Early goals inspire Tipp footballers winning start

McGrath Cup Senior Football

Waterford 0-7

Tipperary 2-14

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Steven O’Brien (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Waterford: Conor Murray 0-4 frees; John Devine 0-2 (1 free), Sean Whelan Barrett 0-1.

Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 1-3 (0-2 frees), Conor Sweeney 0-4 (2 frees), Kevin Fahey 1-0, Jack Kennedy 0-3 (2 frees, 1 45), Mikey O’Shea, Steven O’Brien, Liam McGrath, Donough Leahy 0-1 each.

The Tipperary footballers wrapped up their first win of 2023 inside the first quarter of Sunday’s McGrath Cup clash with Waterford.

Manager David Power went with ten of the team that beat the Déise in last year’s Munster championship and his side overpowered their opponents.

Tipp won the throw-in and Sean O’Connor crashed the ball to the roof of the net after just eighteen seconds. Steven O’Brien swiftly added a point. In the sixth minute, Conor Sweeney claimed an advanced mark and converted. The triple threat of Sweeney, O’Brien and O’Connor inside was just too hot for the home side to handle.

Brian Lynch missed two chances for Waterford before Mikey O’Shea struck a point off his left. On 16 minutes, Conor Cadell and Steven O'Brien set up Kevin Fahey for a second green flag.

Tipp then registered three wides in a row. Waterford goalkeeper Ben Kirwan denied O'Brien with a diving save when the ball seemed destined for the bottom corner. Jack Kennedy split the posts from the subsequent 45. Sweeney made it 2-5 to 0-0 after 24 minutes.

A sweet left footed effort from Sean Whelan Barrett got Waterford off the mark in the 26th minute. The home side finished the half strongly as Conor Murray (free) and John Devine also raised white flags. Sweeney sent a late goal chance left and wide as Tipp led 2-5 to 0-3 at the break.

The second half turned into a stop start affair as twenty substitutions were made. Teams are allowed to make eleven changes in the McGrath Cup. The game got needly as well. Referee Timmy McGrath flashed yellow cards to midfielders Kevin Sheehan and Paudie Feehan for a tussle at the throw-in. Conal Kennedy also entered the notebook for a late challenge on Liam Fennell.

During the third quarter, Sweeney knocked over two frees from the hands while Jack Kennedy converted two off the ground. O'Connor added three in a row (two frees and one from play) to increase his tally to 1-3. John Devine hit a 40-metre free for the hosts while Murray put over three more for Waterford before the final whistle went.

Tipp subs Liam McGrath and Donough Leahy got in on the act in the closing stages. As the rain started to come down, Cathal Deeley saw his injury time shot saved by Waterford sub goalkeeper Aaron Beresford.

Tipp manager David Power confirmed afterwards that Colin O'Riordan is going back to Australia.

“He was in with us before Christmas, but he wants to go back to Australia,” he said.

“That's where it's at really. We're very happy with where our squad is at, we're a lot stronger than we were last year.”

A win over Limerick next Saturday will put Tipp through to the final of this competition but the league is the priority.

“Ultimately, we’re really preparing towards the first round match against Down at home,” Power added.

“That’s what we’re really looking at. Last year we were way behind in terms of preparation. Waterford should have beaten us in the first game of the league, they were the better team. We got out of there with a point and that ended up being a crucial point for us in terms of getting out of Division 4.

“We’ve a busy three or four weeks ahead of us. We had a busy week this week with four field sessions so it’s good to come down here and win by thirteen points.”

TEAMS - Waterford: Ben Kirwan; Ronan O'Connell, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Jack Keane, Caoimhin Walsh, Liam Fennell; Michaele Curry, Kevin Sheehan; Brian Lynch, Sean Whelan Barrett, John Devine; Damien Quirke, Conor Murray, Michael Kiely.

Subs: Barry O'Brien for Ó Cuirrín (HT), Caomhan Maguire for Sheehan (43), Seamus Fitzgerald for Quirke (46), Aaron Beresford for Kirwan (49), Mark Cummins for Keane (49), Billy Hynes for Devine (49), Donal Fitzgerald for Kiely (55), Dean Reidy for Fennell (55), Eoin McGrath-Butler for O'Connell (55), Ross Browne for Walsh (58), Gareth Duffy for Whelan Barrett (58).

Tipperary: Michael O'Reilly (Clonmel Commercials); Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Dean Carew (Upperchurch/Drombane); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Colm O'Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Conor Cadell (JK Brackens), Mikey O'Shea (Mullinahone), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen), Steven O'Brien (Ballina), Sean O'Connor (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs: Teddy Doyle (Ballina) for Cadell (HT), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for C Kennedy (48), Donough Leahy (Arravale Rovers) for Jack Kennedy (49), Tommy Maher (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Harney (50), Liam McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Sweeney (54), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for O'Shea (54), Joe Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers) for P Feehan (61), Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials) for Boland (61), Cian O'Mahony (Ardfinnan) for O'Reilly (63).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Limerick).