Thurles Information

Today’s Hurling semi-final at Croke Park, between Tipperary and Dublin ended as was expected. What possibly was not expected, however, was Dublin’s complete refusal to just show up and take an expected beating from the All-Ireland champions, thus giving Tipperary an easy path to a September 4th showdown with Kilkenny. Tipperary expected a good scrap, and Daly’s men did not let them down.

In front of 45,563 supporters, scoring began in the third minute from start, when Tipperary hit a long ball forward and Dublin defenders allowed the ever elusive Lar Corbett past, to stroke the ball into the back of the Dublin net. Immediate indications were now that this match would be a repeat of the Tipp versus Waterford game. Big mistake. An accurate strike from Alan McCrabbe near the touchline, followed by a point from Liam Rushe and a point from an ensuing free quickly got Dublin back to equal the scoring. A combination of a breaking ball from Brendan Cummins’ puck-out saw Lar Corbett knocks over another point, but Dublin through John McCaffrey again evened the odds.

Tipperary’s Eoin Kelly point from the 45-metre mark is again quickly answered by Dublin’s Liam Ryan. Another Eoin Kelly point put the Premier back in front again, but Dublin’s Paul Ryan once again balanced the scoreboard. Paul Ryan’s 2 points and Dotsy O’Callaghan’s one point put Dublin in front. Tipperary’s Patrick Maher, Lar Corbett answer back, each with a point. It is now quite obvious to all that this game is not going to be a repeat of the Tipp versus Waterford match and Dublin intend business. Further points from Paul Ryan, Corbett, John O’Brien, McCormack, Gearoid Ryan sees the half time score equal for both teams, with Tipperary 1-08 to Dublin 0-11.

The second half saw Brendan Maher replace Seamus Callinan for Tipperary, while Maurice O’Brien replaced Dublin’s Conor McCormack.

Noel McGrath and Eoin Kelly quickly open the scoring with a point each for Tipperary, latter point scored from a 65. Maurice O’Brien, and Paul Ryan, retaliate giving Dubin’s players and supporters a real belief that this just might be their year. Dublin were justified in this belief up to the 50th minute, with the score reading Tipperary 1-12 Dublin 0-15.

Over the next 22 minutes however, Michael Carton’s high challenge, allowed Eoin Kelly to increase Tipperary’s score and together with points from Gearoid Ryan, Noel McGrath and Padraic Maher, Tipperary soon increased their edge and Dublin players begin to struggle in their efforts to make it into the Premier’s goal area.

For Dublin, this semi-final was just not to be, for this year at least, with Tipperary adding just that extra bit of class to play, a class that only comes with big game experience. Dublin, however, while experiencing an honourable defeat today, have at last confirmed their arrival as true future hurling contenders.

Tipperary will now progress to the All-Ireland Hurling Championship final against Kilkenny on September 4th, with their final score of Tipperary 1-19,  Dublin 0-18, and Dublin, just for now, must remain 3rd in the queue.

Today at Páirc Uí Chaoimh Tipperary sent out a strong warning to all future contenders, demonstrated clearly by their ruthless annihilation of Waterford in the Munster final.

Though not expected to win, all 36.5 thousand fans in attendance expected a battle, at the very least from Waterford, but that was never allowed to happened, when a perfect Tipperary forward line and an overall superb Tipperary team decided to give their assembled audience a masterclass in hurling skill.

Lar Corbett had a personal mission, that of ensuring his rightful place in the record books, with his third goal making him Tipperary’s record goal scorer, as if Tipperary doubted. In case of any doubt and to be sure,  he added a fourth goal in the second half, while Eoin Kelly would add on another two and Seamus Callanan one more as a bonus. Only three of Tipperary’s scores came from deadballs, showing 7-16 from play.

Waterford from the beginning got shown no mercy from Tipperary in this masterclass, with Kelly and John O’Brien both getting points before Lar Corbett tested the strength of Waterfords net behind goal keeper Clinton Hennessy.

Tipperary had 10 points safely in the bag before Tipperary’s second goal arrived courtesy of Kelly, working in close association with the killer partnership of  McGrath and Maher. Within less than a minute Clinton Hennessy was pucking a ball out again, after Corbett sailed another left handed strike past, to test the net once more. Patrick Maher’s neat pass to Callanan,  found Hennessy once more pucking out again. Corbett, intent on Waterford’s destruction, soon brought his personal tally to 3-03.

Following the break the Corbett, Kelly duo, quickly gave Waterford firm notice that their chastisement was not just yet complete, despite the introduction by Waterford of Liam Lawlor, Maurice Shanahan, and David O’Sullivan.

Three further unanswered points and Kelly suddenly struck again this time slipping a ball from Gearoid Ryan into the bottom corner across Hennessy. Corbett not to be outdone successfully struck home a fourth goal from the ground.

From Waterford fans tonight, much wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Final Score: Tipperary 7-19 – Waterford 0-19.

International Hurling Festival Results From Semple Stadium

Back here in Semple Stadium Thurles, this weekends International Hurling Tournament final, run by Thurles Sarsfields, latter one of the oldest, most traditional and most successful clubs in Tipperary, got underway between Kilburn Gaels of London and Dunboyne (Meath).

The final scoreline saw Kilburn Gaels take the coveted Tom Semple Cup, by out pointing Dunboyne with a score of 1-5  to 0-9 points.

(Click on Pic Image, courtesy of J.O’Loughlin, for larger resolution.)

This successful weekends competition, was aimed at promoting hurling on an International basis and also to promote Thurles Town and its environs as a tourist attraction. The festival opened on Friday night last at The Sarsfields Social Centre with the hurling action taking place on Saturday at Morris Park and on Sarsfield’s own pitch. The Tom Semple Cup, was presented to Thurles Sarsfields by the family of the late Tom Semple, in memory of the late Thurles and Tipperary Blue’s legend.