O’Mahony and Corbett roll back the years as Tipp claim Masters Hurling title

GAA: Gaelic Masters Association All-Ireland Masters Hurling Final

Tipperary 4-20

Wexford 0-22

Report: Noel Dundon at Bishop Quinlan Park, Borrisoleigh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Conor O’Mahony (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Conor O’Mahony 2-3; John O’Brien, Ger O’Grady 0-5 each; Shane Stapleton, Paddy O’Brien 1-0 each; Eoin Kelly (frees), Lar Corbett 0-2 each; Nigel Kenny, Ken Dunne 0-1 each.

Wexford: Jim Berry 0-7 (5 frees); Rory Jacob, Nigel Higgins, Joe Lawlor (1 free), Mossie Mahon 0-3 each; Diarmuid Lyng, Alan Carton, Eoin Quigley, Bob Jacob 0-1 each.

Tipperary claimed the All-Ireland Masters Hurling title on Saturday with a performance which exuded class once they got into stride against game visitors Wexford.

Fielding far more former county players than their Wexford counterparts, the Tipperary hurlers pleased the sizeable attendance with some great flashes of brilliance – the five points from player-manager Ger ‘Redser’ O’Grady having come on late in the game being highlights to go along with Lar Corbett’s wonderful play, and Conor O’Mahony’s great dash.

In truth, Tipperary were a good stretch better than the visitors and when the scores began to roll in earnest in the second half, they steamrolled Wexford. But Tipp did not have it all their own way for much of the first half, and playing wind assisted, the Slaneysiders made the most of the advantage.

Indeed, they were three points in front before Tipp registered their first score in the eighth minute from Toomevara’s John O’Brien – Rory Jacob, Joe Lawlor and Jim Berry helping them to a fine start to the game. The scores continued to flow with great regularity – Alan Carton and Rory Jacob for Wexford; Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly, and Nigel Kenny for Tipp; before Eoin Quigley and Jim Berry again gave Wexford a 0-7 to 0-4 lead and the half moved into its closing stages.

A big about change then when Conor O’Mahony was on the end of a Lar Corbett pass to blast to the Wexford net in the 23rd minute – Newport’s O’Mahony was only on the field a matter of minutes having replaced the injured Nigel Kenny.

Wexford didn’t wilt though, and they were to hit the next three points in succession to wipe out the goal and restore a two point interval advantage – Mossy Mahon, Jim Berry and Nigel Higgins pointing for them.

The first half had produced plenty of hurling, but the intent to win was clearly evident too and a number of skirmishes had to be dealt with by referee Johnny Murphy who had little trouble keeping up with the pace of this particular game.

Wexford showed that they were not coming to the Premier County for the scenic drive, and they were good for their half time advantage having really taken the game to a Tipp side which had not really gotten into the swing of things.

It didn’t take long for all that to change and immediately upon resumption Conor O’Mahony bagged his, and Tipperary’s, second goal and followed up with a point as well. Tipp were now two up and they never looked back especially after Paddy O’Brien goaled in the 35th minute to really hurt Wexford who had points from Higgins, Berry (2) and Lawlor to keep them in the hunt.

Tipperary were moving well now though, and John O’Brien fired over two to go along with a Ronan O’Brien goal in the 39th minute – Tipp’s fourth green flag extended the lead to six points.

Wexford needed to find a goal, but they never really threatened Eoin Brislane’s line and with Paul Curran rock solid at full back there was no way through for them. Tipp instead piled on the points with Ken Dunne, Shane Maher, John O’Brien, and Ger O’Grady finding their range.

Lar Corbett had another too and remarkably O’Grady added another four bringing his total to five points for fifteen minutes of hurling – some return for the manager as he showed his charges how it’s done.

Wexford continued to tag on points, but they were never going to trouble Tipperary and the Joe Lawlor, Mossie Mahon, Jim Berry, Rory Jacob, Diarmuid Lyng, and Nigel Higgins points served only to keep the scoreboard respectable.

Goals win games and when you hit four of them in a match, a fair job of work has been done. Without doubt Conor O’Mahony’s strikes, coming either side of the half time break, were very important to Tipperary and with Shane Stapleton and Paddy O’Brien following up with two more, Tipperary were on a winner.

Defensively, Tipp were very sound, and the showings of Benny Dunne, Paul Curran, Paul McGrath, and Tom King were impressive while Shane McGrath, Lar Corbett and Hugh Moloney did a lot of work in the middle third. In attack John O’Brien, Conor O’Mahony and Ger O’Grady were the main men in a squad which rolled on and off through the game – in total 26 players saw action in the blue and gold jersey.

A fine win then for Tipp as the greats rolled back the clock – Wexford, having hit fourteen wides, learned that Masters hurling is all about taking your chances.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Eoin Brislane (Toomevara); Matty Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Paul Curran (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Martin Treacy (Borris-Ileigh); Paul McGrath (Toomevara), Benny Dunne (Toomevara), Declan Fanning (Killenaule); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields); John O’Brien (Toomevara), Hugh Moloney (Nenagh Eire Og), Joe Caesar (Killenaule); Shane Maher (Burgess), Nigel Kenny (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Eoin Kelly (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone).

Subs: Tommy Connors (Kiladangan), Ronan O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill), Paddy O’Brien (Toomevara), Tom King (Loughmore/Castleiney), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Paddy Julian (Cappawhite), Ken Dunne (Toomevara), Shane Stapleton (Golden Kilfeacle), Trevor Fletcher (Roscrea), Niall Curran (Silvermines), Ger O’Grady (Thurles Sarsfields).

Wexford: Noel Carton; Brendan O’Leary, Brendan Mulligan, Declan Browne; Diarmuid Lyng, John O’Connor, Brendan Breen; Jim Berry, Mossie Mahon; MJ Furlong, Alan Carton, Barry Jordan; Rory Jacob, Nigel Higgins, Joe Lawlor.

Subs: Eoin Quigley, Barry Lambert, Denis Norton, Denis Carroll, Chris Daly, Bob Jacob, Darren Nolan.

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)