Tipp minors shake off every obstacle to leave proud Woodlock feeling 22

Tipperary minor James Woodlock knew his players wouldn't die whatever setbacks they faced

Tipperary players celebrate after their side's victory in the Electric Ireland MHC final at UPMC Nowlan Park. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

All-Ireland MHC final: Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 3-12

James Woodlock said his Tipperary minors promised they would try and win the All-Ireland for their two players who were sent off in the first half of Saturday's epic final in Nowlan Park.

The 13 wonderful young men delivered on that promise.

Tipperary battled on despite losing both Cillian Minogue and Darragh O’Hora in the first half, and eventually prevailed after a stunning Billy O’Brien goal in extra-time.

Chants of 'Tipp Tipp Tipp' echoed around Kilkenny as, with the evening turning into the night, a sea of blue and gold flooded out onto the Nowlan Park pitch.

O’Brien was the match-winner but Tipperary had heroes all over with Euan Murray, Cathal O’Reilly and Adam Ryan in particular, outstanding as they sealed a second minor title in three years.

There was no obstacle too great for them in this game, overcoming red cards, sucker-punch goals and even a home venue for the Cats.

Afterwards, Tipperary manager Woodlock felt vindicated over agreeing to the coin-toss that eventually gave Kilkenny home advantage.

He never feared it anyway because he knew this team ‘wouldn’t die’ regardless of the circumstances.

“I’m just delighted to get over the line,” Woodlock said afterwards. “I knew they wouldn’t die. They never die.

“I probably shipped a bit of criticism for the toss and so on, but I couldn’t take them to Tullamore where they’ve never played before.

“I was comfortable coming down here. I work down here. We won two years ago down here. We knew it like the back of our hands. We had travelled all over Munster and I was happy we were playing our best hurling on the road.” 

Indeed, Nowlan Park is now something of a happy hunting ground for Woodlock having also won the 2022 title at the grounds.

Tipperary had started well but a Bill McDermott inspired Kilkenny looked destined for glory even though the scores were level 1-5 apiece at the break.

But the inspirational Euan Murray thundered into the game with the first two points of the second half and from there the Tipperary players and supporters drew momentum and belief.

“The boys promised themselves that they’d do it for our two lads who were sent off,” Woodlock said afterwards. “You have to roll with the punches, and the boys did that. They have huge belief. The heart they showed was something special.

“Something similar to the team two years ago, they just stay battling away.” “I can’t thank the Tipp support enough,” he added.

“I think we outnumbered them today and when we needed the help, they came to the fore for us. Tipp hurling needed this, and these lads are a great bunch of boys to follow going forward.” 

VINDICATED: Tipperary manager James Woodlock celebrates with his backroom staff at the end of the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Ken Sutton

Both teams had chances to win the game in normal-time but neither took them and on we went.

Anthony Clifford’s goal in extra-time looked like it would finally break Tipp’s resistance but they came back for more and O’Brien was the hero.

“The boys emptied themselves,” added Woodlock. “Our boys were out on their feet.

“We’d spoken all week about going after them and even with 13 men, we did that, we didn’t sit back. The boys are fantastic hurlers and they brought the attitude as well.” 

Perhaps sweetest of all for Tipperary, their 22nd victory at the grade moves them one clear of Kilkenny in the minor roll of honour. On a weekend when Taylor Swift lit it up in the capital, what a time to be able to say it, Tipperary are feelin’ 22.

Scorers for Tipperary: E Doughan (1-3, 1-0 65, 1f) E Murray (0-4), B O’Brien (1-1) J Donelan Houlihan (0-4, 3f), S Tobin, C Minogue, A Duff, K Cantwell, A Ryan (0-1 each).

Scores for Kilkenny: B McDermott (1-2), R Doherty (1-0), A Clifford (1-0), C Holohan (0-3), J Mullen (0-3, 2fs), K Buggy, C Byrne, P Lacey, E Brennan (0-1 each).

KILKENNY: J O’Doherty; O Henderson, L Phelan, B Brennan; D Barcoe, J Dollard, M Rohan; R Doherty, K Buggy; J Mullen, B McDermott, J Cody; O O’Donovan, C Holohan, E Brennan.

Subs: C Byrne for Cody (43) L Raggett for B Brennan (48), P Lacey for O’Donovan (55), A Clifford for E Brennan (68), E Cahill for Rohan (75), O’Donovan for Holohan (78).

TIPPERARY: D English; S Ryan, C O’Reilly, P Ryan; D Ryan, O O’Dwyer , J Donelan-Houlihan; T Ryan, D O’Hora; A Ryan, E Murray, B O’Brien; E Doughan, S Tobin, C Minogue.

Subs: A Duff for Doughan (47), A Cagney for Tobin (58), K Cantwell for Cagney (65), Tobin for Murray (78).

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)