Tipp U20 hurlers come good in extra time to beat Waterford

GAA: Bord Gais Energy Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Quarter Final

Tipperary 3-24

Waterford 2-21 AET

By Liam Hogan

Tipperary came good in the second half of extra to see off Waterford in an exciting Munster Under 20 Hurling quarter final at Semple Stadium on Monday night.

In a game of swaying fortunes Tipp appeared to be in trouble after Waterford had taken over in the first half of extra time as they went 2-20 to 2-16 in front before Jack Leamy’s goal in the 67th minute helped turn the game in the host’s favour.

Tipperary will now face Cork in the semi-final next Tuesday but manager John Devane would be the first to admit they were a shade lucky as Waterford had them in trouble from time to time.

Tipp got off to the perfect start when scoring 1-1 inside the opening forty seconds, the goal from full forward Peter Creedon following a speculative effort for a point from Max Hackett. The start was important because Waterford’s running game had Tipp in trouble for much of the first half as Gavin Fives, Tireoghan Flynn and James Power caused all sorts of bother to a Tipp defence who were finding it difficult to cope.

Indeed Tipp were delighted to be five points in front at half time of normal time 2-5 to 0-6 after Sean Hayes scored the premier’s second goal seconds before the changeover.

The goal boosted Tipp’s confidence as they raced into a 2-7 to 0-8 lead following an excellent Kian O’Kelly point. However, Waterford pulled them back down to earth when Michael Kiely cut through the Tipp defence to score a great goal.

It wasn’t enough to prevent Tipp when Dara Stakelum made it 2-12 to 1-10 and it looked as if Tipp were heading for a semi-final tilt but Waterford fought back once more and after the water break they outscored the home side 1-4 to 0-3 the goal coming from Walsh to make it 2-15 each at the end of the hour.

Devin Ryan proved to be the key man for Tipp in extra time, scoring five points as Tipp found another gear.

SCORERS - Tipperary: Devon Ryan 0-5 (1 free); Paddy Creedon 1-2; Sean Hayes, Jack Leamy 1-1 each; Kian O’Kelly 0-4; Max Hackett, James Devaney 0-3 each; Colm Fogarty 0-2 (1 free); Kevin Maher, Dara Stakelum, Tony Cahill 0-1 each.

Waterford: Kevin Mahony 0-9 (7 frees, 1’65); Reuben O’Halloran 0-5 (2 frees, 1’65); Michael Kiely 1-2; Sean Walsh 1-1; Johnny Burke 0-2 each; Paddy Leevy, Tireoghan Flynn 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: Enda Dunphy (St. Mary’s; Conor O’Dwyer (Cashel King Cormacs), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane), Fintan Purcell (Drom & Inch); Colm Whelan (Carrick Davins), Kevin Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers); Max Hackett (Moycarkey/Borris), John Campions (Drom & Inch); Dara Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Sean Hayes (Kiladangan), Kian O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Colm Fogarty (Lorrha), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), James Devaney (Borris-Ileigh).

Subs: Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle) for Fogarty (39); Devon Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs) for O’Kelly (49 inj); Conor Hennessey (Nenagh Eire Og) for O’Dwyer (52); Peter McGarry for Stakelum (55-56 blood); Michael O’Shea (Mullinahone) for Devaney (58); Peter McGarry (St Mary’s) for Campion (60+1); James Devaney for Stakelum (ET); Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch) for Hackett (10 ET inj); Colm Fogarty for O’Shea (15 ET); Conor Whelan for Purcell (19 ET).

Waterford: Dean Beecher; Catrach Daly, Rory Furlong, Sam Fitzgerald; Matt Fitzgerald, Cian Wadding, Ronan Power; Gavin Fives, Paddy Leamy; James Power, Kevin Mahony, Reuben Halloran; Joe Booth, Mikie Kiely, Tireoghan Flynn.

Subs: Johnny Burke for Booth (44); Jake Foley for Flynn (51); Ryan Tierney for R Power (58); Sean Walsh for Leevy (60); Paddy Leevy for J Power (13 ET); Sean Burke for G Fives (16 ET); P J Fanning for S Fitzgerald (19 ET).

Referee: Nathan Wall (Cork)