Tipp showing promise in development tournaments

ARRABAWN UNDER 15 HURLING TOURNAMENT

On a damp blustery Saturday, the prestigious Arrabawn Under 15 Hurling tournament took place in Tipperary. This year was the turn of West Tipperary and in a very well organised Dundrum venue, Tipperary ‘A’ took to the pitch, with Limerick the opponents in the semi-final.

In a very intense first fifteen minutes, Tipperary and Limerick showed how physical underage intercounty hurling tournaments has become, with Tipp bringing huge intensity and had six points on the scoreboard to Limericks one from Paul Cummins (2 frees), Jack Cahill (2 frees) and one apiece from Dylan Hennessy and Patrick Hackett.

Limerick scored the next two points from play along with a well struck free, but Tipperary had the final say of the first half with five well-taken scores from Harry Lawler, Dylan Hennessy, Paul Cummins, and two Jack Cahill frees for a 0-12 to 0-4 lead at half time.

On the resumption, Tipperary struck first with a fine score from Paul Cummins from play, however, this ignited Limerick and centre forward Danny Sheehan scored their first goal. Limerick quickly followed this up with two points to cut the deficit to three.

Midway through the half, Tipperary steadied the ship with points from Cummins, Cahill and Hackett. Tipp finished the stronger, sub Philip O’Dwyer was on hand to finish a well worked move and finished to the net as Tipp won 1-17 to 1-10.

In Leahy Park in Cashel, Tipperary and Waterford lined up for the 34th Arrabawn Cup final. Tipperary had last taken the honours in 2010 and having won 11 titles, they were determined to get their name back on this prestigious cup.

Tipperary settled and went 0-4 to 0-2 to the good. Waterford responded with a well-taken point, but like the semi-final, Tipperary closed out the first half with four well-worked scores for a 0-8 to 0-3 lead.

On the resumption, Tipperary got fully to grips with the Waterford sweeper system, Patrick Hackett was on the end of a well-worked move and finished to the net. Tipperary were ignited by this goal and scores were aplenty to win 1-17 to 0-9.

Tipperary can be well pleased with their days work, their physicality, controlled aggression, and movement of the ball was very much on display. Quality coaching was to the fore. Tipperary will look forward to progressing this group of players over the next number of years, from youth to adult, with the ultimate goal for all these young men, someday, is wear the blue and gold of Tipperary at adult level.

Tipperary captain Harry Lawler dedicated the win to all associated with the tragic accident in Clonmel the previous evening, in particular the four young people that lost their lives, including the McSweeney family and his teammate in the St Mary’s club David, a brother of two of the deceased. David is currently on Tipp’s U16 hurling squad and Tipperary GAA withdrew both under 16 teams from their tournaments at the weekend, as mark of respect to all concerned.

Tipperary ‘A’ panel: Charlie Hall (Golden Kilfeacle), Cathal O’Meara (Knockavilla Kickhams), Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Arron O’Donoghue (Roscrea), David Rabbitte (Borris-Ileigh), Darragh Doyle (Killenaule), Euan Murray (Durlas Og), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens), Daniel McKelvey (Silvermines), Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Andy Rossiter (Durlas Og), Michael Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og), Conor McLaughlin (Newport), Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane), Dylan Hennessy (Mullinahone), Harry Lawlor (St Mary’s, captain), Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange), Jack Cahill (Ballingarry), Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers), Conor Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla), Cathal Kennedy (Borris-Ileigh), Paddy McCormack (Moneygall), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha).

Arrabawn Shield: Tipperary defeated Offaly 0-16 to 1-9 in the semi-final but were defeated 1-18 to 2-13 by Galway in the Arrabawn Shield final.

Tipperary panel: Euan Magee (Cahir), Charlie Barrett (Killenaule), Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers, captain), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane), Johnny Grace (Burgess), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens), Keith O’Donoghue (Burgess), Shane Cooney (Clerihan), Danny Barry (Fethard), Jack Bevans (Borris-Ileigh), Paul Cahalan (Burgess), Cody Quirke (Toomevara), Donnacha Quigley (Arravale Rovers), Eoin Grace (Silvermines), Cormac Shanahan (Newport), Ned O’Meara (Mullinahone), Denis O’Callaghan (Cashel King Cormacs), Aodhan Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og), Robert Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Eoin Webb (Durlas Og), Cormac Frend (Toomevara), Ciaran Downey (Cappawhite), Eoghan Hickey (Holycross/Ballycahill), Liam Dunphy (Roscrea), Tadgh McKeogh (Ballina).

TONY FORRISTAL UNDER 14 TOURNAMENT

3 Tipperary teams of eager Under 14‘s headed to various Waterford venues to compete in the 40th anniversary of the Tony Forristal Cup on Saturday.

Tipperary Blue began their quarter final against Kilkenny. Half-time saw it being a draw at 0-5 points apiece, but Tipp pushed onto win by a point.

Next up for Tipp Blue was a semi-final against Tiobrad Arann (3) who had beaten Cork in their first game. Tipp Blue took control of the game from early on and had a comprehensive win, 2-11 to 1-10. Tipperary Gold won one and lost one game but didn’t progress to the final.

Tipp Blue headed into the Cup final against Cork and were very composed in the first half, leading 2-7 to 0-5 at half time and despite a Cork fightback, won 4-7 to 2-11.

Tipperary Blue panel: Ben Roche (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Rory Crosse (Boherlahan-Dualla), Sean White (Golden Kilfeacle), Adam Whyte (Shannon Rovers), Oisin Kennedy (Newport), Michael Dooley (Roscrea), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Eoin O'Connell (Lattin/Cullen), Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Brody O’Donoghue (Durlas Og), Cathal Ivors (Ballingarry), Owen Fanning (Killenaule), Ben Fuller (St Mary’s), Eoin Kennedy (Boherlahan-Dualla), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers), MJ Anglim (Rosegreen), Zach O'Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), Darragh Kelly (Toomevara), Harry Sheppard (Moycarkey/Borris), Alan Whyte (Toomevara).

Tipperary Gold panel: Dara Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Billy Gleeson (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Conor Doherty (Moycarkey/Borris), Freddie Baker (St Mary’s), Travis McLoughlin (Cahir), Rory O’Reilly (Clonmel Og), Aaron Lane (Newport), Danny Cashin (Killenaule), Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og), Ollie Roche (Newport), Morgan O’Connor (Cappawhite), Darragh Cornally (Durlas Og), Sean Burke (JK Brackens), JR Corpez (JK Brackens), Noah Power (Carrick Swan), Conal Morrison (Moyle Rovers), John O’Meara (Mullinahone), Rian McGrath (Kiladangan), Ger Looney (Kilruane MacDonagh’s), Larry O’Brien (JK Brackens).

Tiobraid Árann panel: Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Cathal Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jack Hayes (Roscrea), Chris Duane (Moyne-Templetouhy), Darragh Beckett (St Mary’s), Conor O’Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Josh Moloney (Ballina), Mark Hoare (Silvermines), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh), Ruairi Hackett (Kiladangan), Jack Nolan (Sean Treacys), Jack R Walsh (Carrick Swan), Jack Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og), Luke Murphy (Roscrea), Niall Gleeson (Durlas Og), Colm Ryan (Newport), Ciaran O’Mahony (Durlas Og), Charlie Carroll (Roscrea), Odhran Ryan (Burgess), Michael Healy (Ballinahinch), Paddy Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane).