Classy Cats impress in Celtic Challenge victory over Tipp

A good start was more than half the battle as Kilkenny secured a four point win over Tipperary Blue in the Celtic Challenge final at UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon.

The young Kilkenny side who were managed by Tom Hogan were the better side throughout and helped by an opening half Fionn Mahony goal, the home side were always in a degree of control.

A red card to Tipperary’s Kyle O’Dowd at the start of the second period dented the Premier County’s challenge and a goal in stoppage time from Larry Collins arrived too late in the day to make any material difference.

A Tony Maher free got the scoring underway with an opening minute free for Tipperary but Kilkenny followed with the next six points to take command of proceedings.

Frees from Jack Coogan and Aidan Carroll were added to by efforts from play from James Reid and Shane McDonald and after 10 minutes of action, Kilkenny led 0-6 to 0-1 on the scoreboard.

Maher doubled his free tally for Tipp shortly afterwards but the Cats momentum was proving hard to stop with Reid and Cathal Russell also scoring from play.

Jack Marnell eventually got Tipperary’s opening score from play in the 16th minute and they rallied before the break with further points from Maher and Michael Collins reducing the gap to three.

A Fionn Mahony goal when he flyhacked the ball to the net after gaining possession on the back of a poor sideline cut pushed the Cats clear and when Luke Lawlor pointed afterwards, Kilkenny went into the break with a 1-12 to 0-8 advantage.

Kyle O’Dowd’s red card on a second bookable offence within a minute of the restart heavily dented the Tipperary challenge and despite Kilkenny only scoring six points in the second period, the result was never really in doubt.

Tipperary’s subs did improve things with Darragh Dunne, Conor Grace and goalscorer Larry Collins all having an impact but this was Kilkenny’s day as they claimed a notable success over their nearest rivals.

Teams and Scorers

Kilkenny - Fionn Mahony (1-1); Jack Coogan (0-3, frees); James Reid, Cathal Russell (0-3 each); Aidan Carroll (0-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 65); Calum Lawlor (0-2); Shane McDonald, Luke Lawlor, Jamie Tallon, Cian Doherty (0-1 each).

Tipperary - Tony Maher (0-6, frees); Larry Collins (1-0); Sean Walsh (0-2), Darragh Dunne (0-1, free); Conor Grace Jack Marnell, Charlie Noonan, Michael Collins, James Butler (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Conor Farrell (Carrickshock); Dara Behan (James Stephens), Pierce Costello (Dunnamaggin), Jeff Tyrrell (James Stephens); Luke Lawlor (Clara), Thomas Langton (Young Irelands), Jamie Tallon (Dunnamaggin); Ciaran Hickey (Dunnamaggin), Kieran Timmins (Young Irelands); Aidan Carroll (Mooncoin), James Reid (Glenmore), Cathal Russell (Tullaroan); Jack Coogan (St Martin's), Fionn Mahony (Danesfort), Shane McDonald (Barrow Rangers).

Subs: Calum Lawlor (Emeralds), Cian Doherty (Thomastown), Michael Ruane (St Martin’s), Robbie Jackman (John Lockes), Oisin Mullally (Glenmore).

Tipperary - Killian Franks; Diarmaid Fogarty, Cathal Hannon, Kyle O’Dowd; Tommy Blackmore, Shay Gleeson, Sean Walsh; Michael Collins, Billy O’Brien; Charlie Noonan, Max Carroll, Tony Maher; Cian Broderick, Jack Marnell, James Butler.

Subs: Darragh Dunne, Conor Grace, Cillian Direen, David McSweeney, Larry Collins, Leelan Donoghue, Riain Tracy.

Referee - James Owens (Wexford)