Semple Stalemate as Tipp are held by Kilkenny

GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A Round 7

Tipperary 2-27

Kilkenny 3-24

Report: Noel Dundon

at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jake Morris (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-8 (5 frees); Jake Morris 1-5; Eoghan Connolly 0-5 (3 frees); Darragh McCarthy 1-1; Sam O’Farrell, Sean Kenneally 0-2 each; Oisin O’Donoghue; Conor Martin; Michael Breen; Alan Tynan 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: TJ Reid 1-8 (0-4 frees); Liam Moore, Martin Keoghan 1-2 each; Cian Kenny 0-3 (2 frees); John Donnolly, Ed McDermott 0-2 each; Jordan Molloy, Richie Reid, Killian Doyle, Eoin Cody, Luke Hogan 0-1 each.

A point deep in injury time from Kilkenny’s Jordan Molloy denied Tipperary a winning conclusion to their National Hurling League campaign on Saturday evening.

Perfect conditions and a big crowd made for a fine contest and it was one which had the feel of a draw about it increasingly as the game wore onwards. The draw was probably the fairest result with both sides having had chances to win and lose the game in equal measure though Tipp failed to convert another three gilt edge goal chances.

A dead-rubber this might have been in terms of the status of the two teams in the league but try telling that to both sets of players when they set up against each other. This was expected to be a rip-roaring contest and it didn’t disappoint.

They shared 28 scores between them in the first half with Tipperary taking a slender one-point lead to the dressing room – 1-14 to 1-13. That was hard-earned, especially when one considers that Tipp were six in arrears after twenty minutes and looked to be struggling with the energy Kilkenny had brought to the battle.

That energy saw Kilkenny goal after just twenty seconds through Liam Moore, and they were to build on that goal with points from TJ Reid (2), John Donnelly and Killian Doyle. Tipp had manufactured scores from Jason Forde, Oisin O’Donoghue and the in-form Jake Morris who was the most potent Premier attacker in the half.

Kilkenny continued their scoring form with Cian Kenny (2), Reid, Moore, and Martin Keoghan as they racked up a 1-9 to 0-6 lead – Morris, Eoghan Connolly and Sam O’Farrell keeping Tipperary on the Cats coattails with points.

However, a Jake Morris goal in the 20th minute after a knockdown from Gearoid O’Connor ignited the Tipp challenge and they were to bang over four points in succession from Morris, Jason Forde (2) and Alan Tynan to tie up the game. In four minutes, Tipp had catapulted from being six down to level in a blitz which left Kilkenny on the back foot.

The visitors lost corner back Ivan Bolger to injury, but they had Richie & TJ Reid points to reclaim their lead again as the break approached. Tipp hit back again though with Conor Martin and Sam O’Farrell levelling, before Luke Hogan put Kilkenny back in front once more.

Points from Michael Breen and Jason Forde gave Tipp the edge at the break and considering the second quarter showing, it was probably a deserved advantage.

The game was really poised for the second half and if the exchanges continued to be as brisk as they were in the first, supporters were in for a real treat. That’s exactly how it played out with the initiative swaying this way and that.

Tipp had a goal even earlier than the Kilkenny opener when Darragh McCarthy netted after a very strong and direct Alan Tynan run forward. But Kilkenny had the three point boost cancelled through TJ Reid, sub Ed McDermott and Cian Kenny and then their defence denied Tipp a third goal on three occasions in the same attack with Eoghan Connolly, Sean Kenneally, and Jake Morris all left frustrated by the Cats rearguard led by keeper Aidan Tallis. Instead, Tipp had to be happy with points from Eoghan Connolly, Darragh McCarthy and Jason Forde.

Kilkenny hit a purple patch at the end of the third quarter when Martin Keoghan and TJ Reid pointed, and then the latter goaled in the 53rd minute to leave a point in the game – a blatant push in the back further outfield on Oisin O’Donoghue in the same attack went unpunished and the ball ended up in the Tipp net.

Kilkenny were running riot now with TJ Reid at the centre of it all, pointing and then watching John Donnolly and Eoin Cody also hitting the target. Kilkenny had worked themselves into a two point advantage and this could have been snuffed out immediately had Darragh McCarthy not been denied in the 58th minute.

Tipp were to hit seven of the next nine scores through Eoghan Connolly (3), a second sublime sideline cut from Jason Forde to go along with two frees, and one from Jake Morris to bring his personal tally to 1-5.

Kilkenny had tacked on important scores through Keoghan, TJ Reid and Ed McDermott in this period - McDermot’s score levelling the game again.

But Sean Kenneally snatched a Tipp point in the third of four minutes of added time, and it looked as though it could have sealed the victory until Jordon Molloy shot from long range to split the posts and the spoils between the two sides.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Michael Breen (Ballina); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Alan Tynan (Roscrea), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy), Jason Forde (Silvermines).

Subs: Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for McGrath (HT); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for O’Connor (HT); Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Stakelum (53); Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens) for Martin (56); Peter McGarry (St Mary’s) for Forde (68); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill) for McCarthy (70 HIA)

Kilkenny: Aidan Tallis; Ivan Bolger, Rory Garrett, Paddy Deegan; Jordon Molloy, Darragh Corcoran, Richie Reid; Cian Kenny, Killian Doyle; Martin Keoghan, John Donnelly, Tom Phelan; Liam Moore, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Luke Hogan for Phelan (19-HT); David Blanchfield for Bolger (30 inj); Ed McDermott for Phelan (HT); Cathal Beirne for Doyle (59); Rory Glynn for Cody (70+3 inj); Shane Murphy for Corcoran (70+4).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).