Brilliant Kilkenny crush Tipp dreams of three in row

TIPPERARY were denied a possible third All-Ireland minor hurling title in a row by a ruthless Kilkenny side who produced one of the most impressive displays seen for quite some time in Croke Park in the first of the All-Ireland MHC semi-finals.

This was Kilkenny at their very best, and on the evidence of this display, it’s hard to see them being beaten in the final by either Cork or Galway.

The old adage that goals win matches rang true yet again. Kilkenny got their three at crucial stages in the game, the third at a time when Tipperary were threatening a comeback.

Full-back Michael Walsh, midfielder Cathal Kenny and wing- forward Joe Brennan are a Kilkenny trio destined to figure on the senior team in the not too distant future, and there are others who are bound to do the same.

Brennan was simply magnificent and his contribution of eight points marked him out as a player of exceptional ability — both from frees and play.

Tipperary can have no excuses. They looked very lethargic and the pressure of a possible three-in-a-row clearly weighed heavily on them.

Apart from goalkeeper Bill McCormack, team captain Noel McGrath, who finished the game with nine points, and full forward Thomas Butler, they didn’t have the players to trouble Kilkenny and in the end were well-beaten.

Kilkenny made the best possible start with a brace of points by wing forward Brennan inside the opening two minutes.

Tipp then knocked over three points in a row to lead 0-3 to 0-2 after five minutes and it was obvious that little would separate these great rivals at the final whistle.

Tipp settled well and with Noel McGrath doing well at wing-forward and the tower figure of Thomas Butler making his presence felt at full- forward, they scorched into a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after 12 minutes before the game took a dramatic turn Kilkenny’s way.

Thomas Breen won a penalty after being fouled going through and after Brennan’s effort was blocked, Walter Walsh hit the rebound to the net for a real poacher’s goal.

Minutes later at the other end Thomas Butler won a penalty for Tipp in similar circumstances, but Noel McGrath’s shot was block out to Kieran Shelley who managed to scoop the sliothar over the bar.

From that let-off Kilkenny began to dominate midfield thanks to the excellent Cathal Kenny and it came as no surprise that Tipp made a change in that area taking off Joe Gallagher and bringing on Ruairi Gleeson.

The pressure on the Tipp defence was also immense and it took a superb save by their ‘keeper Bill McCormack to deny Thomas Breen a goal, but the sliothar ran loose and Walter Walsh was there again to apply the finish for his second major.

Kilkenny were rampant at this juncture and points by Cathal Kenny and Rory Hickey (a super effort from a first time pull) had them six to the good and at the break, the Cats were full value for their lead.

Tipp needed an early goal if they were to stay in this game. Kilkenny knew that and they effectively killed their neighbours off.

In a magnificent nine-minute spell, the Leinster champions rattled over seven points in a row, five of them by the magnificent Brennan, and Tipperary were in real danger of being on the wrong end of their worst defeat at the hands of Kilkenny.

Only the accuracy of their captain Noel McGrath kept Tipp afloat but this superbly-tuned Kilkenny side were not to be denied and a third goal, by Martin Gaffney, effectively killed off the threatened Tipp revival.

Tipp’s cause wasn’t helped by the loss of wing-back James Barry for a second yellow offence and they were forced to play the last 18 minutes with 14 players. Credit to their team mentors; they made the substitutions and after Kilkenny ‘keeper Eoin Murphy saved brilliantly from sub John O’Dwyer, Tipp finally found the Cats’ net when another sub, Kieran Morris, drilled the sliother straight and true.

However it was only a token score and Kilkenny put the seal on a superb performance with a brace of points by their captain Thomas Breen.

Scorers for Kilkenny: J. Brennan 0-8 (0-4 frees); W. Walsh 2-1; M. Gaffney 1-0; C. Kenny 0-3; T. Breen 0-2; J. Gannon, R. Hickey, P. McCarthy, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: N. McGrath 0-9 (0-5 frees); K. Morris 1-0; T. Butler 0-2; J. O’Neill, K. Shelley, R. Gleeson 0-1 each.

KILKENNY: E. Murphy; D. Healy, M. Walsh, A. Cuddihy; C. Fogarty, R. Doyle, M. Moloney; C. Kenny, J. Gannon; J. Brennan, W. Walsh, R. Hickey; M. O’Dwyer, T. Breen, M. Gaffney.

Subs: P. McCarthy for O’Dwyer (34); C. Maher for Fogarty (54); D. Purcell for M. Gaffney (58).

TIPPERARY: B. McCormack; L. Butler, K. O’Gorman, S. O’Brien; L. Burke, A. Ryan, J. Barry; P. Acheson, J. Gallagher; N. McGrath, C. Lorigan, P. Murphy; J. O’Neill, T. Butler, K. Shelly.

Subs: R. Gleeson for Gallagher (26); J. O’Dwyer for O’Neill (half time); M. Sheedy for Lorigan (37); K. Morris for Murphy (47).

Referee: A. Kelly (Galway).