Kerry defeated Tipperary by 4-14 to 0-6 in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Final on Sunday September 20th at Croke Park.
Report: Kerry blitz Tipperary in minor final
ALL-IRELAND MFC FINAL: KERRY 4-14 TIPPERARY 0-6
By Peter Sweeney at Croke Park for GAA.ie
Kerry eased their way to back-to-back All-Ireland Minor Football Championship titles with a big win over Tipperary in the final at Croke Park on Sunday.
The Kingdom had a surprisingly poor underage record over most of the past decade, but their production line has really kicked into action. Under the management of Jack O’Connor, who guided the county to three Sam Maguire titles, they have taken the U18 crown two years in-a-row.
In his two seasons in charge Kerry haven’t lost a competitive match, they have won a perfect 12 from 12 and claimed two All-Ireland championships. This was O’Connor’s last match with the minors and next season he moves back up to the U21s to try to revive their fortunes at that grade.
His team oozed class and having done the dirty work during the first half the second period was largely exhibition-style football. It was tough on Tipperary, who have done such good work at underage football level over the past few years. Five of the starting team, and eight of the panel, were on the Premier County side that lost the All-Ireland minor final to Galway a fortnight previously. They showed brief flashes of the ability and grit that got them this far, with many of their points coming out of the top drawer. There just wasn’t enough of them coming to stop the onslaught.
Centre-forward Alan Tynan, who was part of the hurling team and who won a Leinster Senior Cup with Roscrea in rugby this year, was particularly impressive and picked off two superb points. Tipperary were blown out of the water by Kerry in the Munster minor final back at the start of July so they would been keenly aware of the need for a good start. They were unable to manufacture this however and the Kingdom were on top from the off.
In the first five minutes Tipp hit two shots short, dropping into the arms of keeper Billy Courtney, hit the post with a close-range free and hit the post. This was the theme for the day for them as they slipped further and further behind. Kerry didn’t have their shooting boots on in the opening quarter either and when Tipp hit two points either side of the 15-minute mark it left them just two down, 0-4 to 0-2. Any hope that this might turn into a contest though were killed off on 18 minutes when Bryan Sweeney got the first goal of the game.
A high ball into the danger area was broken down to the waiting Sean O’Shea, who knew exactly what to do. He fed Sweeney and the mobile full-forward made no mistake. Six minutes before the break Conor Geaney, a sparkling forward and first cousin of seniors Paul and Michael, appeared to shoot wide.
But referee David Gough ruled that he was bundled over just as he pulled the trigger and the penalty kick was awarded. Geaney sent keeper Charlie Manton the wrong way with a cool finish low to the right hand corner of the net. At this stage of the Munster final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney Tipperary were nine points down. It was worse in Croke Park – 25 minutes gone and eleven down, 2-7 to 0-2.
Tipp’s main problems were around the middle of of the park, where they struggled to get hands on the ball, particularly from their own restarts. Kerry’s middle men Mark O’Connor and John Mark Foley, who both scored points from play in the first half, were dominant and some of their high-fielding was brilliant to watch. They laid the platform for a healthy 2-8 to 0-4 half-time lead.
The second half was a procession for Kerry, Geaney converting another penalty to bring his personal tally to 2-4, after Michael Foley got their third goal when he palmed home a Brandon Barrett centre.
***
Scorers for Kerry: C Geaney 2-4 (2-0 pen, 1f); B Sweeney 1-1, Michael Foley 1-0, S O’Shea 0-2, J Duggan 0-2 (1f), M O’Connor 0-1, JM Foley 0-1, B Barrett 0-1, B Ó Seanacháin 0-1, S O’Sullivan 0-1.
Scorers for Tipperary: A Tynan 0-2, T Nolan 0-2, B McGrath 0-1, J Kennedy 0-1 (1 ’45’)
KERRY: Billy Courtney; Darren Brosnan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Jack Moran, Andrew Barry, Gavin White; Mark O’Connor, John Mark Foley; Brian O Seanchain, Sean O’Shea, Brandon Barrett; Michael Foley, Bryan Sweeney, Conor Geaney
Subs: Stephen O’Sullivan for Barrett (40); James Duggan for M Foley (46); Mike Breen for JM Foley (46); Daniel O’Brien for T O’Sullivan (46); Dara O Se for Brosnan (52); Graham O’Sullivan for Morgan (52).
TIPPERARY: Charlie Manton; Tadhg Fitzgerald Jack Shehan, Tommy Lowry; Danny Owens, Liam Fahy, Emmet Moloney; Jack Kennedy, Tommy Nolan; Aidan Buckely, Alan Tynan, Colin English; Stephen Quirke, Brian McGrath, Brendan Martin
Subs: Jamie Bergin for English (HT); Ross Peters for Buckley (HT); Morgan Irwin for Fitzgerald (BC, 43); Mark Kehoe for McGrath (45); G Whelan for Moloney (52); Conor Cashman for Martin (56).
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
Fixture Details
20.09.2015 (Sun)
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Electric Ireland GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 13:15
Ciarraí v Tiobraid Árann
Referee: David Gough (An Mhí)
Team News
The Tipperary team to play Kerry in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Final in Croke Park on Sunday next, September 20th, at 1.15pm has been announced.
Coming on the back of an excellent win over Kildare in the semi-final, manager Charlie McGeever has made one change to the starting line-up from the last day with the fully fit again Stephen Quirke coming in at top of the right. His fellow club man from Moyle Rovers Danny Owens once again leads out his Tipperary side.
The team is as follows;
1. Charlie Manton (Fethard)
2. Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers)
3. Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill)
4. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers)
5. Danny Owens Capt. (Moyle Rovers)
6. Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers)
7. Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)
8. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
9. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
10. Aidan Buckley (St. Patricks)
11. Alan Tynan (Inane Rovers)
12. Colin English (Fr. Sheehys)
13. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers)
14. Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
15. Brendan Martin (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Manager: Charlie McGeever
Selectors: Shane Stapleton, Kieran Healy, Michael O’Sullivan, Niall Fitzgerald, Michael Power.
The Kerry Minor Football Team to play Tipperary in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Championship Final in Croke Park on Sunday next shows two personnel and a number of positional changes from the side that defeated Derry in the Semi Final – Tom O’Sullivan and Captain, Mark O’Connor, come into the side at corner back and midfield respectively, Andrew Barry reverts to centre back with Mike Breen and Daniel O’Brien the players to lose out.
The team, captained by Dingle’s Mark O’Connor is as follows:
1. Billy Courtney Dr. Crokes
2. Darren Brosnan Gneeveguilla
3. Jason Foley Ballydonoghue
4. Tom O’Sullivan Dingle
5. Jack Morgan Austin Stacks
6. Andrew Barry Na Gaeil
7. Gavin White Dr. Crokes
8. Mark O’Connor (C) Dingle
9. John Mark Foley Kilgarvan
10. Brian Ó Seanacháin Ballydonoghue
11. Sean O’Shea Kenmare
12. Brandon Barrett Ardfert
13. Michael Foley Spa
14. Bryan Sweeney Listowel Emmets
15. Conor Geaney Dingle
Fir Ionaid
16. Eoghan O’Brien Churchill
17. Mike Breen Beaufort
18. Daniel O’Brien Glenflesk
19. Stephen O’Sullivan Templenoe
20. Dara O’Shea Kenmare
21. James Duggan John Mitchels
22. Graham O’Sullivan Dromid Pearses
23. Ronan Buckley Listry
24. Evan Cronin Spa
Additional Players on the Kerry Minor Panel
Jack Goulding (Ballyduff), David Shaw (Dr Crokes), Niall Collins (Listowel Emmets), David Roche (Milltown-Castlemaine), Michael Reidy (Ballymacelligott), Ferdia O’Brien (Austin Stacks),
Injured Player: Cormac Linnane (Beale),
Bainistíocht:
Bainisteoir: Jack O’Connor (Dromid Pearses)
Roghnoirí: Micheál O’Shea (Castlegregory), Eamon Whelan (St Senans).
Treanalaí: Alan O’Sullivan and Arthur Fitzgerald.
Captain: Mark O’Connor (Dingle)
Kitman: Ger O’ Mahony,
Physio: Kieran O’Shea,
Liaison Officer: Christy Killeen
The Kerry team contains just two of the side that defeated Donegal in the All Ireland Minor Final last year – Andrew Barry and Mark O’Connor. Both Jason Foley and Jack Morgan, substitutes last year, are named in the full back line while Stephen O’Sullivan, who was introduced as a sub in all of Kerry’s games last year is listed among the substitutes. When these two sides met in the Munster Final in Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney on July 5th, Kerry won by 2-14 to 1-11 having led by 2-8 to 0-6 at half time.
Mark O’Connor and Conor Geaney both have 2 Hogan Cup All Ireland Colleges Medals and 3 Corn Uí Mhuirí Munster Colleges medals won with Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne. Mark was Man of the Match in both Hogan Cup victories – against St Pats Maghera in 2014 and Roscommon CBS 2015. Tom O’Sullivan was also on the 2015 PSCD side.
Ahead of the @ElectricIreland All-Ireland minor final on Sunday, we take an in-depth look at @TipperaryGAA: http://t.co/20CJKx9tqM
— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 16, 2015
Ahead of Sunday's @ElectricIreland Minor final on Sunday, we take an in-depth look at the @Kerry_Official team: http://t.co/WiEb1gLCnJ
— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 16, 2015
Post Match Reception and Welcome Dinner
The Tipperary Association Dublin is hosting the Post Match Reception and Welcome Dinner for the Tipperary Minor Football team and Management on the occasion of the 2015 All-Ireland Football Finals. The win over Kildare ensured that Tipperary will be a central part of the All-Ireland Football Final programme on Sunday the 20th September.
The Association will host a Dinner in honour of the team and the management in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin which continues a tradition lasting over 50 years, where Tipperary teams appearing in finals in Croke Park are hosted by the Tipperary Association Dublin. The dinner will begin at 8.00pm and will be followed by entertainment/disco. Tickets for the dinner reception are priced at
– €35 each per person. Individual tickets and tables of 10 to 12 persons may be purchased.
– children under 12 years of age – €10 for chicken and chips
– children 12 – 15 years of age €20
Tickets must be paid for in advance and the latest date for accepting bookings is Thursday 17th September. Those wishing to purchase tickets should contact one of the following: Tipperary Association Dublin: 087 6376663 (Pat Ryan) or 087-2866018 (Liam Myles); Co. GAA Board office, Lár Na Páirce, Thurles: 0504 22702;
Best Wishes to the Team and Management
Tipperary Abú
Pat Ryan
Tipperary Association Dublin
ALL-MUNSTER PAIRINGS IN MINOR DECIDER
The minor final is a repeat of the Munster final where Kerry beat Tipperary by 2-14 to 1-11. Kerry led by 2-5 to 0-3 after 16 minutes and while Tipperary battled back, they had left themselves with too much to do. However, they recovered well, beating Connacht champions, Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final and Leinster champions, Kildare in the semi-final.
Kerry beat Connacht runners-up, Sligo in the quarter-final and Ulster champions Derry in the semi-final. Kerry, who are seeking their 13th titles, are bidding to retain the All-Ireland, having beaten Donegal in last year’s final. Tipperary, who last won the title in 2011, are bidding for their third All-Ireland crown.
PATHS TO THE FINAL
KERRY
Kerry 0-14 Clare 0-3
Kerry 0-16 Cork 1-12
Kerry 2-14 Tipperary 1-11 (Munster final)
Kerry 2-12 Sligo 1-6 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Kerry 1-11 Derry 1-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
TIPPERARY
Tipperary 2-16 Waterford 1-7
Tipperary 0-16 Clare 2-9
Kerry 2-14 Tipperary 1-11 (Munster final)
Tipperary 1-10 Galway 0-6 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Tipperary 0-11 Kildare 0-9 (All-Ireland semi-final)
All-Ireland MF Roll of Honour
12 – Kerry (1931-32-33-46-50-62-63-75-80-88-94-2014)
11 – Dublin (1930-45-54-55-56-58-59-79-82-84-2012)
10 – Cork (1961-67-68-69-72-74-81-91-93-2000)
08 – Tyrone (1947-48-73-98-2001-2004-2008-2010)
07 – Mayo (1935-53-66-71-78-85-2013)
06 – Galway (1952-60-70-76-86-2007)
04 – Derry (1965-83-89-2002)
04 – Down (1977-87-99-2005)
04 – Roscommon (1939-41-51-2006)
03 – Laois (1996-97-2003)
03 – Meath (1957-90-92)
02 – Cavan (1937-38)
02 – Louth (1936-40)
02 – Armagh (1949-2009)
02 – Tipperary (1934-2011)
01 – Clare (1929)
01 – Offaly (1964)
01 – Westmeath (1995)
