Thurles Information

Kelly absent against Cork

Tipperary record three changes for their encounter with Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, which begins at 4.00pm.
Conor O’Brien, Shane McGrath and Patrick Maher will replace Donagh Maher, James Woodlock and Eoin Kelly.

All-Ireland winning captain Eoin Kelly is notably absent from the Tipperary team, for the first time since 2007.

Manager Declan Ryan has named Patrick Maher in attack, and Noel McGrath moves up to corner-forward as Kelly’s replacement. Donagh Maher and James Woodlock will make way for Conor O’Brien and Shane McGrath.

Named Tipperary Fifteen:

Three Thurles Sarsfield players are named in the Tipperary squad which will include Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange), Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty), Paul Curran (Mullinahone Capt), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields), Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Brendan Maher (Borris–Ileigh), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons), Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha), Pa Bourke (Thurles Sarsfields), Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), John O’Brien (Toomevara), Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)

Ireland’s opening game tonight at the EURO 2012 finals against Croatia, held in Poznan, has ended in what can only be described as a messy defeat, with Giovanni Trapattoni’s 14-game unbeaten run ending tonight in a 3-1 defeat.

Croatia moved into the lead just after three minutes with Mario Mandzukic’s header. Giovanni Trapattoni’s side were slow in regaining any real composure, but Aiden McGeady’s free-kick delivered to the back right post was header into the net by Sean St Ledger, who successfully out-muscled Vedran Corluka in the process.

Ireland now seemed to get a short lived stride in their step and enjoyed a reasonable share of possession, but allowed Luka Modric to totally dominate their midfield. This allowed Modric to set up Croatia’s second goal just before half time by slipping past Robbie Keane.  His shot, which pin-balled around  edge of the box, ended up finding Nikica Jelavic, thanks to Stephen Ward’s sliced clearance. Jelavic flipped the ball over the head of goal keeper Shay Given, in what can only be described as a well targeted clinical style finish.

After the break & two minutes into the second half, Mario Mandzukic headed his second goal past a very unlucky Given, with the ball rebounding off the keeper’s head to cross the goal line.

To be fair the Irish team did fight back, but passing was poor & the team had all of the appearance of having had little time playing as a team.

With Croatia now firmly in the driving seat and smelling victory within their grasp, the introduction of Irish substitutes, Walters for McGeady & Cox for Doyle, both after 52 minutes & Tipperary’s Shane Long for Robbie Keane, in the 74 minute, did little to revitalise a sloppy Trapattoni’s side, which found themselves struggling even to make it out of their own half.

Refereeing by Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipersalso was also poor, with Robbie Keane being denied what was obviously a penalty in the second half, when central defender Gordon Schildenfeld’s crudely challenged him from behind.

Slaven Bilic’s men are now top of Group C, following the 1-1 draw between Spain and Italy earlier in the day.
Ireland now approaches Thursday’s game against Spain, needing a result which will reignite their hope of qualifying into the knock-out stages.

Final Result: Republic of Ireland  1,   Croatia 3.

A determined Pa Bourke

Limerick arrived in Semple Stadium intent on doing serious damage to Munster champions Tipperary today. Despite signs of the All Ireland finalists being a little rattled at times, Tipperary did managed a comeback however with the final score Tipperary: 2-20 Limerick: 1-19.

Playing against the wind Eoin Kelly missed a couple of frees, but O’Meara finding an unmarked Bourke lead to a bottom left corner goal, thus levelling the scores at 1-03 to 6 points.

McGrath & Allis exchanged points before Downes restored Limerick’s lead after 23 minutes of play. Brendan Cummins having denied Mulcahy a goal earlier was forced to concede to the latter, to put Limerick 1-08 to 1-04 ahead.

Limerick led 1-09 to 1-08 at the break following four points from Bourke, Kelly and McGrath and a point from Limerick’s Sean Tobin in stoppage time.

The second half saw Tipperary rattled as Limerick’s Downes, Dowling, Breen, Mulcahy, Tobin and Allis appeared to dominate, building Limericks lead by 6 points without reply.

Limerick seemed all set to deliver a shock result, but the determination of Pa Bourke appeared to settle Tipperary down, reducing Limerick’s margin to two points before O’Meara acquired the magic goal which was to prove decisive.

Tipperary are now set for a Munster semi-final with Cork.

Tipperary Team: B Cummins, D Maher, (C O’Brien 48), M Cahill,  P Curran, T Stapleton, Padraic Maher, C O’Mahony, J Woodlock (S McGrath 28), B Maher, G Ryan (S Callinan 50), N McGrath, P Bourke, E Kelly (Patrick Maher 42), B O’Meara, J O’Brien (S Bourke 63).