Fr. Tom Burke’s 0-16 Tipperary 3-20
Tipperary captured the senior hurling title with a lot to
spare, but the difference on the scoreboard was very unfair to a Tom’s team that
came out to do battle, and were with the Tipp lads step for step, but for a
couple of softly conceded goals that delivered severe blows to their
efforts. Tom’s matched Tipperary in
almost every facet of the game, but sometimes a moment or two of brilliance can
change the complexion of a game. These
moments came from Russell Quirke who netted unlikely goals late in the first
half and early in the second to deliver double body blows to Tom’s. Quirke ended up with a hat trick, but the
first 2 were the key goals that made the difference.
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| Boston Senior Hurling Champions: Tipperary |
The opening 30 minutes were close run and played in almost
perfect conditions for hurling. There
was a great atmosphere around the place, and hurling was crisp and clinical from
both teams. Each side showed some great
hurling and there were some well taken scores.
Tom’s got a great performance from Dean Earls at corner back, who needed
to be on his toes with the aforementioned Russell Quirke his assignment. Quirke got away for a couple of points, and
also for Tipp, Dean Coleman, Shane Bennett, and big Joe Coleman found the space
between the uprights. Joe Coleman almost
netted, but a great save from Tom’s keeper Kevin Flynn denied the Wexfordman
from 20 yards.
Tom’s got some good scores from Stiofan McMahon, Joyce-Power
and Ali Dooey and kept Tipp reined in as the focus and concentration was there. Dean Flood put in a good 30 minutes to keep
the Tipp back line on their toes and also tallied a point. With the teams tied at seven points each and
half time fast approaching, Tipp net with a goal from nothing. Quirke blocked down Tom’s keeper Kevin Flynn
as he was delivering what appeared to be a routine clearance, and all of a
sudden Tom’s were in a 3 point hole. Tom’s
stuck with it and kept the intensity level up, ending the half with a McMahon
point to make it a 2 point half time difference, Tipperary 1-8 Tom’s 0-9.
The teams traded points to open the second half, one a brilliant
one handed effort from Joyce-Power after fielding in the Tipp penalty area. The score reduced the gap to a single
point. However, each time Tom’s appeared
to have the opportunity to gain the edge, Tipp answered with a score of their
own. It was ding dong stuff to that
point. Quirke answered Joyce-Power’s
score quickly, and Joe Coleman added another.
McMahon reduced the gap to 2 points again, but Tipp answered through
James Maher.
With the game reaching the critical final 15 minutes, Tipp
hit with 2 goals. Both came from Quirke
who really stepped up a gear at corner forward in the second half. The first was a 21 yard free. Quirke went for the goal, and caught the men
on the Tom’s line napping as the shot hit the back of the net and made it a 7
point game. The second came soon
afterwards and really put the outcome to bed after smashing the sliotar into
the far corner.
Tom’s had to all to do now with 3 goals in the difference. Joe Coleman added another superb score from
distance as Tipp were in full flow now with the cushion. Tom’s managed to cut the gap with points from
Flood and McMahon, but every ball into Quirke had danger written all over
it. Tipp finished the game with a
flourish, and substitute Harry O’Connor put over a couple of nice points. Tipperary follow last year’s Boston Northeast
junior title with a senior, and now try to do the same in Philadelphia at the
USGAA finals.
Tipp: Evan Condon,
Daragh Fanning, Sean McGarr, Kieran Bennett, Jerry O’Neill, John Kindregan,
Paul Morris, Cronan Dempsey, Shane Bennett, Joe Coleman, James Maher, Russell
Quirke, Dean Coleman.
Tom’s: Kevin Flynn,
Dean Earls, Vincent Doyle, Aaron Moore, Cormac Joyce-Power, Dylan Costello,
Jason Costello, Seamue Higgins, Dean Flood, Shane Howley, John Buckley, Stiofan
McMahon, Ali Dooey.
By Rory O'Donnell
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