Following their success in the Garda Cup the South U-16 hurlers headed into the Munster Inter-Divisional on the May bank holiday weekend with a plenty of confidence.
A challenge match on Good Friday against a strong West Waterford side was excellent preparation for the group but an unfortunate injury to Killenaule’s Eoin Barry meant the side would have to plan without one of their leading forwards. Saturday’s group games pitted the side against East Waterford and North Cork in Walsh Park, Waterford and with only one side qualifying from each group it was imperative that the south boys won both games.
The opening game against the home side saw the Tipperary side edge a very tight affair on score line of South Tipp 0-13 East Waterford 0-10.
Scorers for South Tipp: Colin English (0-3), Dylan Walsh (0-3), Ben Hyland (0-2), Michael Barlow (0-2), Mikey Whelan (0-2), Mark Kehoe (0-1)
With North Cork defeating East Waterford in the next game, the final group game was effectively a Munster Quarter final. Playing into a strong breeze the South side fought bravely to lead by two points at the break, thanks mostly to a Mark Kehoe goal. The Cork side came flying out of the blocks in the second half and lead by 2 points with 15 minutes remaining with some of the south lads showing the effects of over 100 minutes of hurling. However the strength of the panel came to the fore with impressive performances from substitutes, particularly Luke Faulkner whose goal set the team up for a 2-16 to 2-10 victory and sealed a place in the semi-finals on the bank holiday Monday.
Scorers for South Tipp: Mark Kehoe (1-2), Ben Hyland (0-4), Dylan Walsh (0-3), Luke Faulkner (1-0), Daire Brennan (0-2), Paudie Feehan, Michael Whelan, Gavin Ryan, Michael Barlow, Colin English (0-1) each.
This sent the South Tipperary side into the Munster semi-final in Mallow GAA club on Monday aiming to become only the second ever team from the division, after the 1997 side containing such greats as Paul Curran and Eoin Kelly, to win the Munster title. With East Clare, West Cork and Imokilly qualifying for the finals the south side were Tipperary’s only representatives in Mallow.
East Clare provided the opposition in the semi-final and on an open blustery pitch battled bravely into the wind to draw level 1-3 to 0-6 thanks to a Daire Brennan goal. The second half proved a tense affair with the sides going score for score right up to the last minute of injury time when a Dylan Walsh free sealed the win on a 2-6 to 0-11 score line.
Scorers for South Tipp: Mark Kehoe (1-1), Daire Brennan (1-0), Dylan Walsh (0-3), Colin English, Ben Hyland (0-1) each.
This result placed the south division into the final against a much fancied Imokilly side who had overcome West Cork in the other semi-final. Playing with a strong wind the South team showed no sign of nerves racing into a 1-07 to 0-2 halftime lead thanks to some trojan work from Colin English in particular and a sweetly struck goal from Mark Kehoe. The second half proved a tougher test into the wind and with tired legs and a few injuries the strength of the panel was tested fully. However, thanks to Kyle Peters and captain Killian O’Dwyer marshalling the defense and Ciaran Barret in goals standing firm to all the Cork lads could throw at him, the Tipperary side held out for a famous win on a 2-8 to 0-8 scoreline.
Scores for South Tipp: Mark Kehoe (2-1), Dylan Walsh (0-3), Colin English (0-2), Kyle Peters (0-2)
Captain Killian O’Dwyer, in accepting the trophy, thanked all who helped with the side, the South Board na nOg, Paudie O’Neill, Declan Fanning and Tony Shelley who had taken the team for training sessions earlier in the year, but in particular the four mentors; Tadhg Howard, Joe Barrett, Tony Walsh and Brendan Ferris who have worked with the side for three years and tasted success at U-15 in the Roger Ryan, and U-16 with the Garda Cup and now in the Munster Inter-Divisional.
The squad for the weekend was:
Ciaran Barrett (Clonmel Og), Killian O’Dwyer(Killenaule), John Walsh (Ballingarry), Dean O’Connor (Killenaule), Gavin Ryan (St. Marys Clonmel), Kyle Peters (St. Marys Clonmel), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Michael Whelan (Carrick Davins), Dylan Walsh (Ballingarry), Ben Hyland (Fr. Sheehys), Colin English (Fr. Sheehys), Michael Barlow (Ballybacon Grange), Conor Cashman (Cahir), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Aaron Dunne (Carrick Swans), Liam Meagher (Killenaule), Jamie Houlihan (Carrick Davins), James Conway (Fr. Sheehys), Colin Shelley (Mullinahone), Luke Faulkner (Carrick Davins), Enda Keane (Mullinahone), Kevin Grace (Moyle Rovers), John Lyons (Ballyneale), Darragh Kelly (Mullinahone), Sean Adamson (St. Marys Clonmel), Mikey McGrath (Carrick Swan), Scot Murphy (Carrick Swan), Michael Murphy (St. Marys Clonmel), Eoin Barry (Killenaule)
Mentors: Brendan Ferris (Marlfield), Tadhg Howard (Cahir), Tony Walsh (Ballingarry), Joe Barrett (Clonmel Og)
