Junior Hurling Semi-Finals: Fr. Tom's v Offaly; Galway v Tipp

Offaly 3-20 Fr. Tom Burke’s 2-8

Offaly made it to the junior hurling final in their first year of asking.  It was a comprehensive win over Fr. Tom Burke’s that saw them through.  After a close first half in which each side netted, Offaly built an unassailable lead in the second to come out comfortable winners.

Seamie Higgins battles Mickey Markham for the ball.

Paudge Egan was first to score with a goal for Tom’s, but Offaly soon got it back with a James Kilmartin strike.  The sides were tied at 1-2 a piece about 15 minutes in and then Offaly began to build a lead behind points from Jimmy Rigney and a huge score by Andy McRedmond from well inside his own half.  Offaly punished Tom’s indiscretions with some accurate free taking.  Tom’s were losing their way with clearances out of defence, but managed to close the gap to four points before the break with Fran Keenan frees. 

Sitting on a 1-9 to 1-4 lead entering the second period, Offaly drove for home.  Garly Sherlock was solid in goal and sniffed out potential threats well.  McRedmond led from the back, while the forwards kept the scoreboard ticking over.  James Dooley toiled hard in Tom’s full back line and a late Keenan goal provided some measure of comfort for Tom’s, and for Offaly a chance at a first Boston championship.

Fr. Tom’s:  S. O’Brien, J. Dooley, P. Flynn, B. Flynn, S. Higgins, D. Burke, C. McCormack, N. Armstrong, J. Martyn, F. Keenan, P. Egan, C. Moore, C. O’Donoghue.

Offaly:  G. Sherlock, A. Bergin, J. Murray, T. Rigney, A. McRedmond, A. Camon, R. Reynolds, C. Mahon, L. Kiely, S. Brown, J. Rigney, M. Markham, J. Kilmartin.

Galway 4-14 Tipperary 1-2

Galway junior hurlers are headed for their first final in a long while.

For the first time in a long time Galway find themselves in a junior hurling final.  Galway outhurled a short staffed Tipperary side and by half time had the job done.  Anchored by Beagh clubmen Tommie McKeown, Padraig Landers, and John Moylan, Galway looked impressive and will be confident heading into next week’s final against new boys Offaly. 

JJ Doyle netted a hat trick in the game, and while Moylan missed a handful of frees that one would have seen splitting the posts on other days, he also bagged some impressive scores.  John Kindregan netted late for Tipp, and Darren O’Donovan did well in the back line for the Premier men, but Galway were not to be slowed down on their way back to the junior hurling final.

Galway:  R. Grealish, M. Lennon, D. O’Leary, C. Clifford, T. McKeown, S. Loftus, B. McGuane, P. Landers, A. Murphy, J. Moylan, G. Walsh, JJ Doyle, M. Devine.

Tipp:  M. McGrath, D. O’Brien, M. Moriarty, D. O’Donovan, P. Moriarty, M. Jordan, R. McCrystal, S. Delaney, T. Hanley, P. O’Keefe, D. Larkin.

By Rory O'Donnell