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Allianz Hurling League Division 1 – Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15

February 19, 2011 @ 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm

Dublin defeated Tipperary by 1-16 to 1-15 in Round 2 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 on Saturday in Croke Park.

Keaney can turn Dubs into title force

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15

Allianz Hurling League Div 1

Monday February 21 2011

CONVENTIONAL wisdom decreed that by switching allegiance from football to hurling, Conal Keaney had seriously diminished his prospects of winning an All-Ireland medal, but who knows? Could it be that the addition of his impressive range of skills to the attack will be the catalyst that advances Dublin hurling from the work-in-progress category to a stage where they really are ready to challenge the superpowers on a consistent basis in the championship? Keaney potted 14 points at Croke Park on Saturday (four from open play) as Dublin pumped more ambition into their tanks with a confidence-building success over the All-Ireland champions. His accuracy from placed balls, plus his ball-winning and carrying talents, comprise an impressive package that is likely to grow even more influential as the season progresses.

“Sure why do you think we were going off to meet him three times a year?” asked manager Anthony Daly in reference to his attempt to woo Keaney over for the past few seasons. “You’d see him in the club championship and he’d be probably the best forward in the county. He’s a great addition to us,” added Daly with the contented look of a man who had picked up a big star on a free transfer. Ryan O’Dwyer could emerge as a real find too. The Tipperary man came on as a sub after 30 minutes and while he drew an amount of friendly — and not so friendly — fire from his county men, he made a decent impact.

There’s no doubt that the addition of Keaney and O’Dwyer has increased Dublin’s attacking options. David O’Callaghan and Liam Rushe also did well, the latter winning several frees which Keaney pointed, the former securing good ball and running at the Tipperary defence. For all that, it will be matter of some concern for Daly that, Keaney apart, the remainder of the Dublin attack scored just 1-1 from open play between them. They can argue that their tally would have been higher if Tipperary hadn’t fouled so much, but what happens on a day when they come up against a more disciplined defence?

Offering so many deal-ball opportunities to a sniper like Keaney was a significant minus on Tipperary’s rating card, but then they had done the same against Kilkenny a week earlier, presenting Richie Hogan with eight points. It’s clearly an aspect that Declan Ryan will have to investigate as Tipperary now head into a high-phase where one more defeat would definitely rule them out of league title contention. Even as it is, they are outsiders to reach the final. Any thoughts, Declan? He smiles before tossing in a mischievous aside. “Am I allowed comment on referees? No! Yeah, it’s (conceding frees) something we looked at from the last game and we’ll have to look at it again. That’s too much to be giving away, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

Tipperary lined out with eight of last year’s All-Ireland final starting team. They started well enough and led by 0-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes, before Dublin settled into a powerful rhythm. A goal by Declan O’Dwyer in the 14th minute gave them momentum and the remainder of the half produced some excellent scores. A point by Keaney in the 27th minute after a driving run at the defence lifted his colleagues, but the Dubs were stunned a minute later when John O’Neill made room for himself on the edge of the square before driving the ball to the net. O’Neill built on the promise shown a week earlier, scoring 1-2 from open play. His goal put Tipp a point ahead, but Dublin finished the half strongly to lead 1-10 to 1-9 at the interval.

They extended the lead to four points in the third quarter — indeed, it should have been greater but they missed some good chances, as a tally of 11 second-half wides testifies. It looked as though Tipp would punish Dublin’s misses when they scored four unanswered points — the fourth coming from sub Eoin Kelly — to draw level after 57 minutes. There was a time when Dublin might have wilted over the closing stages against such high-profile opponents, but not anymore. Keaney angled over a spectacular point and while Pa Bourke, Tipperary top scorer on seven points, equalised again, Keaney’s pointed free in the 62nd minute proved the tie-breaker. Both sides had chances — Dublin more than Tipperary — in the closing minutes, but neither hit the target again.

While Daly was delighted with a win, six days after drawing with Waterford, he was keen to put things in context. As often happens with All-Ireland champions, Tipperary are a little behind their rivals in terms of early-season conditioning. “I know from my own days, how hard it is to get your head down after winning the All-Ireland. I remember one day a fella saying after a league match that we (the Clare half-back line) were like Young Munster’s front row. Tipp will be a lot different later on,” he said. They would need to be. “There are no easy games in this league and I suppose that Tipperary are a scalp for everyone. We have a lot of work to do, that’s for sure,” said Declan Ryan.

Man of the match — Conal Keaney (Dublin).

Scorers — Dublin: C Keaney 0-14 (9f, 1 ’65’), D O’Dwyer 1-0, J Boland, L Rushe 0-1 each. Tipperary: P Bourke 0-7 (2f, 1 ’65’, 1 s-l), J O’Neill 1-2, S McGrath 0-2, B Maher (f), B O’Meara, E Kelly, M Gleeson 0-1 each.

Dublin — G Maguire 7; R Treanor 6, T Brady 7, P Kelly 7; S Hiney 7, J Boland 7, S Durkin 7; J McCaffrey 7, S Ryan 5; C Keaney 9, D O’Dwyer 7, C McCormack 6; D O’Callaghan 7, L Rushe 7, P Carton 6. Subs: R O’Dwyer 7 for Ryan (30), P Ryan 7 for McCormack (47), D Plunkett 7 for D O’Dwyer (52), L Ryan 6 for Carton (58).

Tipperary — D Gleeson 8; P Stapleton 7, P Curran 6, M Cahill 6; D Young 6, Padraic Maher 7, B Maher 7; M Gleeson 6, S McGrath 7; G Ryan 6, P Bourke 8, Patrick Maher 6; J O’Neill 8, P Fanning 5, S Carey 5. Subs: B O’Meara 7 for Fanning (h-t), E Kelly 7 for Carey (51), B Dunne 6 for Gleeson (55), J Woodlock 6 for Ryan (61).

Ref — J Sexton (Cork)

Keaney shows hungrier Dublin the way

BY PHILIP REID for the Irish Times newspaper

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15: THE KINDLING has started to catch fire. In a game supposedly set to serve as an appetiser for the two main courses which followed, a one-time footballer – in the shape of Conal Keaney – served as the fuel which ignited the possibility that something rather promising is developing in the Dublin hurling camp.

On this display, with Dublin eking out a one-point win over the All-Ireland champions despite some profligate shooting as the prized scalp edged towards reality, Keaney’s return to hurling has provided an impetus to the renaissance. Strong, fast and accurate, Keaney’s contribution of 14 points was the decisive factor in a game where his leadership was complemented by industrious work from his team-mates to serve back-to-back defeats on Tipperary in the opening two rounds of matches.

For sure, a Saturday evening in February with an icy fog engulfing the grand stadium is a far cry from a sunny summer’s afternoon when the sliothar moves faster and the striking is purer. Still, Anthony Daly’s men can only answer the questions asked of them at any given time and the standing ovation which rang in their ears as they trundled down the tunnel on the Cusack side of the pitch was like music to their ears.

Keaney has heard such approval before, in his time with the county’s footballers. For his new hurling team-mates, such acclaim has been rare. Yet, the win itself was merited with Dublin leading for large segments of the match and, even after a couple of Tipperary’s heavy hitters including Eoin Kelly were released from the bench late-on, they stuck resolutely to the task to fashion out a win to follow their away draw against Waterford.

It didn’t start out that way, though. In fact, Tipperary dominated the early exchanges – moving into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after Michael Gleeson followed up Shane McGrath’s well-worked point with one of his own – but the tide turned Dublin’s way soon after when Shane Ryan set up Declan O’Dwyer, who outjumped Paul Curran, for a goal which was clinically finished.

Tipperary regained the lead – however briefly – when John O’Neill, staking his claim for a corner-forward position having recovered from knee injury, got on the end of a Brendan Maher pass, beat Shane Durkin to the ball, and gave Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire no chance from close range. That 28th minute goal put Tipperary 1-8 to 1-7 ahead but the home team responded well with three successive points from Keaney (two) and Liam Rushe before a Pa Bourke pointed free on the stroke of half-time left Dublin one point clear at the break.

Keaney’s contribution to Dublin’s cause was reflected in a simple statistic from the second half: Dublin scored six points; Keaney scored six points. He was also guilty of a number of missed chances as Dublin ran up 10 wides in the second-half. In fact, showing their hurling nous, Tipperary – who trailed by four points with 20 minutes remaining – sent over four successive points (from McGrath, Brian O’Meara, Bourke and Eoin Kelly) to draw level in the 57th minute and hint that the old order of things would be restored. However, it was Dublin who finished the hungrier and the stronger with Keaney’s 14th point, from a free, in the 62nd minute providing the crucial last score of the game.

DUBLIN : G Maguire; R Treanor, T Brady, P Kelly; S Hiney, J Boland (0-1), S Durkin; J McCaffrey, S Ryan; C Keaney (0-14, 0-9 frees, 0-1 65), L Rushe (0-1), C McCormack; D O’Callaghan, D O’Dwyer (1-0), P Carton. Subs : R O’Dwyer for Ryan (30 mins), P Ryan for McCormack (47 mins), D Plunkett for O’Dwyer (52 mins), L Ryan for Carton (58).

TIPPERARY : D Gleeson; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Young (0-1, sideline cut), Pádraic Maher, B Maher (0-1); M Gleeson (0-1), S McGrath (0-2); G Ryan, P Bourke (0-6, three frees), Patrick Maher; J O’Neill (1-2), P Fanning, S Carey. Subs : B O’Meara (0-1) for Fanning (35 mins), E Kelly (0-1) for Carey (50 mins), B Dunne for Gleeson (55 mins), J Woodcock for Ryan (60 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork)
Tipp toppled by Keaney class

From the Irish Independent newspaper

Sunday February 20 2011

Dublin 1-16 Tipperary 1-15

Dublin took a famous scalp last night as they defeated All-Ireland champions Tipperary by a point at Croke Park. The Sky Blues were in tremendous form as they put it up to the Premier County right from the off and led for the majority of the 70 minutes. Conal Keaney was the star of the show as he bagged 14 points for the Dubs on his way to a man of the match performance. Tremendous displays by David O’Callaghan and Liam Rushe up front also caused no end of problems for the visitors. Both sides opened well with Tipp just edging the first eight minutes as they took the lead by four points to two. Tasty points from Tipperary’s Pa Bourke, Shane McGrath and a superb pointed sideline cut from David Young gave the All Ireland champions the early lead.

Dublin responded well and thanks to the unerring accuracy of Keaney from the dead ball were back on terms after 11 minutes. Dublin’s No 10 was in clinical form with his free taking as he slotted over point after point when the opportunities came his way — which were numerous as the Premier County’s defence fouled over and over again in their own danger zone. Centre-forward Declan O’Dwyer provided Dublin’s most memorable moment of the first half as the he latched onto a great through ball and dispatched it to the net past a helpless Darren Gleeson. Ten minutes later the blue and gold had their own three pointer however, as John O’Neill blasted home from close in to put Tipp back into a one point lead, before the home side again responded thanks to the talismanic Keaney.

Trailing by 1-10 to 1-09 at the start of the second half, one might have expected the Munster side to come out all guns blazing but it was Dublin who got off to the better start as they raced into a four point lead — their main threat Keaney on target again gwith another three successful frees inside 10 minutes. Tipp managed to claw their way back to parity with points from Bourke, McGrath and substitute Brian O’Meara but with time running out Dublin again opened up a slender two point gap and both sides began to miss the target with a frequency not seen earlier in the game. Tipperary had their chances to level things up late on but in truth that would have been harsh on Dublin as the victory was nothing more that the boys in blue deserved.

Scorers — Dublin: C Keaney 0-14 (10f), D O’Dwyer 1-0, L Rushe, J Boland 0-1 each. Tipperary: P Bourke 0-6 (2f), J O’Neill 1-2, S McGrath 0-3(1f), D Young (s-l), M Gleeson, B O’Meara, E Kelly 0-1 each.

Dublin: G Maguire; S Hiney, T Brady, P Kelly; R Treanor, J Boland, S Durkin; J McCaffrey, S Ryan; C Keaney, D O’Dwyer, C McCormack; D O’Callaghan, L Rushe, P Carton. Subs: R O’Dwyer for S Ryan (30), P Ryan for C McCormack,

Tipperary: D Gleeson; P Stapleton, P Curran, M Cahill; D Young, M Gleeson, P Maher; B Maher, S McGrath; G Ryan, S Carey, P Maher; J O’Neill, P Fanning, P Bourke. Subs: R O’Dwyer for S Ryan (30),B O’Meara for P Fanning (ht), E Kelly for S Carey (50), J Woodlock for G Ryan (61).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork)

Keaney inspires Dubs to narrow win

From the GAA.ie web site

Saturday, February 19, 2011

The vast majority of the crowd in attendance for the opening night of the Dublin Spring Series may have come to see Dublin’s footballers, but those who decided to drop in early for the curtain raiser were rewarded with a fine game of hurling, as Anthony Daly’s hurlers beat All-Ireland champions Tipperary by 1-16 to 1-15 in a thrilling encounter. A menacing, icy fog may have enveloped the ground for most of the first half, but the game had a Championship feel to it. The little errors that will be ironed out come the summer were evident from both sides, but it was Dublin who showed the greater bite in attack and deserved their narrow win.

With the ground filling up in anticipation of the main event – the Dublin-Cork football match, not Jedward’s appearance – Dublin had a slender lead going into the last ten minutes, but they betrayed their nerves and a slew of late wides, including uncharacteristic efforts from the superb Conal Keaney and David O’Callaghan jeopardised the win they had worked so hard for. However, the 1-16 to 1-15 lead they established with Keaney’s 14th point of the game in the 62nd game proved to be enough, as there were no further scores in the final ten minutes of the game. It was a second straight defeat in the Allianz Hurling League for Ryan and Tipperary, but there is little doubt that the Premier County will be better prepared and more potent when the real business of defending their All-Ireland title is down for decision later in the year.

For Dublin, it was another fine performance to add to the late draw they secured on the road in Waterford last week. It was once again a personal triumph for Keaney, who, quite remarkably, scored 14 of his side’s total and could have had more had he not struck six wides. Keaney’s eight-point first half return helped his side to a 1-10 to 1-9 lead at the break. Dublin’s goal came after 15 minutes, when Declan O’Dwyer showed great pace to slice through the Tipp defence before rifling past Darren Gleeson. Thirteen minutes later, one of Tipperary’s young stars, John O’Neill, filched a goal for the Liam MacCarthy Cup holders, when he pounced on a long clearance and drove home past Gary Maguire.

The second half may have lacked the intensity of the first, but it was clear that Dublin had more fitness work done in the early part of the year, as they continued to play at a higher tempo, although they did, at times, overdo the short hand-passing game to their own detriment. Daly and the Dublin management will be thrilled to start the year with three points from two games given they finished the 2010 campaign with just four and barely survived in the top flight. However, his greatest satisfaction will be derived from the fact that he has acquired the service of a player, Keaney, who looks capable of transforming his team this year. Dublin’s goal was a thing of rare beauty, centre forward O’Dwyer knifing through the Tipperary defence, eschewing the option of finding one of his forward colleagues, before he drove a bullet shot past Darren Gleeson. It gave Dublin a 1-4 to 0-4 lead after 15 minutes.

John O’Neill, named in the full forward line as Noel McGrath, Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett were all unavailable, notched his first point from play and Brendan Maher sent over a free as Tipp began to cut into Dublin’s lead. Dublin were given a massive boost when Joey Boland drove over a booming point after 22 minutes. For a player making just his second competitive inter-county appearance in seven years, Keaney’s first half performance was a triumph. The Ballyboden man scored eight points, including an absolute gem in the 27th minute, when he showed that he has not lost any of his craft or guile while on his football hiatus. Keaney won a ball in midfield, went on a mazy sol run down the right flank and sent over a brilliant point, which gave Dublin a 1-7 to 0-8 lead.

Immediately, however, the All-Ireland champions hit back with a goal, one of the players auditioning for a permanent place in the team, John O’Neill, missing all last year after cruelly damaging a cruciate knee ligament, pouncing on a breaking ball in the square to lash a shot past Maguire. Having been outplayed in the early stages, Tipp were suddenly ahead, but Dublin hit three successive points, including a pair of Keaney frees, to lead by two just before the break. A Pa Bourke free – his fourth of the half – in added time reduced Dublin’s lead to just the one, 1-10 to 1-9, at half time.

Dublin could, and possibly should, have goaled inside three minutes of the restart, but Gleeson made a fine save to deny David O’Callaghan, who had been presented with a glorious chance after fine work by Peadar Carton. Dublin made amends by hitting three points on the trot, Keaney again with a brace of frees and Carton with a score of his own from play. A Bourke point from play leveled the game for Tipp on 56 minutes, before Keaney again nudged Dublin ahead with a brilliant long-range effort two minutes later. Bourke, again, had Tipp level, but Keaney hit what proved to be the winning score in the 62nd minute from a free. Dublin had chances to win the game through Keaney, Johnny McCaffrey and O’Callghan, but their profligacy, ultimately, was not punished as they held on for a narrow, one-point win.

Team News

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Dublin in the Allianz Hurling League Round 2 game at Croke Park on Saturday evening next shows 4 changes from the decide which lost to Kilkenny last Saturday evening at Semple Stadium. Paul Curran and Michael Cahill are selected in defence in place of Hugh Maloney and Conor O’Brien, and up front Paddy Fanning and Sean Carey will make their Allianz League debuts in place of Timmy Hammersley and the injured Noel McGrath.

The team is: 1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe) 2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh) 3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone) 4. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields) 5. David Young (Toomevara) 6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport) Captain 7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) 8. Brendan Maher (Borris–Ileigh) 9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) 10. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons) 11. Pa Bourke (Thurles Sarsfields) 12. Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha) 13. John O’Neill (Clonoulty Rossmore) 14. Paddy Fanning (Moneygall) 15. Sean Carey (Moyle Rovers)

DUBLIN (NHL v Tipperary): G Maguire; S Hiney, T Brady, S Lambert; N Corcoran, J Boland, S Durkin; J McCaffrey, S Ryan; C Keaney, D ODwyer, C McCormack; D OCallaghan, L Rushe, P Carton.

Media Release

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Four Nights, Eight Games, Four Gigs: All Part of the “Dublin Spring Series” at Croke Park

Dublin County Board announce ticket pricing and entertainment initiative to promote the 2011 Allianz Leagues home games

The Dublin County Board today announced details of an exciting and ground-breaking promotional campaign around the Dublin football and hurling Allianz Leagues home games which is being billed as the “Dublin Spring Series”. This will consist of eight games; four football, two hurling, one camogie and another to be confirmed along with four music acts all of which can be attended for just €45 (an adult stand ticket for all four games) or just €55 for one adult and one child for all four events.

The Series begins on Saturday, 19th February with a double header under lights when Dublin’s footballers and hurlers will take on All-Ireland champions in both codes, Cork and Tipperary. Pop sensations and Dublin fans, Jedward, will add to this superb event by providing entertainment between the games.

All Dublin football home Allianz League matches including Kerry (26th February), Mayo (20th March) and All-Ireland finalists Down (2nd April) will be a part of this series as well as the hurlers home match against Kilkenny on 2nd April.

It is proposed that all games will be played under lights in Croke Park and adding to these great nights will be a selection of entertainment from some of Dublin’s most successful acts. This kicks off with Lucan’s Jedward on 19th February, Damien Dempsey from Donaghmede takes to the stage on 26th February with two more big music acts to be announced next week.

Value is at the core of these events with an adult stand ticket, to cover all four nights, costing just €45 (if purchased as a bundle of four) and a family ticket consisting of one adult and one child to cover each event costs just €55. Tickets to individual games are priced at €13 for adults for stand tickets and only €5 for children. These can be purchased at your local Dublin GAA club, on www.gaa.ie or on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Chairman of Dublin County Board, Andy Kettle said; “We’re looking forward to a superb atmosphere in Croke Park throughout the Allianz Leagues and making Dublin’s home games great events. We would encourage as many people as possible to get out and buy the bundle tickets and take advantage of what promises to be a fantastic mix of football and hurling talent coupled with some of Dublin’s most entertaining music acts. This promotional activity is a great example of how County Boards, sponsors and the GAA can be proactive in promoting our national games,”

Speaking at the announcement, John Costello chief executive of the Dublin County Board said; “We wanted to add something extra to this year’s Allianz Leagues home games and really create a great carnival event that will appeal to families as well as those Dublin fans who regularly attend games. We would like to thank the GAA, Croke Park, Allianz and Vodafone for helping us make this happen.”

“We understand that money is tight at the moment so we have priced tickets as competitively as we possibly can so everyone has the opportunity to come along and enjoy themselves, watch our great national games and soak up the atmospheres,” he concluded.

For further information or to purchase tickets please go to your local Dublin GAA club, log on to www.gaa.ie or go to www.ticketmaster.ie. Dublin clubs will also benefit form ticket sales for the Dublin Spring Series through an innovative revenue share model.

The Dublin Spring Series

Saturday, 19th February

Dublin v Tipperary (Hurling) Throw in: 5.15pm

Jedward 6.50pm

Dublin v Cork (Football) Throw in: 7.30pm

Saturday, 26th February

Dublin v Kilkenny (Camogie) Throw in: 5.15pm

Damien Dempsey 6.50pm

Dublin v Kerry (Football) Throw in: 7.30pm

Sunday, 20th March

Curtain Raiser tbc

Dublin v Mayo (Football) Throw in: 2.30pm