Sunday July 1 - Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary

By Mark Dunphy

Tipperary took a while to get going in the first hurling match of the day, but once they did Tipp overwhelmed Fr. Tom’s around the middle of the park on their way to a 2-21 to 1-13 win. 

Joe Coleman drives one in for Tipp

(Photo: Brian Rooney)

The teams traded two points each to open proceedings before Tipp’s Russell Quirke shouldered his marker out of the way, scooped up a diagonal cross-field ball, and tapped over a point. Fr. Tom’s didn’t have to wait long for their reply, as Dean Flood immediately sent over a point at the other end. 

After a Shane Bennett point, Joe Coleman started a move that extended Tipp’s lead. The imposing center forward caught a puck out, carried through a web of defenders, and laid it across to Quirke. Quirke blasted a close-range effort past Kevin Flynn to send the green flag waving. 

After a desperately-needed water break, Aaron Moore drove down the middle of the park for Fr. Tom’s and flicked the sliotar towards Ali Dooey, who knocked one over the bar. The Tom’s had another score moments later as Stiofan McMahon bounced off a heavy challenge and launched another point. 

Tipp nearly had a second goal on the next possession, but Dwane Palmer swept in for a beautiful hook as one of their forwards closed in on target. They did add two scores via Coleman to earn a 1-12 to 0-10 lead at the break.

Coleman was first on the board again in the second half before a Shane Bennett goal put Tipp firmly in control. Bennett made a blistering run down the right wing, then beat Kevin Flynn with a low drive. Tipp added another point on the following puck out. 

Fr. Tom’s soon had a fine goal of their own. After Dooey burst through the heart of the Tipp back line, the last defender dragged him down on the edge of the square. McMahon stepped up to the dead ball and drilled the free past the Tipp men lining the goal. 

Tipp’s forwards didn’t slow down as the clock ticked down and though Dooey had another point to pull Fr. Tom’s back, Tipp left with a 2-21 to 1-13 victory. 

Tipperary

Evan Condon, Darragh Fanning, Sean McGarr, Paul Morris, Jerry O’Neil, John Kindergan, Kieran Bennett, Cronan Dempsey, Conor O’Keefe, Joe Coleman, Simon Kennedy, Russell Quirke, Shane Bennett Subs: Joe O’Connor, Harry O’Connor, Darren O’Donovan

Fr. Tom’s 

Kevin Flynn, Craig Taylor, Dwane Palmer, Vincent Doyle, Seamus Higgins, Danny Burke, Aaron Moore, Dylan Costello, Shane Howley, Dean Flood, Stiofan McMahon, Ali Dooey, Jason Costello Subs: Michael Moloney, Conor Freeman, Liam Moore