Sunday June 29 - Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary

Tipperary 0-11 Fr. Tom Burke's 5-14

Fr. Tom Burke's came away from their encounter with Tipperary with two points and more than a few cuts and bruises.  Following a first 30 minutes where all the separated the sides was a goal, there were unsavoury scenes of fisticuffs which resulted in 4 players, 2 from each team, sent off.  Tom's had just netted their second goal of the game when the nasty scenes started, and referee John Moylan had no choice but to issue cards to deal with the situation.  After things returned to civility Tom's pulled away to end the game comfortable winners.

Tom's were too much for Tipp to deal with on Sunday.

At the end of the first 30 minutes Tom's held a one goal lead by virtue of a penalty that was put away by Zane Keenan at the end of the half.  Tom's midfield of Laois duo Keenan and Cahir Healy were on top for most of the game.  The sides matched each other for points in the opening half.  Sean Moriarty, Paul Buggy, and Paul Glennon hitting the mark for Tipp.  Tom's pointed through David O'Mahoney, Ian McDonnell, and Keenan.  The penalty came at the end of the half after McDonnell was fouled in the penalty area, and Keenan drilled it home - setting up way outside the 21 to ensure compliance with the new ruling that the ball cannot be struck inside the 21 yard line.  At the half it was a 1-7 to 0-6 Tom's lead.

Tom's forward line tallied five goals in a big win.

The second half saw things heat up dramatically.  There were several episodes of fighting that marred the game and the scenes carried on intermittently for the first 15 minutes of the half.  By the time things had returned to focusing on playing the actual game, four players, two from each side, were sent off in three separate incidents.  After Allan Burke had netted following a lapse in concentration on the part of Michael McGrath, the first episode broke out.  Tom's began to pull away as the points column ticked over with scores from Howley, O'Mahoney, and Allan burke.  Further goals from McDonnell and Burke sealed the fate of Tipperary with 10 minutes to play.  McDonnell rounded off a fine performance with a late goal, and  Fr. Tom's on top of the table with two wins from two.

Tom's:  A. Keating, G. Joyce, P. Heneghan, D. Costello, C. Joyce-Power, S. Higgins, Z. Keenan, C. Healy, O. Burke, I. McDonnell, S. Howley, A. Burke, D. O'Mahoney.  Tipp:  M. McGrath, C. Gillis, S. McKillop, P. Moriarty, P. Flaherty, S. McGarr, C. Dempsey, A. McRedmond, S. Spillane, P. Glennon, M. Kavanagh, R. Sludds, P. Buggy.

By Rory O'Donnell