Tipperary defeated Dublin by 0-14 to 0-12 in the Eirgrid All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship Semi-Final on Saturday April 18th at O’Connor Park Tullamore.
Report: Steven O'Brien stars as @TipperaryGAA beat @DubGAAOfficial to reach first U21 final: http://t.co/2VaeEHY6rZ pic.twitter.com/TBXza616ur
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 18, 2015
U21 Football: Tipp through to first-ever final
EIRGRID All-Ireland U21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL: TIPPERARY 0-14 DUBLIN 0-12
Steven O’Brien capped an incredible display with one of the two late scores that secured Tipperary a first-ever Eirgrid All-Ireland U21 football final place. The midfielder was outstanding and swooped in injury-time along with the team’s top scorer Kevin O’Halloran for the winning points in Tullamore.
In the process, the Munster champions dumped holders and favourites Dublin out of the competition. The shock result at O’Connor Park hung in the balance throughout a tense second-half that Tipp largely dominated but didn’t close out until the dying moments. Dessie Farrell’s Dublin will kick themselves at failing to advance to the May 2 All-Ireland final having enjoyed a five-point lead early in the second-half.
But they were poor from then on and only drew level late on when they enjoyed a brief spell of dominance. It was a tight and tense opening and with 21 minutes on the clock there’d been just five scores exchanged. Dublin held a narrow 0-3 to 0-2 lead, though Tipp were arguably the happier as they played into the teeth of a stiff breeze.
The Dubs crucially finished the half strongly with four points before the interval to finally put some daylight between the teams. They outscored Tipp by three points in this period to take a 0-7 to 0-3 half-time lead.
Conor McHugh weighed in with four first-half points in total while fellow seniors Shane Carthy and Cormac Costello also dissected the posts.
It was a significant burst as Dublin had found themselves behind in the second-half of all three of their previous games in the Leinster championship – against Laois, Longford and Kildare. Still, their four-point cushion was tempered by having to play into the wind after the break. They coped with it well in initially, moving five clear after another Carthy point.
But Tipp’s response was impressive and four points without reply signalled their intent to battle all the way.
Josh Keane, senior star Colin O’Riordan, O’Brien and Liam Casey were all on the mark. Dublin looked nervy and McHugh pulled a relatively easy free kick wide.
Tipp had strong momentum on their side and finally drew level in the 49th minute at 0-9 to 0-9 when Keane converted his third free of the afternoon. Dublin had their chances but their attack was poor and Farrell rang the changes.
But Tipp continued to press their advantage and back to back O’Halloran points moved them two clear with nine minutes remaining.
Dublin did draw level at 0-12 apiece thanks to points from Costello and sub David Campbell. But Tipp weren’t to be denied and scores from O’Brien and O’Halloran in the 61st and 62nd minutes sealed a famous win.
***
Scorers for Tipperary: Kevin O’Halloran 0-4 (0-3f), Josh Keane 0-3 (0-3f), Colin O’Riordan 0-2, Steven O’Brien 0-2, Liam Casey 0-1, Jason Lonergan 0-1, Ross Mulcahy 0-1
Scorers for Dublin: Conor McHugh 0-4 (0-1f), Cormac Costello 0-4 (0-3f), Shane Carthy 0-2, Colm Basquel 0-1, David Campbell 0-1
DUBLIN: Lorcan Molloy; David Byrne, Martin Cahalane, Ross McGowan; Aonghus Farrell, Eric Lowndes, Conor Mullally; Stephen Cunningham, Shane Carthy; Niall Scully, Andy Foley, Eoin Murchan; Colm Basquel, Cormac Costello, Conor McHugh. Subs: Shane Cunningham for Stephen Cunningham (25), Shane Clayton for Foley (45), Eoin Fletcher for Cahalane (49, BC), Aaron Byrne for Basquel (49), David Campbell for Scully (52).
TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Kevin Fahey, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O’Shaughnessy; Ross Mulcahy, Luke Boland, Bill Maher; Steven O’Brien, Colin O’Riordan; Jason Lonergan, Ian Fahey, Liam Casey; Kevin O’Halloran, Josh Keane, Paul Maher. Sub: Dean McEnroe for P Maher (59).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
***
Report: Paul Keane for GAA.ie
Full Commentary from Tipp FM
Tipperary finish strongly to reach U21 decider: Injury-time points from Steven O'Brien and Kevin O'Halloran se… http://t.co/q5M9GC3fsM
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) April 18, 2015
Epic victory for the @TipperaryGAA U21 footballers. History makers. Comhghairdeas.
— Tipp Cumann mBunscol (@TippCumanNamBun) April 18, 2015
Huge congrats to @TipperaryGAA under 21's today!! Well done to everyone involved! #gaa #EirgridU21Football
— Brendan Maher (@BennyMaher) April 18, 2015
What a win for @TipperaryGAA 21 footballers, super football played and huge heart and determination to fight back from 4 down at half time!
— brian fox (@brianfoxtipp) April 18, 2015
Congrats to Tipp footballers today, great performance and massive heart shown..these boys can ball #tekkers #tippabu
— Seamie Callanan (@seamiecallanan) April 18, 2015
What a victory , have you ever seen a Team with the Spirit of this young Tipp side 🙂 #neversaydie
— Friend Tipp Football (@TippfootballGAA) April 18, 2015
Some heart in these @TipperaryGAA footballers.Through to first ever All Ireland U21 football final…!! #tippabu
— Brendan Cummins (@BrenCummins1) April 18, 2015
Huge win for @TipperaryGAA in U21 semi. Delighted for them, shows football can be developed from the bottom up #uptipp
— Philip Jordan (@PhilipJordan7) April 18, 2015
Fantastic pride and determination shown by the under 21s today. Great result from them and truly deserve their… http://t.co/Mtit03UaTH
— Mid Tipperary GAA (@MidTipp) April 18, 2015
Fixture Details
Eirgrid GAA Football All Ireland U21 Championship Semi Final
O’Connor Park, Tullamore 16:00
Áth Cliath v Tiobraid Árann
Referee: Jerome Henry (Maigh Eo)
(E.T. if Necessary)
Preview – @EirGrid All-Ireland U21 Football Semi-Final, @DubGAAOfficial v @TipperaryGAA, Tullamore, Saturday, 4pm: http://t.co/SrbPwN9lyV
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 17, 2015
Ticket Prices
Adults: €15
Concessions: €10 (can only be bought at grounds on match day)
Juveniles do not require a ticket
This is an unreserved fixture
5 days to the @EirGrid U21 Football S-Finals! Buy tickets now in SuperValu & Centra or on http://t.co/Lw4gYD3Qcx #GAA pic.twitter.com/tSCsqjXOyi
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 13, 2015
Match Coverage
This game will be shown live on TG4
Team News
The Tipperary U21 team to play Dublin in the EirGrid GAA All-Ireland Football Semi-final on Saturday next, April 18th, at 4pm in O’Connor Park, Tullamore has been announced.
Following on from last week’s thrilling Munster Final victory over Cork, manager Tommy Toomey and his management team have remained faithful to that side and announced the same starting XV for Saturday.
Therefore Captain Colin O’Riordan leads the charge at midfield with Steven O’Brien, while up front man of the match from the final Ian Fahey and last week’s debutant Kevin O’Halloran will be looking to add to their exciting profile. In defence the impressive Evan Comerford will hold station between the posts once more as he provides cover for a solid backline.
The team in full is as follows;
Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan), Ross Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Bill Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Colin O’Riordan Capt. (JK Brackens), Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials), Ian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Liam Casey (Cahir),Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe), Josh Keane (Golden Kilfeacle), Paul Maher (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Dublin
1. Lorcan Molloy (St Annes)
2. Emile Mullan (Na Fianna)
3. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
4. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
5. Eric Lowndes (St Peregrine’s)
6. Conor Mulally (Cuala)
7. Ross McGowan (Kilmacud Crokes)
8. Stephen Cunningham (St Sylvester’s)
9. Shane Carthy (Naomh Mearnóg)
10. Gavin Burke (St Vincent’s)
11. Andrew Foley (Clontarf)
12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge-Street)
13. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
14. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna)
15. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
