Twelve months’ worth the wait for Silvermines

GAA: FBD Insurance Tipperary Junior ‘B’ Hurling Final

Silvermines 2-14

Thurles Sarsfields 0-10

Report: James Hayden at St. Michael’s GAA Grounds, Holycross

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Orrie Quirke (Silvermines)

SCORERS – Silvermines: Orrie Quirke 0-5; David Shanahan 0-4 frees; Sean Spillane 0-3; Eamon Corcoran, Gerard Leamy 1-0 each; Ronan Cunneen (free), Cathal Gleeson 0-1 each.

Thurles Sarsfields: Dylan Burke 0-4 (3 frees); Willie Tierney 0-3; Bill Darcy, Mark Lanigan, Lar Corbett 0-1 each.

A superb second-half Silvermines performance ensured the North champions overcame Thurles Sarsfields in what proved an absorbing County Junior ‘B’ Hurling final on Sunday.

Played in heavy underfoot conditions following a prolonged morning of heavy rain, both sides served up a hard-fought encounter with the ‘Mines fashioning a terrific second half performance after trailing by the bare minimum at the break.

The introduction of the Silvermines version of South Africa’s famed bomb squad in rugby, a triple substitution on the 44th minute mark served to infuse the ‘Mines attack with a potent injection of both pace and experience.

At this juncture the sides were level, 1-7 to 0-10, but Sean Quirke’s charges really turned on the style in the final fifteen minutes, belying the sticky underfoot conditions and hitting 1-7 without reply in what proved a thoroughly dominant closing quarter.

Having demolished Solohead in the semi-final Thurles Sarsfields went into this encounter expective a far stiffer challenge from a well-prepared Silvermines side who had accounted easily for south champions, Carrick Swan, and were seeking to atone for last year’s county final defeat to Cappawhite.

The last county final between the two clubs came in 1974 when Sarsfields prevailed in the senior decider, but on this occasion, it was the Tim Maher Cup at stake instead of the Dan Breen and Silvermines were determined to bring the silverware back to the foothills of Bun Ciamaltha.

In fairness to Ger ‘Redser’ O’Grady’s charges, they kept pace with Silvermines throughout the opening half. Despite coughing up a sixth minute goal after Silvermines full-forward, Eamon Corcoran ghosted in behind the Sars’ defence and rattled the back of the net with aplomb, Sarsfields were full value for their half-time 0-9 to 1-5 lead.

Playing with the aid of a slightly diagonal breeze, Sarsfields cancelled out Corcoran’s early strike with efforts from Mark Lanigan, Willie Tierney, Dylan Burke and Bill Darcy. Ronan Cunneen had added an eleventh minute free to the’ Mines tally but by the 18th minute the sides were level, 1-1 to 0-4.

Thurles Sarsfields really grew into the game in the second quarter as Silvermines struggled to contain their movement in the middle third. Dylan Burke added a fifth point for his side on twenty minutes before David Keogh, playing against his former side, set up Willie Tierney for a sublimely struck 22nd minute effort. Dylan Burke quickly followed up with a booming long-range free two minutes later to fire Sarsfields into a three-point advantage.

Silvermines were floundering at this stage and were in dire need of a stabilizing influence and it came in the guise of a morale-boosting Orrie Quirke point, a fantastic effort from way out the field.

Within seconds the midfielder had doubled his tally this time with a tremendous long-range strike which drew a huge approving roar from the ‘Mines faithful.

Sarsfields responded with a Dylan Burke free from a tight angle but with centre-back, Cathal Gleeson and captain Eddie Ryan hurling up a storm in defence the ‘Mines retorted with yet another Orrie Quirke strike, the third on the bounce for the eventual player of the match.

Again, Sarsfields responded with a sweet Willie Tierney point before Willie Keogh teed up Orrie Quirke for his fourth point of the half deep in time added on to ensure last year’s county runners-up trailed by just the bare minimum at the break.

Both sides emerged to put their stamp on the game but it was Silvermines who made a far more convincing start to the second half with both Ciaran Timmons and Sean Spillane raiding early on.

Sarsfields’ survived the early onslaught though and really should have extended their advantage but Dylan Burke’s radar from placed balls was malfunctioning slightly.

Sean Spillane burst into the game with his first of three-second half points in the 33rd minute before Lar Corbett gathered Dylan Burke’s searching delivery and bisected the uprights with ease for what proved to be the final score of the game for Sarsfields, 0-10 to 1-6.

Both sides battled tigerishly for possession throughout a low-scoring third quarter before Silvermines rang the changes. Thurles Sarsfields missed the chance to put two between the sides in the 44th minute after Dylan Burke’s free drifted wide.

With free-taker Ronan Cunneen now off the field, the ‘Mines turned to their goalkeeper, David Shanahan to hit their placed balls and boy did he hit them, arrowing over two well-struck frees in quick succession to boost his side’s tally.

Sean Spillane popped up with a third on the bounce for the North champions before Gerard Leamy gathered neatly in the 50th minute and made a beeline towards the Thurles Sarsfields goal. Jamie Stapleton was afforded no chance as Leamy nearly took the net of its stanchions with a rasping effort high into the roof of the Sarsfields net, 2-9 to 0-10.

The Mid champions did their utmost to create a timely riposte but once more the Mines’ rearguard held firm. David Shanahan saved from Willie Tierney on 51 minutes before Cathal Gleeson arrowed over a huge effort from range to put the Mines’ well and truly in the driving seat.

Sean Spillane followed up with a sublime 55th minute effort before Davy Shanahan arrowed over two further points from placed balls to fire the ‘Mines into a wholly unassailable eight point advantage.

Fittingly, it was Orrie Quirke who stepped up to send over the closing Silvermines score, an outrageous effort from range and one worthy of embellishing his side's first county Junior ‘B’ title since 1997.

Silvermines impressed throughout and were thoroughly deserving and convincing victors with the defensive sextet of Ben Claffey, Eddie Ryan, Tiernan Fynn, Michael Hogan, Cathal Gleeson and Sean Murphy providing a formidable rearguard. Orrie Quirke and the effervescent Patrick Steed caused major issues at midfield for Sars’ while in attack Eoin Seymour, Sean Spillane, Willie Keogh, Ciaran Timmon, Ronan Cunneen and Eamon Corcoran and played their respective roles.

For Thurles Sarsfields it wasn’t to be but they had a number of stand-out performances with James Lloyd, Bill Darcy, Urban Nolan, Paddy Carroll, Willie Tierney, David Keogh and Cian Treacy all impressing throughout.

Silvermines now go forward to represent Tipperary in the Munster Junior 'B' hurling championship and will be hoping to go one step further than last year's county champions Cappawhite, who fell at the final hurdle to eventual winners, Kildimo-Pallaskenry from Limerick.

TEAMS - Silvermines: David Shanahan (8), Ben Claffey (7), Eddie Ryan (Capt, 8), Tiernan Flynn (7); Michael Hogan (7), Cathal Gleeson (8), Sean Murphy (7); Patrick Steed (7), Orrie Quirke (8); Eoin Seymour (7), William Keogh (7), Ciaran Timmons (7); Ronan Cunneen (7), Eamon Corcoran (7), Sean Spillane (8).

Subs: Gerard Leamy (7) for Corcoran (44); Niall Curran (7) for Keogh (44); Brian Leamy (7) for Cunneen (44); Daniel Ryan (NR) for Seymour (55); Sean Ryan Prendiville (NR) for Gleeson (57).

Thurles Sarsfields: Jamie Stapleton (7), Ciaran Woodlock (7), Paddy Carroll (7), James Lloyd (7); Paddy Stakelum (7), Bill Darcy (7), Urban Nolan (7); John Maher (6), Cian Treacy (Capt, 7); Cathal McElgunn (7), Willie Tierney (7), David Keogh (7); Mark Lanigan (7), Dylan Burke (7), Lar Corbett (6).

Subs: Ciaran Purcell (6) for Maher (36); David Bourke (6) for Lanigan (42); Peter Wall (NR) for Tierney (57); Barry McCormack (NR) for Keogh (57); Peter Maher (NR) for Burke (57).

Referee: John Butler (Upperchurch/Drombane).