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).
Great dublin team that will dominate for another few years! But its the most boring championship I can remember! How many games have been won by 10/15 points. It’s painful to watch
Well that match wasn’t much good
@Jamie: I know thank God I support Liverpool!
@Yorkie1892: The Dubs have adapted and learned to beat the ultra defensive system. In fact they’ve almost mastered it at this stage. Back to the drawing board for everyone else.
@Jamie: Up the Dubs….Horrible vexatious and prejudiced article appeared in the Irish Times the other day. Will be joining in on the newspaper ban. Won’t be taking my news from the Irish Times any time soon.
@George Hogan: I won’t be renewing my online subscription with the Irish Times either after that disgusting article.
@Niall Quinlan: Which article was this?
@Talleyrand Frye:
It’s a badly written tirade against Dubliners by someone who clearly has a number of chips on both her shoulders. Everyone enjoys a bit of inter-regional banter, but this piece is just mean-spirited. Many Dubs and many non-Dubs who love Dublin are just irritated that this piece of garbage journalism is presented by the IT which invariably speaks to those who would like to see the urban – rural divide increase. The writer must know, there are many in Dublin who are ecstatic that she ‘can’t afford to live in Dublin’. We want harmony not division.
:::
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/why-i-m-glad-i-can-t-afford-to-live-in-dublin-1.3193536
@Yorkie1892: except for all the draws!
@George Hogan: Ya fair enough – as a Corkman, that article is shite. I mean, there are a few West Brits as described in the article knocking about Dublin, but most Dubs I know are nothing like that.
@Talleyrand Frye: West Brits everywhere. Are you new to the Journal? Love Cork, btw!
@Yorkie1892: small ball next weekend cheer up should be cracker
@George Hogan: True that – every county has them unfortunately! Have been knocking around the Journal for a while, but only surface to make a comment every now and again! Lived in Dublin for a while, liked it a lot and have good time for most people I met in Dublin. As you said, some inter-county banter is a bit of fun, but stupid stereotypes like in that article are only written to annoy people and don’t offer any real insight to their chosen topic at all.
Tyrone could never win with all there players in there own half. What’s the point in turning up with those tactics?
@Martin Sinnott: Daft rehashing of lazy arguments. The few times that Tyrone got the ball into scoring zones, Dublin too brought 15 men behind the ball.
@Martin Sinnott: Dubs win at a canter game over after 20 mins, Tyrone want to develop attacking game to have any chance in years to come, Dublin the one team that would blow ultra defensive teams out of the water with their forward play, this could only be good for football.. Mayo will put it up to the Dubs, think. 2 best teams by a country mile in the final and both teams will go on the attack. Shows Ulster football have fallen so far…Derry minors play a lovely brand of football though
@Gerry Murphy:”Two best teams by a country mile” you say!! don’t think so Ted,Dubin are way ahead of the rest at the moment but Mayo are an average side at a time of very poor quality inter county football teams.
Stroll in the park in the end for the Dubs.
@j4VEpUO8: Mayo for Jam!!
@Brian Shaw: Mayo for sandwiches.
what a reception for eric lowndes
Tyrone are horrible to watch . Time for micky to step down hes done a great job but time for a change. Are bench is good enough to start for most county teams, brogan didnt even get on today. Good to see dermo back but i wouldn be starting him in the final. Con is some baller , so much talent in this squad i cant see mayo beating us. But if they do fair play to them .
Tactically Dublin got it spot on. Avoided bringing the ball into contact and being bottled up by that Tyrone defence and switching the play from side to side to stretch them and work the openings. Resulted in a less exciting game but yielded the desired the result so fair play to Jim Gavin and co
Well done Dublin! But what a boring game to watch ! So one sided ! Hopefully the end of blanket defence
That’s the 3 in a row then.
@JJ O Riordan: never count your chickens before they’ve hatched!….
@Kate Flaherty: we’re from Dublin City. We don’t own chickens
@Michael Horgan: I know lots of Dubs with chicks!…..
Scratching, pecking and laying all before them.
@JJ O Riordan: I’m a Dub and Mayo will be a very different animal to anything we’ve faced this year. Mayo will bring an athleticism, battle hardened edge and intensity that Dublin will not have faced this season. There was only a kick of the ball between them last year and Mayo are hungrier and better than they were last year.
@Thomas McGilly: Heard all of the above before the Tyrone game today zzzzzzz
@Kate Flaherty: all depends on how many chickens you have
@Barry O’Carroll: You must not have watched the match yesterday and last week. Tyrone didn’t lay a meaningful hand on Dublin all game. Most unlike them but that’s what happened. Mayo hit Kerry all over the place and will do the same to Dublin.
@Thomas McGilly: Spot on analysis Thomas. Tyrone simply lay down when the only plan they had didn’t work. Pundits heaping acclaim on Dubs are idiots, Dublin have had no test whatever this year. Mayo are battle hardened and the only team in the country as Dublin’s equal. The Dubs could well be caught cold in the final, playing pretty footie today against zone marking statues will count for little in 3 weeks against physical power of Mayo.
No chickens, but plenty of turkeys.
@Turk Oneeighttwo: I agree that Dublin have not had a serious test this year but exactly who are Mayo battle hardened from playing? The poorest Kerry team I’ve seen in years? One thing is for sure. Mayo have not played a team of Dublin calibre this year either. I think Mayo are a fantastic team with huge grit as well as skill but they haven’t pulled up any trees this year either. Gavin referenced last year’s final after today’s match saying that Dublin didn’t turn up for either game. I don’t think that will happen this year. I think it will be a cracking game but games against poor opposition doesn’t battle harden you. They were well beaten by Roscommon this year (albeit early in the year). This Dublin team is now starting to show a streak of ruthlessness for 70 minutes. The 3 week rest might actually go against Mayo as they have been used to quick turnarounds all season. But the biggest factor could be the managers. Rochford is capable of some very strange tactical decisions. Should be very interesting! One things for sure. If Mayo beat Dublin they will have earned Sam and I don’t think anyone (even in Dublin) would begrudge them that. But it’s still a very big if.
Easily the worst game in years, no fault of Dublin, they are just to good. Mayo have a chance however.
@Jim Brennan: reckon it’ll be a lot more entertaining and free flowing than what was shown today. Just hoping that Gough isn’t ref…..
Mayo will be beaten by more than 15 points in the final. They may as well give Dublin the trophy now.
@Ballybunion:
Dublin are some outfit and hard to look past but everyone was saying that last year and 1 pt separated them after 2 games. They were going to get hammered by kerry the last two weeks as well sure.
@Ballybunion: Eh I doubt that very much
@Spodo Comodo: dublin looked a tired outfit last year by September. They seem a very different animal this year with fresh forwards and extra fresh subs
@Ballybunion: good man!!! Maybe we should just do away with the competition and give it to the Dubs every year!!
The final will be a very different game for obvious reasons. Mayo playing good attacking football , if they can handle the Dublin forwards and don’t sh17e themselves it’s there for them.
@John Dixon: that’s a big IF
@John Dixon: there for them…. They’ll have to take it and take it hard. Theres nothing there for them
I love this team
Expected Dublin to win by 5+ and that materialised in the end. Looking forward to the final with two traditional teams. Cant see the Dubs being beaten.
Game of Tyrones finale…..
That was a disgraceful performance by Tyrone. Utterly inept. Their tactics must surely now be consigned to history. Two proper football teams in the final. Bring it on!
@Ray Hyland: Tyrone not a proper team because they didnt play well today? Cop yourself on.
@Ray Hyland: Hopefully be the end of watching Tyrones defensive tactics, horrible team to watch, end of Mickey Harte? -today was a bore fest, 2 good attacking teams will serve up a great final.
Awful indictment of Mickeys Hartes tactics or lack of, terrible contest, Dubs are outstanding and have huge depth. Still reckon ”tis Mayos Year, Rockford and Buckley have the Dubs sussed.
@DJ Cronin: Hahahaha, good man. Jebus loves a believer
@DJ Cronin: ah yeah they clearly have the dubs Sussed since they’ve (rochford and Buckley) never beaten them. Awful logic.
i watched the first 30 minutes and had enough ..i took my dog for a walk..more fun..
words like Dublin is the best team ever bla bla ..
its easy to be a great team when the ball is passed from one UNMARKED PLAYER to another..
Where is our game of football where the full back marked the full fowward .the corner back marked the corner forward ..the centre back ..the mid field etc marked their
oppossite number..you had to be better than your opponent (marker )
to win the ball
Gaelic football has become a joke .
its like the Mayweather and Mcgregor fight ..its all about money..
Our great game has been ruined ..
The great Micko connell must be a very sad man today…
Thank God the GREAT game of hurling is still intact ..I wonder for how long
..
@Larry Whelan: summers were nicer and the guards were taller too…
@Larry Whelan: bitter old fool.
@Larry Whelan: not a very fair comment on Dublin there Larry, the Dubs are providing a master class in football every time they take the field. It is up to other teams to match the intensity, skill and passion which Dublin bring to the table. It is over 30 years since this country has had the chance to celebrate a treble winning side, so let’s put all this city v country rivalry aside and get behind the greatest team of the modern era making history for all of us to enjoy. Let me hear you say it from Kenmare to Killybegs and everywhere in between “UP THE DUBS”!!!
@larry whelan:Don’t be talking a load of ould shite teams of mick o connells era or more recent indeed would not keep it kicked out to the likes of this modern day Dublin team.Christ back in them days players could hardly solo the ball move on or go to the bingo!!!
2 rubbish semi finals but yet the pundits tell us football is in a great place. Non stop hand-passing, unnecessary frees, unnecessary yellow & black cards,constant stoppages & the game is just a complete borefest to watch.
@Willie the kid: then why bother watching?
@j4VEpUO8: because you can’t form an opinion if you don’t watch it
@j4VEpUO8: Because I live in hope..
Has to be the worse championship in years, and next year we will have to endure even more one sided games when the super 8s come in.
Back up to Tyrone with their soccer haircuts…
How can u have super 8 when u don’t even have super 4
Up the dubs.where are all the kingdom mouths today????chasing fairies with Danny PMSL.always next year.
Tyrone played same way since 08 and haven’t changed, result no all ireland finals since. They need fresh vision and better tactician. They never chased the game and basically had no plan b.
Lucky enough I doubled them up with Arsenal…..takes the sting out of it …
Good Dublin team. I would not pay 2 euro to see that type of game every time. Same game start to finish
Dublin easily the better team today. Can’t see Mayo stopping them either.
‘Ridonculous’ is the word to describe how good Con O’Callaghan is.
Well done to Dublin but the worst championship of all time. The gap in class now between top 4 or 5 and the rest is becoming irreversible. This is the first time I watched the premiership over a all ireland semi final.
Darren Daly made the last pass for Eoghan O Gara’s goal, not Con O Callaghan, credit where it is due
Qualifying for semi final via the Provincial routes does not guarantee that the top teams will meet.
In fact the semis are an anti climax
A load of rubbish
The GAA are killing our native sports
@trebloc01: in other words. The dubs are the best and I want change since our own bum teams can’t beat them.
@fella la fella: he’s right. You have to look at the environments of the other counties in terms of funding, liaisons officers, players, facilities. Regardless of it being Dublin, Kerry, Mayo etc something needs to be done. If at the start of the years you were asked what the semi final line up was you’d of guessed that 4 am I right ?
Boring game, threw in the towel after ten minutes of the second half and headed for home, absolutely no competition. Mayo can beat the Dubs by man to man marking.