Tipp wear crown

Connecticut charged out of the gate with a strong breeze at their back, with Kilkenny superstar Henry Shefflin leading the way. Shefflin had 0-2 on the board before 3 minutes had elapsed and when Bonnie Kennedy followed by doubling on a loose ball to drive over a 60-yard point, the omens were good for the challengers.
Kennedy was badly missed by Connecticut in last week’s drawn match when his hand injury sidelined him. With his return, and with Shefflin and Denis Byrne, the Connecticut attack looked dangerous.
Tipperary responded with two perfect frees from marksman Trevor Fletcher, but Kennedy’s one-handed shot to the net kept Connecticut out in front. Despite the pressure of a final, both sides were playing a very attractive brand of hurling, with scores coming fast and furious.
Owen Cummins pointed a free and then his catch and pass to Mike Kennedy sent Eddie Brennan through for Tipperary’s first goal. Brennan, a fellow countyman of Shefflin, was Tipp’s marquee import and his speed helped to keep the Connecticut defense off balance all afternoon.
Brennan’s goal leveled scores at 1-3 after only 10 minutes of play. Connecticut responded less than a minute later with a fine point from midfielder Aiden Power. “Rabbit” never stopped running and he chipped in with two excellent points in a fine performance.
Connecticut managed to pull out to a 1-9 to 1-4 lead with wingback Ken Moore leading the way. But Tipperary came straight back at them. Robby Ryan took on the Connecticut defense with one of his familiar charging runs and his shot found the twines and Tipperary were back within a point.
The clubs traded scores to the half with Fletcher’s late free the equalizer. Now these two sides stood level after 35 minutes of this match, plus last week’s 90-minute draw. Clearly there was little between them but someone would have to emerge in the final 35 minutes.
Tipperary came flying out at the restart with John Byrne’s point after just 35 seconds. Brennan took advantage of a poor Connecticut clearance to add another Tipperary point, but Connecticut wasted little time responding. Damien Mason carried through heavy traffic, perfectly placing Kennedy. Bonnie struck for his second one-handed goal of the match and the challengers were back in front, 2-12 to 2-11.
Connecticut could have put Tipperary on the ropes but they missed a great goal chance when Denis Byrnes’s kicked effort went wide under pressure from Tipperary keeper Tim Cullen.
Again Tipperary came back with frees from Cummins and Fletcher and one from play from substitute Alan Slattery. Shefflin and Power answered for Connecticut and the sides were level again with just under 20 minutes left to play. Connecticut’s hopes took a blow when Owen Cummins’ 90-yard free somehow came to rest in the back of the net.
Fletcher converted a fine Byrne pass for a Tipp point but Connecticut came right back. Ken Moore took off on a long solo, racing through the Tipperary defense before losing control of the slithoar. Shefflin was on hand to pick up the loose ball and he buried it to bring Connecticut back within a point, 3-15 to 3-14.
Then Tipperary really turned on the style. Robbie Ryan was running at the Connecticut defense all day, drawing fouls and creating space. Now Ryan turned his man and fired a great goal with 16 minutes remaining. A half a minute later Ryan’s cross field pass set up a Brennan point and Kevin Kennedy added another point right on Brennan’s heels.
The Tipperary run that started with Cummins’s goal had accounted for 2-3 in only three minutes. Suddenly Tipperary led 4-17 to 3-14.
Connecticut were reeling from the Tipperary onslaught. That may explain their premature decision to have Shefflin shoot for goal on a 21-yard free attempt. Cullen stopped Shefflin’s bid, but a point seemed the likelier option with plenty of time still on the clock.
Bonnie Kennedy was extremely fortunate not to be shown the line when his pull across Paul Curran’s back only earned him a yellow card from referee Barney Breen. Shefflin took another crack at Cullen’s goal on a Connecticut free and fed Byrne on another free for a similar effort.
Those three makeable frees could have narrowed Tipp’s lead, but the chance was gone. Tipperary added 0-3 points; two from Fletcher and the other from Brennan before Shefflin finally fired a Connecticut free over the lathe.
Connecticut missed their chance and with time running out Tipperary could see the finish line. Robbie Ryan put the capper on his Man of the Match performance with his third goal and Liam England added one last point for good measure.
Tipperary had finally shaken off their stubborn rivals with a much better balanced attack. Connecticut relied too much on Shefflin and an injured Bonnie Kennedy. The challengers also missed Kieran McGann and injured midfielder Philip Doyle.
Tipperary retained their title with a stingy defense that started with Tim Cullen in the goal. Paul Curran and captain Sean Quirke did good work and the wingbacks Liam England and John Madden played well. Cummins had his hands full with all star Henry Shefflin but still contributed to the Tipperary victory.
John Treacy and John Byrne can be somewhat overlooked in Tipperary’s star-studded lineup but both men worked hard and contributed mightily to Tipperary’s victory, while Brennan, Fletcher, and Ryan led the attack. Tipperary’s dynasty continues its reign.
Man of the Match: Robbie Ryan
Tipperary: Tim Cullen, Sean Quirke, Paul Curran, Liam England (0-2), Owen Cummins (1-2, all frees), John Madden, Mike Kennedy, John Treacy, Ed Brennan (1-3), John Byrne (0-2), Trevor Fletcher (0-9, 7 frees), Kevin Kennedy (0-1), Robbie Ryan (3-1). Subs: Alan Slattery (0-1) Mickey Maher, Dennis Ryan.
Connecticut: Donal Leahy, Aiden Kiely, Paul Wickham, David Coleman, Ollie O’Neill, Ken Moore (0-1), Richie Purcell, Aiden Power (0-2), Damien Mason (0-1), Henry Shefflin (1-9, 3 frees), Keith Hennessey, Bonnie Kennedy (2-1), Denis Byrne (0-1).