Tipperary SHC Final – Drom & Inch v Thurles Sarsfields

Thurles Sarsfields defeated Drom & Inch by 0-14 to 0-5 in the Tipperary County Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday at Semple Stadium Thurles.

Visit the Tipperary GAA web site for a Live Match Tracker on the game

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Woodlock injury mars Sars triumph

Thurles Sarsfields 0-14 Drom & Inch 0-5

By Diamuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, October 19, 2009

THE Tipperary senior hurling championship final ended on a sour note in Semple Stadium yesterday when Drom & Inch and Tipperary midfielder James Woodlock was stretchered off the field deep into injury time with a suspected fractured ankle. Woodlock became entangled with Sars full-back and inter-county team-mate Pádraic Maher, went down very heavily, and the seriousness of his injury was immediately obvious when players from both teams began calling to the sideline for the stretcher. “James clashed with my leg – it was a horrific injury,” said an upset Maher. “I feel so sorry for him – hopefully he’ll be okay. It’s not a nice thing to see.”

It was a terrible end to what had been a terrible game, most especially for Drom & Inch. All last week, and even from several galaxies away, the tactic to beat this Drom & Inch team was obvious – hold Seamus Callanan and you deprive them of their scoring lifeline. Callanan was the main man for Drom in the semi-final win over championship favourites Toomevara, scoring 12 of his side’s 19 points and weighing in with 1-9 in the quarter-final win against Borris-Ileigh. Hold Callanan, and where were the Drom & Inch scores going to come from? Easier said than done. What do you do, then, double-team him? Bring recently crowned All Star full-back Pádraic Maher from the edge of the square to do a man-marking job on his inter-county colleague, and risk disrupting your stability inside? Neither of the above option were used. Instead the man delegated to shadow Seamus was another youngster, 20-year-old Mickey Cahill, and it worked a treat. Two points was all Callanan managed, one of those from a free, and other than that, barely a sniff of the posts. “Mickey did a great job on him,” said Maher, “He stuck to him like glue and didn’t give him an inch.”

Look at the final scoreline above: two points from one man, three from the rest combined – how do you win any match, but especially a senior hurling final in Tipperary with that kind of return? Mind you, with their own total of just 14 points against a badly-beaten team, Sarsfields didn’t exactly set the world on fire either. Okay, and though we didn’t really know it at the time, the match was more or less over as a contest as early as the 12th minute, at which stage Sars already led by five points (0-5 to 0-0). Drom & Inch made something of a ‘fightback’ before the break, if you could thus term three points in 18 minutes, but Thurles had four themselves, to lead by six at half-time (0-9 to 0-3) free-taker Pa Bourke and captain Johnny Enright hitting three apiece for Sars.

Bad as that was, however, the second half was even worse; five points Thurles added, former captain Ger ‘Redser’ O’Grady with two of those, enthusiastically celebrated, captain Enright with two more after Pa Bourke’s free-taking radar went on the blink; two points was all Drom & Inch managed, and both of those came from frees as the well-disciplined Mickey Cahill and his Thurles team-mates kept their tight grip on Callanan and thus, on the game.

Winning captain Johnny Enright had no argument about it being a poor final, but there was no apology either. He said: “It was, but I still felt our work-rate was phenomenal, we closed them down. We missed chances, they missed chances, but it’s all about getting that cup and taking the next step forward. We lost enough good finals – I remember one that finished 3-19 to 3-16, played great and lost. You win whatever way you can, and I thought our attitude and our work-rate was fantastic today. We felt if we could match them on work-rate we had the hurlers to come through, and that’s how it turned out. This one was huge for Thurles; everyone was talking about Drom & Inch having lost in 05 and 07, no title won yet, but we lost six finals this decade, four-in-a-row early on and then last year again, so this was as important to us as it was to them, though I know the pain they’re feeling now.”

Scorers for Thurles Sarsfields: J. Enright 0-5 (0-1 free); P. Bourke 0-4 (0-2 frees); G. O’Grady 0-2; R. Ruth, D. Maher, M. Gleeson, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Drom & Inch: S. Callanan 0-2 (0-1 free); Johnny Ryan 0-2 (0-1 free); J. Kennedy 0-1.

THURLES SARSFIELDS: P. McCormack; K. O’Gorman, P. Maher, B. O’Dwyer; S. Lillis, L. Cahill, M. Cahill; M. Gleeson, A. Kennedy; P. Bourke, L. Corbett, D. Maher; R. Ruth, J. Enright (c), S. Ryan.

Subs: D. Kennedy (Ryan inj. 17); G. O’Grady (Ruth 48); J. Lawlor (L. Cahill 60+2, also blood sub for A. Kennedy 54/55); D. O’Dwyer (A. Kennedy 60+2); M. Collins (O’Gorman 60+2).

DROM & INCH: D. Young; Martin Butler, E. Costello, M. Costello; D. Kennedy, P. Stapleton, Micheál Butler; S. Butler, J. Woodlock (c); S. Callanan, E. Woodlock, J. Kennedy; D. Butler, M. Long, Johnny Ryan.

Subs: E. Buckley (Stapleton 28); D. Ryan (Long 30); M. Ryan (E. Woodlock 44); D. Collins (D. Ryan 54); James Ryan (J. Woodlock inj. 60+6).

Referee: S. Bradshaw (Knockavilla Kickhams).

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Sar’s bag title number 30

From the Breaking News web site

Thurles Sarsfields 0-14 Drom & Inch 0-5

Thurles Sarsfields bagged their 30th Tipperary SHC title thanks to a comprehensive 0-14 to 0-5 win over Drom & Inch before an attendance of 9,967 spectators at Semple Stadium. In a repeat of 2005 final pairing, Sarsfields may have amassed 12 wides over the course of the hour but they were relatively untroubled by a Drom & Inch side that only scored two second half points. Sarsfields blazed a trail in the opening quarter as two points each from Johnny Enright and Pa Bourke along with an Alan Kennedy score saw them race into a 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the 11th minute. The Thurles outfit were hugely dominant in the opening stages with as many wides as scores, as Drom & Inch really struggled to make an impression. It was always going to be a huge task for the side captained by county star James Woodlock to claim their first ever SHC title, but they eventually opened their account in the 13th minute thanks to a Johnny Ryan effort. Sarsfields kept up the momentum by scoring three of the next five points to hold a fully deserved 0-9 to 0-3 half-time lead.

Drom & Inch struggled for possession with Tipperary senior ace Seamus Callanan kept reasonably quiet. Callanan and his charges did begin the second half brightly as he linked with Woodlock for a 32nd minute point, but Drom & Inch flattered to deceive as Sarsfields once again found their groove. Pa Bourke continued to be deadly accurate from open play along with Enright, while substitute ‘Redser’ O’Grady also made a major impact. Sarsfields, last winners in 2005, showed greater hunger throughout and although the gap was cut to six points with five minutes remaining Drom & Inch were unable to find the necessary goals required. After the game, a delighted Thurles Sarsfields captain Johnny Enright accepted the Dan Breen Cup from Tipperary GAA Chairman Barry O’Brien, with full-back Padraic Maher confirmed as the man-of-the-match. Thurles will go on to face Cork champions Newtownshandrum in the Munster Club SHC quarter-final on November 1. Notably, Semple Stadium will play host to a number of celebrations to mark the GAA’s 125th anniversary on that day.

Thurles Sarsfields: P McCormack; M Cahill, P Maher, K O’Gorman; B O’Dwyer, L Cahill, S Lillis; A Kennedy (0-2), M Gleeson; P Bourke (0-4, 0-2f), S Ryan, D Maher; R Ruth (0-1), L Corbett, J Enright (0-5, 0-1f).

Subs used: D Kennedy for Ryan (16 mins), R O’Grady (0-2) for Ruth (47), J Lawlor for L Cahill (60), D O’Dwyer for A Kennedy (62), M Collins for O’Gorman (63).

Drom & Inch: D Young; Martin Butler; E Costello, M Costello; D Kennedy, P Stapleton, Michael Butler; J Woodlock, S Butler; E Woodlock, S Callanan (0-2, 0-1f), J Kennedy (0-1); D Butler, M Long, Johnny Ryan (0-2, 0-1f).

Subs used: E Buckley for Stapleton (27 mins), D Ryan for Long (31), M Ryan for E Woodlock (44), D Collins for D Ryan (53), James Ryan for J Woodlock (65).

Referee: Sean Bradshaw

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ARRANGEMENTS AT SEMPLE STADIUM FOR COUNTY FINALS

The entry fee to the County Final is €20 for Adults, €10 for Students and OAPs, and Under 16s are free (Valid photographic I.D. required). Both stands will be open at 12.30pm. Groups will be accommodated at stile 50 in Ardan Ó Riain (New Stand). Stile 1 in the Kinnane Stand (Old Stand) and Stiles 41 and 54 in New Stand are for county board pass holders, 5 year term passes and voluntary stewards’ passes. It is important to note that children will not be allowed out of the Stadium during matches unless accompanied by an adult. We thank our patrons in advance for their co-operation with these arrangements.

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COUNTY SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE HURLING FINALS

The club hurling scene in Tipperary reaches its climax this weekend with the County Senior Hurling final between Drom and Inch and Thurles Sarsfields on Sunday October 18th at 3.30pm in Semple Stadium. It will be preceded by the County Intermediate Hurling final between Arravale Rovers and Carrick Davins at 1.30pm. We wish all 4 clubs good luck for their big day.

Thurles Sarsfields will be seeking their 30th county senior hurling title while Mid Division rivals Drom and Inch will be seeking their first. Sarsfields will also be seeking to become the second club, joining Toomevara, which has won all 3 Dan Breen Cups. The original Dan Breen Cup was first presented in 1931 and was replaced in 1972 and it in turn was replaced in 2006.

Interestingly, it has always been a team from the Mid division that has won the County Senior Hurling title in a major anniversary year of the GAA. Thurles Sarsfields won it in 1909 and 1959, while Moycarkey Borris won it in 1934 and 1984. The 50 year trend suggests a Thurles win but Drom and Inch will surely have different ideas.

In the Intermediate Final, Carrick Davins will be seeking their first victory at this grade but of course they have a famous history at senior level having won county senior titles in 1966 and 1967. Arravale Rovers will be seeking their 2nd title having previously won in 1997. Neither finalist won their divisional title this year but both have peaked at the right time and we can look forward to a keen contest for the Jacksie Ryan Cup.

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HONOURING TEAMS OF THE PAST

The Borris-Ileigh teams which won the County Senior Hurling Championships in 1981, 1983 and 1986 will be honoured in Semple Stadium on Sunday between the Intermediate final and the Senior final. In the 1981 final Borris defeated Roscrea by 1-14 to 0-12 with Noel O’Dwyer scoring 0-8 and receiving the Man of the Match award. Timmy Stapleton was captain. Noel O’Dwyer was again Man of the Match in 1983 when Francis Spillane captained the team in their 0-17 to 1-11 victory over Loughmore Castleiney. In 1986 they defeated defending county and All Ireland club champions Kilruane MacDonaghs by 0-14 to 0-7 with Michael Ryan captaining the team and Philip Kenny earning the Man of the Match award having scored 0-6. That team of course went on to win the All Ireland club championship on March 17th 1987 when they defeated Rathnure of Wexford by 2-9 to 0-9 in Croke Park. Later that year, Richard Stakelum captained Tipperary to their first Munster Senior Hurling championship victory in 16 years and famously proclaimed an end to “the famine” in his victory speech in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

We are grateful to the Tipperary Star and Younges of the Ragg for sponsoring this event which adds greatly to the atmosphere of county final day. We also would like to thank Seamus J. King, Pat Carey and John Costigan for their efforts in organising the event, Siobhan Mackey in the GAA office for her administrative support and the Borris-Ileigh club for their assistance and co-operation.

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Juvenile Groups: Special Offer to Tipperary Co. Finals

Tipperary Juvenile Clubs and Primary Schools are invited to bring Juvenile Groups to either/and;

• The Co S.H. Final on Sun Oct 18th in Semple Stadium

or

• The Co S.F. Final on Sun Oct 25th in Semple Stadium

This special offer package includes a Kids Party in the Dome at Semple Stadium after the game with;

• A Snack Meal (Chips and Sausages)

• Kids Disco

• Members of Co Senior Panel will be present

To cover the Snack Meal a nominal subsidised fee (max €2.50 per head) will be charged in advance for each juvenile in the group.

Groups are confined to Under 12 and one supervising adult will be admitted free of charge to the County Final with every ten juveniles in the group.

To apply for a Group application form, send a request email to secretary.tipperary@gaa.ie

Completed Application Forms must be with the undersigned by Thurs Oct 15th for the Co S.H. final and Thurs Oct 22nd for the Co S.F. Final.