Tipperary SHC Final/ Toomevara 1-21 Eire Óg 2-14: Hot favourites Toomevara turned in a powerful second-half display at Semple Stadium yesterday to recapture the Tipperary senior hurling crown they last held two years ago.
County star John O'Brien was an inspiring figure for the champions as they registered their 10th win in 15 years in a game marked by some high quality hurling and some great scores.
Eire Óg, Nenagh led 0-8 to 0-5 after a lively opening quarter and, in the 19th minute, a good move involving Hugh Moloney, John Kennedy and Paul Ryan ended with Noel Moloney blasting to the Toomevara net.
Toome kept their composure and responded with four points to Nenagh's one in a five-minute spell approaching half-time.
But in the 28th minute, John Slattery and Kevin Tucker combined to set up Michael Heffernan for Nenagh's second goal and an interval lead of 2-10 to 0-11.
Toome were a different side after the restart. Four unanswered early points showed they meant business but it wasn't until John O'Brien scored a delightful goal for them in the 17th minute that they went ahead, 1-17 to 2-13.
Nenagh never recovered from that blow and in the closing stages Toomevara added to their advantage to finish a comfortable four points clear at the end.
TOOMEVARA: J McGrath; Barry Dunne, T Delaney, P McGrath; Terry Dunne (0-1), Benny Dunne (0-1), D Young (0-1); E Brislane, K Dunne (0-7); P O'Brien (0-1), F Devaney (0-2), Thomas Dunne (0-1); M Bevans (0-2), J O'Brien (1-4), W Ryan (0-1); Subs: D Kennedy for Brislane, J Moloughney for Young, J Delaney for W Ryan.
EIRE ÓG, NENAGH: M McNamara; S Ryan, J Brennan, H Flannery (0-1); H Moloney, R Flannery, E Fitzgibbon; J Kennedy (0-1), J Flannery; J Slattery (0-1), P Ryan (0-4), E Tucker (0-1); K Tucker (0-6), N Moloney (1-0), M Heffernan (1-0). Subs: M Hackett, for Heffernan.
Referee: R Barry (Cappawhite).
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