Monday, March 04, 2013,
By Diarmuid O’Flynn
(The Examiner)

LIT Tipperary 1-25 IT Tralee 2-09

A second consecutive Ryan Cup final defeat for the students of IT Tralee as they came up short against an impressive LIT Tipperary outfit at Pearse Stadium on Saturday. A scrambled 9th minute goal by corner-forward Donie O’Halloran had Tralee trailing by four points (0-13 to 1-6) at the break but thereafter there was only one team in it.

In the second half, however, in ideal almost summer-like conditions, the superior hurling and teamwork of the Tipperary lads began to shine through.

Defensively the winners were well on top with only wing-forward John Egan keeping Tralee in contentions. Free-taker Shane McGrath was in sparkling form while Denis Maher and Tommy Doyle (grandson of the Tipperary hero of the same the name) from the Thurles Sars club were also impressive along with Phillip Ivors.

A comfortable win then for LIT Tipperary, perhaps the promise of better yet to come; back to the drawing-board for Tralee.

Scorers for LIT Tipperary: S McGrath 0-11 (7f, 0-2 65s); M Gennery 1-2; T Doyle 0-4; P Ivors 0-2; D Maher 0-2; B Egan, A McCarthy, T Ryan, S Smith, 0-1 each.

Scorers for IT Tralee: J Egan 0-6; D O’Halloran 1-0; M Deegan 1-0 (f); G O’Grady 0-2 (0-1 65); C Harty 0-1.

LIT TIPPERARY: J Logue (Ballingarry, Tipperary); J McDonnell (Na Piarsaigh, Cork), I Maher (Thurles Sars, Tipperary), F Brennan (Cloneen/Railyard, Kilkenny); N O’Sullivan (Moycarkey-Borris, Tipperary), M Fitzgerald (Ardclough, Kildare), Brendan Egan (Padraig Pearses, Galway); Shane McGrath (Feakle, Clare), A McCarthy (Cobh, Cork); T Ryan (Templederry Kenyons, Tipperary), D Maher (Thurles Sars, Tipperary), M Gennery (Portroe, Tipperary); S Smith (Rosenalis, Laois), P Ivors (Ballingarry, Tipperary, capt), T Doyle (Thurles Sars, Tipperary).

Subs: R Bresnan (Mount Sion, Waterford, Ryan 45); T Dorney (Thurles Gaels, Tipperary, Smith 56); J Nelligan (Iniscarra, Cork, Doyle 59).

IT TRALEE: D Delaney (Ardfert, Kerry); S Lynch (Kilmayley, Kerry), A Fealy (Causeway, Kerry, capt.), D O’Mahony (St Colm’s, Cork); J Walsh (Eire Óg, Clare), M Deegan (Hospital/Herbertstown, Limerick), J Leahy (Causeway, Kerry); F Collins (Ballina, Tipperary), G O’Grady (Kerins O’Rahillys, Kerry); J Egan (Ardfert, Kerry), D Wallace (do.), C Harty (Causeway, Kerry); D O’Halloran (Doora-Barefield, Clare), S Conlon (Carrigaline, Cork), P O’Connor (Ahane, Limerick).

Subs: P Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry, Limerick, O’Halloran 39); C Coode (Doneraile, Cork, O’Connor 41); D Ryan (Solohead, Tipperary, Conlon 57); N Heffernan (Trim, Meath, Harty 57).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).