Tipp left feeling Blue by Kilkenny

GAA: Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Hurling Final

Kilkenny 1-18

Tipperary Blue 1-14

Report: Liam Hogan at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS - Kilkenny: Fionn Mahony 1-1; James Reid, Cathal Russell, Jack Coogan (frees) 0-3 each; Aidan Carroll (1 free, 1 65); Callum Lawlor (1 s-cut) 0-2 each; Luke Lawlor, Jamie Tallon, Shane McDonald, Cian Doherty 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Tony Maher 0-6 frees; Larry Collins 1-0; Sean Walsh 0-2; Jack Marnell, Michael Collins, Charlie Noonan, James Butler, Conor Grace, Darragh Dunne (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary Blue left it too late to produce the goods as they lost to Kilkenny in an entertaining Celtic Challenge Hurling final on Sunday.

Tipperary did all their good work in the second and third quarters. Trailing by seven points after sixteen minutes the team began to settle and outscored the home-side 0-6 to 0-2 in thirteen minutes cutting the margin to three, 0-11 to 0-8, before slack marking allowed the concession of 1-1 close to the interval which left them trailing 1-12 to 0-8 at half time.

Tipp were punished a second time a minute into the second half when Kyle O’Dowd was booked for a second time. Despite being a man down, the Premier displayed some real spirit by cutting the deficit to five by the three quarter mark.

However, the numerical disadvantage meant it was a struggle to get closer and Kilkenny pinched vital scores coming down the home straight before a goal by Larry Collins put a gloss on the final scoreline.

Goalkeepers played a key part in the game as Kilkenny keeper Conor Farrell had earlier saved a penalty from Darragh Dunne.

At the other end, Tipp keeper Killian Franks got over one or two shaky moments before producing two splendid saves in the third quarter.

Franks played behind a solid full-back line with Cathal Hannon a full back of real prospect. He formed a good line with Diarmuid Fogarty and Kyle O’Dowd in the corners.

However, the half-back line had difficulties in the opening quarter as Shay Gleeson, Tommy Blackmore and Sean Walsh conceded ground to a Kilkenny half forward line of James Reid, Cathal Russell and Aidan Carroll who had far too much time on the ball with Reid and Russell scoring three points each. Reid was particularly good at winning the aerial battle.

The midfield pairing of Michael Collins and Billy O’Brien won a supply of ball, but a lot of Tipp players were somewhat casual in their deliveries to the Kilkenny half and centre back Thomas Langton had the freedom of the park in his sweeping roll and had far too much time to survey the land in front of him as he linked up with his team-mates with ease. Kilkenny wing-backs Luke Lawlor and Jamie Tallon enjoyed much possession also.

After Tipp had conceded five of Kilkenny’s first half dozen from play in the opening eighteen minutes, they really got their game together with Shay Gleeson coming more into the game. Tony Maher was accurate from frees while also involved in setting up Jack Marnell with a score to make it 0-9 to 0-3 after seventeen minutes.

Another Maher free was cancelled out by Russell’s third for the Cats but Tipp were going through the lines and winning frees up front as Tony Maher scored two frees either side of a well-taken point by Michael Collins.

Then in the 25th minute Cathal Russell careered through the Tipp defence, but Shay Gleeson’s block was vital which yielded a 65 and Aidan Carroll made no mistake to edge Kilkenny four in front.

Good work by James Treacy saw Charlie Noonan pick off a vital score for Tipp and with half time approaching it looked as If Tipp were in a good place, but disaster struck when Kilkenny fired home 1-1 including a well-taken point by wing back Luke Lawlor. Half time: Kilkenny 1-12 Tipperary 0-8.

Tipperary rang the changes at half time as Cillian Direen, Darragh Dunne and Conor Grace were drafted in, but Kyle O’Dowd’s dismissal had Tipp on the backfoot within a minute of the restart.

Tipp ignored the number deficiency and went about their business. Tony Maher pointed a free before the same player missed two vital frees soon after. Darragh Dunne took over the placed ball duty and his free in the 42nd minute made it 1-12 to 0-10.

Both sides pressed for scores and respective wing backs Jamie Tallon (K), and Sean Walsh (T) secured well-taken points before Kilkenny went six clear after Fionn Mahoney scored in the 38th minute.

There were goal chances also and Kilkenny were denied by Killian Franks whose two great saves kept Tipp in the game. When Tipp turned defence into attack, they won a penalty but Kilkenny netminder Conor Farrell was equally brave when saving Darragh Dunne’s effort.

By now the Kilkenny mentors had emptied their bench and Callum Lawlor pointed from a forty metre sideline ball. The score got the Kilkenny support on their feet.

Substitutes from the Tipp bench earned their crust as Conor Grace pointed as another Kilkenny replacement Cian Doherty moved the Nore-siders seven clear.

James Butler hit back with a very good point, but the extra man was telling with Kilkenny moving eight clear after Jack Coogan (free) and Callum Lawlor made it 1-18 to 0-13 with play reaching the hour mark.

Yet, Tipp refused to yield another substitute Larry Collins hit Tipp’s lone goal quickly followed by a second point from the stick of wing back Sean Walsh.

TEAMS – Kilkenny: Conor Farrell; Dara Behan, Pierce Costello, Jeff Tyrrell; Luke Lawlor, Thomas Langton, Jamie Tallon; Ciaran Hickey, Kieran Timmins; Aidan Carroll, James Reid, Cathal Russell; Jack Coogan, Fionn Mahon, Shane McDonald.

Subs: Cian Doherty for Tyrrell (45); Callum Lawlor for Timmins (50); Robbie Jackman for Russell (58); Oisin Mullally for McDonald (60).

Tipperary: Killian Franks (Shannon Rovers); Diarmuid Fogarty (Kiladangan), Cathal Hannon (Newport), Kyle O’Dowd (Durlas Og); Tommy Blackmore (Ballingarry), Shay Gleeson (Moneygall, Capt), Sean Walsh (JK Brackens); Michael Collins (Templederry Kenyons), Billy O’Brien (Toomevara); Charlie Noonan (St Patrick’s), Max Carroll (Sean Treacys), Tony Maher (Holycross/Ballycahill); Cian Broderick (JK Brackens), Jack Marnell (JK Brackens), James Butler (Sean Treacys).

Subs: Cillian Direen (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone) for Carroll (HT), Darragh Dunne (Carrick Swan) for Broderick (HT), Conor Grace (Burgess) for O’Brien (HT); Larry Collins (Sean Treacys) for Maher (45); Leelan Donoghue (Durlas Og) for Marnell (51); Riain Treacy (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Noonan (57).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).