Last gasp goal claims Munster U20 title for Tipp

 

 

Tipperary     3-15

Cork               2-17

 

By Shane Brophy

 

A Jake Morris goal in the final minute of added time snatched victory for Tipperary in thrilling finale to the Munster Under 20 Hurling Final at Semple Stadium Thurles last evening.

Tipp were in the last chance saloon when the Tipp senior raced onto a loose ball to fire past Ger Collins and send the home support into raptures.

It came just as if Cork had claimed victory with sub Evan Sheehan’s goal in the 58^th minute which nudged the rebels in front at a time when the home side looked to be in control

Played in front of almost 10,000 supporters, the game took a while to spark into life with Conor Bowe scoring his third goal in two games, taking a pass from Billy Seymour to fire to the net.

However, the opening quarter belonged to Cork who were sharper and they responded well with Sean Twomey firing to the net on fourteen minutes with the rebels going into a five point lead by the 21^st minute with Shane O’Regan to the fore with 1-3.

Tipp upped the intensity and finished the half the stronger with their half back line thundering into the game and they whittled down the lead to two when sub Kian O’Kelly scored a fine individual goal in the final minute of the half with the sides going in level at the break, 2-7 to 1-10.

Cork got the upperhand at the start of the second half with the first three points and it took Tipp until the 40^th minute to register again through the lively Andrew Ormond and Tipp would proceed to take control and went two in front going into the dramatic final minutes, looking like they had lost it before Morris saved them with his late late strike.

 

Scorers for Tipperary: Conor Bowe 1-4; Jake Morris 1-3 (0-2 frees); Kian O’Kelly 1-0; Andrew Ormond 0-2; Bryan O’Mara, Ciaran Connolly, Jerome Cahill, Gearoid O’Connor, Billy Seymour, Darragh Woods 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: Sean Twomey 1-2; Craig Hanifin 0-4 (3 frees); Shane O’Regan 0-3; Evan Sheehan 1-0; Daire Connery (1 free), Brian Turnbull 0-2 each; Eoin Roche, Tommy O’Connell, Padraig Power, Ryan Walsh 0-1 each.

 

Tipperary

Aaron Browne (Knockavilla Kickhams)

Conor McCarthy (Nenagh Eire Og); Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

Michael Purcell (Thurles Sarsfields), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill)

Ciaran Connolly (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy), Joe Fogarty (Moneygall), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og)

Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), Billy Seymour (Kiladangan), Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy).

Subs

Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Fogarty (20)

Niall Heffernan (Golden Kilfeacle) for Purcell (HT)

Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Seymour (45)

Darragh Woods (Holycross/Ballycahill) for O’Kelly (52)

Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) for Ormond (60+4)

 

Cork

Ger Collins (Ballinhassig)

Conor O’Callaghan (Dromtarrife), James Keating (Kildorrery), Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)

Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), Sean O’Leary Hayes (Midleton), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neill’s)

Ryan Walsh (Kanturk), Daire Connery (Na Piarsaigh)

Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Craig Hanafin (Na Piarsaigh), Sean Twomey (Courcey Rovers)

Brian Turnbull (Douglas), Sean O’Regan (Watergrasshill), Liam O’Shea (Lisgoold).

Subs:

Simon Kennefick (Glen Rovers) for O’Shea (HT)

Evan Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh) for O’Regan (46 inj)

Padraig Power (Blarney) for Downey (50)

Barry Murphy (Castlelyons) for Hanafin (56)

 

 

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)