Tipperary 0-11
Kildare 0-9
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
14-MAN TIPPERARY saw off Kildare to claim a deserved victory in today’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor football semi-final and set up a final meeting with Kerry.
The Premier have come through the backdoor to set up a rematch with Kerry, who defeated them in the Munster final in July, on 20 September.
The second-half dismissal of wing-back Emmett Moloney for a second yellow card was a major setback for Tipperary but they held their nerve to claim victory.
Midfielder Jack Kennedy was outstanding and claimed the man-of-the-match award. Kennedy is a younger brother of Colman Kennedy, who struck the match winning goal when Tipperary last contested the All-Ireland minor football final in 2011.
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The victory continues a superb season for Tipperary with the county’s minor hurlers facing Galway in next Sunday’s All-Ireland decider. Eight members of today’s Tipperary football squad are involved in that minor hurling clash.
They were worthy winners here but made hard work of clinching their success as they spurned five goal chances. Aidan Buckley blasted wide when straight through in the 21st minute while Brendan Martin’s close-range shot was cleared off the line before the interval.
In the second-half, Stephen Quirke was unlucky to be denied by the goalkeeper with one palmed effort and fisted another shot against the bar. In the closing minutes Morgan Irwin had another goal bound effort stopped by Kildare’s Declan Campbell.
The teams were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the break with Ciaran Kelly (Kildare) and Alan Tynan (Tipperary) the first-half scoring stars. Tipperary were in front 0-5 to 0-3 after 17 minutes before Kildare hit three points on the spin and it required a stunning Tynan score to tie the teams at the interval.
Tipperary dominated the third quarter with Jack Kennedy in sparkling form as he struck three points and they went 0-9 to 0-6 clear.
Kildare couldn’t get a grip on the game but the dismissal of Moloney gave them a personnel advantage as they tried to gain a foothold in the match.
Jimmy Hyland and Matthew Kelly nailed points to cut the deficit before Buckley relieved the pressure Tipperary were under with a 50th minute point.
Kildare trimmed the margin again through Conor Hartley but they couldn’t draw level. Tipperary defended stoutly and pounced for the insurance point courtesy of Quirke two minutes from the end.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jack Kennedy 0-4 (0-1f, 0-1 ’45), Alan Tynan 0-3 (0-2f), Brian McGrath, Aidan Buckley, Brendan Martin, Stephen Quirke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kildare: Ciaran Kelly 0-4 (0-4f), Jimmy Hyland (0-2f), Conor Hartley 0-2 each, Matthew Kelly 0-1.
Tipperary
1. Charlie Manton (Fethard)
4. Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers)
3. Jack Skehan (Holycross Ballycahill)
2. Tadhg Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers)
5. Danny Owens Capt. (Moyle Rovers)
6. Liam Fahy (Rockwell Rovers)
7. Emmett Moloney (Drom & Inch)
8. Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)
9. Tommy Nolan (Drom & Inch)
12. Colin English (Fr. Sheehys)
11. Alan Tynan (Inane Rovers)
10. Aidan Buckley (St. Patricks)
13. Ross Peters (Clonmel Commercials)
14. Brian McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
15. Brendan Martin (Kilsheelan Kilcash)
Subs
19. Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers) for Peters (27)
17. Jamie Bergin (Drom-Inch) for English (44)
22. Morgan Irwin (Moyle Rovers) for Martin (51)
23. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) for Buckley (51)
24. Gavin Whelan (Ardfinnan) for Fahy (black card) (61)
Kildare
1. Declan Campbell (Raheens)
5. Sean Healy (Moorefield)
3. Mike Joyce (Round Towers)
4. Darren Lawlor (Rheban)
2. Ronan Slattery (Eadestown)
6. Shea Ryan (Sarsfields – co captain)
7. Gavin Burke (Two Mile House)
8. Daniel Courtney (Kilcock)
9. Rory Feely (Athy)
12. Brian McLoughlin (Clane)
14. Matthew Kelly (Round Towers)
10. Conor Hartley (Sarsfields – co captain)
13. Ciarán Kelly (Clane)
11. Ethan O’Donoghue (Clane)
15. Jimmy Hyland (Aylmer Gaels)
Subs
23. Stefan Lawler (Rathangan) for Healy (41)
24. Eoin O’Neill (St Laurence’s) for McLoughlin (48)
17. Ryan Bannon (Monasterevan) for Slattery (56)
20. Kevin O’Callaghan (Celbridge) for O’Donoghue (56)
22. Aaron Murphy (Castledermot) for Kelly (59)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)
