Thurles Sarsfields defeated Kiladangan by 0-27 to 1-15 in the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday October 16th at Semple Stadium Thurles.
Na cluichí is fearr-ar Sheinnteoir #TG4 Barry Hogan @KiladanganGAA saves in the @TipperaryGAA final-catch up here https://t.co/mxkBlqm0XC pic.twitter.com/QoJxamyNCc
— GAA 2016 (@GAA_2016) October 21, 2016
REPORT: @TipperaryGAA SHC glory for @thurlessars https://t.co/1LUPCON4LR pic.twitter.com/J5FrJX5uUB
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 16, 2016
Tipperary SHC: Thurles Sarsfields retain title
Thurles Sarsfields 0-27 Kildangan 1-15
By Jackie Cahill at Semple Stadium for GAA.ie
Thurles Sarsfields are Tipperary senior hurling champions for a 35th time. On the day ‘The Blues’ lost a club legend, Mickey ‘The Rattler’ Byrne, they stormed to a third title in a row at Semple Stadium, defeating Kildangan by nine points.
Click here to view photos from the match
It’s the first time that Sars have put three successive crowns together since the 1960s and they march on an AIB Munster club quarter-final clash with the Waterford representatives in a fortnight’s time. This was impressive stuff from Sars on a day when they had scoring contributions from eight players.
Pa Bourke topped the list with nine points, including seven frees, as Aidan McCormack and Richie Ruth rattled over 11 from play between them. There was also a man-of-the-match display in defence from Ronan Maher, who put over arguably the score of the game in the 43rd minute from a sideline ball, almost 70 metres out.
In front of 6,546 spectators, Sars established a 0-15 to 0-6 interval lead and were in cruise control. Within the opening ten minutes, they had nine points on the board, Ruth knocking over four of those in a blistering start. It took Kildangan, appearing in their first Dan Breen decider since 1938, until the 21st minute to register their opening score from play, Willie Connors on target, but it was token response as Sars kept the scoreboard ticking over.
On a number of occasions, goal opportunities were there to be exploited as Sars broke from deep positions, but they were content with points instead. Former Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett got in on the scoring act with a long-range special in the 21st minute and while Kildangan did score three of the last five points of the first half, the men from the North were facing an uphill battle ahead of the second half. They were 12 points behind, 0-9 to 0-21, before Joe Gallagher hammered home a consolation goal in the 46th minute.
Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: P Bourke 0-9 (7fs), A McCormack 0-6, R Ruth 0-5, R Maher (1 sl) and C Lanigan 0-2 each, S Maher, S Lillis and L Corbett 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kiladangan: D Egan 0-6 (5fs), J Gallagher 1-1, W Connors 0-3 (1 65s) R Gleeson 0-2, J Horan, P Flynn and T Gallagher 0-1 each.
Thurles Sarsfields: P McCormack; M Cahill, S Lillis, S Maher; D Maher, P Maher, R Maher; S Cahill, B McCarthy; T Doyle, A McCormack, P Bourke; C Lanigan, R Ruth, L Corbett
Subs: R Dwan for D Maher (50), J Maher for Lanigan (52), D Kennedy for Corbett (59), K O’Gorman for Ruth (60+3).
Kildangan: B Hogan; J Quigley, H Flannery, F Hayes; D Sweeney, A Flynn, D Moran; J Horan, M Minehan; J Gallagher, W Connors, R Gleeson; T Gallagher, D Egan, P Flynn
Subs: J Loughnane for Minehan (24), E Kelly for Horan (45).
Referee: J McCormack.
Thurles Sarsfield honour memory of 'The Rattler' with emphatic win over Kildangan https://t.co/0jxvvK3tpq pic.twitter.com/TsuRZAWZhO
— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) October 16, 2016
Fixture Details
Tipperary Water County Senior Hurling Championship Final
Sunday October 16th at 3:30pm in Semple Stadium Thurles
Thurles Sarsfields v Kiladangan
Referee: John McCormack (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
Tipperary Water County Minor A Hurling Championship Final
Sunday October 16th at 1:15pm in Semple Stadium Thurles
St. Mary’s Clonmel v JK Brackens Og
Referee: Phil Ryan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
COUNTY SENIOR HURLING FINAL
The business end of the club senior hurling championship has arrived in such expedited fashion that it is hard to believe that they year has caught up on us so quickly. This Sunday, October 16th, the main focus of attention will be on Semple Stadium as the Tipperary Water Senior Hurling Co. Final takes place at 3.30pm between Thurles Sarsfields and Kiladangan, who are certainly the two form teams of the championship so an enthralling and fascinating final is in prospect.
Thurles Sarsfields haven’t had such a rich run of form since the great team of the early sixties that won five in a row from 1961 to ’65 inclusive and 10 in 11 years, as they go about their business on Sunday. While standing in their way are Kiladangan who will be appearing in their first final since 1938 when they incidentally lost out to Thurles Sarsfields in that decider.
That won’t worry or enter the minds of the current Kiladangan outfit that will bring massive support with them to Thurles on Sunday as they look to lift the famous Dan Breen Cup after many years of trying. A balanced side with a great blend of experience and ambition it will be no major shock to their supporters if they come out on top on Sunday. To do that though, they must dethrone the current kingpins Thurles Sarsfields, a side laced with players each capable of turning the match in his sides favour should the chances present themselves.
The match ups on Sunday will be watched closely as the heightened build up to the game will raise the public interest in anticipation of a certain classic. The referee on Sunday will be John McCormack from Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams and this will be John’s second Co. Final in charge having previously officiated in the 2013 final. We send best wishes to John and his officials on Sunday and best wishes also to both clubs as they look to create their own unique piece of history.
Thurles Sarsfields and Kiladangan earned the right to contest Sunday’s final following wins in their respective Tipperary Water Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals last weekend. In two games that failed to ignite as was expected, Thurles Sarsfields had the measure of Clonoulty-Rossmore running out convincing winners on a 1-22 to 0-15 score line, with Ritchie Ruth netting a second half goal for Sarsfields.
In the second match Kiladangan brushed aside the Killenaule challenge shooting 2-16 to 0-13 as they booked their place in the final. Joe Gallagher was the double goal scorer, firing one in each half to steer his side on the way to victory.
MINOR HURLING COUNTY FINAL
In a welcome development the Tipperary Water Minor ‘A’ Hurling final precedes the Co. SH Final on Sunday next with JK Brackens Óg lining out to meet St. Marys Clonmel in this year’s showpiece. In the pre-match build up both captains were eager to press home their credentials in advance of the final. Tom Murphy is expected to return from injury to lead his JK Brackens Óg side into combat while Kyle Peters is equally determined to ensure the cup heads South to St. Marys in Clonmel with the team on Sunday evening. Patrons are advised to note the throw in time is at 1.15pm.
JUBILEE TEAM
This Sunday the Jubilee Team being honoured for the 1991 Co. Final success is Cashel King Cormacs when captain Colm Bonner lifted the Dan Breen Cup for the only time in the clubs history, defeating Holycross-Ballycahill in the County Final. Later they would go on to claim the Munster crown also, getting the better of Midleton (Cork) in the final.
LAR NA PAIRCE SHOP
To facilitate patrons attending the Tipperary Water SH and MH Co. Finals, Lar Na Pairce GAA Shop and the Museum at Slievenamon Road, Thurles will be open next Sunday, October 16th from 12noon until 3.30pm.
