Congratulations to Thomas Costello & Paddy Julian who were a part of the Tipperary Masters All- Ireland Hurling winning team!
Gaelic Masters Association – Hurling Championship Final
Tipperary 4-20
Wexford 0-22
By Michael McCarthy
Tipperary are in seventh heaven as another title at Over 40s returns to the Premier County. Tipperary’s previous titles came in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2003. The Ger O’Grady-managed side had waltzed into the final with a hard-fought opening-round win over Galway and easy victories over Kildare, Cork, and Limerick. Wexford would prove to be the stiffest test of the lot and a fine game of hurling kept the large crowd entertained.
The early exchanges were quick and tough, and no quarter was asked for or given as the sides got to know each other. Johnny Murphy had to flash some early yellow cards to keep things under control. It was Wexford who were quickest out of the blocks with Rory Jacob showing a clean pair of heels early on to put Wexford two points to the good and only for some way-ward shooting they would have been further ahead. Tipp were lacklustre at this point and looked a little shell-shocked with the Wexford endeavour. John O’Brien would eventually get Tipp off the mark in the seventh minute but at this point Wexford led by 0-4 to 0-1.
Jacob got his third point in nine minutes and Jim Berry pushed the lead out to five with a well taken point from midfield. Lar Corbett started to find more space around the middle and his elusive running was causing trouble for the Wexford defence.
He scored a good point, and this was quickly followed up by points from Eoin Kelly and the lively Nigel Kenny. Jim Berry restored Wexford’s three-point lead. Both sides were sending in subs as legs began to tire. Conor O’Mahony first touch of the ball was a goal and following on from an Eoin Kelly point Tipp were ahead despite all Wexford’s hurling. Wexford did finish the half strong and a brace from Mossie Mahon and a Nigel Higgins minor had the Leinster men two up at the break 0-10 to 1-5.
Tipperary needed to up their game in the second half and almost immediately went back into the lead through a second Conor O’Mahony goal which he quickly followed up with a point. Nigel Higgins responded for Wexford but when Paddy O’Brien soloed through, gave a dummy handpass and finished to the net it gave Tipp a bit of breathing space. Golden’s Shane Stapleton finished off a good move to the net between two Mossie Mahon frees. Wexford just were not going away, and the manager introduced himself from the bench. He immediately pointed and would go on to score four more to the end of the game in an inspired move.
Corbett and two from O’Mahony kept Tipp plugging away while Rory and Bob Jacob and the industrious Mossie Mahon kept the scoreboard ticking over for Wexford. Eoin Brislane kept his goal intact, and Wexford never really threatened with Paul Curran and Matty Stapleton defiant in the defence. Despite their early struggles Tipp grew into the game and the goals from Conor O’Mahony gave them a lifeline which they built on.
O’Grady’s finishing was exemplary and the O’Brien’s showed all the class from which we have come to know them. The half back line of Toomeveara pair Paul McGrath, Benny Dunne and Nenagh’s Hugh Maloney stood firm also. For Wexford Rory Jacob was lively as were midfield pair Missie Mahon & Jim Berry but their inability to score goals would ultimately be their downfall.
Eoin Kelly gladly accepted the Gaelic Master trophy from Chairperson John Sheridan. 2024 was the first running of the competition since 2006 and it is hoped that it will go from strength to strength in the future. Tipperary were worthy winners of the title, and we look forward to seeing these legends back in action again in 2025.
Tipperary: Eoin Brislane; Murty Treacy, Paul Curran, Matty Stapleton; Paul McGrath, Benny Dunne, Declan Fanning; Hugh Maloney, Shane McGrath; John O’Brien (0-4), Shane Maher (0-2), Joe Ceaser; Lar Corbett (0-2), Nigel Kenny (0-1), Eoin Kelly (0-2f).
Subs used: Conor O’Mahony (2-3); Ger O’Grady (0-5); Shane Stapleton (1-0); Paddy O’Brien (1-0); Ken Dunne (0-1f); Paddy Julian; Trevor Fletcher; Thomas Costello; Niall Curran; Tom King; Sean Quirke; Vinny Stapleton; Ronan O’Brien.
Wexford: Noel Carton; Brendan O’Leary, Brendan Mulligan, Declan Browne; Gizzy Lyng, John O’Connor, Brendan Breen; Jim Berry (0-2), Mossie Mahon (0-8, 0-4f); MJ Furlong, Alan Carton (0-2), Larry Morrissey; Rory Jacob (0-5), Nigel Higgins (0-3), Joe Lawlor.
Subs used: Bob Jacob (0-1).
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
