Munster Minor Football Championship 2010

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Limerick 0-07 Kerry 2-15

KERRY TROUNCED Limerick in the Munster minor football championship semi-final at Newcastle West last night. Gavin O'Grady finished with 1-6 to his credit, five of the points being frees.

The game was 25 seconds old when O'Grady scored Kerry's first point. Danny Frewen leveled before O'Grady scored again.

It was level again after 12 minutes when midfielder Padraig Scanlon pointed a Limerick free.

Kerry then took over. O'Grady scored his third point and others followed from Eanna O'Connor, Garry O'Leary, Thomas Hickey (2), and O'Connor. Shaune Keane's goal on half-time left Kerry 1-8 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

Kerry picked up where they left off in the second period, with O'Grady putting over two frees. O'Connor then added two from play before O'Grady scored a second goal for Kerry.

LIMERICK: J Greaney; S Reynolds, S O'Connor, B McCarthy; M O'Leary, J O'Meara, B O'Doherty; I Corbett, P Scanlon (0-4) ; B Noonan, M Brosnahan, P O'Donnell; J Lee, L Quinn, D Frewen (0-2). Subs: D Treacy for O'Donnell (27), K Brosnan for O'Doherty (ht), G O'Connor for Brosnahan (ht), S O'Donnell (0-1) for Scanlon (65).

KERRY: P McCarthy; P Kilkenny, D Culhane, F McNamara; J Walsh, L Bastible, J Hickson; D Somers, G Durrant; M Reen (0-1), T Hickey (0-2), G O'Leary (0-2); G O'Grady (1-6), S Keane (1-0), E. O'Connor (0-4). Subs: A Thompson for Walsh, (40), C O'Leary for Hickson, (50), B O'Dwyer for Somers (65), T Moriarty for Hickey (65), T Morley for O'Leary (65).

Referee: C Lane (Cork).

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Rebels forced into major battle
Tipperary 2-09 Cork 2-12

By Diarmuid O'Flynn

AS EXPECTED, Cork qualified for a July 4 Munster final meeting with old rivals Kerry after this semi-final win over Tipperary in Semple Stadium last night, but they were made to earn it.At half-time, leading by eight points (2-7 to 1-2), it appeared as though a rampant Cork were home and hosed, but a tremendous second-half performance by Tipp saw that lead closed to a very nervy two points on a couple of occasions with just minutes to go.

However, a couple of late points, the first by wing-forward Kevin Hallisey, the second – and final score – by substitute Dan McEoin, was enough to see Cork home against a Tipp team that had been reduced to 14 in the dying minutes, after corner-back Paddy Dalton got a second yellow card.

Cork were the better side overall, no question, but on this evidence they will need to improve if they're to capture that Munster title.

On a perfect evening for football, Cork dominated the first quarter and led by four points courtesy of towering midfielder Damien Cahalane, full-forward Brian Hurley and wings Kevin Hallisey and Alan Cronin, before Tipperary finally got on the board, a pointed free by Billy Hewitt in the 13th minute.

Thereafter, however, it was Cork again on top, and the next 14 minutes was when they did most of their scoring damage. Two goals and a point they managed in that period, Tipp held scoreless, and both majors were from the top drawer, the result of superb teamwork.

The first came in the 14th minute, a fast free by outstanding wing-back Jamie Wall setting things in motion, the ball passing through the hands of wing-forwards Cronin and Hallisey, to the supporting Mark Sugrue, who drilled home a pile-driver.

The second was equally impressive, and again both Cronin and Hallisey were involved, setting up corner-forward Shane Duggan for another superb team goal.

Ominously for Cork, however, Tipp too were creating goal-scoring opportunities of their own, two good chances scorned by their inside forwards before Billy Hewitt finally delivered just before the break, leaving those eight points between the teams.

Even seven minutes into the second half there was still no sign of any Tipperary comeback, Cork having extended their lead by a point, 2-9 to 1-3, courtesy of points from Brian Hurley and midfielder John O'Rourke (Cork had eight different scores on the night, six forwards and both midfielders, a fair spread).

With dangerman Liam McGrath now on the edge of the square, however, and with their outside men finally beginning to speed up their play, Tipp finally came to life.

A point from corner-forward Liam Boland began the fightback, then a goal from dual star McGrath, on the end of an increasing number of lightning Tipperary team moves – Padraig O'Meara with a quick free, taken on by Paddy Dalton (another dual star) with yet another defender, centre-back Michael O'Sullivan, giving the scoring pass.

With the tempo now increased, Tipp attacking in waves, all Cork could do was to hold them out and gradually the pressure began to tell, three frees conceded in scoreable positions (three for Hewitt, one for Boland), along with a fine long-range point from midfielder Donagh Leahy, leaving Cork reeling.

Two points from Hallisey in the closing minutes, however, steadied the ship, and it was sub McEoin with the final say.

An entertaining game, lots of good football from two fine sides, but as noted above, it will take something extra for Cork to stop Kerry.

Scorers for Cork: M Sugrue 1-2; S Duggan 1-1; K Hallisey 0-3; B Hurley 0-2 (2f); D Cahalane, J O'Rourke, A Cronin, D McEoin, 0-1 each.

Tipperary: B Hewitt 1-4 (3f); L McGrath 1-1; L Boland 0-3 (3f); D Leahy 0-1.

CORK: D Hanrahan; D Crowley, M O'Shea, D Lester; T Clancy, J Burns, J Wall; D Cahalane, J O'Rourke; K Hallisey, M Sugrue, A Cronin (capt); K Sheehan, B Hurley, S Duggan.

Subs: D Murphy for Crowley, 48; S Ryan for O'Shea, 56; D McEoin for Sugrue, 59. Blood sub: D McEoin for Hurley 17/19.

TIPPERARY: P Nolan; P Dalton, C O'Sullivan, P O'Meara; B Maher, M O'Sullivan, S Taylor; D Leahy, J O'Callaghan; L McGrath, B Harkin, S Leahy; L Boland, L Treacy, B Hewitt.

Subs: N O'Meara (O'Sullivan 18); B Walsh (Harkin 50); S Carroll (Treacy 60).

Referee: R Hickey (Clare).

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MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI FINALS

FRIDAY JUNE 25th
Limerick v Clare
7-30pm   The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Réiteoir - David Peelers (Corcaigh)

SATURDAY JUNE 26th
Cork v Waterford
7-30pm   Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
Réiteoir - Tommy Ryan (Tiobráid Arann)

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MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI FINALS

FRIDAY JUNE 25th
Limerick 2-12 Clare 1-17

SATURDAY JUNE 26th
Cork v Waterford
7-30pm   Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
Réiteoir - Tommy Ryan (Tiobráid Arann)

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MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI FINAL

SATURDAY JUNE 26th
Cork 0-24 Waterford 2-18  (After Extra Time)

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ESB Munster Minor Football Champonship final live scores

Kerry 0-04 0-03 Cork, 11.45pm

http://wp.me/pFM7o-5Fx

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Kerry 1-06 Cork 0-08

22 minutes gone - 2nd Half

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Kerry 1-07 Cork 0-08

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Kerry 1-07 Cork 1-08

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Kerry 1-07 Cork 1-08

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All Ireland Minor Football Championship Quarter Finals

Cork v Ulster Runners Up
Kerry v Ulster Winners

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Fixture Details

WEDNESDAY JULY 7th.
Munster Minor Hurling Championship
Semi Final Replay

@ Walsh Park, Waterford       WATERFORD v CORK

At 7.30pm

Reiteoir – Seamus Roche (Tiobraid Árann)
Extra Time to be played if required

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Brilliant Déise hold off Rebels' late revival

Waterford 2-17 Cork 1-13
By John Murphy

Thursday, July 08, 2010

IT MAY not have quite measured up to their classic drawn game at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but Waterford and Cork still served up another compelling hour's hurling in an action-packed Munster minor hurling championship semi-final replay before 4,000 at Walsh Park last niight.

Victory, richly deserved, in the end to defending champions Waterford, who will now meet their first-round conquerors Clare in Sunday's Semple Stadium decider.

But all credit to a Cork side that was totally outplayed in the opening half, trailed by an intimidating 12 points within a minute of the restart, and looked to be staring a comprehensive defeat in the face.

However the young rebels worked their way back into contention, and a flurry of scores both from play and frees saw them narrow their deficit to a single goal with 10 minutes still remaining.

The home side was beginning to look increasingly rattled. But when their need was greatest, they magnificently rose to the occasion, and finally killed off Cork's brave comeback with some of the finest scores of the game in the closing minutes.

Waterford laid the foundations for their victory in an opening half of near total mastery for them, outplaying Cork in virtually every sector, and building up an intimidating if not unassailable 2-10 to 0-5 interval lead.

Ironically it was Cork who jumped into a first-minute lead when Brian Hartnett, who had a fine game at corner forward, had the first of his eight points from a free. But they would go another 18 minutes without scoring, and in between a rampaging Waterford found the range with unerring accuracy from varying distances and angles.

Their half forward trio of Paraic Mahony, Eamonn Murphy, and Jake Dillon had the opposing Cork half-back line in a spin and it was no major surprise when two of three, Dara O'Carroll and Kevin Buckley, were substituted inside 21 minutes. Before hour's end the three Waterford attackers would score 1-12 between them – a just reward for their outstanding play throughout.

The home side, playing hurling of vintage quality, built up a 2-7 to 0-2 lead by the 20th minute. The goals came in the 10th and 17th minutes – the first gifted to them by a goalkeeping blunder as William McCarthy allowed Eoin Madigan's prodigious free from deep inside his own half to deflect off his hurley and over the line.

Nothing fortuitous however about their second seven minutes later, with Jake Dillon brilliantly finishing off a three man-move that also involved Eamonn Murphy and Cormac Heffernan.

Cork at that stage were reeling under the intensity of Waterford's play, and the half-time break, when it came, saw them trailing by 2-10 to 0-5 with a mountain to be climbed.

Things got even worse when Mahony stretched the Waterford advantage with another point inside 40 seconds of the restart, but when Hartnett replied with a Cork point two minutes later, also from a placed ball, a heroic Cork fightback was about to get under way.

Conor Lehane knifed his way through the home defence to crash a great ball to the net in the 36th minute, and when midfielder Darren Sweetnam struck over a long-range beauty Cork had become aside transformed.

The brilliant and unerring Hartnett found the range with four points in as many minutes, and when Lehane added yet another super one from play, it was 2-12 to 1-12, and most definitely game on.

Now it was Waterford who were being asked the most searching questions and they responded as only a good side can.

Their defenders came forth with tigerish qualities to snuff out the Cork attack just as emphatically as they had in the opening half with Daragh Fives and Jamie Barron particularly impressive.

A flurry of points flowed, two of them from substitute Colm Curran and Martin O'Neill worthy of winning any game. For Waterford the perfect finale to a memorable evening.

Scorers for Waterford: P. Mahony (0-6); J. Dillon (1-2); E. Murphy (0-4); E. Madigan (1-0); M. O'Neill (0-2); P. Prendergast (0-2); C. Curran (0-1).

Scorers for Cork: B. Hartnett (0-8); C. Lehane (1-2); J. Coughlan (0-2); D. Sweetnam (0-1).

WATERFORD: D. Duggan; J. Barron. S. O'Keeffe. L. Egan; R. Barry. D. Fives. E. Madigan; P. Prendergast. G. O'Brien; J. Dillon. E. Murphy. P. Mahony; S. Roche. C. Heffernan. M. O'Neill.

Subs: C. Curran for Roche(58 min); T. Curran for Madigan(59)

CORK: W. McCarthy; D. Cahalane. C. Spillane. D. Lester; K. Buckley. C. Joyce. D. O'Carroll; D. Sweetnam. N. Kelly; S. O'Keeffe. C. Lehane. S. Moore; J. Coughlan. D. Lordan. B. Hartnett.

Subs: A. Dennehy for Carroll(15 mins); R. O'Shea for Buckley(21); J. Wall for Moore(36); K. Hallissey for Lordan(51); B. Murray for O'Keeffe(55)

Referee: Seamas Roche, Tipperary.

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Another Clare boost as 21-year wait ends

Waterford 1-11 Clare 1-16

By Jackie Cahill, Semple Stadium

A POWERFUL second-half display saw Clare claim a first ESB Munster minor hurling championship crown since 1989 at Semple Stadium yesterday. Davy Fitzgerald and Jamesie O'Connor were minors when Clare last ruled the province at this grade, but a 21-year wait for glory was ended in magnificent style.  It should be noted, however, that Waterford were playing for the second time in just five days after beating Cork in a semi-final replay last Wednesday night.  Déise boss Jimmy Meaney felt this was a factor in his team's display but he also generously admitted that Clare fully deserved their success.

For Clare, this landmark success offers further proof of a real upsurge in the Banner County's fortunes in the underage ranks, coming as it does after last year's All-Ireland U21 win.  Appearing in this first provincial minor final since 1999, Clare grabbed their chance with both hands to claim just their third Munster crown at this grade.  In the process, Waterford were denied back-to-back Munster minor crowns for the first time in the county's history and must now regroup through the back door in the hunt for All-Ireland glory.

When the sides met at Walsh Park in April, Waterford ran out 1-21 to 0-16 winners, but Clare had certainly learned the lessons from that defeat and were well prepared for yesterday's rematch. Conditions were ideal in Thurles, with barely a hint of a breeze, but the first-half was relatively low scoring as the half-time whistle blew with the teams level at 0-6 apiece.  They were level four times in that opening half as Waterford clawed back a 0-4 to 0-6 deficit with two Paudie Mahoney frees to restore parity at the midway point.

Eight minutes into the second-half, Clare struck a decisive blow when David O'Halloran netted a brilliant goal and from there until the finish they led.  Paudge Collins and the impressive Daire Keane were involved in the build up before O'Halloran dIspatched a fine finish at the Killinan End.  It was 1-8 to 0-9 clear now, and Clare followed up with scores from O'Halloran and free-taker Niall Arthur to lead by four, the biggest advantage of any team until that point.  Back came a dogged Waterford as Eamonn Murphy netted a brilliant solo goal in the 45th minute after running past a number of would-be challengers.  Last year's champions were now back to within a point but Clare then stepped on the gas and six unanswered points in a seven-minute spell made the game safe.

Clare joint-manager Donal Maloney admitted that this was a huge victory for his team, coming as it did less than 24 hours after the senior team suffered a 13-point mauling against Dublin at Croke Park.  Maloney said: "The conveyor belt is starting to move - that's the key thing. We had some barren years there with little or nothing at underage. We have to be patient but maybe in three or four years we'll have a really strong senior team."  Maloney added: "It's been quite a year for us. The fact that it's our second term really stood to us because we took a lot of learning out of last year. Everything that went wrong for us last year, we tried to put it right. You can't do anything without brilliant players and we have exceptional players."

Waterford manager Meaney reflected: "We felt good coming into it but time is what's required to recover from games and maybe we didn't have enough time. I'm not going to use it as an excuse - Clare played very well and took their scores.  "I didn't feel that Wednesday's game was going to impact on us as much. But some of our performances did seem quite flat. It was a tough ask to play on Wednesday and then be ready again for today. We just seemed a little bit flat as the game wore on."

Scorers for Clare: D O'Halloran 1-3 (0-1f), N Arthur 0-6 (5f, 1 65), D Keane 0-3, T Kelly 0-2, S O'Halloran & J Shanahan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: E Murphy 1-2, P Mahoney 0-4f, P Prendergast, J Dillon, S Roche, C Heffernan & C Curran 0-1 each.

Subs for Clare: A Mulready for Malone (48), C O'Connell for Collins (59).

Subs for Waterford: C Curran for O'Neill (40), C Chester for Roche (51), T Curran for Heffernan (55), S Lawless for Prendergast (59).

Referee: D Copps (Cork).