Tipperary 3-25
Kilkenny 0-20
AN AFTERNOON FEATURING heavy showers, a wave of goals and a finale with Tipperary lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
It felt familiar, the hurling decade ending in a manner similar to how it began with Tipperary conquering Kilkenny on All-Ireland final day.
Nine years after he had masterminded that 2010 success, Liam Sheedy capped his return to the sideline by delivering another triumph for Tipperary. For the older crew on the pitch this was deeply satisfying as they collected their third medal with the names of Maher, McGrath and Callanan central to a victory that was truly emphatic by the finish.
It was a game balanced on a knife-edge during the first half but one ultimately shaped by a few incidents either side of the interval.
The first was a red card brandished in the direction of Richie Hogan. The Kilkenny forward punished for closing down Cathal Barrett underneath the Hogan Stand and catching the jaw of the Tipperary defender with his elbow. The Kilkenny camp protested vociferously to referee James Owens but the decision stood.
Kilkenny retired at the break a point down, 1-9 to 0-11, and more critically a man down. It was a setback from which they could not recover. Tipperary underlined the benefit of having a personnel advantage by effectively shutting the game down early in the second half.
Kilkenny did register the opening score of the half courtesy of a free from TJ Reid but then Padraic Maher launched a clearance from deep, Jason Forde and John McGrath carried it forward in turn and after a frenzied scramble it was Seamus Callanan who was alert to bundle home the latest goal of a stellar personal season.
Tipperary tacked on a few points and then pounced for their third goal in the 42nd minute. Callanan gathered on the right wing and demonstrated superb vision to pick out John O’Dwyer directly in front of goal. He finished with aplomb, Tipperary had raced ahead by 3-12 to 0-13 and they never looked like being pegged back thereafter.
The rain cascaded down in the first half and compromised any hopes of a free-flowing spectacle ensuing. Kilkenny did not look perturbed though. Reid was relentless in knocking over points from frees while John Donnelly made a great impression at wing-forward as well. They were 0-8 to 0-3 ahead by the 19th minute and bossing the exchanges.
Tipperary required something to rouse them from their first-half slumber. The inspiration was not supplied by one of their marquee names, instead a lesser light came to the fore. Jason Forde popped possession to Niall O’Meara in the 26th minute and he surged forward, twisting a route past Conor Fogarty. He chose to forego the option to tap over a point and instead sent a shot skidding towards the bottom corner of the net to beat Eoin Murphy.
That hauled Tipperary back into contention. The complexion of the game changed dramatically with the red card and blast of goals, Tipperary setting the terms of engagement for the remainder of the action.
They had some towering defensive performances with the Maher brothers, Barry Heffernan and Cathal Barrett excellent in protecting the goalmouth. Brendan Maher stuck to his task of keeping tabs on Reid. Seamus Kennedy was highly influential and moved forward to land a brace of well-struck points.
The three-goal cushion was something Tipperary could always rely on. Donnelly and Walter Walsh fought hard to find gaps in the Premier rearguard but those clear routes did not become apparent.
For the second time in four seasons Tipperary savoured All-Ireland glory by a handsome winning margin.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-8 (0-5f, 0-2 ‘65), Séamus Callanan (0-1f), John O’Dwyer 1-2 each, Niall O’Meara 1-0, John McGrath 0-3, Noel McGrath (0-1f), Séamus Kennedy, Willie Connors 0-2 each, Michael Breen, Ger Browne, Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-11 (0-10f), John Donnelly 0-3, Billy Ryan 0-2, Pádraig Walsh, Richie Hogan, Colin Fennelly, Walter Walsh 0-1 each.
Tipperary
1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)
2. Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill)
4. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
3. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
7. Séamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s)
5. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
9. Michael Breen (Ballina)
10. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)
12. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
13. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
14. Séamus Callanan (Drom-Inch – captain)
11. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
Subs
23. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for O’Meara (51)
21. Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for McCormack (57)
25. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Forde (60)
26. Seán O’Brien (Newport) for Barrett (61)
18. Ger Browne (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) for Breen (63)
Kilkenny
1. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3. Huw Lawlor (O’Loughlin Gaels)
4. Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
5. Conor Fogarty (Erin’s Own)
6. Pádraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
7. Paddy Deegan (O’Loughlin Gaels)
8. Conor Browne (James Stephens)
9. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
10. John Donnelly (Thomastown)
11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks – captain)
12. Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
13. Adrian Mullen (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
14. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15. Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
Subs
23. Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan) for Hogan (blood) (17)
Hogan for Ryan (19)
23. Ryan for Mullen (39)
21. Richie Leahy (Rower-Inistioge) for Buckley (48)
22. James Maher (St Lachtain’s) for Browne (54)
17. Conor Delaney (Erins Own) for Holden (58)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
Rte coverage today ….
The panel reckon the attendance has dropped at gaa matches cause Dublin are to dominant ….
No maybe the numbers of supporters going to see the gaa has dropped due to the fact that the real fans who go to all games cant get a ticket for the all Ireland finals n find it extremely hard to get tickets for seni finals due to the GAA being so money hungry when it comes to the biggest games in there calendar year they are more concerned of sponsor forgetting free tickets to give to staff that probably dont even support the GAA at all
@Ian O’Rourke: i don’t think there are 40k sponsors looking for tickets. No one has interest. Sunshine supporters or diehards.
@Ian O’Rourke: it’s because Dublin are too dominant. I used to go to all the games but haven’t been to a Leinster match in a good few years now. Club champo is far more entertaining these days, and the quality you see in the Dublin champo isn’t far below intercounty either. Breaking up the club season for the intercounty champo is annoying, but that’s at the feet of Dublin GAA. And in all my time going to club games I don’t think I’ve had to sit through a half as boring as I’ve just watched either.
@Ian O’Rourke: Ah that’s a load of crap you can get tickets. For the semi finals on tickets.ie no problem most people I know that go to the matches have season tickets.
Not unless your a FG TD/Senator demanding a ticket for the final,Yet they probably did not bother their ass going to the league matches in February.
@Winston Smith: why was cork & kerry have empty its not because Dublin are great.its because tickets are to expensive for what your watching
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: sponsors dont only get 1 ticket each ….
@Winston Smith: no it’s not its cause Gaa are money hungry and dont care bout genuine supports who stand on the hill in February on a freezing cold Saturday night
@Ian O’Rourke: genuine supporters are out supporting their club in September and October, and those genuine supporters have no problem getting tickets for all Irelands through their clubs. You think you deserve a ticket to an all Ireland just cos you traipse to Croker for a league match? No mate, the people who deserve the tickets for the big games are the people who train the kids for the small games. With that sense of entitlement you should look for a FG seat in the Seanad.
@Winston Smith: what n absolute fool the the point of my comment went out the window with you but sure after all with a name like Winston what would ye expect
@Ian O’Rourke: you’re a fair weather fool with a sense of entitlement. Go back to the soccer where your type belong. Real GAA fans aren’t people who think they’re great for going to a few league matches, real GAA fans are people who get up every Saturday to train kids and involve themselves in the GAA. You know why you can’t get tickets for the big games? Because you’re not wanted in the GAA, your kind exist purely to be shaken down for a few bob every now and again, and like the rest of them you’re too stupid to even realise that’s all you are. See you at the final in August mate. Oh no, I wont, you’ll be on your bar stool for it! Hahaha
Brutal match
Awful pity Kevin McStay is’nt still managing a county team! It would spare us all the pain of listening to his co-commentary on The Sunday Game!
@Joe L: Hear hear
Can’t wait to stick it to the Dubs. About time they were knocked off their perch.
@This Guy:
That might be one of those comments that looks really silly come full time.
@This Guy:
@This Guy: you will regret that comment
@This Guy: it’s football not farming
@This Guy: either pure sarcasm or pure optimism.
@This Guy: why is it about time they were knocked off their perch? They work their butts off to be where they are. Maybe your county team needs to work a bit harder.
Dublin didn’t always win. Please remember that ye green eyed monster.
Up the DUBS
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Dublin didn’t always have the lions share of investment from gaa hq either. But they are a serious team that work their arses off. Like every county team.
@This Guy: Dublin gets everything
@This Guy: winning all Ireland after all Ireland is great, but something more simple and enjoyable in hammering meath. Does anyone like meath?
@Milk The Drones: looks stupid now
Meath need 33 mins to score
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: Excuse me, I’m actually from Dublin. I was referring to the team.
@Richard O’Brien: they earned and deserved everything Can you imagine GAA (or Ireland for that matter) with no
Dublin
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: keep up the good work and be a proud Dubliner
@Ian O’Rourke: That sounds like a threat. Reported.
@This Guy: sounds a bit sopranoesqe
@This Guy: in all fairness he means that you will regret it when you see the final score
@Milk The Drones: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha the match was crap but ha ha ha ha ha
@This Guy: ha ha ha ha cabbage
@This Guy: how did that turn out for you
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: and they bring in the most income for the GAA.
Get off the high horse already!!!!!!! Sore losers
@This Guy: you’re a dreadful Dub so.
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: and the head honchos realised that and threw more dollars behind them in the hope that they’d get an all Ireland or two and in turn make the gaa a little richer. And now that has backfired to a degree.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: you haven’t a clue pal. Just stop already
@Rebecca De Stanleigh: The GAA have created a monster and now they can’t control it. I’d say they are regretting putting €16 million into Dublin over the last 10 years !!
Rte calling the 1st half interesting, are they having a laugh, that was absolutely dirt
Hopefully it’s not one sided
@Steve O’Reilly: it’s always one sided, one side of boggers, and DUBLIN
@Zerolife TwentyThree: yeah the pale vs people who wanted their independence..
@Zerolife TwentyThree: someone has to feed ye gluttonous shower of sh 1tes.
@Ave it: they don’t call them union jackeens for nothing
@Ave it: bullseye!!!!
Love the rte biased commentary
@Con O’Hannrachàin: rte don’t touch the ball
@Anthony Doyle: have you listened to the commentary it’s woeful.
This is a like a basketball game
I’m watching it and it’s absolutely dire…
What an awful game
@Irish Freedom Now.: pitch is like a bloody ice rink
Great game of sideways ball
Is there nothing to be said for saying another mass!
Meath playing well in the defense! The forward line has been shocking. Big improvement needed.
Same issue here in limerick for next week’s Munster Final. Terrace tickets sold in shops before they checked on demand from clubs. Club my partner is a member of got 66 tickets with over 100 looking for them and she’s been at all the games other than one since December sitting at games with 1000 attending. Luck in the draw for the tickets tonight her only way of getting one.
@Chris Enright (Garden Fresh Veg): just get a season ticket.
I’d have rather watched Love Island..
How the hell did Meath get to a Leinster final
South meath will still feel like they are in with a chance
@Andrew Tuite: if they run into north Dublin
What a terrible game, Meath 4 points over 70+ minutes, Cavan lost by scoring 2-16 and donegal being touted as serious all Ireland contenders
Dreadful game.
Poor performance by both sides but more so from Meath. Tepid, looked like they were preparing themselves for qualifiers. Seemed like they were kicking it wide on purpose. Either really bad game management or a con (next game will tell)
Meath will be picked off by a decent team
Legends
Attendances are down because you can’t get tickets to the semi final or the final. Simple as that.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.
As a fan who has not to attend a game in years because of the trouble around getting tickets to come semi-final & final time.
I watched on Sunday my next door neighbours heading off in brand new Dublin kits to attend the game with 4 adults and a 7-year-old who was her first game ever and not once have I ever hear them speak about support Dublin all years.
All the local clubs who support and are Training young boys and girls to be the future players for the team struggle to get enough tickets for club members and players.
But yet Once or twice a year fans stroll into a newsagent or get given tickets for game is a very big problem with how tickets are shared out.
I would agree with Ian O’Rourke I have seen and gotten emails of tickets been offered in the workplace to people who jump on the bandwagon come final time.