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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Brendan Cummins praises Tipperary 'bravery' in All-Ireland U20 triumph
Brendan Cummins hailed Tipperary's bravery after choosing to play against a strong wind in the first half of their All-Ireland U20 final triumph. The Premier won the toss and backed themselves to go against the breeze, taking a 0-10 to 0-8 half-time lead. From there, they blasted three second-half goals to run out nine-point victors over Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. 'I was delighted to see them express themselves and show the bravery in the first half that we needed,' said Cummins. 'We knew if we were brave on the ball, especially the way the wind was, opportunity would come in the second half. Thankfully, that's the way it panned out. 'I always like playing against the breeze in the first half. It forces the team to play. You have to move the ball, and you have to be brave right from the start. Sam O'Farrell of Tipperary hoists the cup into the air. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 'We backed the lads that they'd be able to do that. Certainly, Halla (Aaron O'Halloran), Podge (O'Dwyer), and (Cathal O') Reilly, the boys at the back, moved the ball around lovely, and they didn't bring it into contact too much. 'The turnovers and the tackle count was always going to be the key. Hurling is just nearly a game of counter-attack. Teams are so good and so well set up that to take it off them and go the other direction is how you create opportunity. 'The lads got that and, in fairness to them all year, we've been able to do it. Thankfully, we got the rewards again today for it.' Having missed last year's All-Ireland final defeat against Offaly due to injury, Paddy McCormack made hay in the second half, scoring 2-1. 'He was a bit frustrated at half-time,' said Cummins. 'There was no need because he was going really well. 'It was hard. That breeze up there was really strong. At half-time, we just thought the opportunity would come for him and Oisín (O'Donoghue) inside. Paddy McCormack of Tipperary is tackled by Timmy Kelly, left, and Eoghan Lyng. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 'Thankfully, when they got it, there's nobody else in the world I'd want coming through like that only Paddy McCormack, and he just did the job. He was brilliant.' Player development remains Cummins' focus, but capturing silverware helps to breed confidence too. 'Winning is fine, but the main thing for me is to try to develop the players and get them ready. 'You could win an All-Ireland and you could end up then not having as many getting through to the senior set up. So the priority is to get them ready to play senior. 'If we win along the way like today, I think that fast-tracks the progress because of confidence, there is no doubt about that. 'So the most satisfying thing for me is the number of players that we're trying to get through to the senior panel to Liam Cahill in the next couple of years. That's the mission.' Read More Second half blitz carries Clifford and Kerry to impressive victory over Cork
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Paddy McCormack bags two goals against Kilkenny as Tipperary win All-Ireland U-20 hurling crown
After the heartbreak of missing their All-Ireland U-20 hurling final defeat last year, Paddy McCormack was Tipperary's goal-scoring hero to bring silverware back from Kilkenny.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Paddy McCormack goals inspire Tipperary to All-Ireland under-20 hurling title
All-Ireland Under-20 Hurling Final: Kilkenny 1-16 Tipperary 3-19 After the heartbreak of missing their All-Ireland Under-20 final defeat last year, Paddy McCormack was Tipperary's goalscoring hero to bring silverware back to the Premier county with a nine-point victory over Kilkenny . 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 Nowlan Park. Marty Murphy bagged a consolation goal in stoppage time for Kilkenny. Tipperary's first under-20 success since 2019, and 12th in total, moves them level with Kilkenny in second on the roll of honour. Thirty years after he first lifted the trophy as a player, Brendan Cummins was reunited with the James Nowlan Cup, this time as a winning manager. READ MORE Nowlan Park has become a happy hunting ground for Tipperary teams, adding this under-20 crown to the minor titles won at the venue 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 credit. Tipperary's Oisin O'Donoghue with Kilkenny's Darragh Vereker. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho But even with the conditions, the Cats were set up to contain Tipp rather than build a score. The Premier puckout wasn't stressed as they retained 100 per cent. 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 quick-fire frees for Darragh McCarthy points. In between, the Cashel targetman 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. Tipperary's Aaron O'Halloran and Kilkenny's Marty Murphy. Photograph: Tom O'Hanlon/Inpho 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 puckout, McCormack swept on to 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 to 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, but the cup was already in Tipperary hands. KILKENNY: S Manogue; D Vereker, R Garrett, I Bolger; E Lyng, T Kelly, C Hickey; T McPhillips, J Neary (0-1); E Lauhoff, A McEvoy, M Brennan (0-11, 0-8f); E McDermott (0-1), M Murphy (1-2), R Glynn. Subs: J Dollard for McPhillips (14-20 mins, temp), A Ireland Wall for McEvoy (40), Dollard for McPhillips (50), G Kelly (0-1) for Hickey (51), S Hunt for McDermott (54), J Hughes for Glynn (58). TIPPERARY: E Horgan; C O'Reilly, A O'Halloran, S O'Farrell (0-2); A Ryan, P O'Dwyer, J Ryan; J Egan, A Daly (0-2); C English (0-2), C Martin (1-4), D Costigan; D McCarthy (0-5f), P McCormack (2-1), O O'Donoghue (0-3, 0-1slc). Subs: C Fitzpatrick for Costigan (50 mins), M Cawley for Egan (54), J Ormond for Martin (57), S Butler for McCormack (59), P Phelan for Daly (60). Referee: S Hynes (Galway).
