Tipp crush minor hurlers’ dreams

TIPPERARY 2-17 DUBLIN 1-15

Dublin's minor hurling dream of reaching an All-Ireland MHC final was extinguished by Tipp in Sunday's semi-final at Croke Park.

The young Dubs had recovered from a slow start to be level at the break and entering the last 12 minutes had edged in front, 1-14 to 2-10, following two excellent Ciaran Dowling points.

However, that was as good as it got as Tipp generated more momentum over the close of the game and reeled off six unanswered points via sub Ruadhán Mulrooney, Lyndon Fairbrother (four, including two frees and a '65') and Thomas Nolan to book their berth in the decider against Galway as Dublin's challenge petered out.

In the opening half Dublin trailed 1-3 to 0-1 after just nine minutes with David Gleeson getting the Tipp goal.

But Dublin showed good mettle to battle back and for most of the remainder of the opening half played the better hurling.

Dowling with a long-range effort got Dublin going before Matthew Oliver struck three points in-a-row (including one free).

However, Tipp goaled again in the 18th minute when Thomas Nolan found the net but again back came Dublin with a Fergal Whitely goal following great approach play and vision by Alex Considine.

Dublin also closed the half out on top with Dowling and two Oliver deadballs deservedly bringing them level at the break, 2-6 to 1-9.

Considine’s superb point from beneath the Cusack Stand had the Dubs in front for the first time and Oliver’s free on 34 minutes doubled the gap. Fairbrother and Nolan responded as Tipp drew level again by the 37th minute.

Alan Tynan edged Tipp back in front; Dublin replied with another Oliver free. Substitute Mulrooney and Dowling traded to leave the counties deadlocked with 15 minutes remaining. Lucan Sarsfield clubman Dowling’s next point had Dublin leading with 14 minutes left but a Fairbrother free tied the scores up and Mulrooney edged the Premier County back in front with 12 minutes left, 2-12 to 1-14.

Fairbrother’s ‘65’ doubled the gap and the same player knocked over a free on 55 minutes. Fairbrother’s third successive point was followed by one from Nolan as Tipp found their scoring touch at the vital stage of this contest to run out five-point victors.

SCORERS - Tipperary: L Fairbrother 0-7 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), T Nolan 1-3, D Gleeson 1-0, R Mulrroney 0-2, D Carey, C Darcy, G Ryan, A Tynan, S Neville 0-1 each. Dublin: M Oliver 0-10 (0-7f, 0-1 ‘65’), C Dowling 0-4, F Whitely 1-0, A Considine 0-1.

TIPPERARY: P Hayes; E Heffernan, E Moloney, J Quigley; K Hassett, B McGrath, D Peters; D Carey, L McCutcheon; G Ryan, A Tynan, C Darcy; T Nolan, D Gleeson, L Fairbrother. Subs: R Mulrooney for McCutcheon (25),J Skehan for Darcy and M Connors for Gleeson (47), S Neville for Ryan (61).

DUBLIN: E Skelly; C Hendricken, D Butler, C Ryan; E Foley, P Smyth, D Gray; M Oliver, C Sammon; C Dowling, M Maguire, E Conroy; F Whitely, A Considine, E Dunne. Subs: C O’Sullivan for Dunne (40), G King for Whitely (43), D Ryan for Gray (45), C Burke for O’Sullivan (59), S Hickey for Sammon (60).

REF: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).