Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final – Tipperary 0-20 Limerick 0-17

Tipperary defeated Limerick by 0-20 to 0-17 in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final on Sunday July 12th at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Munster MHC: Tipp kick late to deny Limerick

ELECTRIC IRELAND MUNSTER MHC FINAL: LIMERICK 0-17 TIPPERARY 0-20

By Brian Murphy at Semple Stadium, Thurles for GAA.ie

Tipperary claimed their first Munster Minor Hurling Championship title since 2012 with a deserved win over Limerick in Thurles. In a very close encounter, Limerick were right in the game all the way to the end, but Tipperary hit the last three scores of the game to claim a superb win.

Man of the match Lyndon Fairbrother edged Tipp ahead in the 57th minute, added another a minute later and sub Shane Neville wrapped up a fine win with a score from under the old stand just before full-time. In a dramatic conclusion, Limerick had a chance to draw level at the death, but the Tipperary defence smothered a late free from goalkeeper Eoghan McNamara, and Tipp celebrated their win wildly.

Denied the three-in-a-row, Limerick, who lost their quarter-final game to Cork, remain in the competition despite losing twice already and will now take their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Leo O’Connor’s charges, led by the superb Peter Casey (0-14), had led by 0-10 to 0-8 at the break, but Tipp hit the first three scores of the second half, Fairbrother, Alan Tynan and Garry Ryan all finding their range, to edge into the lead.

After that, the lead was exchanged regularly in a very tight contest, but Tipperary produced the match-winning kick at the death to deny Limerick what would have been a memorable third successive title.
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Scorers for Tipperary: Lyndon Fairbrother 0-7 (0-4f), Tommy Nolan 0-3, Liam McCutcheon, Alan Tynan, Garry Ryan 0-2 each, Daragh Carey, Cian Darcy, Shane Neville, David Gleeson 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: Peter Casey 0-14 (0-10f), Seamus Flanagan, Michael Mackey, Thomas Grimes 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Eoghan McNamara; Tom Hayes, Conor McSweeney, Jack O’Grady; Conor Byrnes, Paddy O’Loughlin, Conor Houlihan; Darragh Carroll, Thomas Grimes; Kyle Hayes, Seamus Flanagan, Brian Ryan; Peter Casey, Michael Mackey, Barry Murphy. Subs: Paudie Aherne for Kyle Hayes (41), Wille O’Meara for Michael Mackey (55), Conor Boylan for Darragh Carroll (58).

TIPPERARY: Pádrac Hayes; Enda Heffernan, Emmet Moloney, James Quigley; Kevin Hassett, Brian McGrath, Darragh Peters; Daragh Carey, Liam McCutcheon, Cian Darcy, Garry Ryan, Alan Tynan; Tommy NolanDavid Gleeson, Lyndon Fairbrother. Subs: Jack Skehan for Darragh Peters (17-18), Jack Skehan for Enda Heffernan (41), Gavin Dunne for Emmet Moloney (53 mins), Ruhan Mulrooney for Liam McCutcheon (54), Shane Neville for Cian Darcy (56).

Referee: Joe Larkin (Cork)

MOTM goes to Lyndon Fairbrother. Blistering display when it counted in the Munster MHC #ThisIsMajor pic.twitter.com/nNrxLPRSv6

— Electric Ireland (@ElectricIreland) July 12, 2015

Preview – @ElectricIreland @MunsterGAA MHC Final, @TipperaryGAA v @LimerickCLG, Thurles, 2pm: http://t.co/hYMO83EANN #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 10, 2015

Team News

The Tipperary Minor Hurling team to take on Limerick in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Final on Sunday, July 12th, next in Semple Stadium at 2pm has been announced. Manager Liam Cahill has made 2 changes to the side that started against Clare in the semi-final.

Cian Darcy from Kilruane MacDonaghs comes in for the injured Stephen Quirke in attack while the fit again Darragh Peters also from Kilruane MacDonaghs returns to his customary left half back position.

Kevin Hassett from Drom & Inch who started in place of Darragh in the semi-final switches to right half back.

1. Padraic Hayes – Ballingarry
2. Enda Heffernan – Clonoulty Rossmore
3. Emmet Moloney – Drom & Inch
4. James Quigley – Kildangan
5. Kevin Hassett – Drom & Inch
6. Brian McGrath – Loughmore Castleiney
7. Darragh Peters – Kilruane MacDonaghs (Capt.)
8. Darragh Carey – Templederry Kenyons
9. Liam McCutcheon – Templederry Kenyons
10. Cian Darcy – Kilruane MacDonaghs
11. Garry Ryan – Borrisokane
12. Alan Tynan – Roscrea
13. Thomas Nolan – Drom & Inch
14. David Gleeson – Ballinahinch
15. Lyndon Fairbrother – J.K. Brackens

The Limerick management of Leo O Connor (Manager) and his selectors Anthony Daly (Coach), Pat Donnelly (South Liberties), Brian Foley (Adare) & John Mulqueen (Bruff) has released their team and panel for the Munster minor hurling final.

The team and panel will line out as follows, 1. Eoghan McNamara (Capt ) (Doon), 2. Tom Hayes (Doon), 3. Conor McSweeney (South Liberties), 4. Jack O Grady (Knockainey), 5. Conor Byrnes (Murroe Boher), 6. Paddy O Loughlin (Kilmallock), 7. Conor Houlihan (Na Piarsaigh), 8. Darragh Carroll (Kilteely Dromkeen), 9. Thomas Grimes (Na Piarsaigh), 10. Kyle Hayes (Kildimo Pallaskenry), 11. Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh Castlemahon), 12. Brian Ryan (South Liberties), 13. Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh), 14. Michael Mackey (Adare) & 15. Barry Murphy.
16. Adam O Brien (Ahane), 17. Colum Carroll (Ahane), 18. Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh), 19. Paudie Ahern (Kileedy), 20. Ciaran O Connor (Kilmallock), 21. Oisín O Reilly (Kilmallock, 22. Cian Magner Flynn (Kileedy), 23. Willie O Meara (Askeaton) 24. Eoin Ryan (Adare).