CHAMPIONS: Tipperary crowned All-Ireland U20 champions after defeat of Kilkenny!

O’Neill’s.com All-Ireland U20 Hurling Championship Final

Tipperary 3-19

Kilkenny 1-16

Tipperary are All-Ireland U20 Hurling champions for the first time since 2019 after a clinical and routine victory over a disappointing Kilkenny side in a packed out UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon.

Two second-half goals from Paddy McCormack in the 39th and 51st minutes helped ease the Premier to a 12th national hurling title at this grade, and deservedly so, as they were by far the better drilled and more clinical team on the day.

Playing against a stiff gust in the first half, Tipperary were measured in their play and with a good defensive effort, they managed to take a two-point lead in at half-time with Oisin O’Donoghue the main man in that half, winning frees and scoring two points in the Premier effort.

From here, Tipperary started the second half with a Conor Martin point within 15 seconds and it was the impressive Cappawhite man who capped off a dominant second half performance with the breeze at their backs, finishing a low strike to the net after Darragh McCarthy set him free with three minutes remaining, and in doing so, banished the demons of the defeat in last year’s final at the same venue to Offaly.

More to follow……

Scorers: Tipperary: Conor Martin 1-4, Paddy McCormack 2-1, Darragh McCarthy 0-5f, Oisin O’Donoghue (0-3, 0-1 sl-cut), Cathal English, Adam Daly, Sam O’Farrell all 0-2 each.

Kilkenny: Michael Brennan (0-11, 0-8f), Marty Murphy 1-2, Jeff Neary, Ed McDermott, Greg Kelly all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams); Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross Ballycahill), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swans), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Jim Ryan (Holycross Ballycahill), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg); Joe Egan (Moycarkey Borris), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Kickhams); Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), David Costigan (Moycarkey Borris); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs).

Subs used: Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch) for Costigan (51); Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Egan (54); Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens) for Martin (57); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for McCormack (59); Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch Drombane) for Daly (60).

Kilkenny: Stephen Manogue (James Stephens); Ivan Bolger (Graiguenamanagh), Rory Garrett (Fenians), Darragh Vereker (Glenmore); Timmy Kelly (Bennettsbridge), Eoghan Lyng (Rower Inistioge), Cathal Hickey (St Lachtain’s); Tom McPhillips (Dicksboro), Jeff Neary (Graigue Ballycallan); Ed Lauhoff (James Stephens), Aaron McEvoy (Graigue Ballycallan), Michael Brennan (Erin’s Own); Ed McDermott (James Stephens), Marty Murphy (Tullogher Rosbercon), Rory Glynn (Clara).

Subs used: Jack Dollard (Glenmore) for McPhillips (14, blood sub); Anthony Ireland Wall (Danesfort) for McEvoy (40); Jack Dollard for McPhillips (50); Greg Kelly (O’Louglin Gaels) for Hickey (52); Séan Hunt (St Martin’s) for McDermott (54); James Hughes (Bennettsbridge) for Glynn (59).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway)