Munster Under 17 Football Competition Cup Final – Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 0-6

Tipperary 1-9 Limerick 0-6

Round-up by Ed Donnelly

Tipperary retained the Daryl Darcy Cup thanks to a six point victory over Limerick in the Munster Under 17 Football Final played at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Tuesday evening. This game was won in the first half as Tipperary played with confidence on the ball and tackled like terriers without it. Early Tipperary points from play by Josh Keane and Liam Casey were followed by the only goal of the match by Keelan Hickey in the 9th minute. Set up by this early platform, Tipperary played good, quick ball in to full-forward Tom Kirwan at every opportunity and he caused havoc, scoring four first half points from play and also rattled the crossbar with a rasping shot that had goal written all over it. Limerick’s only response in the first half was a pointed free by Jack Breen and a point from play by substitute Gavin Reidy to leave the half-time score at Tipperary 1-8 Limerick 0-2.

The second half began with a much slower pace than the first with Tipperary content to sit back on their lead. The third quarter was scrappy at best and a Keelan Hickey pointed free for Tipperary was the only score for the first 15 minutes of the second half. As both teams made changes, it was the Limerick subs who showed up much better than the starting 15 and they outscored Tipperary by 0-4 to 0-0 in the final quarter. However, there was no goal threat during this time and without a goal, Tipperary’s lead would never be seriously threatened. At the finish, Tipperary were deserving winners by 1-9 to 0-6. Afterwards, Munster GAA Vice-Chairman Robert Frost presented the Daryl Darcy Cup to Tipperary captain Colin O’Riordan in the presence of Daryl’s parents.

Tipperary: Bartoz Opala (Cahir); James Bergin (JK Bracken), James Feehan (Killenaule), Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Colin O’Riordan (JK Brackens), Ross Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers); Liam Casey (Cahir, 0-2), Gerry Cronin (Ardfinnan); Niall McKenna (Cahir, 0-1), Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle, 0-1), Mark Russell (Lattin-Cullen); Keelan Hickey (Cahir, 1-1, 0-1 free), Tom Kirwan (Ardfinnan, 0-4), Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch-Drombane)

Subs: David Hayes (Fethard) for Mark Russell (40m); Michael O’Connor (Cahir) for Paul Shanahan (40m), Pierce Murphy (Ballylooby-Castlegrace) for James Bergin (48m)), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers) for Keelan Hickey (48m), Paul O’Leary (Nenagh Eire Og) for Bartoz Opala (51m)

Limerick: Tom Dwyer; James Bridgeman, John Murphy, Shane Lynch; John O’Neill, Stephen Cahill, Killian Ryan; Cian Sheehan, Cathal Broderick; Jamie O’Connor, Cormac O’Shea, James Naughton; Jack Breen (0-2 frees), Mark Long, Kieran Daly

Subs: Gavin Reidy (0-2) for Kieran Daly (16m), Sam Mullins for Shane Lynch (HT), David Cussen for Cathal Broderick (34m), Eoin Hurley for Jamie O’Connor (38m), Ryan Meagher for Mark Long (44m), James Guinea (0-2 free) for Steven Cahill (52m), Andy Brouder for Tom Dwyer (52m)

Referee: Kevin Murphy (Cork)

Score by Score breakdown

2m Josh Keane (Tipperary) – point from play – 0-1 to 0-0

6m Liam Casey (Tipperary) – point from play – 0-2 to 0-0

9m Keelan Hickey (Tipperary) – goal from play – 1-2 to 0-0

12m Niall McKenna (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-3 to 0-0

13m Tom Kirwan (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-4 to 0-0

16m Liam Casey (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-5 to 0-0

17m Gavin Reidy (Limerick) – point from play – 1-5 to 0-1

18m Tom Kirwan (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-6 to 0-1

21m Jack Breen (Tipperary) – pointed free – 1-6 to 0-2

23m Tom Kirwan (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-7 to 0-2

26m Tom Kirwan (Tipperary) – point from play – 1-8 to 0-2

33m Keelan Hickey (Tipperary) – pointed free – 1-9 to 0-2

46m Jack Breen (Limerick) – pointed free – 1-9 to 0-3

50m Gavin Reidy (Limerick) – point from play – 1-9 to 0-4

56m James Guinea (Limerick) – pointed free – 1-9 to 0-5

58m James Guinea (Limerick) – pointed free – 1-9 to 0-6

Daryl Darcy Cup

The cup was presented by the family of Daryl Darcy, a former Tipperary footballer who died tragically in a car accident in 2008. Daryl played inter-county football for Tipperary at Minor, Under 21 and Senior level.

Daryl’s GAA achievements include winning an All-Ireland Vocational Schools Football title with Tipperary as well as winning Divisional League and Championship medals with the Shannon Rovers GAA club. Darrel was named the North Tipperary Minor Footballer of the Year in 2005.

Munster Under 17 Football Competition Results

Round 1

Monday October 8th at St. Molleran’s GAA Club
Limerick 2-7 Waterford 0-7

Friday October 26^th at Dr. Morris Park Thurles

Tipperary 3-10 Clare 0-7

Round 2

Monday October 15^th at Dr. Morris Park Thurles
Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 1-8

Monday October 15^th at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale
Limerick 1-8 Clare 1-5

Round 3

Monday October 22^nd at Dr. Morris Park Thurles
Clare 1-19 Waterford 1-3

Monday October 22^nd at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale
Limerick 2-10 Tipperary 0-6

Munster Under 17 Football – Final Table

Odds and Ends

The Limerick defense has allowed an average aggregate of 7 points per game in their 3 matches to date.

Tipperary played their 3 matches over an 11 day period from October 15^th through to October 26^th.

5 of the 6 matches in the competition to date were held in just two venues – Dr. Morris Park Thurles (3) and Mick Neville Park Rathkeale (2).

Tipperary and Limerick played their Round 2 game on Monday October 15^th at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale and resulted in a comprehensive 2-10 to 0-6 victory. Limerick scored both goals in the first half.

Tipperary are the defending champions, defeating Clare in the 2011 final played at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-8. The Tipperary team included James Feehan, Dylan Fitzelle, Steven O’Brien, Greg Henry, Colman Kennedy, Tom Kirwan and substitute Philip Quirke who all graduated to the starting line-up for the 2012 Tipperary Minor Footballers who defeated Kerry in the Munster Final.

2011 Daryl Darcy Cup Final – Tipperary 1-11 Clare 0-8

Tipperary: Gearoid Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs); James Feehan (Killenaule), Aidan Hanley (Ballina), Dylan Fitzgerald (Fethard); Thomas O’Donoghue (Lattin-Cullen), Dylan Fitzelle (Cashel King Cormacs), Conor Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris); Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Bryan Hyland (Fr. Sheehys); Greg Henry, Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Tom Kirwan (Ardfinnan, 0-1); Jimmy Maher (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Diarmuid Devanney (Newcastle), Adrian Dawson (Emly, 0-4, 0-2 frees)

Subs: Padraic Lourham (Clonmel Commercials) for Hanley, Simon Delaney for Henry, TJ Ryan (Rockwell Rovers, 0-2) for Kirwan, Philip Quirke (Moyle Rovers, 1-3, 1-0 penalty) for Kennedy, Liam Casey (Cahir, 0-1) for Hayes.

Clare: Liam Corbett; D D’Aurio, C O’Brien, Sean Corry; Sean Garry, Cian Murray, Conor McNellis; Niall Pender, Jamie Malone (0-1); Eoin Cleary (0-1), M Bohannon, Barry Lynch; S O’Leary, Conor Cleary (0-5, 0-3 frees), J McNally.

Subs: E Courtney (0-1) for Bohannon, K Vaughan for D’Aurio, D Costigan for O’Leary.

2010 Daryl Darcy Cup Final – Tipperary 3-13 Limerick 0-15

Tipperary: Gearoid Slattery (Cashel King Cormacs), Eoin Donaghy (Cahir), Seamus Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), David Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers), Thomas O’Donoghue (Lattin/Cullen), Oisin O’Flynn(Ardfinnan), Adrian Maguire (Kilsheelan /Kilcash), Dara Butler (Loughmore/Castleiney) Capt., Cathal Quigley (Moyle Rovers), Shane Dooley (Borrisokane), Greg Henry (Killenaule) 1-2, Craig Condon (Moyle Rovers) 0-1, Eoin Fitzgerald (Fethard), Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials) 1-2, T.J. Ryan (Rockwell Rovers) 1-6, 0-4 frees.

Subs used, Conor Davin Murphy (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) , Liam McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) 0-1, Aiden O’Connell (Golden/Kilfeacle), Jason Lonergan (Cahir) 0-1, Brian Delahunty (Cahir), Leonard Vance (Emly), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Chris Guilfoyle (Lorrha). Michael Parlon (Inane Rovers) completed the squad.

Limerick: Conor Bonfil (Monaleen), Patrick O’Dea (Deel Rangers), Shane O’Connor (Fr. Caseys), Brendan McCarthy (St. Kierans), Kevin O’Donoghue (Hospital), Kevin Brosnan (Monagea), Alan Cuneen (Ahane), Darragh Tracey (St. Kierans), Patrick Brislane (Abbeyfeale), Patrick Delee (Mountcollins) 0-4, Denis O’Dea (Kilteely) 0-6, Kieran Larkin (Banogue), Kevin Doody (St.Senans), Eoin O’Farrell (Croom) 0-2, Dean Lillis (Ahane) 0-1

Subs. Eoin O’Donnell (St Marys/Sean Finns) 0-1 for Kieran Larkin, Darren Nolan (Monaleen) 0-1 for Kevin Doody, Gavin Hayes (St. Kierans) for Shane O’Connor, James Haugh (St. Kierans) for Kevin O’Donoghue, Danny Neville (Ballysteen) for Patrick Delee.

Others included, Denis Greaney (Athea), David Mulhall (Monaleen), Tommy Hannon (Knockaderry), Luke Murphy (Monaleen).