Cats gain revenge over Tipp as much needed funds raised for Dillon Quirke Foundation

Dillon Quirke Foundation Challenge Match

Tipperary 0-25

Kilkenny 4-20

The big winner in this senior hurling tournament final at Semple Stadium on Sunday was the Dillon Quirke Foundation.
An attendance of 4,628 plus the hundreds more who supported the initiative through the purchase of tickets and programmes, meant a handsome cash injection to support the work of the foundation established last December in memory of the late Dillon Quirke whose death after collapsing while play for his club Clonoulty Rossmore last year shocked the hurling world.

The purpose of the foundation is to create an awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome countrywide through the screening of all GAA and camogie players over twelve years of age.

It is a huge undertaking which has caught the imagination of the public who came out in force to show their support, all making for a very emotional and memorable occasion.

The game itself was of little consequence. Both counties fielded considerably weakened teams from those which had figured in the National League a week earlier but it was an opportunity for fringe players to further their case for a regular spot in the respective starting line-ups. As a contest it never rose above “challenge match” intensity.

Kilkenny looked much more “up” for the fray early on, Gearoid Dunne’s goal after 13 minutes sending them 1-6 to 0-2 clear. Three minutes later Dunne fired home his second goal for a 2-7 to 0-3 lead and it looked like Tipp were in for an embarrassing drubbing.

A third goal from Martin Keoghan after 22 minutes for a 3-8 to 0-5 advantage to Kilkenny was not what Tipp fans had come to see but they experienced some joy coming to the break with Martin Kehoe whipping over four points in a recovery of sorts that still left Tipp trailing 0-13 to 3-12 at the interval.

With both managers committed to giving time to their squad members, changes came thick and fast in the second half. A bright opening by Tipp yielded five unanswered points in 9 minutes reducing the gap to three points, 0-18 to 3-12.
Tipp fans began to find their voices but in five minutes Kilkenny put the game to bed, registering 1-4, the goal completing Dunne’s hat-trick.

Tipperary were never going to bridge the gap now though they did outscore them six to three in the last 14 minutes.
Neither manager will take much from this game but Tipp’s Mark Kehoe, who scored seven points from play, and Kilkenny’s Gearoid Dunne, who won the Man of the Match award, boosted their claims for regular match time considerably.

Tipp were captained by Clonoulty’s Enda Heffernan, and the team also included Jack Ryan, a cousin of Dillon Quirke’s, both team mates of the late Dillon Quirke. Kian O’Kelly was another to promote his case with a three points return while John Campion’s industry was also worthy of note.

When introduced Ronan Maher, Patrick Maher, and Seamus Kennedy added substance to the Tipperary challenge.
Dunne was Kilkenny’s big winner with his hat-trick of goals but Martin Keoghan, Hug Lawlor, Conor Fogarty, Paddy Mullen and Conor Delaney were others to catch the eye for the visitors.

Scorers: Tipperary: Mark Kehoe 0-7, Sean Ryan 0-4f, Jack Ryan 0-3f, Kian O’Kelly 0-3; Ronan Maher 0-2f, Cian O’Dwyer, Eoghan Connolly, Paddy Creedon, Patrick Maher, Johnny Ryan, Noel McGrath all 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Gearoid Dunne 3-1, Martin Keoghan 1-3, James Bergin 0-3, Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan, Cian Kenny all 0-2 each, Billy Ryan, Conor Delaney, John Donnelly, Daire Brennan, Padraig Walsh, Paddy Mullen, Shane Murphy all 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Conor McCarthy, Enda Heffernan, James Quigley; Gavin Ryan, Padraic Campion, Shane Neville; John Campion, Cian O’Dwyer; Joe Fogarty, Jerry Kelly, Kian O’Kelly; Paddy Creedon, Mark Kehoe, Jack Ryan.

Subs: Sean Ryan for Kelly (26, inj); Eoghan Connolly for Neville (29); Johnny Ryan for Fogarty (30); Ronan Maher for P Campion (HT); Patrick Maher for Jack Ryan (37); Seamus Kennedy for O’Dwyer (39); Dan McCormack for J Campion (43); Noel McGrath for Creedon (55); Seamus Callanan for O’Kelly (67); Conor Stakelum for McCarthy (69).

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Conor Delaney, Padraig Walsh, Des Dunne; Conor Heary, David Blanchfield, Hug Lawlor; Conor Fogarty, Paddy Mullen; Paddy Deegan, Jack Donnelly, Billy Ryan; James Bergin, Martin Keoghan, Gearoid Dunne.

Subs: Tom Phelan for Ryan (10); Walter Walsh for Donnelly; Evan Shefflin for Heary; Ronan Corcoran for Fogarty; Daire O’Neill for Lawlor; Niall Brennan for Deegan (all HT); Cian Kenny for Bergin (44); Aidan Tallis for Murphy (45); Padraic Moylan for P Walsh (52); Shane Murphy for Delaney; Paul Cody for Keoghan; James Bergin for Mullen (all 53).

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams)