Conor Martin

Minor Appearances: 7
Total Scored: 0-12
Honours: All-Ireland Minor Hurling (2022), Munster Minor Hurling (2022)

All Ireland Minor Hurling Final
Tipperary 1-17 Offaly 1-16

Match Report by Eoghan Cormican, Irish Examiner

A Paddy McCormack goal in the fifth minute of second half injury-time broke Offaly hearts and secured Tipperary the unlikeliest of All-Ireland minor final wins.

14-man Tipperary trailed by four points with two of the allotted four minutes of injury-time played and it seemed nailed on that Offaly would clasp their hands on the Irish Press Cup for the first time in 33 years.

But in the most dramatic of finishes – elating for Tipp, devastating for Offaly – the Premier youngsters fired over back-to-back points through sub Darragh McCarthy and full-back Aaron O’Halloran to reduce the deficit to two with time almost elapsed. In an incredible final act, Tipperary won a free 30 metres from goal that was lobbed into the danger area by Paddy Phelan and whipped in the air to the net by McCormack. Offaly did have time to get their restart away, but once possession was lost out the field, referee Shane Hynes brought the curtain down on a remarkable finish.

Having lost corner-forward Damien Corbett to a straight red card on 53 minutes when he threw his hurley at Cathal Robinson, Tipperary, despite operating with a man less, outscored their neighbours by 1-5 to 0-2 in the final 12 minutes. Moreover, Offaly did not score from play in those final 12 minutes. A burst of 1-4 without reply from the 26th minute to the interval whistle had handed Offaly a six-point 1-10 to 0-7 half time lead. And while it was a substantial lead in the context of a game where no more than two points had separated the sides prior to Offaly’s five unanswered scores, the Faithful youngsters could have doubled their advantage out to 12 during first half stoppages.

It was an action-squeezed two minutes of injury-time where Offaly had three green flag opportunities, but only took one. Half-forward Leigh Kavanagh, put through by the lively Adam Screeney, had the heaving Offaly crowd on their feet with the game’s opening goal just as the clock ticked past the half hour mark. In the ensuing play, Offaly almost fashioned a second goal, Niall Furlong hooked by Tipperary’s Cathal English as he went to pull the trigger. Another Tipperary intervention was crucial to prevent a Screeney goal in the last play of the half, the diminutive corner-forward twice blocked.

Screeney, after a difficult start to the game when he missed two frees, settled and had three white flags to his name come the interval. Fellow corner-forward Daniel Hand also finished the half with a tally of 0-3. Leo O’Connor’s forward unit were guilty of eight first half wides, whereas Tipperary, working off less possession, were far more economical down the other end of Nowlan Park. Their two-boy inside line of Damien Corbett and Tom Delaney caused plenty of bother for the Offaly defence, with midfielder Adam Daly also making an impression with a brace of points.

James Woodlock’s charges had hit three of the game’s four points prior to the Offaly burst to lead by 0-7 to 0-6, but theirs was a sizable second half task after Offaly reached a new level in the final six minute of the half. It was a task that grew larger again when Corbett was sent off on 53 minutes, but they somehow found a way.

This 21st All-Ireland minor win puts Tipperary joint-top of the roll of honour alongside Kilkenny. For Offaly, the cruelest of ends to a journey that captured the imagination of the hurling community both inside and outside the Faithful County.

Scorers for Tipperary: D Corbett (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65); P McCormack (1-1); C Foley (0-1 free), A Daly (0-2 each); A O’Halloran, S O’Farrell, J O’Callaghan, J Egan, D McCarthy (0-1 free), T Delaney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Offaly: A Screeney (0-6, 0-3 frees); D Hand (0-3); L Kavanagh (1-0); D Ravenhill (0-2 frees), S Rigney (0-2 each); D Shirley, C Doyle, C Robinson (0-1 each).

Tipperary: E Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); J Quinlan (Fethard), A O’Halloran (Carrick Swans), C O’Donnell (Ballylooby Castlegrace); S O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), T Sheehan (St Mary’s), J O’Callaghan (Portroe); C Foley (Borrisokane), A Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); J Egan (Moycarkey Borris), C Martin (Cappawhite), C English (Fr Sheehy’s); D Corbett (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), T Delaney (Cahir), P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs: D McCarthy (Toomevara) for Martin (HT); S Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Delaney (46); S Rowan (Mullinahone) for Foley (55); J Ormond (JK Brackens) for O’Callaghan (58); P Phelan (Upperchurch-Drombane) for Sheehan (58).

Offaly: L Hoare (Carrig & Riverstown); C Larkin (Carrig & Riverstown), J Mahon (Kilcormac-Killoughey), R Kelly (Lusmagh); T Guinan (Kilcormac-Killoughey), B Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), D Shirley (Tubber): N Furlong (Tullamore), D Ravenhill (Durrow); L Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey), C Martin (Tullamore), C Doyle (Clara); D Hand (Kilcormac-Killoughey), S Rigney (St Rynagh’s), A Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey).

Subs: C Robinson (Kinnitty) for Martin (43); M Mulrooney (Kilcormac-Killoughey) for Shirley (59); S Connolly (Coolderry) for Hand (62).

Referee: S Hynes (Galway)

All Ireland Minor Semi-Final
Tipperary 3-24 (33) Galway 3-20 (29)

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary showed resolve beyond their years as they rescued victory over Galway in this thrilling All-Ireland Minor Hurling Semi-Final at the TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick on Sunday.

Despite forging six points clear at one stage of the second half, Tipp fell behind in the second minute of added time to a fifth Rory Burke point, as Galway looked to be timing their run perfectly. However, Tipperary weren’t willing to throw in the towel with Adam Daly producing the levelling score before Joe Egan slotted over the lead point, with sub Senan Butler putting the seal on the win with a last ditch goal, all in ninety second spell deep in injury time.

It was a high-quality game, with the sides shooting four points each by the eighth minute, with the latest from Rory Burke following a save from Eoin Horgan. Tipp enjoyed the first purple patch with a four-point run with Conor Martin to the fore. Galway responded and hit Tipp for a two-goal blast in the 20th minute, with Rory Burke provider in both goals for Aaron Niland and Conor Dolphin. Burke was a real thorn in the Tipperary side with four first half points from play. However, Tipperary responded well and struck for a goal on 25 minutes with Adam Daly finishing from close range, but Galway enjoyed the better of the play coming up to half time and Niland free gave them a slender 2-11 to 1-13 advantage at the break.

It was Tipperary who took control in the third quarter with Tom Delaney and Paddy McCormack becoming more prominent in attack shooting ten points from play between them, and when Joe Egan goaled in the 43rd minute, it put them in a strong position. However, they became a little tentative and Galway took full advantage with rising star Aaron Niland top scoring with 2-11, his second goal on 58 minutes setting up a grandstand finish.

It looked as if they were going to snatch victory when Rory Burke scored his fifth from play but as they had done in the Munster Final, Tipperary had other ideas and set-up a final showdown with Offaly in two-weeks-time.

Scorers for Tipperary: Tom Delaney 0-6; Joe Egan, Adam Daly 1-3 each; Paddy McCormack 0-4; Damien Corbett 0-3 (1 free, 1 65); Senan Butler 1-0; Conor Martin 0-2; Tadhg Sheehan, Cathal English, Ciaran Foley (free) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 2-11 (0-7 frees); Rory Burke 0-5; Conor Dolphin 1-2; Cillian Trayers, Orin Burke 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams); Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby/Castlegrace), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Jack Quinlan (Fethard); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og, Capt), Tadhg Sheehan (St Mary’s), Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe); Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Kickhams); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Cathal English (Fr Sheehys); Damien Corbett (Gortnahoe/Glengoole), Tom Delaney (Cahir), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs: Paddy Phelan (Upperchurch/Drombane) for English (44); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara) for Martin (49); Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens) for Foley (60); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Corbett (60+3).

Galway: Donagh Fahy (Ardrahan); Luke McInerney (Loughrea), Sean Murphy (Clarinbridge), Darragh Counihan (Clarinbridge); Gerry Carr (Oranmore/Maree), Oscar O’Gorman (Kilconieran), Jack Lonergan (Turloughmore); Cillian Trayers (Turloughmore), Paddy Mac Carthaigh (Sarsfields); Orin Burke (Padraig Pearses), Rory Burke (Oranmore/Maree, Capt), Conor Lawless (Athenry); Cullen Killeen (Loughrea), Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge), Conor Dolphin (Mullagh).

Subs: Ryan O’Donnell (Oranmore/Maree) for Lawless (HT); Aaron Doyle (Oranmore/Maree) for Killeen (47); Vince Morgan (Loughrea) for Mac Carthaigh (51); Ben O’Donovan (Gort) for O’Gorman (56); Conor Gilligan (Craughwell) for Dolphin (60+2).

Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).