Kilkenny fall to 14-man Premier County in semi battle
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
All-Ireland SHC Semi Final
Tipperary 4-20
Kilkenny 0-30
Croke Park
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
Where to start? In a game that ebbed and flowed between two great hurling counties, it was Tipperary that emerged victorious in Croke Park after 74 minutes of pulsating action in the Capital. Liam Cahill’s outfit will now face-off against Munster rivals Cork next weekend in a first ever All-Ireland final between the two sides. The Premier County struck four majors across the game to secure the win and despite going into the final as underdogs, there appears to be serious belief and resilience in this Tipp side.
Having been level on no fewer than eight occasions, it was a bullet of a shot from substitute, Oisin O’Donoghue when it seemed like the young Cashel King Cormacs player had been held up by a few Kilkenny players that proved the decisive score at the Jones’ Road venue. From the Cats restart, Tipp secured possession and veteran Noel McGrath struck an effort from out on the right, which the umpire signaled wide, but the scoreboard recorded it as a point, meaning the gap looked like 4 points as the game entered additional time. O’Loughlin’s Jordan Molloy fired over his 4th point of the afternoon with about 3 minutes remaining and Kilkenny then tried to carve out a goal opportunity, believing they needed a major of their own to force extra time, but captain John Donnelly was denied by a stunning goal line save by Clonoulty Rossmore’s Robert Doyle who had taken up a great position behind his keeper, Rhys Shelly.
Derek Lyng’s charges failed to utilise their numerical advantage when Tipp’s Darragh McCarthy was dismissed, the young Toomevara player receiving a second yellow from referee Owens for a lose hurl that caught Kilkenny netminder Eoin Murphy on the hand. A relieved McCarthy will be available to face the Rebels in what will be a second consecutive all-Munster affair in the decider.
Kilkenny came out of the blocks quickly, and it their talisman, TJ Reid that opened the scoring in the first minute from about 45 metres out having taken a nice a pass from Jordan Molloy. Tipp’s Darragh McCarthy was booked on 3 minutes for a swipe on Paddy Deegan’s hand, a punishment which would have further consequences later in the game. Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan then doubled his sides lead on 6 minutes, striking over a lovely effort off his left side. The bright start by the Noresiders was built on by a well taken Mossy Keoghan effort, following good work by Adrian Mullen. All looked good for the men in black and amber, but they were about to be rocked with what would be the first of four goals for the Premier County. Nenagh Eire Óg’s Jake Morris jinked his way into the danger zone before his attempted strike was blocked by Messrs. Butler and Carey, but the ball broke to John McGrath in space and the Loughmore Castleiney man rifled the sliotar high across Eoin Murphy to the Cats net.
The best way to respond to conceding is to notch a score of your own, but Kilkenny went four better than that, registering the games next five scores. The impressive Jordan Molloy struck over the first of his 4-point haul from under the Hogan Stand before some great pressure from TJ saw him claim possession before splitting the opposition posts. Some great team play resulted in a second of the game for Mossy, with Paddy Deegan, John Donnelly and Eoin Cody all involved as the Tullaroan man finished the move. Some strong running from Adrian Mullen allowed the Shamrocks man to lay off a pass to the ever-moving Molloy who fired over. Billy Ryan then notched his second of the semifinal, after Huw Lawlor rose high to claim a fantastic catch at the other end.
Tipperary found themselves five points down but didn’t panic. Conor Stakelum, who had started the game ahead of Peter McGarry fired over two of his 3-point salvo from the engine room, either side of a score from Cats captain John Donnelly. TJ added another to his tally from the placed ball before a brace of scores from the men in blue and gold, Cashel King Cormacs Eoghan Connolly and the fleet footed Jake Morris reducing the Tipp deficit to three points with almost twenty minutes played at Croker. Kilkenny’s main threat from open play was once again Mossy Keoghan and the Sash star restored his teams 4-point lead, but this cushion was about to evaporate over the next few minutes.
A long delivery from the Premier side appeared to catch the Cats rearguard out and the quick thinking Darragh McCarthy raced in on goal and despite the best efforts of Huw Lawlor, the rising star fired beyond Eoin Murphy, who did get quite a bit on it, but couldn’t prevent the goal. Cahill’s men built on their second major with points from Jake Morris and John McGrath, the former’s effort was goal bound, only for a crucial intervention by the Cats keeper. Somehow, Tipp now held the lead, and this was about to receive a significant boost in the form of a third major. Darragh McCarthy caused more panic in the Noresiders defence and played in the supporting Jason Forde who improvised brilliantly to flick the ball over the advancing Kilkenny keeper to the net. Derek Lyng’s side now found themselves four points down. TJ tried to settle the Kilkenny nerves with a placed ball effort, but Eoghan Connolly fired over after a rare Adrian Mullen error. The returning Eoin Cody who had been on the fringes of the game then pointed from about 50 metres out and the Shamrocks player got on the ball from the restart and his goal-bound effort was deflected behind for a ‘65. TJ converted the placed ball to leave just two between the sides, but again Tipp hit back, another point for the hard-working Conor Stakelum. TJ won and popped over a free before a real flourish from the opposition just before the short whistle adding points from John McGrath, Jake Morris and a third from Eoghan Connolly. The final score of a topsy turvy first half came from another TJ placed ball after Billy Ryan was fouled leaving the Premier County four ahead at the interval.
Having conceded 3-11 from play in the opening period, Derek Lyng made one change at the break, with David Blanchfield replacing Shane Murphy in defence. Like the first half, Kilkenny started quickly, a pair of TJ placed balls halving the deficit, but Tipp replied with their first placed ball of the day, courtesy of Darragh McCarthy. Eoin Cody and Jordan Morris struck over tidy scores just ahead of a nice point from Sam O’Farrell. John Donnelly then set up Adrian Mullen for his first point of the game and the Shamrocks man notched another score on the back of a second free from McCarthy. Cian Kenny then fired over a booming effort from his own half before TJ levelled matters with another free with 49 gone. A tenth point of the second semi followed for the veteran Shamrocks man saw the Cats retake the lead, before Jason Forde converted his first placed ball effort, having taken over free-taking duties. TJ continued his accuracy by tagging on point number eleven just ahead of a second free from Silvermines Forde.
Some great pressure and battling from TJ gave Mossy the opportunity to notch another point but then came what should have been a real turning point for Kilkenny. As the Cats tried to work the ball out of defence, Darragh McCarthy’s hurl struck Eoin Murphy on the hand. James Owens issued a second yellow, then a red card to the Toomevara player. Some said harsh, I say silly, the young lad will learn. Tipp hit the next score, Jake Morris firing over in the ‘D’ but Mossy tagged on another score to give his side the lead and they went one better when Cian Kenny rifled over another long-distance effort as it appeared the numerical advantage was paying dividends for the Cats. Liam Cahill then sprung another of Tipp’s victorious U20 side into action, Oisin O’Donoghue replacing the tiring Conor Stakelum. Silvermines Jason Forde then notched a trio of scores to edge his side into the lead with 3 minutes of normal time remaining. A sixth point of the game followed for Mossy Keoghan to deadlock matters for the 8th time, but the decisive score of the afternoon was about to be registered.
As Tipperary attacked, Alan Tynan’s pass looked as if it was going to be cut out by the stretching Mikey Carey. As the ball dropped, the Young Ireland’s man tried to claim it but appeared to have the arm of Noel McGrath round his neck. The veteran Loughmore Castleiney man managed to flick the sliotar towards Jake Morris who couldn’t collect it, but the ball spilled to Oisin O’Donoghue. The young Cashel King Cormacs man powered forward, and as referee Owens signaled an advantage for a foul, O’Donoghue somehow managed to strike a fierce shot that nestled in the Kilkenny net. As the game entered additional time, Lyng’s charges knew they needed scores. Jordan Molly pointed, John Donnelly was denied a certain major. Then the long whistle sounded. Tipperary victorious. Final score, Tipperary 4-20, Kilkenny 0-30.
Scorers for Kilkenny: T.J. Reid (0-11, 8 frees, 1 65); M. Keoghan (0-6); J. Molloy (0-4); B. Ryan, E. Cody, A. Mullen, C. Kenny (0-2 each); J Donnelly (0-1).
Scorers for Tipperary: J. Forde (1-5, 0-4 frees); J. McGrath, D. McCarthy (0-2 frees) (1-2 each); J. Morris (0-4); C. Stakelum, E. Connolly (0-3 each); O. O’Donoghue (1-0); S. O’Farrell, (0-1).
KILKENNY: E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor, S. Murphy; M. Carey, R. Reid, P. Deegan; C. Kenny, J. Molloy; J. Donnelly (c), E. Cody, B. Ryan; A. Mullen, T.J. Reid, M. Keoghan.
Subs for Kilkenny: D. Blanchfield for S. Murphy (h-t); S. Donnelly for A. Mullen (66); K. Doyle for C. Kenny (70).
TIPPERARY: R. Shelly; R. Doyle, R. Maher (c), E. Connolly; C. Morgan, B. O’Mara, M. Breen; W. Connors, C. Stakelum; J. Morris, A. Ormond, S. O’Farrell; D. McCarthy, J. McGrath, J. Forde.
Subs for Tipperary: A. Tynan for A. Ormond (temp 29-31); N. McGrath for J. McGrath (50); A. Tynan for S. O’Farrell (53); D. Stakelum for W. Connors (57); O. O’Donoghue for C. Stakelum (63); S. Kenneally for A. Ormond (70+1).
Sent off: D. McCarthy (59, second yellow).
Referee: J. Owens (Wexford).
