Dominant Tipp regain All-Ireland Under 20 Hurling title

GAA: oneills.com All-Ireland Under 20 Hurling Final

Tipperary 3-19

Kilkenny 1-16

Report: Shane Brophy at UMPC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Paddy McCormack (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Conor Martin 1-4; Paddy McCormack 2-1; Darragh McCarthy 0-5 frees; Oisin O’Donoghue 0-3 (1 s-cut); Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly, Cathal English 0-2 each.

Kilkenny: Michael Brennan 0-11 (8 frees); Marty Murphy 1-2; Jeff Neary, Ed McDermott, Greg Kelly 0-1 each.

Tipperary are All-Ireland Under 20 Hurling champions for the twelfth time after a dominant victory over Kilkenny in the final on Saturday afternoon.

Second half goals from man of the match Paddy McCormack (2) and Conor Martin eased Tipperary to a comfortable victory where they were the classier team throughout to win a third All-Ireland title in four years at the home of Kilkenny hurling.

The Tipperary team showed one stage from the side that started against Clare in the Munster Final with captain Sam O’Farrell coming back into the side at wing back in place of David Ryan.

Tipperary won the toss and opted to play against the strong breeze in the opening half, risky to give the underdogs a start and they did Michael Brennan converted two frees inside six minutes, both from Tipperary throws.

Darragh McCarthy opened Tipp’s account from a free on seven minutes before Conor Martin pointed under pressure for the first score from play two minutes later.

Kilkenny were playing midfielder Jeff Neary in a defensive role and it helped stifle Tipp in the opening quarter with McCarthy (free) and Oisin O’Donoghue pointing before Tipp made their first surge with four points in a row from O’Donoghue, English, Paddy McCormack, and a third McCarthy free.

Kilkenny hit back with points from Brennan (free) and Jeff Neary before English got his second for Tipp. Two more Brennan frees brought the hosts back within one before Adam Daly gave Tipp a 0-10 to 0-8 lead at half time.

The start of the second half was always going to be crucial and Tipp set the tone with a Conor Martin point after sixteen seconds. After a Brennan response from play, Oisin O’Donoghue cut over a sideline cut from 45 yards before Sam O’Farrell slotted over a long range point.

The powerful Marty Murphy pointed to keep Kilkenny in touch but Tipp gave themselves breathing room when O’Donoghue played in Paddy McCormack who goaled in the 38th minute to open a six point lead.

An Adam Daly point extended it but Tipp were keeping Kilkenny in the game with the concession of frees with Brennan keeping them in touch but the visitors were always able to keep the scoreboard ticking over with Martin, O’Farrell and McCarthy adding to their tallies.

Tipp’s workrate was ravenous all through and a turnover of Jeff Neary saw O’Donoghue play in McCormack for his second goal on 51 minutes. Darragh McCarthy turned provider for Conor Martin to score the third goal five minutes later as Tipp pulled away with Marty Murphy’s injury time goal mere consolation for a well-beaten Kilkenny side.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams); Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og, Capt); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-D Kickhams); Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs).

Subs: Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch) for Costigan (50); Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og) for Egan (54); Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens) for Martin (57); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for McCormack (59); Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Daly (60).

Kilkenny: Stephen Manogue; Darragh Vereker, Rory Garrett, Ivan Bolger; Timmy Kelly, Eoghan Lyng, Cathal Hickey; Tom McPhillips (Capt), Jeff Neary; Ed Lauhoff, Aaron McEvoy, Michael Brennan; Ed McDermott, Marty Murphy, Rory Glynn.

Subs: Jack Dollard for McPhillips (14-20 blood); Anthony Ireland Wall for McEvoy (39); Jack Dollard for McPhillips (50); Greg Kelly for Hickey (51); Sean Hunt for McDermott (54); James Hughes for Glynn (58).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)