Brilliant quality on show as North Tipp defeat Mid Tipp in Roger Ryan Hurling Final

Roger Ryan Cup U15 Hurling Final 2024

North Tipperary 3-19 

Mid Tipperary 2-10

By Liam Hogan

Scoring 3-15 from play, North Tipperary came from behind to become Roger Ryan Cup winners when they defeated a strong Mid Tipp side at Saint Michael's Toomevara last Saturday afternoon. 

In a repeat of last year’s Peadar Cummins final which North also won (but by a smaller margin) this was a 19-man performance that really clicked into gear once the winners turned a three-point deficit to a six-point lead at half-time. 

Perhaps the scoreline didn’t reflect the performance by Mid Tipp which was very good but once North hit four unanswered points in the opening ten minutes of the second half there was no way back for the Mid boys.

The high scoring was a surprise and another thing that surprised everybody was how both teams got into their stride despite the very bitter breeze that favoured Mid Tipp in the first half as they defended the village end.

When Rory Cross scored for Mid in the 13th minute his side led 0-6 to 0-3 and were hurling well. Zack O’Keeffe had three pointed frees to his credit with Eoin Kennedy also on target while his midfield partner Chris Dunne was a prominent figure as he played a role between the midfield and half-back areas. Up front, both Darragh Cornally and Larry O’Brien had their moments but the Tipp defence gave little away where Ruairi Hackett was keeping a close eye on O’Keeffe and 

Then out of the blue, the game changed. In the 15th minute, Michael Dooley scored a point. Seconds later, he had the ball in the net when he got the vital touch to a high ball which deceived Mid Tipp goalkeeper Cathal Ryan. 

Eanna Tucker made it 1-5 to 0-6 after seventeen minutes but Zack O’Keeffe replied with another free. North hit back and Ollie Roche showed poise and balance to shoot past Ryan for North’s second goal with the same player adding two points, the first from play. 

Mid Tipp were not to relinquish ground and O’Keeffe added another free. However, the North were full of running and three unanswered points, through Moroney, Roche from a free, and Oisin Kennedy had them in command. 

Mid Tipp needed respite and got some when O’Keeffe found space to score a goal two minutes before half-time. A timely reminder of what could happen but North Tipp kept to the plan and another Roche score left the half-time score reading North 2-11 Mid Tipp 1-8. 

The start of the second half saw North increase their lead to ten after Healy, Kennedy, Dooley, and Roche were on target. Brody O’Donoghue’s reply in the 43rd minute kept Mid Tipp honest but North’s ascendency remained with Moroney and Roche (65) on target with Moroney adding a goal that left the game beyond doubt. 

Both Jack Noonan and Oisin Kennedy swapped points quickly supported by another Roche free seconds before Larry O’Brien’s consolation goal brought full time at North 3-19 Mid 2-10.  

The vast majority of these players will turn their attention to making the Tipp teams for the Arrabawn in August. Looking at what was on display, the selectors will have a delightful job in picking the players such as the talent available. 

Scorers: North Tipperary: Ollie Roche (1-8, 0-3f, 0-1 ’65); Oisin Kennedy 0-5; Josh Moroney, M Dooley 1-2 each; E Tucker, H Healy 0-1 each. 

Mid Tipperary: Z O’Keeffe (1-5, 0-5f); L O’Brien 1-0; E Kennedy, D Cornally, B O’Donoghue, Jack Noonan, R Cross all 0-1 each.

North Tipperary: Darragh Gaynor (Kilruane MacDonagh); Luke Murphy (Roscrea), Ruairi Hackett (Kiladangan), Daniel Groome (Borris-Ileigh); Charlie Carroll (Roscrea), Jack Hayes (Roscrea), Aaron lane (Newport); Eanna Tucker (Nenagh Eire Og), Colm Ryan (Borris-Ileigh (capt); Oisin Kennedy (Ballina), Hugo Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Michael Dooley (Roscrea); Ollie Roche (Newport), Josh Moroney (Ballina), Shane Ryan (Borris-Ileigh). 

Subs used: James Heffernan (Nenagh Eire Og for Tucker (53); Alan Bourke (Shannon Rovers) for Moroney (53); Adam White (Toomevara) for Murphy (53); Odhran Ryan (Burgess) for Gaynor (54). 

Mid Tipperary: Cathal Ryan (Loughmore Castleiney); JR Corpez (JK Brackens), Kinnian O’Brien (JK Brackens), Sean Lanphier (Moycarkey Borris); Billy Gleeson Gortnahoe Glengoole), Sean Bourke (JK Brackens), Ciaran O’Mahoney (Durlas Og); Eoin Kennedy (Boherlahan Dualla), Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe Glengoole); Jack Noonan (Moyne Templetuohy), Rory Cross (Boherlahan Dualla), Darragh Cornally (Durlas Og); Brody O’Donoghue (Durlas Og), Zack O’Keeffe (Holycross Ballycahill), David Hanna (Durlas Og). 

Subs used: Tomas Leahy (Moycarkey Borris) for B Gleeson (20, inj); Larry O’Brien (JK Brackens) for O’Mahony (35); Conor Doherty (Moycarkey Borris) for Hanna (45); Shane Gleeson (Gortnahoe Glengoole for Cornally (47); Fionn Ivors (Boherlahan) for Leahy (49). 

Referee: Kevin Jordan (Thurles Gaels)