Tipperary retained their Munster Minor Football Championship crown at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon with a hard-fought 2-14 to 1-14 victory against Kerry in an entertaining final.
David Power’s Premier County, who are the reigning All-Ireland champions, came from seven points down in the first half to ensure that Tipp claimed back-to-back Munster minor crowns for the first time since 1935.
Tipp trailed by 0-07 to 1-09 at half-time but second half goals from corner-forwards Colman Kennedy and Tom Kirwan secured a seventh title at this grade for the champions.
Tipp trailed by seven points at one stage in the first half but showed the composure of champions to win a thrilling encounter and claim a seventh provincial minor football crown for the Premier County.
It was a historic win for the Premier County as they secured consecutive provincial titles for the first time since 1935 – and they had to do it the hard way against Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s Kerry.
This victory marked Tipp’s second over Kerry in this year’s Championship, following a first round win at Austin Stack Park in Tralee last April.
Tipp came roaring out of the blocks in the second half and were five points clear 13 minutes after the restart.
Tipp found themselves seven points down – 0-05 to 1-07 – when Jack Savage pointed a 29th minute free for Kerry but the Kingdom would not score again until the 44th minute.
In that time, Tipp would embark on a sizzling scoring spree, hitting 2-06 without reply as corner forwards Kennedy and Kirwan netted early second half goals.
Tipp signalled their second half intentions early as midfielder Ian Fahey, switched from midfield to centre forward, kicked the opening score with just 11seconds on the clock.
And manager Power’s switches worked a treat as Philip Quirke, who started at full-forward, swapped with midfielder Steven O’Brien. Tipp gained a firm stranglehold around the middle third of the field and this dominance provided the platform for victory.
Kerry did well in the first half, however, with Savage in good form from frees, while Niall Sheehy was a menace at full-forward.
And the Kingdom struck for the game’s opening goal in the 16th minute as Sheehy took advantage of a James Feehan error to goal brilliantly soccer-style from 18 metres.
But Tipp never looked out of contention and were unlucky not to net themselves in the 19th minute when Quirke struck the butt of the Kerry upright after taking a pass from marauding wing-back Bill Maher.
Ultimately, it was Tipp’s greater physicality, experience and craft that would see them through.
They will now meet the beaten Connacht finalists in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while Kerry will look to regroup for the last eight of the All-Ireland series, against the champions from the west.
Scorers:
Tipperary: C Kennedy (0-01f), T Kirwan 1-02 each, I Fahey 0-04 (0-01f), S O’Brien 0-02, B Maher, J Lonergan, J Martin & P Quirke 0-01 each.
Kerry: N Sheehy 1-04 (0-01f), J Savage 0-05 (0-04f), C Keane 0-03, K Murphy & C Fitzgerald 0-01 each.
Tipperary: E Comerford; L Egan, J Feehan, D Cass; K Fahey, D Fitzelle, B Maher; S O’Brien, I Fahey; J Lonergan, J Martin, G Henry; C Kennedy, P Quirke, T Kirwan.
Subs used: J Loughnane for Cass (27 mins), C O’Riordan for Egan (h/t), TJ Ryan for Lonergan (53), T Meagher for Martin (55), J Shelly for Kirwan (60+3).
Kerry: G Curran; C Ó’Lúing, G Crowley, S O’Connor; B Crowley, J Barry, G Horan; E Ó’Conchúir, K Murphy; D Foran, J Savage, C Fitzgerald; G O’Shea, N Sheehy, C Keane.
Subs used: S Moloney for O’Shea (43 mins), G O’Sullivan for Ó’Conchúir (49), E Doyle for Murphy (55), A Spillane for Foran (56), P O’Connor for Horan (59).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
