Toome felled by impressive Durlas Óg

GAA: Tipperary Coiste na nOg Minor (Under 17) ‘A’ Hurling Semi-Final

Durlas Og 4-20

Toomevara 2-9

Report: Liam Hogan at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

Tipperary Minor hurling star Euan Murray led favourites Durlas Og to an emphatic win over Toomevara in a one-sided County Minor ‘A’ Hurling semi-final on Sunday.

The sixteen-year-old, who is still eligible for the grade next year, scored 1-8 with all bar two points coming from play as the Thurles youngsters led from start to finish in a repeat of their 2022 county under 15 ‘A’ hurling final win.

The centre forward had plenty of help in a team with no apparent weak links that included fellow Tipp All-Ireland minor winner Cillian Minogue who scored 1-2 from midfield, as well as the trio on the Tipperary Celtic Challenge team Kyle O’Dowd, Bill Fogarty in defence and Leelan Donoghue in attack.

Their defence showed no weakness either where Kieran Rossiter starred as an effective sweeper. Evan Nolan did well at centre back while Keelan Dunne was prominent at midfield as five of the front six made the scoresheet.

Durlas Og set their stall with a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the ninth minute with Murray and Eoghan Webb scoring two points apiece with Cillian Minogue the other.

Kieran Rossiter ruled in the heart of the Durlas Og defence and in the thirteenth minute Euan Murray’s effort for a point deceived Toome netminder Darragh Hayes and into the net.

By the 26th minute the lead had stretched to eight before Toomevara, who had All-Ireland winner Austin Duff trying everything at wing forward, but the attack found the Durlas defence unbreakable until KJ Dunne, just on as a substitute, and Michael Ryan with back-to-back points, to bring the North runners-up closer at half time, 1-8 to 0-5.

The second half began with Durlas Og wasting no time in increasing their lead with Eoghan Webb scoring twice inside the opening minutes. Patrick Hackett, who scored Toome’s first point in the opening thirty seconds, replied with a close range free but Durlas Og increased their lead with a Euan Murray point, followed by another Webb free with full forward Aaron Darmody also pointing. Another Murray free in the 38th minute made it an eleven point lead, one that would stretch further after centre forward Cillian Minogue scored a goal in the 42nd minute after good work by Murray and Darragh O’Dwyer.

Toomevara would not roll over and Tony Dunne, Cormac Frend, Seamus Farrell, and Jack Ryan did their best to stem the tide. Up front, Liam Hackett managed to score a point with an overhead connection to Patrick Hackett’s high delivery in the 43rd minute. However, there was another set-back two minutes later when Alex Coppinger’s run provided ball possession for Leelan Donoghue to fire to the net.

An angled point by Eoin Webb had the margin out to seventeen, but Toomevara responded in the shape of a goal by Patrick Hackett from a close range free.

Durlas Og increased their margin with three quick points through Murray and Minogue from the wing with Darragh O’Dwyer picking up a point as five of the starting six forwards had now scored.

Six minutes remained and true to form the Greyhounds continued to battle on, and in the 54th minute KJ Dunne won possession and raced past a number of defenders before firing low to the net.

However, the Mid champions displayed no mercy and from the resulting puckout they had goal number four as Aaron Darmody gave Darragh Hayes no chance.

Player of the Match: Euan Murray (Durlas Og).

Durlas Og: Jamie Stapleton; Andy Rossiter, Kyle O’Dowd, Jamie Lloyd; Bill Fogarty, Evan Nolan, Kieran Rossiter; Cillian Minogue (1-2), Keelan Dunne; Alex Coppinger, Euan Murray (1-8, 0-2f), Leelan Donoghue (1-0); Eoin Webb (0-8, 4f), Aaron Darmody (1-1), Darragh O’Dwyer (0-1).

Subs: Ronan O’Dwyer for O’Dowd (21 inj); Ben Moroney for Coppinger (55); James Mockler for Nolan (56); Cillian Ryan for Fogarty (67)

Toomevara: Darragh Hayes; Cormac Frend, Tony Dunne, Evan Doyle; Seamus Farrell, Jack Ryan (0-1), Cody Quirke; Adam Whyte, Ciaran Troy; Jack Hogan, Patrick Hackett (1-5, 1-4f), Austin Duff; Liam Hackett (0-1), Michael Ryan (0-1), Jack Carroll.

Subs: KJ Dunne (1-1) for Carroll (21); Dylan Delaney for M Ryan (45); Jack McCormack for Troy (55); Darragh Hartnett for L Hackett (50).

Referee: Alan Tierney (Shannon Rovers).