31-05-2025
Tipperary power home against Kilkenny in All-Ireland U-20 hurling decider
After the heartbreak of missing their final defeat last year, Paddy McCormack was Tipperary's goal-scoring hero as they saw off Kilkenny by nine points in the All-Ireland U-20 Hurling final at UPMC Nowlan Park.
In a game dictated by the wind, all four goals arrived in the second half. McCormack blasted 2-01 before Conor Martin's clincher completed his 1-04 tally in front of 14,455 fans at the Noreside venue. Marty Murphy bagged a consolation goal in stoppage time.
The Premier's first U-20 success since 2019, and 12th in total, moves them level with Kilkenny in second spot on the roll of honour.
Thirty years after he first lifted the trophy, Brendan Cummins completed the double of winning the James Nowlan Cup as both a player and manager.
Nowlan Park has become a happy hunting ground for Tipp teams, adding this U-20 crown to the minor titles won here in 2022 and '24.
The wind strength was emphasised by Kilkenny's first two pointed frees. Both times, Tipp were penalised for thrown passes. Michael Brennan came back inside his own half and converted each one. He would end with 0-11 to his name.
But even with the conditions, the Cats were set up to contain Tipp, rather than build a score. The Premier puck-out wasn't stressed as they retained 100%. Martin scored the first point from play to level.
When Kilkenny did get back into Murphy, he caused trouble. He caught one high ball for a point and in the next play, lost his marker for a shot at goal, which Eoin Horgan saved.
Oisín O'Donoghue and Brennan traded points before Tipp threaded together five on the spin.
O'Donoghue was fouled for 1-04 in the Munster final and he won two quickfire frees for Darragh McCarthy points. In between, the Cashel target man notched a point of his own. When Cathal English and McCormack arrowed over, they led 0-08 to 0-04 after 22 minutes.
Kilkenny picked their way back into the contest with four of the next five points, including three Brennan frees. Jeff Neary had picked up plenty of ball in a sweeping role, but he got further upfield to split the posts.
They sought a leveller, but Adam Daly sent Tipp in with a 0-10 to 0-08 advantage.
Martin got them up and running with the second-half breeze straight from the throw-in.
Brennan and Murphy kept Kilkenny in contact either side of an O'Donoghue sideline cut and Sam O'Farrell's long-range effort. In the 38th minute, Tipp couldn't be contained any further. In the battle for possession under a long puck-out, McCormack swept onto the loose sliotar, sidestepped towards goal, and bounced his finish to the net. A long-range Daly point made it 1-14 to 0-10. Four Brennan points kept Kilkenny's faint hopes alive as far as the 51st minute.
Then, O'Donoghue turned over Neary and fed McCormack for a low finish to lead by 2-17 against 0-14. And in the 56th minute, Martin secured a turnover before finishing off the move after taking the final pass from McCarthy.
Kilkenny went for goal in stoppage time, netting one when Murphy grabbed a high ball and drove it to the net.
Tipperary: E Horgan; C O'Reilly, A O'Halloran, S O'Farrell (0-02); A Ryan, P O'Dwyer, J Ryan; J Egan, A Daly (0-02); C English (0-02), C Martin (1-04), D Costigan; D McCarthy (0-05, 5f), P McCormack (2-01), O O'Donoghue (0-03, 1s/l).
Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Costigan (50), M Cawley for Egan (54), J Ormond for Martin (57), S Butler for McCormack (59), P Phelan for Daly (60).
Kilkenny: S Manogue; D Vereker, R Garrett, I Bolger; E Lyng, T Kelly, C Hickey; T McPhillips, J Neary (0-01); E Lauhoff, A McEvoy, M Brennan (0-11, 8f); E McDermott (0-01), M Murphy (1-02), R Glynn.
