All-Ireland Final heartache for Tipp Minors

GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final

Limerick 2-12

Tipperary 1-14

Report: Shane Brophy at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Limerick: Shane Waters 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4 frees); Gavin O’Brien 1-1; Diarmuid Crowe, Eamon O’Sullivan 0-2 each; John Ross O’Reilly 0-1.

Tipperary: Chris Dunne 1-7 (0-5 frees); Conal Morrisson 0-3; Conor Kennedy, KJ Dunne 0-2 each.

It was heartache for the Tipperary minor hurlers as Limerick scored 1-1 in added to snatch victory in the All-Ireland Final on Saturday.

Tipperary led for as good as the whole way and were three points in front going into final two minutes of three of added time when sub Gavin O’Brien goaled, and with the momentum behind them, fellow sub John Ross O’Reilly made himself the hero with the winning point.

Tipp had one last chance to force extra time but Chris Dunne’s sideline cut from 40 yards was wide of the target as the Shannonsiders celebrated a first All-Ireland Minor title in 42 years.

However, it’s a game Tipp will rue after missing a host of chances with eighteen wides, plus a slew of goal chances either not taken or forced when the better option would have been to take the point. In the end they paid the price.

A Diarmuid Crowe point inside forty seconds was the only time Limerick led until the winning score as Tipp started well with Chris Dunne converting a free before Conall Morrisson pointed twice from play either side of a Shane Waters free.

A foul on Morrisson yielded a second free for Chris Dunne followed and after Crowe added his second, Tipp went three clear with Chris Dunne pointing before Morrisson brought his tally to three inside eighteen minutes. Another foul on the bus Morrisson extended the lead to four before Limerick skipper Waters added to his tally.

Zack O’Keeffe missed a gilt-edged goal chance on 24 minutes after Morrissons shot had been saved but the goal wasn’t long in coming as KJ Dunne played in his namesake Chris who finished clinically.

Waters and Conor Kennedy traded points with Tipp holding a six-point lead the call of full-time when they conceded a penalty and Waters converted clinically to reduce the arrears, 1-5 to 1-8 at the break.

Tipp’s wides tally was at nine at the break and their shooting remained an issue with two wides immediately after the break before Eamon O’Sullivan opened the scoring for Limerick.

Limerick were wasteful too, thirteen wides of their own, including missed placed balls, including one after Conor Collins brilliantly denied Crowe.

Chris Dunne showed leadership to claim a puckout and land a needed point on 36 minutes but Limerick stayed close through Waters before KJ Dunne got his name on the scoresheet and a foul on Hugo Healy say Chris Dunne extend the lead to four on forty minutes.

Sub Gavin O’Brien pointed soon after coming on before Waters converted another free.

Tipp had another goal chance on 46 minutes with Healy playing in Morrisson but a defender managed to get a hook with the keeper managed to turn the shot away, the rebound fell to Morrisson from an acute angle but it hit the post.

Morrisson had little luck in front of goal in the second half but stayed working hard, winning a free which Dunne converted.

Shane Waters reduced the arrears to one before KJ Dunne had a goal chance straight at the keeper. Limerick were starting to miss chances as well as the final whistle was coming close and when Conor Kennedy and KJ Dunne pointed from play, Tipp were three clear with 61 minutes played.

However, from the subsequent puckout, the ball broke favourably to Gavin O’Brien whose low shot found its way to the corner of the net to bring the sides level.

Tipp had possession but was turned over with Limerick working it well into the corner for Rian Horgan who played in sub John Ross O’Reilly for what proved to be the winning score and break Tipp hearts.

TEAMS – Limerick: Sam Collins; Sam Mitchell, William Ryan, Rowan Collins; John O’Riordan, Conor Ryan, Eoin Hennessy; Xavier Nelligan, Jack Roche; Diarmuid Crowe, Ryan Foley, Shane Waters (Capt); Eamon O’Sullivan, Zach Bennis, Rian Horgan.

Subs: Gavin O’Brien for Bennis (40); Gavin O’Brien fore Foley (56); Paul Collins for Roche (59).

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

Subs: Josh Moroney (Ballina) for O’Keeffe (47); Ciaran Gantley (Cappawhite) for Healy (54).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).

Attendance: 12,536