McGrath scorer in chief as Tipperary advance to Munster Under 21 Football Championship Final

27-03-2013

Tipperary                                            1-12

Clare                                                     0-07

On a freezing cold night at Semple Stadium, Thurles, and in front of a healthy crowd of 674 who braved the conditions, Tipperary advanced to the final of the 2013 Cadbury’s Munster Under 21 Football Championship with a comfortable victory over Clare.

Corner forward and ace marksman Liam McGrath was Man of the Match for the Tipperary side, contributing a match winning eight points in total, six from placed balls and two from play.  He kicked his scores off either foot and he was ever dangerous from open play and brought his colleagues in to the game at every opportunity.  Substitute Billy Hewitt also sent a strong signal to the management team with a two point salvo within minutes of coming in to the game.

For the defeated Banner men their tactic of playing the short passing game got them in to trouble on many occasions when in promising positions and the ball was turned over and the Tipperary defenders counter attacked with purpose.  The concession of a goal just before half time was a hammer blow for them but they battled gamely in the second half and can take heart from the fact that they more than held their own in this second period.

Both sides made one change from the teams selected with Liam Treacy coming in at centre forward in place of Philip Quirke for Tipperary and Podge Collins coming in at midfield in place of Darragh McDonagh for Clare.

The home side sprinted out of the blocks and McGrath kicked his team in to the lead in the 1^st minute after good approach work by replacement centre forward Treacy.  Clare responded and levelled the scores through corner forward Cathal Duggan before McGrath converted two more frees to give the home side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the 9^th minute.

Tipperary midfielder Steven O’Brien extended their lead with a great score from distance before Clare’s Duggan responded once more with a curling effort on the turn.  McGrath was on the mark again before centre back Seamus Kennedy played a captains role and kicked the score of the game after a good passing move that started in the Tipperary full back line.  The home side now lead by 0-6 to 0-2 by the 17^th minute.

Duggan kicked a further free to reduce the deficit once more to three points and they should have reduced it further in the 23^rd minute but were wide from a close in free.  This was an important miss at this juncture of the game.

McGrath continued on his scoring mission with further scores from a free and from play before full forward and dangerman Michael Quinlivan announced himself to the game when he cut inside and finished to the net.  There seemed to be no way back for the Clare men at this stage with Tipperary having extended their lead to 1-8 to 0-3 by the 28^th minute.

Credit to Clare who responded however and they reduced the deficit with a fisted point from play by wing forward Jamie Malone after good work to get in behind the Tipperary defence.  And they had a great goal opportunity in injury time at end of first half but Tipperary keeper Evan Comerford pulled off a great save from Malone once more to leave the home side leading at the break by 1-8 to 0-4.

Taking heart from their finish to the first half, Clare restarted on the front foot and reduced the deficit from the throw in with a converted free from centre forward Conor Cleary.  McGrath responded with a further free before Clare midfielder Podge Collins split the Tipperary defence with a pass to Malone who converted once more to leave the home side leading by 1-9 to 0-6 by the 37^th minute.

McGrath showed his prowess from the deadball with a further long range effort in the 38^th minute and over the next ten minutes both sides had opportunities that were not converted as the game began to become a bit ragged.  Tipperary had a further goal chance in the 48^th minute but centre forward Treacy shot straight at Clare keeper Darren Sexton.

Billy Hewitt then made an instant impact after his introduction in the 50^th minute and his two quickfire scores from play increased the Premier County’s lead to 1-12 to 0-7.  The game was now up for Clare but they did not throw in the towel and substitute Owen Cleary kicked their seventh and final score of the game in the 65^th minute to leave Tipperary comfortable winners on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-7.

Tipperary now advance to a Munster final meeting with reigning champions Cork in Thurles on April 10^th.  They will know that there is room for improvement after this performance but it always seemed like there was an extra gear there if they needed it and that is the way they will like it going in to that game against Cork who will be warm favourites.       

Teams and Scorers:

Tipperary: Evan Comerford, Paddy Dalton, Niall O’Sullivan, Conor O’Sullivan, Niall O’Meara, Seamus Kennedy(c) (1 pt), Dylan Fitzell, Steven O’Brien (1 pt), Ian Fahey, Bill Maher, Liam Treacy, Donagh Leahy, Liam McGrath (8 pts, 6 frees), Michael Quinlivan (1 gl), Shane Leahy

Replacements:  Michael O’Sullivan (for Niall O’Meara 42 mins), Jason Lonergan (for Bill Maher 50 mins), Billy Hewitt (for Liam Treacy 50 mins)( 2 pts), Jonathan Ryan (for Ian Fahey 65 mins), John O’Callaghan (for Dylan Fitzell 65 mins)

Clare: Darren Sexton, Anthony Downes, Conor Brennan, Stan Lineen, Craig O’Brien, Seanie Malone(c), Eoin Brew, Podge Collins, Ciaran Devitt, Darragh Bolton, Conor Cleary (1 free), Jamie Malone (2 pts), Cathal Duggan (3 pts, 1 free, Gearoid Looney, Seamus Lynch

Replacements: William Flynn (for Anthony Downes 46 mins), Owen Cleary (for Seamus Lynch 46 mins) (1 pt), Dale Masterson (for Ciaran Devitt 49 mins), Mikey O’Neill (for Podge Collins 52 mins), Liam Corry (for Darragh Bolton 65 mins)

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick)

Man of the Match: Liam McGrath, Tipperary

One to Watch: Liam McGrath, Tipperary

Clinical first half enough for St Senans to take spoils against understrength Moyvane

23-03-2013

St Senans            2-13

Moyvane             3-03

St Senans opened their 2013 Credit Union County Senior Football League Division 4 campaign with a comfortable win over North Kerry rivals Moyvane in a windswept Mountcoal.

In the very testing conditions this was always going to be a game of two halves and so it proved.  However, St Senans greater scoring power in their full forward line allowed them to build up a large enough half time lead of 1-11 to 0-2 and hard and all as Moyvane tried in the second half they could not bridge the gap.

With the aid of the very strong wind, St Senans wasted no time in getting in to their stride and by the 6^th minute they had opened up a 0-4 to 0-0 lead with three points from play and a converted free.  Moyvane were really struggling to get out of their own half and the strength of the wind they were playing against was highlighted when a 45 taken by wing back Shane Stack was held up in the wind and dropped just outside the 20 metre line.

Moyvane did open their account in the 10^th minute with a point from a free by corner forward Timmy Noonan.  However, St Senans rattled off five more quickfire scores from play, the pick of from impressive corner forward Darragh Kennelly, to extend their lead to 0-9 to 0-1 by the 21^st minute.

James Flavin had Moyvane’s first scoring chance in thirteen minutes but was wide from a free whereas the home side were a lot more clinical with their opportunities and extended their lead with two further scores to lead by 0-11 to 0-1 by the 26^th minute.

And matters went from bad to worse for Moyvane in the 27^th minute when they conceded a penalty and in the process corner back Timmy Kennelly had to be replaced with a serious looking ankle injury.  Wing forward John Barry made no mistake from the spot kick and the uphill battle had now become a mountain for the Moyvane men.  Wing forward Ian McCarthy had the final score of the half for the visitors from a free to leave St Senans leading at half time by 1-11 to 0-2.

Moyvane switched Cathal O’Connor out to midfield at the start of the second half in an attempt to kick start their efforts with the aid of the very strong wind.  However, their hopes were dashed straight from the throw in when St Senans carried the ball in to the wind, and after some lax defending, midfielder Jason Browne was on hand to take the final pass and calmly slot the ball to the net.  Their lead had now been stretched to an unassailable 2-11 to 0-2.

The trademark Moyvane spirit was certainly now required to bring some respectability to the scoreline and credit to Shane Stack and Donal Leahy who started to bring the ball out from the back and take the game to their opponents.  The long, direct, quick ball in to full forward Diarmuid Leahy also began to pay dividends, and after a great catch by Leahy in the 33^rd minute he laid off to DJ Keane who kicked Moyvane’s first score from play.  Leahy repeated the dose a minute later and fed Ian McCarthy who finished to the net to reduce the deficit to 2-11 to 1-3.

The home side were now struggling to score from distance in to the wind and were therefore playing the ball in as close to goal as possible but the final pass let them down on occasions and also their shooting began to go astray a little.  They had a good goal chance in the 41^st minute which was blazed wide but they did get their first score of the second half with a point from play in the 48^th minute to extend their lead to 2-12 to 1-3.

Both sides failed to create any clear cut scoring chances over the next ten minutes as the game began to fizzle out.  A converted free in the final minute by St Senans looked to be the final act of the game but credit to Moyvane who kept battling away and they were rewarded in injury time with goals from Aidan Keane from a penalty and a further effort from the hard working Donal Leahy to leave St Senans the winners on a scoreline of 2-13 to 3-3.        

The St Senans management will be pleased that their charges have got their campaign off to a winning start in such testing conditions.  Darragh Kennelly was ever dangerous in the full forward line while midfielder Jason Browne was my man of the match for his overall ball winning, distribution and the composure to finish his goal so well.  For Moyvane, it was a difficult start for them, and in a very competitive division, the management team will be hoping that they can get some of their more experienced players back in to the team to kick start their campaign.

Moyvane:

D. Fitzmaurice, T. Kennelly, B. Madden, PJ. Reynolds, S. Stack, M. Mulvihill, N. Sheehan, Donal Leahy (1 gl), J.J. Mulvihill, J. Flavin, C. O’Connor, I. McCarthy (1 gl, 1 free), T. Noonan (1 free), Diarmuid Leahy, D.J. Keane(1 pt)

Subs: A. Keane (1 gl, Pen.) for T. Kennelly, K. Kennelly for J. Flavin, PJ stack for T. Noonan

Man of the Match: Jason Browne, St Senans

Referee: Tom O’Sullivan

Welcome comeback for O'Connell as Munster A triumph in Interprovincial derby with Leinster A

12th March 2013

Munster A              24

Leinster A               17

On a day when most Irish eyes were tuned in to events in Prestbury Park, Munster’s own thoroughbred Paul O’Connell made his long awaited comeback from injury in this inter provincial derby between Munster A and their Leinster counterparts.

In what was a very competitive and enjoyable game played on a chilly afternoon at the University of Limerick Bowl, a stronger Munster A side ran out deserving winners over their more youthful opponents.

Munster Head Coach Rob Penney with more favourable viewpoint from behind the posts!
 

O’Connell lasted until the half time break and during that period showed many glimpse of his trademark industry with many clean takes in the lineout and was constantly available to carry ball for his troops.  The player himself will be delighted to get this run out under his belt without any setbacks and so will his coach Rob Penney who will be planning to give him some more badly needed game in the next Pro 12 game against Connacht on Saturday week.

The home side started with purpose and a big roar went up from the sizable attendance when O’Connell took the first lineout of the game cleanly and set the tone by being involved in all the early exchanges.

J.J. Hanrahan was also orchestrating matters in the early exchanges and kicked Munster in to a 3-0 lead in the 6^th minute.  The Leinster A backline was dangerous on the counter attack and they responded in the 11^th minute when full back Andrew Conway burst through some feeble Munster A tackling and he sprinted under the posts.  Centre Noel Reid converted to give the men in blue a 7-3 advantage.

Reid failed to extend Leinster’s lead in the 14^th minute when wide from a penalty after O’Connell was penalised for handling the ball on the deck.   It was a very competitive game at this juncture with no shortage of big hits by both sides.

Hanrahan reduced the deficit with a further penalty in the 21^st minute after the visitors were penalised once more following a deft layoff by O’Connell to hooker Sean Henry.  Munster continued to dominate possession, but very much like the first team, they shifted the ball wide at every opportunity but unforced errors continued to let them down when they got in to good attacking positions.

The home side regained the lead in the 32^nd minute after Leinster A were penalised for collapsing a scrum and Hanrahan converted with aplomb from the touchline to leave Munster ahead by 9-7 at the half time break.

With a number of changes made by both sides at half time they could be forgiven if there was no major structure to the game in the second half.  Munster A stuck to their game plan however , and after a backline move that went through many pairs of hands, winger Ronan O’Mahoney tip toed along the touchline to touch down in the 42^nd minute.  Hanrahan once more converted from the touchline to extend the home side’s lead to 16-7.

 

Leinster A fought their way back in to game however within minutes, when, after a great back by Hanrahan and an inside flip pass which did not go ahead, Leinster outhalf Cathal Marsh was ever alert and he collected to sprint down the touchline from the half way line and touch down.  Reid converted once more to reduce the deficit to 16-14.

The experienced men in the Munster side rallied the troops once more, and in the 53^rd minute, after good work by C.J. Stander in sucking in defenders, Niall Ronan showed great hands as the ball was passed out wide and the final pass to Danny Barnes allowed him to touch down unopposed in the corner.  Hanrahan converted once more to maintain his 100% record from the boot and extend Munster A’s lead to 21 -14.

Back came Leinster A again, and after substitute Scott Deasy was penalised, and yellow carded, for not rolling away, Noel Reid converted once more to reduce the deficit to 21-17.

After a raft more of substitutions the game ebbed and flowed between both ends with more unforced errors made by both sides.  Munster A put the game to bed however in the final minute, when after good patience, the ball was fed back to Deasy who dropped a goal to leave Munster A the winners on a final scoreline of 24-17.

Apart from the importance of O’Connell’s comeback, best for Munster A on the day were J.J. Hanrahan, who,  with his 100% record from the boot, brought his teammates in to the game at every opportunity.  Dave Foley was also very impressive in the second row, winning all his own line out ball and making yards with every carry.  Centre Danny Barnes also looked sharp with ball in hand and took his try very well.  Andrew Conway was ever dangerous for the visitors and should be a useful addition when he joins the men in red for next season.  Centre Noel Reid was also impressive with the boot and could not be faulted for his overall efforts.

Man of the Match: J.J Hanrahan (Munster)

Teams and Scorers:

Munster A: Johne Murphy, Luke O’Dea, Danny Barnes (1 try), Ivan Dineen, Ronan O’Mahoney (1 try), J.J. Hanrahan (3 pens, 1 con), Cathal Sheridan(c), James Cronin, Sean Henry, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell, Niall Ronan, Sean Dougall, C.J. Stander

Replacements: Marcus Horan (for James Cronin H/T), Duncan Casey (for Sean Henry H/T), Niall Scannell (for Duncan Casey 63 mins), Kevin Griffin (for John Ryan 64 mins), Brian Hayes (for Paul O’Connell H/T), Willie Ryan (for Niall Ronan 78 mins), Brain Slater (for Cathal Sheridan 74 mins), Scott Deasy (1 drop gl)(for J.J. Hanrahan 54 mins), Cian Bohane (for Ivan Dineen H/T), Corey Hircock ( for Ronan O’Mahoney 68 mins), Sean Scanlon (for Johne Murphy H/T), Johnny Holland ( for Danny Barnes 68 mins)

Leinster A: Andrew Conway (1 try), Andrew Boyle, Jordan Coughlan, Noel Reid (1 pen, 2 con’s), Sam Coghlan-Murray, Cathal Marsh (1 try), John Cooney, Jack O’Connell, Aaron Dundon(c), Martin Moore, Mark Flanagan, Quin Roux, Ben Marshal, Conor Gilsenan, Leo Auva’a

 

Tarbert up ante in second half to overpower Moyvane

02-03-2013

Tarbert up ante in second half to overpower Moyvane

Tarbert                 0-13

Moyvane             0-05

 

 

On a beautiful spring afternoon in Shannon Park, Tarbert, the home side bagged the spoils against near neighbours Moyvane in an entertaining game in Round 3 Division 1A of the 2013 North Kerry Senior Football League.

After an evenly contested first half, Tarbert moved through the gears in the second half, and their greater scoring threat and tigerish defending, proved too much for a committed, if understrength, Moyvane side.

Tarbert raced in to a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after six minutes after points from play by David Langan and impressive wing forward Ambrose Lanigan.  Moyvane responded with a pointed free from Timmy Noonan and were unlucky not to level matters in the 11^th minutes when centre back Owen Stack burst through but he was wide after great approach work by Donal Leahy and P.J. Reynolds.

Leahy was beginning to dictate matters around the middle at this stage and he was ably assisted by the hard working John Jack Mulvihill.  Wing back Shane Stack, driving forward once more, levelled matters in the 13^th minute with a measured effort from play.

And Moyvane had the first clear goal chance of the game a minute later when midfielder Leahy was on hand but his goal bound effort was well saved by the Tarbert keeper and the resulting 45 was converted by Shane Stack to give the visitors the lead for the first and only time.  Tarbert responded immediately when midfielder Michael Normoyle found himself in space and he converted to tie up matters once more.

Both sides exchanged free’s in the 18^th and 19^th minutes and the play went up and down the field with very little separating the sides.  Tarbert had one last chance before half time and corner forward Gerald O’Sullivan converted from play to leave the home side holding the narrowest of advantages at the half time break by 0-5 to 0-4.

Moyvane would have been happy with their first half efforts but it was the home side who burst out of the blocks in the second half, and with their quick counter attacking and their inside forward line starting to cause the Moyvane defence serious problems, they extended their lead to 0-7 to 0-4 by the 33^rd minute.  After further wides by Kevin Wren and wing forward Lanigan, Moyvane had a further goal chance when P.J. Reynolds raced through but he blazed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Ambrose Lanigan was now beginning to dictate the play for the home side with his pace and range of passing, and he extended their lead with a further point from play in the 43^rd minute.  And two further quick fire efforts from play by the 45^th minute had extended their lead to 0-10 to 0-4 and Moyvane were really struggling at this stage to make any inroads at the other end. 

Centre back Owen Stack registered Moyvane’s first and only score of the second half in the 54^th minute to reduce the deficit to 0-11 to 0-5.  But any hopes of a revival did not materialise and Tarbert closed out the game with further points from play in the 60^th and 61^st minutes to give them a comfortable victory on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-05.

One of the most striking aspects from this game was how youthful both lineups were.  Tarbert manager Stevie Deenihan will be pleased with how his charges upped their game in the second half and kept their foot on the accelerator until the very end.  Ambrose Lanigan was a very industrious playmaker, particularly in the second half, and corner forward Gerald O’Sullivan thrived on his service.  For Moyvane, midfielder Donal Leahy was dominant in that area for large parts of the game with some fine fielding and defenders Denis Kennelly and Niall Sheehan could not be faulted for their efforts.  However, after three defeats on the trot, manager Johnny Mulvihill will know that they require more of a scoring threat in their forward line particularly with Paddy Curtin’s continued absence with the inter county set up.       

Moyvane:

D. Fitzmaurice, D. Kennelly, K. Stack, M. Woods, S. Stack (2 pts, 1 45), O. Stack (1 pt), N. Sheehan, D. Leahy, J.J. Mulvihill, K. Kennelly, P.J. Reynolds, E. Sweeney, T. Noonan (2 pts, 2 frees), D.J. Keane, A. Finucane

Subs: T. Kennelly for M. Woods, N. Mulvihill for E. Sweeney, I. McCarthy for K. Kennelly

 Man of the Match: Ambrose Lanigan, Tarbert