign and on the day, managed just 1-5 from play with Darragh Woods top-scoring with ten points from frees.

The game itself was well contested and level at 0-5 apiece after 22 minutes when the North broke the match open with two goals in the space of a minute from Colin Floyd and Kian O’Kelly to move into a 2-8 to 0-9 half time lead. They could also afford a missed penalty as Joe Fogarty’s poor effort was easily saved by Rhys Shelly whose puckouts were once again impressive as the battle to be the next in line after Barry & Brian Hogan between the posts continued.

The North upped a gear after half time with David Gleeson making an immediate impact with a goal four minutes after the restart and from there the result was never in doubt with Ronan Teehan managing a fine consolation goal for the Mid in the 52nd minute.

North Tipperary: Brian Hogan (Lorrha); Darragh Carey (Templederry Kenyons 0-1), Andrew Ryan (Toomevara), Darragh Nolan (Silvermines); James Quigley (Kiladangan), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Declan McGrath (Kiladangan); Robbie Quirke (Toomevara), Jack Delaney (Toomevara 0-6); Mark McCarthy (Toomevara 0-1), Joe Fogarty (Moneygall 0-6, 5f), Jerry Kelly (Borris-Ileigh 0-1); Thomas Cleary (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Colin Floyd (Newport 1-0), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs 1-0).

Subs: Alan Tynan (Roscrea 0-3) for Kelly (HT); Philip Hickey (Nenagh Eire Og) for McCarthy (HT); David Gleeson (Ballinahinch 1-2) for Cleary (HT); Billy Seymour (Kiladangan 0-2) for Floyd (HT); Jerry Kelly for Quirke (40); Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers 0-1) for Morgan (44).

Mid Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris); Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny), Tom Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris), Dean Carew (Upperchurch/Drombane); Martin Barnaville (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Gavin Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Cathal Barrett (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-1), Max Hackett (Moycarkey/Borris 0-1); Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny), Tom Meade (Moyne-Templetuohy 0-1), Fionn Cleary (Gortnahoe/Glengoole 0-1); Keane Hayes (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Ronan Teehan (Gortnahoe/Glengoole 1-0), Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-10f).

Subs: Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens 0-1) for O’Dwyer (HT); Tom Ryan (Moycarkey/Borris) for Hayes (HT).

Referee: Luke Foran (Carrick Davins).