Tipp Minor Hurlers exit Championship after third narrow defeat
GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 3
Tipperary 0-18
Limerick 2-13
Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
Photos: Bridget Delaney
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Chris Dunne (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Chris Dunne 0-10 (6 frees); Euan Murray, Conall Morrisson 0-2 each; Dylan Hennessy, Zach O’Keeffe, Jaye Cilvinas, Conor Kennedy 0-1 each.
Limerick: Shane Waters 0-7 frees; Killian Begley 1-1; Cathal Dennehy 0-3; Rian Horgan 1-0; David O’Keeffe, Rory Hanly 0-1 each.
Tipperary minor hurling manager James Woodlock could not put into words his frustration after seeing his charges pipped by Limerick in round three of the Munster Championship on Friday evening, a third straight defeat that ended their bid to retain their provincial and All Ireland titles with another round in Munster yet to be played.
It was Tipp’s third successive loss, all by very narrow margins, and in all cases games that could have been won, and it prompted the former Tipperary and Drom & Inch clubman’s dismay.
“You could not put into print how I feel right now. I am really terribly disappointed,” he said.
“This has been a massive learning curve for these lads and they will just have to reflect on it and learn from it.”
Only one player, team captain Euan Murray, of last year’s title-winning side was eligible for this year which meant the manager had to build a completely new team and while his new squad were generally on a par with the sides that beat them, their inexperience cost them scores and was their undoing.
“We made some criminal mistakes out there tonight and we got punished for them,” Woodlock added.
“There is tremendous potential in this group of lads but for whatever reason it did not show as we would have liked.”
This was a game Tipp looked on course to win as they established a 0-10 to 0-6 lead by half-time but the concession of two goals in the third quarter scuppered their chances of qualifying out of Munster for the All-Ireland series.
Four teams go through, the top two playing the Munster final with third & fourth in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Head-to-head results come into play which mean that even if Tipperary were to beat Cork in their final game, they would lose out to both Clare and Limerick on the head-to-head, with both sides still to play eachother.
It wasn’t to be however despite a decent first half performance in which Chris Dunne at full forward was outstanding with four points from play, and two more from frees.
Level at 0-3 each after fourteen minutes, Tipp then took charge with Euan Murray (2), Dylan Hennessy, and Jaye Cilvinas chipping in with points to supplement Dunne’s efforts.
The four points lead (0-10 to 0-6) did not do justice to Tipp’s superiority at that stage but, in a scrappy contest, too many deliveries to the attack were misdirected and mopped up by the visiting rearguard who were playing a sweeper.
On the stroke of half-time, Tipp had a narrow escape when goalie Patrick McCormack made a smart save from Limerick’s Paul Murphy.
Tipp looked comfortable but that changed quickly on resuming when Rian Horgan netted for Limerick after four minutes followed immediately by a Cathal Dennehy point to level the game, 0-10 to 1-7.
The home side weathered the storm however, a brace of Conall Morrisson points and another from Zach O’Keeffe, countered by a Shane Waters pointed free for Limerick, having the Premier boys ahead 0-13 to 1-8 after 42 minutes.
However, gaps were appearing in the home rearguard and a minute later Limerick had their second goal as sub Killian Begley raced through a hesitant Tipp defence. Three minutes later, the Shannonsiders might have had a third but referee Patrick O’Mahoney drew their wrath by awarding them a free when a green flag looked certain.
Trailing 0-13 to 2-9, Tipp did not capitulate. In a tense finish, Chris Dunne pointed four frees, as did Limerick’s Shane Waters. A Killian Begley point after 62 minutes gave Limerick a two point advantage. Tipp need a goal, but it never seemed likely. Conor Kennedy had a Tipp point in the last minute of injury time, but there was no more time for the home side to salvage a draw.
Looking to the future, six of this team are eligible again next year, a solid platform on which to build. Chris Dunne looks a great prospect with an imperious first half display and Euan Murray, despite being accorded special attention, continues to impress. Dylan Hennessy, Conall Morrisson, Patrick Hackett and goalkeeper Patrick McCormack were others to catch the eye.
This was Limerick’s first win in three games, and it delighted their supporters and backroom team. Free-taker Shane Waters, Cathal Dennehy, Shane Carroll, Jackie Dwane and sub Killian Begley all had big games for them, but they have some work to do if they are to seriously challenge for honours.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Patrick McCormack (Moneygall); Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers); Dylan Hennessy (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara), Senan Mackey (Knockavilla-D Kickhams); Shane Cooney (Clerihan), Jaye Cilvinas (Arravale Rovers); Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers), Euan Murray (Durlas Og, Capt), Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Zach O’Keeffe (Holycross/Ballycahill), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Harry Lawlor (St Mary’s).
Subs: Jack Cahill (Ballingary) for Lawlor (HT); Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og) for O’Meara (44); Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Cilvinas (46); Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange) for Cooney (50); Danny Barry (Fethard) for Collins (58).
Limerick: Marcus Murphy; Eoin Hennessy, Evan Ryan, Jackie Dwane; Shane Carroll, Danny Sheehan, Michael Hanly; Gavin Thompson, David O’Keeffe; Sean Og Cahill-Hayes, Rory Hanly, Cathal Dennehy; Shane Waters, Paul Murphy, Rian Horgan.
Subs: Killian Begley for Cahill-Hayes (38); Gavin O’Brien for Horgan (47); Ryan Foley for Dennehy (59); Kyle McCarthy for Carroll (60+3).
Referee: Patrick O’Mahoney (Cork).