Tullaroan [Kilkenny] 3-19
Fr O’Neill’s [Cork] 5-12
Paul Keane reports from Croke Park
SHANE WALSH BLASTED a perfect 10 points for Tullaroan at Croke Park and he’ll never forget the last of them, a 64th minute match-winner that pinched the AIB All-Ireland club intermediate title.
A remarkable game that swung back and forth, yielding eight goals and 31 points, eventually turned on a single score from the team captain.
The corner-forward accepted a pass from John Walton after a patient move and took his opportunity to etch his name in the club’s history books with the winning point.
The referee brought a memorable game to a conclusion moments later and Walsh made a lengthy and emotional victory speech in the Hogan Stand.
Fr O’Neill’s had burst out of the traps to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 and they held a five-point lead with 15 minutes to go as rising Cork star Declan Dalton led the line superbly for them, shooting 2-4 overall.
But they just couldn’t shake off Jimmy Coogan’s Tullaroan who capped a dream season with the ultimate prize, matching the earlier achievement of Kilkenny side Conahy Shamrocks in the junior final.
It’ll be a clean sweep of junior, intermediate and senior titles for Kilkenny clubs if Ballyhale Shamrocks beat Borris-Ileigh tomorrow.
Kilkenny great Tommy Walsh, Shane’s brother, scored two points and played his part in a famous win that looked like it might escape them at different stages.
It was Fr O’Neill’s that were first out of the blocks, bursting into that big lead though Tullaroan wiped it out with an unanswered 1-4 to tie it up at 1-5 apiece.
Martin Keoghan scored Tullaroan’s first goal and Peter Walsh hit another to send them in 2-5 to 1-6 ahead at half-time.
Fr O’Neill’s seized the initiative in the third quarter and goals from Eoin Conway, the excellent Dalton and Cillian Broderick left them 4-8 to 2-9 ahead at the three quarter point.
That was a five-point lead but Tullaroan’s response was to reel off 1-7 without response to lead by five themselves.
Finally, it looked as if they would go on to secure a comfortable win but Fr O’Neill’s had other ideas, dominating the closing minutes to tie it up in the 62nd minute before the skipper stepped in to win it for Tullaroan.
Tullaroan scorers: Shane Walsh 0-10 (0-4f, 0-1 65), Martin Keoghan 2-1, Peter Walsh 1-2, John Walton and Tommy Walsh 0-2 each, Bill Gaffney and Padraig Walsh 0-1 each.
Fr O’Neill’s scorers: Declan Dalton 2-4 (0-2f, 0-1 65), Eoin Conway 1-1, Cillian Broderick and Jason Hankard 1-0 each, Paudie McMahon and Kevin O’Sullivan 0-2 each, Rob Cullinane, Sean O’Connor and Thomas Millerick 0-1 each.
TULLAROAN
1. Paul Buggy
2. Diarmuid Doheny
3. Tommy Walsh (Village)
4. Stephen Maher
7. Jack Keoghan
6. Padraig Walsh
5. Martin Walsh
8. Tomas Dunne
9. Mark WAlsh
10. Bill Gaffney
11. Martin Keoghan
12. John Walton
15. Shane Walsh (Captain)
14. Tommy Walsh (Mountgale)
13. Peter Walsh
Subs:
18. Ken Coogan for Dunne (40)
21. Adam Tallis for M Walsh (44)
FR O’NEILL’S
1. Colin Sloane
3. Podge Butler
4. Ger Millerick
2. Mike Millerick
7. Thomas Millerick
6. Dan Harrington (Captain)
5. John Barry
8. Joe Millerick
9. Kevin O’Sullivan
11. Rob Cullinane
12. Paudie McMahon
13. Eoin Conway
10. Liam O’Driscoll
14. Declan Dalton
15. Cillian Broderick
Subs:
17. Jason Hankard for Conway (50)
19. Sean O’Connor for Barry (54)
21. Eoin Motherway for Broderick (57)
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
This was an epic entertaining game tbh, you’d feel sorry for any team that loses but to come out the wrong side of a cracking game is wicked tough, 2 cracking teams did themselves and club proud.
@Now or Never: Watched most of it on You Tube. Tullaroan were a bit better although Father O Neills never gave up. The 2nd half was unreal. Some high scoring and some top drawer scores. Maybe the 2 boys suspended was the difference, but saying that Tullaroan are worthy champions. Delighted for Tommy Walsh. Club is king.
@Decko49: ah I was hoping for a draw after 62nd min, but what a way to win and lose aswel. You’ll do well to see a better game all year tbh. Tullaroan worthy winners and Walsh is just a joy to watch. Some game!!
@Now or Never: hi let me tell you, a DRAW would have been a fair Result !!!!
@Tom Harrington: as is a one point win for Tullaroan, game was there to be won for either side. But another day out would have been great,just to see them go at it again.
Mandatory Viewing for any Squad …
Phenomenal ! like a Rocky movie
Had it all folks -certainly feel for the loser
Refree contributed greatly by letting Game flow
Have to say & this is a Big Statement
That Was thee most Entertaining
Hurling Match I’ve seen in years…
& I was extremely Neutral…
Hurling is a gift from the Almighty
That’s some win. After 10 mins I thought Fr O Neills were going to walk it. It’s mad 2 Tommy Walsh’s on the team and the refs name was Thomas Walsh.
Great day for Kilkenny clubs. Hope Ballyhale complete the treble tomorrow.
@Jason Pierce: it’d be a brave man who would hit a Walsh on that team, you’d have 7 others after you!
@John S: even the ref was Tommy Walsh
One of the best games ever to grace Croker. Gutted as a FON man but the lads gave it everything and more
@James Irwin: Ye were unlucky. Ye beat us in Kilfinane this year and it was a great game in difficult conditions. But today was an unbelievable game. It had everything. The 2 boys missing were a big loss. Overall the year was a great one for ye so you should be extremely proud of your team which I’m sure you are. Hope ye do great this coming year too
A cork team (male) really needed to get over the line at Croke Park in any division. Cork teams in the habit of losing big hurling games of recent times.
@Johnsinker: Father O Neills done themselves and Cork proud today. Yes they lost but they died with their boots on. The boys suspended were a huge loss. It’s tough to lose the way they did. I think they will be very competitive at senior level next year In Cork
@Johnsinker: Quite a stretch to claim a Fr O’Neills win at Croker would have had any relevance to the Cork senior hurlers later in the year. Ridiculous, in fact. What a game of hurling. Well done to both sides.
@Decko49: I think they will only be playing Senior 2 in Cork next year with the new set up.
The best thing to happen to Cork hurling was Fr O Neills winning intermediate championship to split up Imokilly.
@Jason Pierce: Yes you are correct about Senior 2 but they will be competitive. As for Imokilly, I agree with you about splitting them up. I think Father O Neills had 5 members of that panel.
@Decko49: they will Be competitive. I think some of those lower tier senior teams are poor enough. Fr O Neill’s should be way to strong for some of them. They will have a huge start on the others with fitness too.
Sounded unreal. I always think in a game that tight with one team having scored 2 goals more, if the other team can beat them by a point or two it’s well deserved
I read the whole article and still don’t know if it was football or hurling
@Scoozie: the fact it involved a kilkenny club was a big give away
@Breanainn Buggy: and the high scoring!
@Scoozie: obv dont recognise Tommy Walsh as a hurler then eh