Super sub Richie McGrath gives South Tipperary the edge

South Tipperary 2-3 North Tipperary 2-2

South Tipperary completed a brilliant Dom Browne Under 13 A inter divisional football double in Dundrum’s Páirc Ciocaim, defeating their North Tipperary counterparts in the final, to add to their victory over the West Tipp divisional side in the B showpiece two weeks earlier.

Having played out a hugely entertaining and competitive draw in their first round opener in Dr Morris Park in Thurles, there was little wonder among those in attendance that the bare minimum separated the sides once the trophy was at stake.

Respective wins over the Mid and West in the final group games pitted the two best teams in the competition together once more for a greatly anticipated rematch.

Former Tipperary senior player, Eire Og Annacarty Donohill’s Conor O’Brien took charge of proceedings and did a fine job as referee.

North Tipp, with the aid of a very strong breeze, bossed the early exchanges and raced into a two points to no score lead, with excellent scores from Nenagh Eire Og’s Anluan White and Oisín Hogan of Burgess.

The scoreboard remained as such for almost the entire opening half, with both defences on top.

South Tipperary, growing in confidence all the time, finally made their mark on the game.

They produced a moment of real quality when Carrick Swan’s Alex O’Dwyer palmed to the net, finishing a great team move, in which Pa Coffey (Fethard) and midfielder Colm Tobin were very much involved.

South Tipperary claimed the benefit of the elements on the resumption. Their slender first half lead was increased following a long spell of possession when full forward Alex O’Dwyer, who was continuing to wreak havoc in the North Tipp defence, blasted another goal into the top corner.

Ballyporeen’s Lochlainn Roche tagged on a free moments later and the lead looked unassailable, despite the abundance of time left on the clock.

The goal sparked the North boys into life and they soon began to dominate.

Nenagh Eire Og’s Anluan White, who had been busy in the first half, regained his mojo and finally breached a stubborn South Tipp defence to score a well-taken goal.

It wasn’t long before North Tipperary pounced again, and a brilliant individual goal from Toomevara’s KJ Dunne turned the game on its head and fired North Tipperary into the ascendancy.

The South Tipperary mentors reshuffled their packed in an attempt to stem the tide and introduced Mullinahone’s Jason Ahmed and St Patrick’s Tom Butler, both of whom made impacts.

Cahir’s JoJo Magee, a constant threat throughout, levelled the game with a monster score just inside the 45 metre line.

A missed penalty for North Tipperary should have sealed the deal had it been successful, but it was super sub Richie McGrath from the Clerihan club who gave South Tipp the victory. It was a score worthy of winning any game, coming from the left boot of McGrath and from the narrowest of angles.

North Tipperary made it a grandstand finish, but couldn’t find an equaliser despite several opportunities.

In the end South Tipperary stood tall, thanked in no small way to their resolute full back line in which Darragh Quinlan (Ballylooby/Castlegrace) more than played a captain’s part.

It was tough luck on the North Tipp boys who had tireless performances from KJ Dunne, Oisín Hogan and
the excellent Anluan White.

In the end it was South Tipperary’s ability to take the scores when the opportunities presented themselves that gave them the spoils, much to the delight of their mentors Noel Walsh (Clonmel Og), Laura Dillon (Ardfinnan) and Gary O’Connor (Cahir).

The victorious South Tipperary team lined out as follows: Thomas Rahilly (Fethard), Jude Griffin (Clerihan), Darragh Quinlan (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), David Ahearn (Cahir), Pa Coffey (Fethard), David McCarthy (Clerihan), Rory Hennessy (Clonmel Commercials), Conor Tobin (Mullinahone), Tom Butler (St Patrick’s), Leon Kelly (Clonmel Commercials), Lochlainn Roche (Ballyporeen), Sam McDonnell (Newcastle), JoJo Magee (Cahir), Alex O’Dwyer (Carrick Swan), Aaron Allen (Fethard).

Panel: Jack Galvin (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), Aidan Sweetman (Carrick Swan), Luke Kealy (Clonmel Óg), Ryan Condon (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Dean Moloney (Fethard), Billy Carey (Ballyporeen), Jason Ahmed (Mullinahone), Noah McCarthy (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), Darragh Lawrence (Killenaule), Diarmuid Brennan (Clonmel Commercials), Richie McGrath (Clerihan).