Tipp minor hurlers find their rhythm and finish their year with a win

Tipperary minor hurlers 2023 campaign came to an end tonight in Thurles after the home side beat Waterford 1-20 to 1-12 in an entertaining game. Tonight was the highlight of a frustrating campaign for James Woodlock and his management team that started the season hoping for back to back All-Irelands but lost out, beaten but unbowed, after the Munster round robin finished up tonight. 

Waterford faced a Tipp team that have been improving game on game but they found their rhythm too late. Tonight Morris and Lahart combined well, captain Jamie Ormond linked up the play well and Robbie Ryan and co kept the scoreboard ticking over. The best scoring performance all year was from Robbie Ryan with the Holycross forward hitting 0-16 against Limerick, including a lovely ball gathered by the end line that he turned and brought out towards the 14 to send it over the bar.

Overall though Sam Rowan made the best impression on supporters this year as the standout player. To the fore on a heavy, stormy night in Wolf Tones club against Clare, did well too in Cork and tonight he was once more the main man, scoring an absolutely classy point late on when he ran out grasped it out of the air, turned and made room for himself before he sent it over the bar.

Score of the game and perhaps point of the year though Jack Hayes did hit a lovely score from the wing out by the sideline in Cork during a drizzle. Rowan from Mullinahone, wearing a helmet with their colours, hit the goal of the campaign with a bullet against Limerick after he took the ball in around the D area and blasted it to the roof of the net. Limerick struck a top drawer goal too though, just after Sam Rowan, and they won that night by a single point. Tipp needed the win that evening to stay in the competition but they didn't get it, meaning qualification tonight to the knockout stages wasn't a possibility. 

As a group it was tough for Tipp to start with two games away from home and when you aren't in the flow of a game it can be difficult to turn it around. They kept the head down and worked away, focused always on the next game and for that they deserve credit. Tonight the drills were sharp in the warmup, Tipp started well and drove into an early lead. An early goal from Carrick Swans Stefan Tobin on eight minutes settled Tipp and by half time they led 1-8 to 0-7. From there Waterford continued to get possession but drove many, many wide's and didn't look like they could bridge the gap. A late Waterford goal arrived too late to make any impact and Tipp saw it out tonight by eight to finish their season on a high note. 

Full match report from tonight's game will be online shortly.