Impressive start for Tipperary in Munster Minor Football Championship

Tipperary 2-13 Limerick 0-10

A blistering third quarter by Tipperary put Limerick away in round one of phase one of the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship at Fethard Town Park on Tuesday evening to give the Premier County boys the ideal start to the campaign.

Wind-aided Tipp enjoyed a slender 1-5 to 0-7 lead at half-time. With the elements to favour them in the second half, Limerick looked well-placed to take the points from what was at all times an entertaining contest between two sides committed to playing attacking football.

Tipp could have been further ahead at the interval. They got the ideal start when Dylan Cotter netted after 4 minutes for a 1-1 to 0-1 lead and at the start of the second quarter were 1-4 to 0-3 ahead. With centre back Tom Corcoran in an advanced role, Tipp always looked dangerous going forward but then Limerick got a foothold to score four points without reply, levelling at 0-7 to 1-4 after 28 minutes.

Jamal Yousif was denied a second Tipp goal after 20 minutes when Limerick goalie Stephen Kearney turned his effort away following a great forward surge by Tom Corcoran. The impressive Charlie Walsh pointed for Tipp in injury time to give them a slender advantage at the break, 1-5 to 0-7.

Tipp’s position looked precarious facing into the second half but inside twelve minutes they had put the game to bed, scoring 1-5 without reply.  A reshuffled line-up was rampant in that period and had two points on the board from Jamal Yousif and Oran Gahan before Dylan Cotter finished off a fine move with his and Tipperary’s second goal after 9 minutes. He immediately added a point, which was followed by further points from Jamal Yousif and Charlie Walsh to put them 2-10 to 0-7 clear after 43 minutes.

The game was now very much Tipperary’s to lose but they never faltered in the last quarter, as management availed of the opportunity to give fringe players game time. The nine points winning margin could yet be important in determining qualification for phase two of the championship when Kerry and Cork enter the fray.

Next up for Tipp is a trip to Lemybrien in Waterford next Tuesday night to take on the home side, who were narrow losers to Clare on Tuesday evening. With Tipp also away to Clare in the final round of phase one, the importance of this opening victory cannot be underestimated.

The merit of the Tipp win cannot be questioned and the manner in which it was achieved was impressive. Interestingly, twelve clubs were represented in the starting fifteen, with four more having players in the subs used – an indication of how widely management spread the net in sourcing their squad.

In what was essentially a fine team performance, there were some eye-catching performances from a number of players. Midfielder Dylan Cotter, the first player from Thurles Gaels to represent the county, celebrated the occasion with 2-1 from midfield. Charlie Walsh at full forward was an ideal target man while Tom Corcoran, at the heart of the defence, produced some inspiring forward surges.

Jack Garrett, Jamal Yousif, Ronan Myles and Charlie Walsh were others who were very influential while goalie Mark Conroy never put a foot wrong, his kickouts being particularly well executed to initiate Tipp attacks.

Limerick have work to do to keep in the frame, their game with Clare in the next round being crucial for them with a good result imperative if they are to stay in contention. Their key men were Shane Dolan, Donal Dawson, Conor Ó Longaigh, Rory Mullins and sub Cillian McNamara.

Tipperary: Mark Conroy (Drom/Inch); Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Ronan Myles (Ardfinnan), Gavin Neville (Fethard); Noah O’Flynn (Fethard), Tom Corcoran (JK Brackens, 0-2), Jack Garrett (Arravale Rovers, 0-1); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels, 2-1), Oran Gahan (St Patrick’s, 0-1); Cillian Healy (Kilruane MacDonaghs, 0-1), Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Óg, 0-2), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane); Ciaran Kelly (Arravale Rovers, 0-1), Charlie Walsh (Fethard, 0-4, 2fs), Cian Collins (Galtee Rovers). 

Subs: Danny Morris (Clonmel Commercials) for O’Flynn (45 mins), Harry Tobin-Ryan (Clonmel Commercials) for Collins (45 mins), Ryan O’Sullivan (Clerihan) for Healy (52 mins), Luke Foley (Moyle Rovers) for Griffin (55 mins), Mikey McGuire (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Gahan (58 mins).

Limerick: Stephen Kearney; Danny McCarthy, Sean O’Donnell, Sean Hanley; Michael Mulcahy, Donal Dawson (0-1), Conor Ó Longaigh; Cian Costelloe, Daniel O’Connell; Shane Dolan (0-6, 4fs), Rory Mullins (0-1), Michael Naughton; Charlie Casey, Rian McNamara (0-1), Leon Curtin. 

Subs: Ben Ryan for Naughton (44 mins), Daniel Murphy for Casey (44 mins), Cillian McNamara for R McNamara (50 mins), Jake Slattery (0-1) for Curtin (50 mins), Sean Gallahue for S O’Donnell (54 mins).

Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh, Kerry.