Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary

Fr. Tom Burke’s 0-14 Tipperary 1-13

Tipperary stole the points at the very end of this closely contested senior hurling match with a point in injury time from none other than Colm Galvin.  Tom’s had overturned a half time deficit and turned it into a lead in the final minutes only to see Tipp, who had been largely out of the game in the run up to the final whistle, steal the show with late points from Andy McRedmond and Galvin.

Cronin Dempsey keeps things going Tipp's way.

A late flurry of scores for Tom’s meant that they would enter the second half just a goal in arrears after Tipperary had seven point lead.  Colm Galvin was on the mark from the dead ball, and a goal from Michael Ryan at corner forward had Tipp in the driver’s seat after 15 minutes.  Ryan’s initial shot was well saved by Alan Keating, however, Ryan persistence saw the ball over the line.  Tom’s struggled to find the target, the absence of David O’Mahoney to a hamstring injury no doubt did not help.  Paul Winters took the free taking duties and as the half wore on started to find his range putting three on the trot over.  Rob O’Sullivan and Ryan also got on the scoreboard for each side, and at the half it was a 1-7 to 0-7 Tipperary advantage.

Waiting for the break - very little separated Tipp and Tom's on Sunday.

Tom’s had drawn level with the second half 15 minutes old.  Determined play from corner backs Sean Og Lyons and Conor Burgin canceled out an attacking  option for Tipp, while Winters continued to hit the mark from the frees.  After the sides traded 3 points a piece, Galvin missed his first free of the day which looked like it was a bad omen.  Tom’s tallied three unanswered points afterwards to level the scores.  Tom’s were on top in their own back line as Tipp sent searching balls into the full forward line that were returned with interest or allowed to hop over the endline with nobody to in a blue and gold shirt to pick it up as it looked like the door was shut for Tipp.

With the game in the balance Tipp made a change, introducing Andy McRedmond into the full forward line for Oisin Hickey in the hopes of getting some change in that department.  Tom’s had Ronan O’Driscoll and Kevin Rice off the bench and on the field.  Rice won a free on the 21 that Winters duly converted to provide Tom’s with the lead, however, after missing two more frees Galvin leveled the scores with a fantastic effort from the 50 yards out on the wing.  Soon afterwards McRedmond found himself in acres of space to put the leading point over the bar with 3 minutes left on the clock.  Galving added an insurance in injury time and the early spoils go to the Premier county.

Tom’s:  A. Keating, S. Og Lyons, C. Burgin, S. Dolan, K. Kennedy, S. McLeonard, L. O’Neill, D. Costello, P. Winters, C. Joyce-Power, R. O’Sullivan, K. Dunne, S. Howley.  Tipp:  C. Hennessy, S. McGarr, D. Moloney, J. Rigney, W. Egan, T. Rigney, B. O’Leary, C. Dempsey, C. Galvin, R. Sludds, M. O’Leary, M. Ryan, O. Hickey.

By Rory O'Donnell