Final heartache hit the Tipperary U20s in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday evening as they succumbed to a classy Offaly side in a thrilling O’Neills.com All-Ireland U20 Hurling Championship Final on a blistering hot day in Kilkenny.
Second-half goals from Dan Bourke and Shane Rigney at the right moments sunk a gallant and relentless Tipperary team, who couldn’t muster up the energy and spirit of their win over Cork despite their best efforts.
Despite starting the game well and being in the lead during the first quarter thanks in large part to a Darragh McCarthy penalty, Tipperary played second fiddle for the rest of the game in reality, as the hurt and pain of the All-Ireland Final loss at the same venue to Tipperary in 2022 seemed to drive them on and end a long, long wait for an All-Ireland title.
