Senior Hurling Semi-Final: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary

Fr. Tom Burke’s 0-15 Tipperary 3-13

Tipperary eventually saw off the challenge of Fr. Tom’s with a second half display where they asserted themselves on the game.  It was always going to take a goal to break open the game, and for Tipp it took two.  Having already bagged one, and the teams neck and neck in the second half, Tommy Heffernan netted a second to open a three point lead and Tipp used it a platform to see themselves into the final.   Tom’s challenge waned after the score and Tipp went on to win by seven.

Tipperary had too many weapons for Tom's on Sunday.

The fireworks began early between the teams.  Five minutes into the game a schmozzle broke out at one end after which warnings were issued.  The game remained close all the way through, and the yellow cards had to be issued more than a handful of times.  The only goal of the half went into the Tipp column.  Cian Lynch pulled on the ball from the 21 and after Owen Webb O’Rourke got a hurl to it, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

The teams relied largely on their free takers for scores as the game was tight and did not have a lot of flowing hurling.  Alex Morey for Tom’s tallied seven of Tom’s nine first half points, while Tommy Heffernan for Tipp was on the mark four times.  Andrew LaTouche put a lovely sideline over the bar for Tom’s and Barry Nash a great score from play.  At the break it was 1-5 to 0-9 in Tipperary’s favor.

Tommy Heffernan was Tipp's man on the mark.

The second half saw Tipperary start to pull away and the game slip away from Tom’s.  Barry Nash, Brian Troy, and Andrew Ryan began to get a hold of the game.  A second goal from Heffernan put Tipperary into a lead that they extended.  Colin Ryan and Heffernan pointed five times between them before Colin Ryan turned his man and put the ball into the bottom corner of the net for a third goal.

It will be a Galway Tipperary final with Tipp looking to defend their Boston title.  It has been neck and neck between the two all season and with the top class talent on each side, Sunday’s encounter holds the promise of treating the locals to a superb spectacle of hurling.

Tom’s:  O. Webb O’Rourke, K. Hanifan, C. Bergin, G. Brennan, K. Kennedy, G. Forde, A. laTouche, L. Lyons, S. Kilduff, S. Howley, A. Morey, R. Hanley, C. Joyce-Power.

Tipp: J. Maher, S. McGarr, C. Neville, M. Carey, A. Ryan, M. Kavanagh, B. Troy, C. Dempsey, B. Nash, C. Rafferty, C. Lynch, T. Heffernan, C. Ryan.

By Rory O'Donnell