Thurles Information

It is a repeat of the Leinster final and Kilkenny are now set to meet Galway in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, having trashed Tipperary by 4-24 to 1-15 in today’s semi final at Croke Park, in front of 50,220 spectators.

There is no doubt that Tipperary were bet by a better team, with Kilkenny playing an exceptional second-half and continuously winning almost every battle, raining down ball on Tipperary, which the latter seemed incapable of answering.

The early first half saw a ferocious battle of skill and tough physical contact from both sides, but exceeding all sporting expectations. However some of the exchanges on both sides during the match must now raises questions regarding the consistency of the refereeing.

Kilkenny started the scoring with a point from Aidan Fogarty, which was quickly answered by Pa Bourke.  Lar Corbett got a cut to his face in a tangle with Jackie Tyrrell. Tipperary midfielder Shane McGrath puts Tipperary in the lead with another point, but this is answered by Michael Fennelly. Shefflin converts from a free following a foul on Eoin Larkin and Aidan Fogarty lands his second point of the match. The score is now Kilkenny 0-04 Tipperary 0-02.

Despite the aid of a strong breeze behind the Tipperary goal, Richie Power sends over another point answered by points from Pa Bourke & Noel McGrath. Michael Rice adds his contribution of a further point & Tipperary’s Brendan Cummins makes a brilliant save from Colin Fennelly at point-blank range. With the aid of TJ Reid, Kilkenny are in the lead by 0-07 to Tipperary’s 0-05.

Two points from Pa Bourke see both sides level for the fourth time with Kilkenny’s Tommy Walsh forced to block the ball on his goal line in a truly brilliant save. Colin Fennelly & Henry Shefflin stretch Kilkenny’s lead with two further points.  A perfect hand pass from Shefflin sets up TJ Reid with a goal fired low on Cummins. Kilkenny are now 1-09 to Tipperary’s 0-07.

Kilkenny’s joy is short lived however when Lar Corbett dispossesses Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity and Bourke shoots a goal into an empty net. Only two points now separate the teams. The effort supplied mainly by Pa Bourke will leave Tipperary at half time leading by one point, the score, Tipperary 1-10 to Kilkenny’s 1-09.

The second half sees Lar Corbett late coming back on the pitch and scoring is quickly opened by Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin & Aidan Fogarty and answered by Tipperary’s Pa Bourke. The scores are now once again level for the eight time, Tipperary 1-11 Kilkenny 1-11.

Tipperary from then on appear to become disintegrated.  Henry Shefflin drives over a point & Lar Corbett and Jackie Tyrrell are deservedly both booked. Kilkenny’s Richie Power points from a free & Aidan Fogarty finds the goal mouth on the wrong side of Cummins. Kilkenny are now 2-14 to Tpperary’s 1-12.

Pa Bourke & Shefflin exchange frees & Cillian Buckley also adds his name to the score board.  Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin gets past Paul Curran to score a 3rd Kilkenny goal. Score stands Kilkenny 3-16 Tipperary 1-13.

Frustration now hits the Tipperary team, who fail miserably to open up play.  Points from Kilkenny’s Shefflin, Brian Hogan & a goal plus a further point from TJ Reid, were only answered with two points from Tipperary substitute John O’Neill, leaving a full time score of Kilkenny 4-24 to Tipperary 1-15.

Kilkenny now go through to their seventh All-Ireland Final in a row and the legend that is Kilkenny & Brian Coady continues, while Tipperary must wait yet another year.

Tipp Regain Munster 2012 Title

Tipperary deservedly won the Munster Final against Waterford, in front of an attendance of 26,438 fans, in Pairc Ui Chaoimh today, killing off their challengers slowly point by point.

Tipperary appeared wasteful in the early stages, with Shane Walsh, John Mullane & Pauric Mahony sending over the first three opening points for Waterford without response in the first eight minutes.

Brian O’Meara finally puts Tipp on the scoreboard but Maurice Shanahan’s free quickly restored Waterford’s three-point advantage leaving the score Tipperary 0-01 Waterford 0-04.

However Patrick Maher’s pass to John O’Brien sees the ball planted firmly in the net despite a very difficult angle. The confidence of Tipperary now begins to show.

Referee Cathal McAllister had to calm a few players down after a brief spate of tough shouldering and a few head-to-head confrontations, however with ‘tit for tat points’ from both sides courtesy of Shane Walsh, Padraic Maher, Shane McGrath, John O’Brien, Noel McGrath, Maurice Shanahan & John Mullane, at half-time the scoreboard read – Tipperary 1-08 Waterford 0-11, but Waterford’s clear statement of intent had been checked.

The second half saw all to play for & Waterford again were first on the scoreboard courtesy of Stephen Molumphy. However Tipperary began to raise the stakes & rattled off a series of points from O’Meara, Noel McGrath, O’Brien and Cahill.

In the 55th minute the Waterford defence failed to clear a ball, dropped short from Kelly and Shane Bourke reacted quickly to chastise, striking the loose ball smartly into the net & leaving Waterford 2-13 to 0-14 adrift and running out of steam.

Kelly & Bourke would also swept over the final points of the day.

The talents of Brendan Cummins were called for on numerous occasions in both halves to dealt with Waterford’s ever present danger, one occasion being a dangerous ground ball sent courtesy of Paul O’Brien, but alas to no avail for Waterford.

All eyes will now be focused on the draw for the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals, which can be heard on Morning Ireland at 7.55 on Monday.

FINAL SCORE: Tipperary 2-17 – Waterford 0-16

TIPPERARY  SCORERS:  J. O’Brien 1-03, S. Bourke 1-01, N. McGrath (0-02) E. Kelly (0-03 ), B. O’Meara (0-02), P. Bourke (0-02), Padraic Maher, S. McGrath, M. Cahill (0-01) a piece.

TIPPERARY TEAM: Brendan Cummins; Conor O’Brien, Paul Curran (Capt), Michael Cahill; Thomas Stapleton, Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher, Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath; Pa Bourke, Patrick Maher, Lar Corbett, Brian O’Meara, John O’Brien, Noel McGrath.

SUBS USED: Eoin Kelly, Shane Bourke, Donagh Maher, Seamus Callanan.

Tipperary just managed to edge out Cork in an energetic Munster hurling semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, leaving Declan Ryan’s troops to face Waterford in the provincial decider for the second year running.  Noel McGrath was left to drive home the only goal of the game as defending champions Tipperary scraped past their old rivals Cork to qualify for next month’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship final.

In front of a 32,568 Páirc Uí Chaoimh crowd, tensions frayed moments before the throw-in, with a pre-match skirmish between Cathal Naughton and Padraic Maher, which resulted in two yellow cards.

It was a young Cork side which led from about the third minute of the first half, right up until the 10th minute of the second half. Conor Lehane did manage to get the sides level again 15 minutes from full time. However despite Tipperary having John O’Brien sent off on his second yellow card in the 47th minute, (for a high challenge on Cork full back Brian Murphy) the holders held off a series of strong sortie’s from Cork, to set up a repeat of last year’s final.

Tipperary’s outstanding performers undoubtedly on the day were Pa Bourke, Noel McGrath, Padraic Maher and ‘Bonnar’ Maher.

Tipperary Scorers: P. Bourke 0-12, N. McGrath 1-04, B. O’Meara & B Maher 0-02 each, G. Ryan, Padraic Maher also 0-01 each.

Tipperary Team: Brendan Cummins; Conor O’Brien, Paul Curran (capt), Michael Cahill; Thomas Stapleton, Conor O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; Brendan Maher, Shane McGrath; Gearóid Ryan, Patrick Maher, Pa Bourke; Brian O’Meara, John O’Brien, Noel McGrath.

Used Subs: Lar Corbett for Ryan, Shane Bourke for O’Meara, James Woodlock for B Maher, Eoin Kelly for P Bourke, & Donagh Maher for Stapleton.