Records Tumble In Munster Hurling Final

A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill

Munster Senior Hurling Final
Tipperary 7-19 Waterford 0-19

Records tumbled on Leeside last Sunday as All-Ireland champions Tipperary whipped Waterford by 21 points to claim a 39th Munster senior hurling championship crown.

Tipp's merciless massacre of last year's provincial winners was the biggest winning margin in a Munster final since 1982, when Cork demolished Waterford.

The seven goals hammered past Clinton Hennessy was the biggest tally of green flags raised by a winning team in a Munster final since Tipp leaked eight to Waterford in 1936.

And 2010 Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett bagged an astonishing 4-4 to make it a quarter of a century of championship goals.

Corbett is Tipp's all-time leading championship goalscorer and team captain Eoin Kelly moved into second place behind the lethal Thurles Sarsfields hitman as his brace moved him onto 21, one ahead of Nicky English.

And lest we forget Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, who equalled Cork legend Christy Ring's all-time senior hurling championship appearances when he togged out for a 65th time.

Tipp have now scored 14-60 in three championship outings this summer and they move forward to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Dublin or Limerick.

Ultimately, it was a devastating goal blitz before half-time, when Tipp hit four goals in a searing six-minute spell, which decided this Páirc Uí Chaoimh contest.

With half an hour on the clock, Tipp's lead was six points - 1-10 to 0-7; by half-time, they led by 17, 5-10 to 0-8.

By the 20th minute, four of Tipp's forwards had scored from play before Kelly, Corbett (2) and Seamus Callanan goaled before the break.

In that first half, Waterford managed just two points from play and overall, 12 of their 19 points were frees converted by Pauric Mahony, the only one real bright spot on a bleak afternoon for Davy Fitzgerald's charges.

Waterford must rouse themselves for an All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway on Sunday week, July 24.

Leinster SFC Final
Dublin 2-12 Wexford 1-12

Wexford goalkeeper Anthony Masterson was the unfortunate fall guy at Croke Park last Sunday as Dublin won the Leinster senior football championship for the 50th time.

Masterson was at fault for an 'own goal' in the second half, at a time when the Slaneysiders had Dublin very much on the back foot.

With Ben Brosnan in mercurial form, Wexford made a mockery of the pre-match odds and banished memories of their horrific 23-point defeat against Dublin in the 2008 provincial decider.

But ultimately, Jason Ryan's men were left with nothing but tears for souvenirs again - and Masterson was visibly upset long after the final whistle.

At half-time, Wexford trailed by just a single point, 0-6 to 0-7, having trailed by four points twice in the opening half.

And in the 44th minute, Redmond Barry rattled the back of the Dublin net to leave Wexford fans dreaming of a first Leinster SFC crown since 1945.

Now leading by 1-7 to 0-7, Model County tails were up but the unfortunate

Masterson handed Dublin a route back into the game with 19 minutes remaining.

The goalkeeper, impressive until that point, fisted the ball against full-back Graeme Molloy and the ball trickled agonizingly into the net.

Dublin struck again soon after when wing-back James McCarthy bombed forward for a superb goal before Wexford were denied a clear penalty with nine minutes remaining when Michael Fitzsimons fouled Ciaran Lyng.

Wexford kept battling to the end but the clock ran out on the Model County, who must now regroup for the fourth round of All-Ireland qualifiers, against Limerick or Waterford.

All-Ireland SHC Qualifier
Cork 1-14 Galway 2-23

Galway cruised into the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals with a comprehensive victory over Cork at the Gaelic Grounds last Saturday afternoon.

The Tribesmen will now play beaten Munster finalists Waterford on Sunday week, July 24.

Galway were desperately poor in the Leinster semi-final against Dublin but have bounced back impressively with successive victories against Munster opponents Clare and Cork.

And for the second successive season, the Rebels bowed out of the championship on the end of a 12-point defeat.

Despite this crushing loss, Cork boss Denis Walsh intimated afterwards that he is interested in seeing out the remaining year of his contract.

Magnificent Galway forward Joe Canning was the undoubted start turn on a sweltering afternoon in Limerick.

18,900 spectators witnessed an attacking masterclass from the Portumna superstar, who bagged 0-10, including five from play.

Galway, who hit 16 wides, were scintillating when they got going and were level at 1-7 to 0-10 on the half hour, despite missing a penalty.

After Alan Kerins was hauled down by Stephen McDonnell in the 23rd minute, Canning's blistering drive was well stopped by Cork full-back Eoin Cadogan on the line.

All-Ireland SHC Qualifier
Limerick 3-22 Antrim 0-12

Limerick walloped Antrim by 19 points at Parnell Park in Dublin last Saturday night to set up an All-Ireland SHC quarter-final showdown with Dublin, in what will be a repeat of the 2009 clash between the sides.

Antrim held their own for much of the first half but were rocked by a red card for Karl Stewart in the 28th minute and the concession of a goal to Niall Moran late in the first half.

Neil McManus bagged eight points for Antrim but the Saffrons were simply outclassed by a resurgent Limerick, who have now banished the demons of 2010 with two successive championship victories.

Teenager Declan Hannon, making just his second championship start, impressed again for Limerick with a haul of 0-8 while Moran and Richie McCarthy both finished with 1-1.

All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round-Up.

Late points from Brian Farrell and Stephen Bray clinched a dramatic All-Ireland SFC round 2 qualifier victory for Meath against Galway in Navan last Saturday evening.

The Royals ran out 0-11 to 0-10 winners and will now face Kildare in the pick of the round 3 ties.

Elsewhere, Limerick had a 1-7 haul from Ian Ryan as they defeated Offaly by 3-13 to 0-15 at the Gaelic Grounds.

The Shannonsiders will now play Waterford in an all-Munster clash.

Armagh and Wicklow fought out a dramatic draw at the Morgan Athletic Grounds and must meet again to see who advances to round 3.

Armagh scored 0-19 to Wicklow's 2-13 in a tie that went to extra-time.

In London, Gary Hurney's early goal set up Waterford for a comfortable 1-17 to 0-13 victory against the hosts at Ruislip.

London finished the match with 13 players after Paul Geraghty and Ciaran McCallion were dismissed.

Tyrone, All-Ireland champions in 2003, 2005 and 2008, had to work hard for a 1-17 to 0-15 victory against Longford at Pearse Park.

Mark Donnelly's goal early in the second half was a crucial score for the Red Hands.

And in a local derby in Portlaoise, Kildare produced a scintillating display to blitz Laois by 3-16 to 0-10.

After losing to Dublin in the Leinster semi-final, Kildare bounced back with a vengeance and can now be considered as serious All-Ireland contenders again.

Meanwhile, Benny Coulter landed 0-7 for last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Down in their 1-16 to 1-8 win against Leitrim.

Antrim held off the challenge of 14-man Carlow by 1-13 to 2-9 at Casement Park, with Carlow's Ed Finnegan sent off in the second half.