Tipp Under 17’s retain Celtic Challenge title
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Tipperary - Celtic Challenge ‘A’ winners 2023. Back row: Michael Ryan, Matthew Direen, Adam O’Donnell, Tommy Breen, Sean Synnott, Tristan Kelly, Brian Manton, Billy Collins, Conor Gleeson, Cian Hogan, Ben Kirby, Ciaran O’Shea, Tom Delaney, Charlie Ryan. Front row: Brian Buckley, Sam Dooley, Callum Poole, Jake Hackett, Cian Moyles, Bobby Power, Cathal England, Darragh Landers, Seamus Kennedy, Cormac Fitzpatrick, Eoghan Dunne. Photos: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Michael P Ryan / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 2
Former Tipperary All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Ken Hogan presents the Michael Hogan Cup to Tipperary captain Bobby Power. Michael P Ryan / SPORTSFILETipperary retained the Under 17 Celtic Challenge title after overcoming Galway in the final in Birr on Saturday.
There were plenty of thrills and spills in the sweltering heat as extra time was needed to separate the sides before a fitter Tipperary side emerged victorious 1-28 to 0-27.
Galway were the better side in the opening seven minutes as they registered five points before Cormac Fitzpatrick got Tipp on the board with a point in the eighth minute. It was 0-10 to 0-4 after Jake Keady scored for Galway in the 23rd minute but Tipp staged a quick response and were rewarded with a goal by the hard-working Ciaran O’Shea leaving Tipp two adrift.
Yet Galway managed to keep their noses in front and were 0-15 to 1-8 in front at half time. The lead ebbed and flowed for the westerners, but Tipp were slowly eating into it and when Tom Delaney scored in the 38th minute the margin was down to one, 0-16 to 1-12.
It was score for score over the next seventeen minutes until two Cormac Fitzpatrick frees brought Tipp level in the 55th minute, 1-16 to 0-19. Scores were level three more occasions including the end of the hour after Cillian O’Shea’s equaliser made it Tipp 1-19 Galway 0-22. This resulted in extra time.
Scores were level on two more occasions in the first period before man of the match Cormac Fitzpatrick made it all square, 1-21 to 0-24, at the final changeover.
From the resumption, Tipp began to pull away, scoring five unanswered points through Bobby Power, Cormac Fitzpatrick (2 frees) along with two from Calum Poole, and that cushion was just about enough as Galway found strength somewhere to fightback by cutting the margin to three after their lead scorer Cillian Fahy and substitute Kieran Fallon scored a brace.
Galway needed a goal to salvage the game but an ever-improving Tipp defence, led by Conor Gleeson at full back, plus Michael Ryan kept the westerners at bay leaving Cormac Fitzpatrick’s 82nd minute 65 to seal the win.
This was a great win for John Connors and his management team, as it eased the disappointment of the Tipperary minor hurlers who exited the Munster at the group stage. The players on the panel are also under 17 but it seen as a development squad and they didn’t let the Tipp colours down, and a lot of these players will be on view in the coming years as they strive to make the Tipp under 20 squads. There should be no doubt about that.
The Tipp defence may have taken a few minutes to settle but once they got the measure of the Galway attack, they really shone where Cathal England, Conor Gleeson, Charlie Ryan, Brian Manton Darragh Landers and Cian Moyles stood tall. Michael Ryan was outstanding and the front six had great moments, none greater than Cormac Fitzpatrick at full forward, contributing seventeen points, five points from play.
Galway had plenty of heroes also. Jake Keady at full forward, a son of the late Tony, was a constant threat to Tipp in the first half. Portumna’s Callum Keane is a player to watch out for in the future while fellow forwards Darragh Kearney and Cillian Fahy also had their moments. Corner back Rhys Creaven caught the eye, as did their half backline of Tom Fahy, Cathal Sweeney, and Eoin Spelman plus the midfield partnership of Owen Earls and Ian Ward.
Tipperary: Jake Hackett (Toomevara); Cathal England (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Conor Gleeson (Drom & Inch), Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla); Brian Manton (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh Landers (St Mary’s), Cian Moyles (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Michael Ryan (Burgess 0-1), Billy Collins (Ballina); Ciaran O’Shea (JK Brackens 1-1), Bobby Power (Boherlahan-Dualla 0-2), Tristan Kelly (Durlas Og); Sam Dooley (Roscrea 0-2), Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch 0-17, 11f, 1 65), Tom Delaney (Borris-Ileigh 0-3).
Subs used: Sam Synnott (Roscrea), Callum Poole (Newport 0-2), Ben Kirby (Boherlahan-Dualla).
Other panellists: Eoghan Dunne (Cashel King Cormacs), Cian Hogan (Portroe), Seamus Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Adam O'Connell (Ballingarry), Matthew Direen (Mullinahone), Brian Buckley (Cappawhite), Tommy Breen (Boherlahan-Dualla).