Electric Ireland Celtic Challenge Cup, Corn Michael Hogan Division 1 Final
Kilkenny 2-13
Tipperary Blue 2-12
Venue: NGDC, Abbotstown
Result: Kilkenny won by 1 point
The Tipperary Blue Squad suffered late heartbreak in Abbotstown as Kilkenny struck deep in the second half to edge a dramatic Celtic Challenge All-Ireland Division 1 Final by a single point.
In a gripping Corn Michael Hogan decider, Tipperary looked to have turned the game in their favour during a powerful late surge, but the cats found the decisive score when James Ryan goaled from a free in the closing stages to snatch a 2-13 to 2-12 victory.
Tipperary, managed by Noel McKelvey and his backroom team, went into the final with a strong side captained by Stephen O’Brien of Newport, and they were very much in the contest right to the final whistle.
Kilkenny had built up a four-point lead entering the closing stretch, with Tipperary trailing 1-13 to 1-09 after 54 minutes. Charlie Lawlor of Durlas Óg kept Tipp alive with a point from play, cutting the gap to four and giving the Premier County renewed belief.
Then came the major moment for Tipperary. Morgan O’Connor of Cappawhite struck a goal from play to drag Tipp right back into the game, leaving Kilkenny just one point ahead, 1-13 to 2-09.
O’Connor followed that up with a point from a free to level matters at 2-10 to 1-13, and Tipperary had all the momentum entering the final minutes.
Daniel McDonald,from Loughmore-Castleiney and introduced as a sub, then edged Tipp in front with a point from play, before Eoin Kennedy of Boherlahan-Dualla added another to put Tipperary two clear at 2-12 to 1-13.
At that stage, Tipp looked to have timed their run perfectly.
But the Cats refused to go away. With the game slipping from them, they won a late free, and James Ryan delivered the decisive blow, finding the net to turn a two-point deficit into a one-point lead.
That goal proved to be the match-winning score, with Kilkenny holding on to claim the Division 1 Celtic Challenge title on a final scoreline of 2-13 to 2-12.
For Tipperary, it was a cruel finish after showing huge character to come from behind and take control late on. Their second-half response, especially through Morgan O’Connor, Charlie Lawlor, Daniel McDonald and Eoin Kennedy, showed the quality and resilience in the group.
Despite the disappointment, The Tipperary Blue and Gold Squads can take plenty from the campaign. Reaching an All-Ireland Division 1 final at Celtic Challenge level for the second year in a row and falling to Kilkenny with just one squad in the competiton is a serious achievement, and the performance in Abbotstown showed there is yet another strong crop of young hurlers coming through across the county and ready to step up to u17 next year.