February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Tipperary 2-28
New Jersey 4-9
By Mike Fitzpatrick
Yes, you read that correctly. Junior hurling seems to be where the high scoring games occur. Normally, a scoreline of 4-9 would go a long way towards victory, but when you’re up against the likes of Tipperary’s Damien Sheehan and Paul Hogan, you’ll just have to do better.
New Jersey and Tipp fought out this junior hurling semi final
battle for the right to face Connecticut State in the junior hurling final. With both sides taking advantage of the weekender rule, conveying just how seriously junior hurling is taken in New York, we were set for an exciting clash at Gaelic Park.
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Just for the record, those inter county players brought over were Paul Ormonde, Noel Morris and Dave Kennedy for Tipperary, and for Jersey, the Forde brothers, Brian, Colin and David, from Clare.
It was David Forde’s early goal that gave Jersey an early edge whilst Tipp were still attempting to find their feet. Jersey continued to attack throughout the early stages, with Forde, Kevin Corbett, Willie Clooney and Tom Bermingham all registering scores.
Tipp were merely waiting for their chance however, and midway through the first half they charged into gear, with the attacking formation of Sheehan, Hogan, Paul Ormonde and Dave Kennedy slipping through the New Jersey rearguard to register a number of scores to bring Tipp back into the game, and into the lead.
Firing in scores from all angles, Tipp gathered themselves a massive lead going into the break, and Jersey were clearly shellshocked.
Paul Hogan increased the difference even more after the interval with a double goal blast which really put the tie beyond the reaches of New Jersey.
Tipp face off versus Connecticut State in a few weeks in a final which should not be missed.
Tipperary: Conor Dorrian, Donal Cummins, Jack O’Donnell, Stephen Carthy, Sean Sheppard, Declan Burke, David Kennedy (0-4), Noel Morris, Paul Ormonde (0-6), Mike Carey (1-1), Damien Sheehan (0-11), Paul Hogan (2-5), Paul Casey (0-1). Subs: Dave Lonergan, Bob Stephensen.
New Jersey: Tony Spillane, Sean Dennis, Brian Forde (0-1), Colm O’Shaughnessy, Paul Langan, Eoin Drea, Tom Bermingham (0-2), John Slattery, Colin Gaughan, Kevin Corbett (1-2), David Forde (2-3), Willie Clooney (1-0), Colin Forde (0-1). Subs: Jimmy Creamer, Willie Hanlon, Kevin Moore.