Tipp Tops in Connell Cup

By Sean Egan

Tipperary 3-9 Galway 2-10

GALWAY looked like they were going to add the Kieran Connell Cup to the junior championship cup they won a few weeks ago against Tipperary at Gaelic Park. But Tipp, led by veteran Tony O’Brien, fought back in the last 10 minutes of the game to pull off an unlikely win after falling behind by as many as 10 points. 

In fairness to Galway they suffered injuries to two of their most influential players Niall Marshall and James McSweeney. Marshall’s injury necessitated him having to leave the field and McSweeney could not do much better than hobble around the field, such was the seriousness of his injury. 

Galway had the better of the opening half thanks to their back line that was well marshaled by Declan Fogarty and Adrian Lynch. Alan Slattery, Steve Carty and John Kissane were doing likewise for the premier side. 

Such was the dominance of both sets of backs that we only had two points on the board for both sides after 20 minutes of play. Eamon Shields and Justin White had a point each for Galway, while Tipp replied with a point each from Enda O’Connor and David Loughnane. 

Galway came alive late in the first half and Eamon Shields was again on the scoresheet with two points, while corner forward Sean Sullivan who was giving Tipp a lot of problems with his probing runs had a goal just before the half to give them a commanding five point lead 1-4 to 0-2 points at the break.

Galway continued to dominate the game in the early going of the second half. Two points from Justin White and another fine run and a goal by Sullivan put them 10 points clear with 20 minutes gone. 

Galway, though, was beginning to lose bodies. McSweeney could only look on for the most part because of his leg injury, and when Niall Marshall had to leave the field the tribesmen had no sub to take his place. 

Tipp smelled the blood of a wounded adversary and immediately set abut hauling in that 10 point gap. Michael Maher got the rally going with a point, then corner forward Tony O’Brien made his presence felt with a well worked goal. 

O’Brien was on hand two minutes later to cancel out a Dave Dunne point with a point of his own. A blink of an eye later he again had the ball in the Galway net to cut the lead to three points. 

Sean Sullivan had a point in what was now becoming a rare Galway attack. But Tipp now could sense that the game was theirs to win. 

O’Brien struck again for a point, and two more points followed from Dave Loughnane and Shane Quinlan. Galway had another point before Tipp center forward Enda O’Connor send a well placed shot from 30 yards out into the corner of the net to give Tipp the lead for good. 

Tipp finished with two more points from Michael Maher and Dave Loughnane, while Galway could only add a Sean Sullivan point to their score.

Tipperary: Eoin O’Connor, Mike Maher, Dennis Ryan, John Kissane, Tony Mansell, Steve Carty, Alan Slattery, Alan Quinlan, Enda O’Connor, David Loughnane, Shane Quinlan, Tony O’Brien. 

Galway: Kevin Shaugh-nessy, J.J. Sullivan, Declan Fogarty, Aiden Lynch, Niall Marshall, Brian Delaney, James McSweeney, Eamon Shields, Dave Dunne, Justin White, Dara Bennis, Kevin Davis, Sean Sullivan, Kevin Davis.