Tipperary U17 hurlers defeat Kilkenny with late goal to clinch Celtic Challenge final place

Celtic Challenge Corn Michael Hogan (U17) Hurling Semi-final

Tipperary Gold 1-19

Kilkenny 1-16

By Ronan Loughnane 

A scrambled Cormac Shanahan goal in the 32nd minute ultimately proved the difference as Tipperary Gold advanced to the Celtic Challenge final, where they will face Cork Whites. In a game that rarely rose above mediocrity, the home side just about had the edge when it came to scoring from play when it mattered most in the closing stages. 

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The opening half lacked any real cutting edge, with both sides struggling to put their stamp on the contest. Michael Ryan of Borris-Ileigh was an exception to the rule, and he landed Tipp’s opening two points from play in response to Jack Roche and Timmy Corr's points for Kilkenny. 

Paul Cahalan (Tipp) and Rory Glynn traded points in the ninth minute before Andrew Brennan restored the Kilkenny lead a minute later.  Ryan and Jack Bevans combined nicely to put the lively Donnacha Quigley through for a point in the 13th minute as conditions worsened with some heavy rain. 

The opening quarter finished with Shanahan and Quigley pointing from play in reply to a Daniel Tobin point for Kilkenny to leave Tipp 0-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Several poor wides on both sides were a feature of the second quarter as the scores dried up. Cathal Kennedy managed Tipp’s only score from play in 17 minutes when he pointed in the 27th minute, while Liam Dunphy added two frees. Kilkenny fared slightly better with Tobin and Sean O’Grady adding two from play and Robert McEvoy landing two frees to leave the sides tied at 0-9 apiece at the short whistle. 

The decent crowd in attendance hoped for more as the second half began, and the game got a boost in the 32nd minute when Cormac Shanahan scrambled the ball over the line from close range. The score lifted Tipp with Dunphy following up with a free a minute later, while the same player grabbed his first from play following a lovely team move to put the Premier 1-11 to 0-9 ahead on 36 minutes. 

They certainly looked the likelier at this stage, and another fine move involving Niall Delaney and Quigley ended with a Jack Bevans point from play while the impressive Ryan grabbed his third from play in the 43rd minute. 

Kilkenny had certainly drifted out of the game by now and only registered two points in the third quarter through a Luke McDonald ’65 and another from play courtesy of Tobin to leave Tipp 1-13 to 0-11 ahead after 46 minutes. 

The Cats rallied a little to land three of the next four points through Josh Dowling, Sean O’Grady and Rory Glynn in reply to a Dunphy free for Tipp to leave just a goal between them with 8 minutes to go. 

To Tipp’s credit, they responded well and grabbed three points in four minutes thanks to Quigley, Cahalan, and substitute Eoin Grace. Back came the Cats, and a good move put Corr through on goal. 

He made no mistake from close range to make it 1-17 to 1-14 in 56 minutes. From a comfortable position, Tipp were suddenly under the cosh and Kilkenny reduced the lead further on 57 minutes when substitute Jonathon Kennedy pointed from play. 

Paul Cahalan had been one of Tipp’s better players over the hour, and he grabbed his third from play before a Dunphy free provided the insurance. Sean O’Grady replied with a Kilkenny free in injury time, but time ran out as Tipp advanced to face Cork Whites in the final. Tipperary management will be reasonably happy with some aspects of their play while also noting that there is plenty of scope for improvement. Paul Cahalan, Michael Ryan, Donnacha Quigley, and Cormac Shanahan were best on the day.

Tipperary Gold: Euan Magee (Cahir); Kyle Culley (Cashel King Cormacs), Conor Kennedy (Boherlahan Dualla), David Rabbitte (Borris-Ileigh); Dan McKelvey (Silvermines), Niall Delaney (JK Brackens), Cormac Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Michael Ryan (Borris-Ileigh, 0-3), Denis O’Callaghan (Cashel King Cormacs); Liam Dunphy (Roscrea, 0-6, 0-5f), Paul Cahalan (Burgess, 0-3), Jack Bevans (Borris-Ileigh, 0-1); Donnacha Quigley (Arravale Rovers, 0-3), Cathal Kennedy (Borris-Ileigh, 0-1), Cormac Shanahan (Newport, 1-1).

Subs used: Johnny Grace (Burgess) for Culley (HT); Eoin Grace (Silvermines, 0-1) for Kennedy (49); Cody Quirke (Toomevara) for O’Callaghan (55); Eoin Webb (Durlas Óg) for Bevans (59). 

Kilkenny: Rian Dowling (Dicksboro); Eoin Walpole (Bennetsbridge), Ronan Mahony (Danesfort), Rian McDonald (Kilmacow); Ben Henderson (Dicksboro), Liam Kenny Landers (St Lachtain’s), Luke McDonald (O’Loughlin Gaels, 0-1 ’65); Jack Roche (Rower Inistioge, 0-1), Andrew Brennan (James Stephens, 0-1); Robert McEvoy (Lisdowney, 0-2f), Josh Dowling (St Patrick’s), Rory Glynn (James Stephens, 0-2);  Daniel Tobin (Emeralds, 0-3), Timmy Corr (Danesfort, 1-2), Sean O’Grady (Graiguenamanagh, 0-3, 0-2f). 

Subs used: Dan Carroll (Dicksboro) for McEvoy (38); Jonathan Kennedy (Danesfort, 0-1) for Dowling (46); Noah Gibbons (Dicksboro) for Brennan (46); Aidan Keating (Young Irelands) for Tobin (60). 

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Clare)

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