Kilkenny beat Tipperary with last puck of the game in epic final
Kilkenny 2-13 Tipperary Blue 2-12
Kilkenny secured their second Celtic Challenge title in three years, beating Tipperary Blue in a dramatic final in Abbotstown.
With the game in the balance and time almost up, a last gasp free from team captain James Ryan rescued Kilkenny from a near heartbreaking defeat at the hands of their great rivals.
The highly competitive grade was founded in 2016 and targets second and third choice teams at minor level in order to assist with their hurling development.
Overall in 2026, 37 teams from 31 counties entered the competition.
The Cats had been well tested coming into Saturday’s final, overcoming a sticky Galway by just two points in the semi-final (1-22 to 3-14).
On the other hand, Tipperary Blue were one of two teams entered from the Premier County and had a far smoother task in their last four bout, beating Munster rivals Clare by 17 points and came into the final, the same pairing as 2024, in confident mood.
Kilkenny were the dominant force for much of the contest holding a lead from the 10th minute all the way until the dying few minutes.
From the courageous Kyril Mtinsi (O’Loughlin Gaels) at corner-back, to Aaron McCormack (Dunnamaggin) and Oisin Roche (Rower Inistioge) at wing-back and centre-forward respectively, the winners were playing an attractive and effective brand of hurling and deservedly held an 0-8 to 0-4 advantage at half-time.
Things got even better for the youngsters three minutes into the new half, when a low ball from Aaron McCormack set up Liam O’Brien for the game’s opening goal (1-9 to 0-6).
However, in a surprising twist, immediately from the resulting play, Dessie Walsh’s men conceded a penalty. Morgan O’Connor, who was on song all match, dispatched the placed ball and it was back to the drawing board for Kilkenny (1-9 to 1-6).
To their credit, the Noresiders failed to allow that setback to push them off course and powered to a 1-13 to 1-7 lead by the midway mark of the half.
But as so often is the case in the Kilkenny Tipperary rivalry, the side trailing came roaring back and a second goal from Morgan O’Connor along with points Daniel McDonald and Eoin McCormack put Tipp in front by stoppage time (2-12 to 1-13) as they utilised their bench.
This blockbuster hadn’t ceased just yet though as James Ryan’s last puck of the game from a 21 yard free snatched victory for Kilkenny and unsurprisingly delivered euphoric scenes on the sounding of referee Kevin Brady’s full-time whisle.
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