Congratulations to Tipperary’s Senior Footballers who bridged a seventy two year gap at Semple Stadium on Sunday last following a well deserved two point margin victory in their Munster Semi Final clash with Cork.
Foundations were well and truly laid in the first thirty five minutes where Tipp driven on by team captain Peter Acheson led Cork a merry dance producing some excellent handling and support play throughout the field while goals by Mikey Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney along with Kevin O’Hallorans unerring free taking ensured Cork had a mountain to climb at half time – seven points in arrears, 2-7 to 0-6.
However every team can produce a period of dominance and sure enough Cork came storming back to draw level and with the smash and grab finish by Cork in 2014 looming large Tipp would have to dig deep.
And dig deep they did and in a frantic last three minutes two points by the ice cool Kevin O’Halloran, a 45 and a close in free ensured Corks winning monopoly over Tipp at Senior level was shattered and for Tipp another Munster Final beckons this time against Kerry in Killarney on July 3rd.
Well done to Liam Kearns and his management team and given the number of players not at his disposal, the time spent in the gym, the training in the wind, hail and rain in Dr Morris Park, this is what makes it all worthwhile.
In the curtain raiser Tipp’s Junior Footballers had to settle for the runners up spot to a very polished Cork side who ran out convincing and deserving winners. Having seen off Waterford after extra time in their opening game Tipp were faced with a number of injuries and withdrawals from the squad and with Cork fielding a share of their All Ireland U21 team, an almighty effort would be needed to get over the line. However despite Tips best efforts there was no denying Corks overall superiority and scoring ability which proved decisive. Well done to Tommy Toomey, management and commitment from the players in preparing for what was always going to be a difficult assignment.
Full details on both games are available elsewhere on Tipperary GAA website.
Elsewhere Football Development squads are being prepared at U14, U15, U16 and U17 level and hopefully over the next number of weeks I will have more details on the various squads and other Football Board plans going forward along with progress reports on our Football championships within the county plus a wrap up of our Minor and U21 campaigns.
Tommy Fitzgerald, PRO, Tipperary Football Board
