By Mike Fitzpatrick
Tipperary edged into the senior hurling knockout final with this 3-point victory over rivals Westmeath Saturday at Gaelic Park.
Tipp proved themselves the superior side, with some excellent first-half finishing, and led their opponents by a score of 7 points going into the interval.
Afforded the luxury of a number of substitutes in the stifling weather at Gaelic Park, Tipperary were able to introduce the hugely experienced Davey Lonergan and Tony O’Brien to the fray as first half replacements for their weary teammates.
O’Brien made an immediate impact, charging forward to fire a fine goal past Briody between the Westmeath posts to increase his side’s lead. This goal had followed a number of efforts over the bar from Owen Cummins, Kevin Kennedy, substitute John Slattery, and a goal from Paul Hogan.
Westmeath’s scores included a hat trick of points from perhaps one of their brightest stars, Brian Daly, and three more from his colleagues in attack, John McDonald and Donal Faherty, to reduce the deficit a little.
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Whereas the first half belonged to Westmeath’s opponents, the second certainly belonged to them. Hitting 10 points over the bar, as opposed to Tipperary’s second-half total of 6 points, Westmeath improved greatly. Brian Daly took complete control upfront for Westmeath, knocking in five efforts, and his cohorts, McDonald and Faherty were not to be out done, hitting a couple of efforts in to further Westmeath’s cause.
Westmeath proved to be a completely different side in the second half, and were it not for a fine goalbound penalty save from Tipperary goalkeeper Ian Duggan very late in the game, we could have been looking at a different side in this year’s final.
Westmeath will be disappointed not to have crept into the final, having put up such a spirited display versus one of the leading lights of New York senior hurling, a final where they would surely have fancied their chances against a relatively off form Kilkenny side.
Tipperary face the Cats next week, in what will surely be an entertaining showpiece for New York hurling.
Tipperary: Ian Duggan, Donal Cummins, Alan Slattery (0-1), Declan O’Meara (0-1), Seamus Collison, Shane Ryan, Keith Hennessy, Shane Donohue, Mike Kennedy (0-1), Kevin Kennedy (0-6), Owen Cummins (0-3), Paul Hogan (1-0). Subs: Dave Lonergan, John Slattery (0-1), Tony O’Brien (1-0).
Westmeath: Mark Briody, Robbie Kennedy, Greg Dixon, Colm Reilly, Peter Dalton, Jimmy Hughes, Damian Gavin (0-1), Dan Doran, Donal Faherty (0-5), Paddy Corcoran, Alan Bartley, John McDonald (0-3), Brian Daly (0-7). Subs: Ronan Kirby.