Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary - August 15

Tipperary 3-25 Fr. Tom Burke’s 1-8


Tipperary continued their winning ways with a win that really was hardly a contest. Tom’s put in a lackluster effort and mid way through the first half the outcome was in no doubt. It was not so much that Tipp led by an eight point margin, rather that there was clearly nothing coming from Tom’s that would lead you to think anything would change. The effort put in the previous week against Wexford was nowhere to be seen. Tipp were limited to the three goals thanks to a great goalkeeping performance from Joe Kane, Kane made some fine saves in each half. 2010 is a season that Tom’s will be hoping to forget – for the senior side at least, the junior hurlers contest the semi-final next Saturday.

Tipp had Fr. Tom's on the back foot all afternoon.

Before we had a chance to browse the team selection in the press box, Martin Boran had a point put over the bar for Tipp. After Eamonn Gleeson and Fran Keenan traded scores to make it two to one, Tipp put any hopes of a competitive encounter to rest. Points came from both midfielders, both corner forwards, and center forward Boran. The goals came in the latter stages of the first half. Shane Bourke and Michael Gleeson were the scorers. There was no edge to the game, any ball played out of the Tom’s defence was easily gobbled up and sent right back from whence it came. The sliotar may as well have had an elastic tied to it from a Tom’s perspective. Tipp flipped the ball around at ease as the scores mounted. Tom’s managed a flurry of points late in the half from Shane Howley, Gary Brennan, and Lorcan Mulhearn.

Paul McGrath got in on the act in the second half getting his name on the scoresheet, and Colin Fennelly netted. Kane made some good saves to keep the goals column from mounting, Tom’s found a fine goalkeeper in Kane this season. Tom’s made their own side of the scoreboard look reasonably respectable with points from Keenan, John O’Loughlin, and a goal from Howley late in the game. Tipp sail into the final in two weeks time where they await the winner’s of Galway and Wexford. Galway defeated Cork the previous day and with Tom’s losing Sunday, the tribesmen earned their place in the semi-final.


Tom’s: J. Kane, S. O’Brien, J. Dowling, D. Neylon, D. Moore, J. O’Loughlin, T. Kelly, F. Keenan, G. Brennan, G. Reddin, L. Mulhearn, S. Howley, C. Neylon. Tipp: T. Lowrey, J. Kindregan, S. Hickey, J. O’Keefe, K. Joyce, E. Gleeson, C. Dempsey, M. Gleeson, P. McGrath, M. Boran, D. McNicholas, C. Fennelly, S. Bourke.


By Rory O'Donnell