May 22: Sheehan Cup - Tipperary v Fr. Tom Burke's

Tipperary 2-7 Fr. Tom Burke’s 1-12


Tipperary and Fr. Tom’s served up a fantastic Sheehan Cup hurling contest. Tom’s worked hard for the entirety of the game, and in spite of almost letting it slip on a couple of occasions, kept their focus to earn the win. Trevor Kelly led the effort from the middle of the field, while Shane Howley in the forward line put in a man of the match performance with his accurate shooting and a critical score from play in the late stages of the game.

Tipp Captain Cronan Dempsey gets under the puckout.

Fr. Tom’s had the better of things for most of the first half and came out of the gates strong, clearly eager for a result. Shane Howley was the star in the forward line picking off scores from play and from frees. Tom’s went into a two-point lead in the early going thanks to Howley’s sharp shooting. After Andy McRedmond got Tipp on the board with a point, a goal came from the Blue and Gold. Cronan Dempsey won the ball in the middle of the field and his long ball might have been tipped by corner forward, Ian McMahon, before crossing the goal line. Tom’s kept up the tempo however and refused to let the setback upset them. Some solid performances in the back line from Donal Moore, John Dowling, and Dermot Nealon held the Tipp forwards in check. Howley and Fran Keenan capitalized with points to draw Tom’s level before Howley put his side ahead with a superb score from play. Tom’s won a penalty shortly afterwards, Paul Henehan was fouled while in possession, and penalty speacialist, Fran Keenan, drilled the ball into the back of the net. Tipp finished the half with points from Darragh Kealey and a long range free from John Roache to keep their side in touch. Tom’s 1-5 to 1-3 for Tipp at the break.


The second half was a tense exciting affair. Tom’s clearly saw the chance for the win was there for the taking. Keenan opened the scoring with a free to extend Tom’s lead. Paul McGrath, who put in a lot of work for Tipp, answered with a fine score. Trevor Kelly, playing a commanding role in the middle of the field, extended Tom’s lead with two fine points from play. Tipp however picked up the pace. Paul McGrath and John Roache pointed three times between them to a single point from Howley for Tom’s and with just a goal in it the spoils were still there for whichever side wanted it more. Tom’s were again bitten by a high ball into the box that ended up in the back of the net, and with four minutes left it was all square. Tom’s dug deep. Shane Howley restored the lead with a hard earned point, a critical score at that stage, and Ciaran Moore put the finishing touches to the win the final score of the game. A great game of hurling, especially at this early stage of the season.

Tipp: M. McGrath, J. Kindregan, J. Roache, J. McGrath, J. Duane, A. McRedmond, C. Dempsey, P. McGrath, N. O’Grady, D. Kealey, M. Daly, I. McMahon, S. Sinnott. Tom’s: D. Hession, S. O’Brien, D. Nealon, E. Cummins, D. Moore, J. Dowling, J. Dooley, F. Keenan, T. Kelly, S. Howley, S. Higgins, P. Heneghan, K. Mooney, C. Moore.


By Rory O'Donnell