Tipp Minor Footballers make it two wins from two

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship Phase 1 Round 2

Tipperary 3-18

Waterford 1-3

Report: Liam Hogan at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Emmett Bonner (Tipperary)

SCORERS - Tipperary: Ronan O’Brien 0-6 (3 frees); Liam Freaney 1-2; Mark Neville 0-3; Michael Connellan, Emmett Bonner 1-0 each; Billy Tierney (frees), James O’Keeffe, Tadgh Whyte 0-2 each; Louis Coughlan 0-1.

Waterford: Ben Boland 1-0; Paddy McCarthy 0-2 frees; Colm Sullivan 0-1.

A fantastic second half performance saw Tipperary overwhelm Waterford in the second round of the Munster Minor Football Championship on Thursday.

Scoring 2-12 in the second half was impressive but we have to note that Waterford played the final ten minutes a man short after they lost midfielder Darragh Jacob to a black card.

Tipp were leading 2-13 to 1-2 at the time as they surged forward to increase their score difference as news from Miltown-Malbay came through that Limerick had defeated Clare. The Premier left nothing to chance as they face a Clare in round three, a Banner side that have to win if they are to back into the race for the final, at the same hoping that Limerick won’t beat Waterford by a substantial score.

Tipp made four changes from the win over Limerick with Tommy Costello (son of Tomas Costello, 2001 All-Ireland winning corner back) plus Louis Coghlan, Mark Neville and Charlie Walsh with Shane Flanagan, Charlie Grace, Shane Ryan and Shane Quigley making way.

The new quartet really shone with Coughlan and Neville winning lots of possession, but they would have to wait a few minutes to get into the action as the opening minutes went Waterford’s way in terms of possession. However, the Tipp defence held firm. Then in the fourth minute Tipp lost full back Liam Kiely to a knee injury and his replacement Shane Flanagan impressed with a solid performance.

The game was nine minutes old when the first score arrived with Jamie O’Keeffe putting Tipp in front. Ronan O’Brien doubled the lead with a free before Paddy McCarthy got Waterford off the mark with free in the 13th minute.

By now, Tipp had settled. Their defence had won a few turnovers particularly Cillian Ryan at corner back. Michael Connellan, Billy Tierney, and Jamie O’Keeffe initiated many attacks but up front it took the forwards time to find the target with chances wasted from good positions. They kicked four wides in that opening quarter. Eventually the accuracy corrected itself with Billy Tierney scoring from a free followed by a Mark Neville score from play making it 0-4 to 0-1 after 25 minutes.

The lead increase to five after frees from O’Brien and Tierney before Paddy McCarthy replied at the other end in added time. However, there was another minute offered and Tipp came alive with a wonder goal after corner forward Emmett Bonner sliced through the Waterford cover before switching play to the corner of the small square for Louis Coghlan to fist the ball across the edge of the square for wing back Michael Connell to direct the ball to the net making the half time score Tipperary 1-6 Waterford 0-2.

Inspirational words in the sanctuary of the dressing rooms can inspire and Tipp looked inspired as they increased their lead with six unanswered points with Mark Neville and Ronan O’Brien scoring two, added by a point each from Louis Coghlan and Liam Freaney

Waterford had a few players who refused to give up with Gerard Long at centre back plus Darragh Jacob at midfield while full back Ben Boland played a captain’s part and he vacated his position to score a well-worked goal in the 47th minute.

Louis Coughlan of Moycarkey was one of the newcomers to the team and he was real work-horse and was an assist for Ronan O’Brien to score his fifth point and third from play as Tipp began to turn the screw when Emmet Bonner cut another avenue through the Waterford defence and scored a great goal. Waterford then had the misfortune of losing Darragh Jacob to the black card.

Tipp really pressed up on the Waterford defence denying goalkeeper Tommy Mullally the chance to pick out a suitable man for his kickouts. As a result Tipp added more scores with wing back Jamie O’Keeffe picking up his second point with Liam Freaney also doubling his tally.

There was more to come and in the final two minutes of normal time plus four of added time they added an 1-3 from play with Freaney scoring 1-1, his goal an overhead flick to a well-directed Tierney free before while Tadgh Whyte added two points with Freaney scoring again leaving Waterford substitute Colm Sullivan to bring the game to a close with a point. It’s Tipp v Clare next Thursday in Semple Stadium.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Tommy Costello (Cappawhite), Liam Kiely (Fethard), Cillian Ryan (Ballina); Michael Connellan (Clonmel Commercials), Billy Tierney (Clonmel Commercials, Capt), James O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Michael O’Reilly (Moyle Rovers), Sean Lewis (Arravale Rovers); Louis Coughlan (Moycarkey- Borris), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Mark Neville (Fethard); Charlie Walsh (Fethard), Ronan O’Brien (Durlas Og), Emmett Bonner (Galtee Rovers).

Subs: Shane Flanagan (Newport) for Kiely (5 inj); Sean O’Mahoney (Arravale Rovers) for Neville (44); Milo McNamara (Clonmel Commercials) for Walsh (51); Tadgh Whyte (Moneygall) for O’Brien (53); Cillian Fahey (Clonmel Commercials) for Bonner (53).

Waterford: Tommy Mullaly; Brendan Kelly, Ben Boland (Capt), Michael McHaugh; Niall Fahey, Gerard Long, Darragh Murphy; Darragh Jacob, Sean Prunty; Liam Kiersey, Fergal O’Brien, Niall McCarthy; Paddy McCarthy, Ollie Buck, Scott Keappock.

Sub: Colm Sullivan for Prunty (HT); Shane Kennedy for Keappock (HT); Fintan Walsh for N McCarthy (44); Ian Holmes for Kiersey (46); Ciaran Cotter for P McCarthy (48).

Referee: Eoghan O Muircheartaigh (Kerry).