O'Connor to the fore as Tipp sink Waterford

GAA: Allianz National Football League Division 4 Round 3

Waterford 0-9

Tipperary 1-14

Report: Michael Heverin at Walsh Park, Waterford

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean O’Connor (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Waterford: James Walsh 0-3; Conor Murray, Alan Dunwoody 0-2 each; Donie Fitzgerald, Jason Curry (free) 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 1-10 (0-4 frees); Cian Smith 0-2 (1x2pt); Mark Russell, Steven O’Brien 0-1 each.

Tipperary pushed themselves right into promotion contention with their second win in a row in the National Football League Division 4, with an eight-point victory over neighbours Waterford on Sunday.

A stuttering start at Walsh Park – the game was moved to the Waterford city ground after the scheduled venue at Fraher Field in Dungarvan was deemed unplayable a day earlier – saw them go two points down in the first three minutes, with Deise scores from James Walsh and Alan Dunwoody.

Tipp looked nervous and unsettled, with kick-outs and kick passes going out over the sideline in quick succession, but they quickly found their rhythm, aided by a goal from man of the match, Sean O’Connor.

Team captain Steven O’Brien had Tipp’s first point in the seventh minute but disaster struck for the home side from the kick-out, when goalkeeper Paudie Hunt’s kick was intercepted by the alert Conor Fahey and he put O’Connor through to get the game’s only goal.

O’Connor extended the lead to 1-2 to 0-2 in the eleventh minute – the Clonmel Commercials clubman ended the game with a total of 1-10, 1-6 of that from play – but Waterford responded with three in a row from Dunwoody and two from the impressive James Walsh.

O’Connor hit back with a Tipp point but then manager Philly Ryan had to reshuffle his pack when Steven O’Brien had to leave the field injured as early as the seventeenth minute. He was replaced by Cian Smith, with the Clonmel Commercials player proving a real threat upfront, and scoring the game’s only two pointer during a crucial period of the second half.

The second quarter was finely balanced, with Waterford pushing Tipp all the way, hoping to repeat the shock victory over their neighbours in last year’s championship. A Jason Curry free pulled them level before Sean O’Connor kicked two in a row, either side of a second goal chance for the full forward, only denied by a great save from Paudie Hunt.

Conor Murray reduced the margin to a point at half time, 1-5 to 0-7, but the half ended in controversy as referee David Hickey blew the whistle as a high ball into the Tipperary danger area spelled trouble for the defense, with the home players and supporters believing that the move should have been allowed to finish.

But that was as good as it got for the home side, who were restricted to just two points in the second half, from Conor Murray and Donie Fitzgerald.

The Tipp stars in this half were the defenders, who smothered the Waterford attacking threat. Killenaule’s Jimmy Feehan was a colossus at full back, flanked by the impressive Manus McFadden and Jack Harney, with the half backline of Tadhg Condon, Luke Boland, and Mark Stokes equally as solid, as they blocked and tackled, fighting ferociously for every ball.

Sean O’Connor from a free, Mark Russell with a fisted score, and O’Connor again from a Cathal Deeley pass, extended the visitors’ lead six minutes into the second half, before a fine score from Conor Murray offered Waterford some hope.

But that was quickly extinguished with a superb two pointer from Cian Smith in the 53rd minute to leave his side 1-10 to 0-8 ahead. That appeared to drain the fight from Waterford, who were outscored four to one in the closing stages, all the Tipp scores from O’Connor, three from frees, to a Deise reply from Donie Fitzgerald. There were black cards in the final minutes for Waterford’s Rory Furlong and Tipp defender Tadhg Condon.

TEAMS - Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Colin Foley, Caoimhin Walsh, Liam Fennell; Donie Fitzgerald, Darach O Cathasaigh, Dermot Ryan; Joe Booth, Rory Furlong; James Power, Conor Murray, Alan Dunwoody; Jason Curry, James Walsh, Dylan Guiry.

Subs: John Groves for Booth (42), Jamie Power for James Power (56), Ciaran Walsh for Dunwoody (65), Adam Crawford for Fitzgerald (70+1).

Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials); Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers); Tadhg Condon (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), Mark Russell (Aherlow); Micheal Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Steven O’Brien (Ballina), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale); Conor Fahey (Upperchurch/Drombane), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone).

Subs: Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for O’Brien (17 inj), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields) for Comerford (HT), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for Fahey (HT), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule) for Russell (63), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for Deeley (63).

Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).