More clinical Tipperary attack downs poor Limerick in Rathkeale to claim B title

Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship B Final

Tipperary 2-15

Limerick 2-2

Tipperary claimed the Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 ‘B’ Football Championship for the first time ever, a dominant second-half display earning Paddy O’Gorman’s side a 2-15 to 2-2 win over Limerick.

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After losing the toss for venue during the week, which meant a trip to Rathkeale for the Premier’s youngsters, they also lost the toss to play against the considerable elements.

Little has the cliche of a ‘game of two halves’ been more apt - Limerick did all the scoring in the first half, while Tipp were the only team to trouble the umpires after the break.

But the ‘Premier’ making far more hay in the period where they had the elements - kicking 2-15 in the second 30 minutes after John O’Grady’s side only managed 2-2 in the opening stanza.

Limerick got off to a dream start hitting the back of the net after just 50 seconds. Slack Tipp defending close to their own goal saw Barry Griffin win possession. The Monaleen man laid it off to Callum Kiely, who made no mistake with the finish.

Tipperary had a lot of the ball in the first quarter, but playing into a big wind struggled to get their shots away and weren’t able to trouble the scorers. Once Limerick regained the initiative, they made them pay.

They ball in the back of the net a second time in the 17th minute as Aidan O’Shea got the final touch after Kiely’s initial effort went across the face of the goal. Points from Michael Mulcahy and the energetic Conor O Longaigh on either side of this gave the home side a 2-2 to no score lead 18 minutes.

Despite the rain easing off, O’Longaigh’s effort was the last score of a slow-paced opening half.

Limerick should have had a bigger lead at the change of ends, having kicked nine wides in the 30 minutes, compared to two for Tipperary.

It was the sixth minute of the second half before the ‘Premier’ County opened their account - Dylan Cotter with a fine effort to raise an orange flag. Oran Gahan then reduced the deficit before Tipp captain Liam Freaney got into the game.

In the space of three minutes, he raised a green, an orange and a white flag to single-handedly haul his side in front. Three more points from the Kilsheelan Kilcash man stretched their advantage.

Now in complete control, Tipp added scores from Shane Ryan, Darragh Brosnan, Jamal Yousif to put the result beyond doubt.

The cream on top came in injury time as Ciaran Kelly blasted home a goal to cap off an impressive second half for the winners, who left Rathkeale with the cup and a 13-point win.

Scorers:Tipperary: Liam Freaney 1-6 (1x2pt, 0-2f); Ciaran Kelly (1-2, 0-1f); Shane Ryan 0-1f, Dylan Cotter 0-2 each; Oran Gahan, Darragh Bresnan, Jamal Yousif all 0-1 each.

Limerick: Callum Kiely, Aidan O’Shea 1-0 each; Conor O Longaigh, Michael Mulcahy 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Gavin Neville (Fethard), Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers St Pecaun’s); Paddy Chapman (Aherlow), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen); Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Sean Bourke (Aherlow), James Power (Clonmel Commercials), Oran Gahan (St Patrick’s); Charlie Walsh (Fethard), Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash).

Subs used: Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers) for Oran Gahan (41); Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for Charlie Walsh (51); Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Og) for Sean Bourke (56); Ciaran Kelly (Arravale Rovers) for Shane Ryan (59); Dayle Hogan (Arravale Rovers) for Dylan Cotter (59).

Limerick: Cian Purcell; Cian O’Sullivan, Matthew O’Connor, Danny McCarthy; Paudie Hennessy, Andrew Kearney, Conor Ó Loingsigh; Aidan O’Shea, Evan Curry; Barry Griffin, Liam Glynn, Cian Costelloe; Callum Kiely, Padraic Phelan, Michael Mulcahy.

Subs used: Samuel Colgan for Padraic Phelan (43); Cillian Meade for Liam Glynn (51); Darragh O’Carroll for Callum Kiely (56); Conor Mangan for Cian Costelloe (58).

Referee: Gary Twomey (Clare)

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