Chris Dunne hat-trick inspires Tipp Minor Hurlers into All-Ireland Final

GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Tipperary 5-18

Cork 2-19

Report: Shane Brophy at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Chris Dunne (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Chris Dunne 3-5 (0-2 frees, 0-2 s-cuts); Eanna Tucker 1-4; Conall Morrisson 0-4; Josh Moroney 1-1; Shane Ryan, Conor Kennedy, Zack O’Keeffe, KJ Dunne 0-1 each.

Cork: Bobby Power 2-8 (0-7 frees); Sam McCarthy 0-3; Sean Riordan, Ryan Cagney 0-2 each; Callum Coffey, Liam O’Regan, Stephen McHugh, Cormac Murphy 0-1 each.

Tipperary booked their place in the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final with a stirring comeback victory over Cork in the semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

The final margin of eight points doesn’t tell the true story as Tipp were four down on 45 minutes but their ability to get goals all through the championship came to the fore once more with sub Josh Moroney’s strike five minutes after coming on ignited his side who outscored their rivals 3-8 to 0-5 down the home straight.

An unchanged Tipperary team from the Munster Final win over Limerick over a month ago were quickly out of the blocks with Conor Kennedy winning a free, converted by Chris Dunne with Conall Morrisson off the mark also inside two minutes.

Cork, with just seven starters from the team that played Tipp in the Munster round-robin in April, quickly got into the stride, winning two frees, converted by Bobby Power before he goaled on six minutes, finishing clinically after Tipp failed to clear their lines after Callum Coffey’s point attempt came back off the upright.

A long range Sean Riordan point extended the lead before Tipp’s first goal chance came on eleven minutes with Marley Walsh saving from Conall Morrisson.

Chris Dunne converted a 30-yard sideline cut into the breeze before Liam O’Riordan pointed from long range for the Rebels.

The Munster champions were struggling to develop a flow but points from Conor Kennedy and Shane Ryan hinted at a change, however they were quickly cancelled out by points from Coffey and Cormac Murphy, the latter after a superb hook by Tipp captain Conor Collins after Coffey threatened a goal.

Tipp were playing second fiddle in terms of possession but burst into life in the 21st minute when Eanna Tucker flashed a rebound to the net after KJ Dunne’s initial shot had been saved.

They goaled again two minutes later when Chris Dunne blocked down handpass by Cork keeper Marley Walsh and had the easy task of flicking to the net. With Conall Morrisson pointing twice in quick succession, Tipp were flying but Cork outscored them 0-3 to 0-1 coming up to half time to trail, 2-8 to 1-9.

Tipp had the aid of the breeze in the second half with Dunne converting a second sideline cut before a Zack O’Keeffe point pushed them three clear. However, Dunne went for a goal from a 21 yard free on 35 minutes, saved in the line which Cork turned into a score at the other end through Sam McCarthy and the game turned with Cork dominating the next ten minutes with Ryan Cagney pointing before he played in Bobby Power for his second goal on 41 minutes.

A Power free and a McCarthy point from play pushed them four clear as an element of panic started to come into Tipp’s play, turning down easy point chances in the search for goals but it paid off on 47 minutes when Morrisson and KJ Dunne combined for Moroney to finish clinically.

Sam McCarthy’s third point brought Cork within one before Chris Dunne goaled from acute angle on 52 minutes. Cork stayed coming with Power converting his sixth free before Dunne completed his hat-trick after robbing possession from Nathan Coffey before running on to goal.

Josh Moroney almost had a second goal only for his shot to fly over the bar while the latter stages were the Eanna Tucker show with three points, added to by both KJ Dunne and man of the match Chris Dunne as Tipp progressed to the final on June 27/28.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Connolly (Carrick Swan); Colm Ryan (Newport), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers, Capt); Travis McLoughlin (Cahir), James Finn (Golden Kilfeacle), Oisin Kennedy (Newport); Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Zack O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), KJ Dunne (Toomevara).

Subs: Josh Moroney (Ballina) for O’Keeffe (42); Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite) for Healy (60); Sean Burke (JK Brackens) for S Ryan (60+1); Rian McGrath (Kiladangan) for C Dunne (60+5).

Cork: Marley Walsh; Jack Batterberry, Finn Cahill, Nathan Coffey; Eoin Considine (Capt), Dave Nolan, Liam O’Regan; Alfie Hennessy, Stephen McHugh; Cormac Murphy, Sean Riordan, Ryan Cagney; Callum Coffey, Sam McCarthy, Bobby Power.

Subs: Tadhg McCarthy for Murphy (39); Cathal Barry for S McCarthy (56); Conor Ronayne for Cagney (60+1).

Referee: Niall Malone (Clare).

Attendance: 2,505.