June 30 - Senior Hurling: Tipperary v Fr. Tom Burke's

Tipperary 0-17 Fr. Tom Burke's 0-11

Tipperary made it two out of two after making it through a stiff challenge from Fr. Tom Burke's.  Tom's played it close for 50 minutes, but lacked a little bit of penetration while Tipp played tidier hurling, and their ability to point from distance proved the difference.

Ronan Burke tries to lift with Kieran Morris in attendance.

It was a closely contested opening 30 minutes between the sides.  Tom's played with a keen sense of urgency and may have been slightly disappointed not to have come away with a higher return than the 4 points on the scoreboard.  James Logue did manage to pull off a fantastic save from center forward Joe Carroll who fired low and to the keeper's right a minute into the game.  A goal at that stage would certainly have given Tom's a lift from the get go.  Tipp pointed a handful of times from distance, while Tom's tried to work the ball in closer to the target but got swallowed up by a resolute Tipp defence on most occasions.  The score of the half was a sideline by Shane Howley for Tom's from 65 yards, a shot that resembled a 4 iron on the golf course.  It was Tipp however who found that spot more often.  Peadar Boran and Denis Maher each pointed from distance to end the half, while a handful for Kieran Morris frees provided Tipp with a three point cushion at the break, 0-7 to 0-4.

Eanna Murray (11) and Tom Bowe challenge.

The second half played out to a similar script as the first.  Eanna Murray and Denis Maher in the Tipp half forward line winning plenty of ball and each converted scores of a similar nature in quick succession.  Clean fetches by each player that were driven over the bar typified the difference between the teams.  Tom's continued to work hard but did not have the penetration of their opponents when within the 50 yard line.  Tom's slipped behind by 5 points but managed to get within a goal with points from Joe Carroll and David O'Mahoney.  Tipp restored the lead with a pair from Morris and extended it to two scores after Boran pointed nicely with 5 minutes to go.  Tipp saw it out and looked impressive in the face of a determined Fr. Tom's challenge.  Galway will provide a big test for the Premier men in next Sunday's showdown.

Tom's:  E. Fleming, G. Joyce, R. Burke, T. Bowe, B. Harding, S. Coughlan, M. Deegan, D. Lafferty, S. Howley (0-4), J. Carroll (0-3), M. Dervan, D. O'Mahoney (0-2), C. Joyce-Power.  Sub: A. McEnrey (0-2).  Tipp:  J. Logue, M. Power, S. Stanton, A. McGrath, R. O'Donnell, G. Brennan (0-1), C. Dempsey (0-1), S. O'Connor (0-1), C. Flynn, D. Maher (0-4), E. Murray (0-3), K. Morris (0-5), P. Boran (0-2).  Sub:  C. Looby (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell