Cats secure minor title - report

Kilkenny 3-15 Tipperary 1-7

Kilkenny are the All-Ireland minor hurling champions for the first time since 1993 after an easy and classy disposal of Tipperary at Croke Park.

All the talk before the game was of Tipperary’s John Boland who won a High Court injunction to freeze a ban imposed in a club match.

However, all the talk after the game is of Ja Fitzpatrick with goals in either half and two points tacked on for good measure.

Tipp dominated the opening exchanges but Richie Power’s free taking kept the Cats in touch.

The sides were level at six points a piece when two goals in as many minutes set the Cats up and delivered a body blow to Tipperary from which they failed to recover.

Shane Coogan, after a fine solo run, set up Eoin Reid for the first in the 25th minute and Ja Fitzpatick batted in his first of the day two minutes later.

This gave the Cats a clear two-goal advantage which they took to the dressing rooms at the change of ends.

Kilkenny tacked on two more second half points before Fitzpatrick popped up for his second goal after Alan Healy flashed in a ball from the corner.

Willy Ryan cut Kilkenny’s lead to ten points from a free but four more unanswered scores more than cancelled out David Morrissey’s Tipperary goal with nine minutes to go.

Tipp rallied and it took two fine saves in front of goal from forward Richie Power (who scored eight points) to deny Tipp a more respectable scoreline at the finish.