Tipp topple Kilkenny as red mist descends

GAA: Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A Round 6

Kilkenny 1-19

Tipperary2-25

Report: Shane Brophy at UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Photos: Bridget Delaney

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sam O’Farrell (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-13 (11 frees, 2 65s); Martin Keoghan 0-4; Gearoid Dunne 1-1; David Blanchfield 0-1 free.

Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-12 (11 frees); Sam O’Farrell 0-3; Craig Morgan, Oisin O’Donoghue 1-0 each; John McGrath, Ronan Maher, Noel McGrath 0-2 each; Alan Tynan, Bryan O’Mara, Joe Caesar, Willie Connors 0-1 each.

Tipperary took a giant step towards a first National Hurling League final since 2018 when they defeated Kilkenny by nine points on Sunday in a surreal game that saw four players sent off in an eight minute spell in the second half.

Premier manager Liam Cahill made three changes to the side that defeated Cork in their previous game with Sam O’Farrell making his second start in place of Willie Connors at midfield, while there were two alterations in attack with John McGrath and Oisin O’Donoghue, making his first senior start, with Jason Forde and Sean Kenneally dropping to the bench.

The sides traded early frees before Tipp made the first surge with three points from a row from play by Sam O’Farrell, Darragh McCarthy and Alan Tynan before Kilkenny registered again.

Referee Sean Stack was strict on Tipp for overcarrying in the first half, both converted into scores by Kilkenny, who apart from Martin Keoghan who scored three points from play and forced a good save out of Barry Hogan, got little change of a tenacious Tipp defence where Robert Doyle started very well.

Tipp were using the ball better and getting scores easier with John McGrath and Bryan O’Mara on target, but Kilkenny were level at 0-7 apiece on eighteen minutes when Keoghan got their first score from play.

The visitors responded well with John McGrath getting his second point and Darragh McCarthy converting two frees before they scored their first goal on 25 minutes, a quick line-ball by Gearoid O’Connor to Craig Morgan put the midfielder in space and cutting in from the wing, finished superbly past Eoin Murphy.

A superb Sam O’Farrell point from play stretched Tipp’s lead to seven before Kilkenny responded with three points in a row, including another from Keoghan, but their momentum was stalled on 34 minutes when Tipp got their second goal, this time Craig Morgan turning creator with a drilled pass into Darragh McCarthy who turned Tommy Walsh before passing to Oisin O’Donoghue who finished from close range.

Joe Caesar followed it with a long range point, but Tipp gave the goal back quickly when Gearoid Dunne finished from close range after Billy Ryan broke through the attempted tackle of Bryan O’Mara. However, Tipp finished the half on the up as perseverance from John McGrath led to him winning a free which McCarthy converted for his sixth of the half for a 2-13 to 1-10 half time lead.

Tipp were still six to the good on 44 minutes when Alan Tynan was given a straight red card for a head high challenge on Cian Kenny. TJ Reid converted the resultant free but from the next puckout, Tipp won a free but an off the ball strike by David Blanchfield on sub Andrew Ormond saw the Kilkenny centre back red carded.

Kilkenny then lost Mikey Carey to straight red card on 48 minutes, again for an off the ball incident with Darragh McCarthy as they lost their discipline, with midfielder Jordan Molloy getting a second yellow card on 52 minutes for a late follow through on Bryan O’Mara.

With memories of last years Minor All-Ireland final at the same venue when Tipperary won despite playing with two less men, the visitors had it all to lose and struggled to take control, only scoring once in the ten minutes after Kilkenny went down to twelve men until sub Willie Connors scored a relieving point on 63 minutes.

From there, Tipp were comfortable with Noel McGrath coming on and scoring twice as they eased to a nine point victory.

TEAMS – Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Padraic Moylan, Tommy Walsh; Mikey Carey, David Blanchfield, Paddy Deegan; Peter McDonald, Jordan Molloy; Martin Keoghan, Cian Kenny, Billy Ryan; Gearoid Dunne, Billy Drennan, TJ Reid.

Subs: John Donnelly for Drennan (HT); Shane Murphy for Walsh (HT); Richie Reid for McDonald (HT); Fionan MacKessy for Dunne (58); Zac Bay Hammond for Kenny (66).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Michael Breen (Ballina), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og); Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Alan Tynan (Roscrea), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og).

Subs: Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens) for O’Donoghue (HT); Dylan Walsh (Ballingarry) for McGrath (51); Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for Caesar (57); Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for O’Connor (64); Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) for Morris (70).

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)