Tipp to meet Kilkenny in U21 hurling final

Tipperary 1-20 Derry 0-10

Tipperary will take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland U21 HC semi-final, a repeat of the 2006 final which Kilkenny won after a replay.

But Tipperary will feel less than satisfied with their preparations for the decider following an ultimately comfortable semi-final win which started with so much promise, but fizzled out in the second half.

Derry’s honesty and graft were their greatest asset, but they never looked like they could raise their game sufficiently to cause an upset.

But the Ulster champions never gave up, and battled right to the finish, outscoring their opponents in the final 25 minutes.

Tipp got into a smooth flow right from the start, and early scores from Seamus Hennessy, Seamus Callinan and Pa Bourke settled any nerves they may have taken into the game.

With Thomas Stapleton and Padraig Maher in command at the back, they dealt comfortably with any forays the Oak Leafers managed in the opening stages

And when Shane Bourke displayed searing pace along the left wing to slot over a neat score, they were beginning to look dominant.

Derry finally got their opening score in the 15th minute when Michael Kilpatrick managed wriggle clear of his marker to find the target, but that score merely sparked another Tipp flourish.

And it was Pa Bourke who took the game by the scruff of the neck with a 1-2 salvo in the space of two minutes.

He blasted a 20 metre free to the roof of the net after Callinan had been halted on his way to goal, but it was his 17th minute point that really got the Cusack Park crowd buzzing.

Bourke showed immaculate control and skill to collect Kevin Lanigan’s delivery to turn and shoot in one fleeting movement, easing his side eight points clear.

Shane Bourke brought his tally to three, and Pa Bourke made it a personal 1-4 with another free

Derry just couldn’t match the class and touch of a fast-moving and well drilled Tipp side, but did pull back scores through Ben Dodds, Ryan O’Kane and Kirkpatrick.

The Munster champions led by 1-10 to 0-4 at half-time, and killed the game off in merciless fashion with six points a devastating opening five minutes of the second half.

Derry goalkeeper Darryl McDermott twice rescued his side with superb saves from Callinan and Patrick Maher either side of half-time, but his heroics represented no more than damage limitation.

Fortunately for the Ulster title-holders, Tipp did relent somewhat, with senior star Callinan and Shane Bourke withdrawn from the action, but substitute Johnny Ryan blasted over a couple of gems, and Hennessy continued to show his accuracy from distance

Kirkpatrick’s workrate kept Derry spirits up, and they did pull back scores from Ben Dodds, Gavin Kelly and Sean Leo McGoldrick, grabbing the last four points of the contest as Tipp free-wheeled over the line.

It was a most disappointing final 25 minutes from the Munster champions, who were outscored by six points to four during that closing period by a limited Derry side.

Pa Bourke, after setting the game alight in the opening half, virtually disappeared from the action, and having hit 1-4 in the first period, managed just a converted free after the break.

Tipperary: M Ryan (0-1), M Cahill, P Maher, K Maher, K Lanigan, T Stapleton, B Maher (0-1), J McLoughney, S Hennessy (0-4, 2f), G Ryan (0-1), T McGrath (0-2), S Callinan (0-1), P Bourke (1-5, 3f), P Maher, S Bourke (0-3).

Subs: J O’Keefe for McLoughney (10mins), G Hannigan for Lanigan (h-t), R McLoughney for P Maher (h-t), J Ryan (0-2) for S Bourke (42), T Hammersly for Callinan (44).

Derry: D McDermott, S McNicholl, S Henry, N O’Doherty, S Dodds, M Craig, C McKenna, N Holly, O McCloskey, P Henry, B Dodds (0-3), R O’Kane (0-1), S McGoldrick (0-2, 1f), P McCloskey, M Kirkpatrick (0-3, 2f).

Subs: C Murphy for O’Doherty (h-t), D Brunton for Holly (26), G Kelly (0-1) for P Henry (50)

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath)