Tipp Minors fall to fast finishing Waterford

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 1

Tipperary 0-17

Waterford 1-16

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Euan Murray (Tipperary).

SCORERS – Tipperary: Jack Cahill 0-7 (6 frees); Euan Murray 0-4; Kieran Rossiter 0-2; Patrick McCormack (free), Conall Morrisson, Dylan Hennessy, Paul Cummins 0-1 each.

Waterford: Cormac Spain 1-9 (0-4 frees); Jamie Shanahan, Gearoid O’Shea 0-2 each; Conor Power, Shane Power, Caoilinn Reville 0-1 each.

“Delighted with the way we performed but bitterly disappointed to lose” – the words of Tipperary manager James Woodlock after seeing the defending provincial and All-Ireland champions fall narrowly to Waterford in the opening round of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship on Friday evening.

To put the game in context – Tipperary had only one player, Euan Murray, of last year’s starting team from the All-Ireland final, so in effect the manager and his backroom team had to build a new side.

In contrast Waterford, as James Woodlock pointed out, had nine players that figured in five championship games last year. They also had a distinct advantage in physique to the Tipp lads which stood to them in the closing stages as Waterford struck the last four points to achieve their two points win in a game of high quality.

“We did not do anything very wrong out there,” Woodlock added.

“We are building a new team with only one player in the panel of thirty seven who played last year. We had the opportunity to win but let it slip. We had goal chances in each half but did not take them and that is down to inexperience.”

The decisive goal in a cracking game came as early as the third minute when, from the puck-out after Euan Murray had given Tipp the lead, Cormac Spain, a constant thorn in Tipperary’s side during the game, raced through to bang home a Waterford goal.

By the end of the first quarter, they were 1-4 to 0-3 ahead but Tipperary began to grow into the game, with Jack Cahill’s free-taking and Murray’s opportunism sourcing the Tipp scores. At half-time it was 1-7 to 0-7 in Waterford’s favour, the advantage deserved but Tipp very much in the game. Only two Tipp players scored in that half.

The opening ten minutes of the second half showed the real potential of this Tipp side. In eleven minutes, they reeled off eight unanswered points, three from Jack Cahill frees, with Dylan Hennessy, Kieran Rossiter, goalie Patrick McCormack (free), Paul Cummins and Conall Morrisson all on target.

The quality of the Tipp play was exceptional, and it looked as though they were going to stroll home, but Cormac Spain steadied the ship for Waterford with a 43rd minute point.

A minute later, Tipp were denied the goal that could have sealed the game when Tommy O’Meara’s effort bound for the net was swept off the line, and the clearance led to another Waterford point as the visitors began to build momentum.

Significantly, in the last twelve minutes, plus stoppage time, Waterford outscored Tipperary 0-7 to 0-1, Rossiter’s second point sandwiched between the Waterford surge. With seven minutes to play, the sides were level. Spain’s 58th minute point put Waterford in front, and he added another for good measure in the 62nd minute.

Needing a goal, Tipp lobbed a last minute free into the crowded Waterford goal area, but it was beaten away to the delight of the visiting players and fans in the 2,520 attendance.

The top two teams after the round-robin series qualify for the Munster final with third and fourth into All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals so Tipp have a lot to play for still. Away to Clare this Saturday in round 2, a win is nevertheless imperative and will not be easily achieved but James Woodlock has great belief in this team – “These lads have hurling enough to come out next week with a big performance.

“I am extremely proud of their performance tonight. They never gave up and took everything we said to them on board though it was disappointing not to see it out when we went five points up.”

So, Tipp face into a formidable challenge with their visit to Ennis to face a Clare side who had a bye in round one. There is a lot of talent in this young Tipp team; Euan Murray and Kieran Rossiter of the All-Ireland Schools winning Thurles CBS side, carried their form into this encounter. Murray’s point-taking and distribution of the ball was eye-catching while Rossiter’s surging runs into the heart of the opposition really got the Tipp crowd cheering.

Full forward Tommy O’Meara used his height and strength to good effect and his absence through injury in the tense closing minutes was felt. Jack Cahill, son of senior manager Liam, was very consistent off frees while under 20 manager Brendan Cummins’ son Paul, also got his name on the scoresheet. Further back, centre back Patrick Hackett, along with Fred Perry and Dylan Hennessy defended well while Moneygall goalie Patrick McCormack never put a foot wrong.

This is a fine Waterford side who will surely figure in the shake-up for honours. They are big and mobile, with lots of hurling in them. In Cormac Spain they have a match-winner. He scored 1-5 from play, with another four points from frees, and was a constant threat. Gearoid O’Shea, Jamie Shanahan, Hugo Quann and Conor Lynch were others to have big games for the winners.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Patrick McCormack (Moneygall 6); Fred Perry (Moyle Rovers 7), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Newport 6), Conor Collins (Galtee Rovers 6); Dylan Hennessy (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone 7), Patrick Hackett (Toomevara 6), Shane Cooney (Clerihan 6); Kieran Rossiter (Durlas Og 7),Conor Kennedy (Clonoulty/Rossmore 6); Padraic O’Shea (JK Brackens 6), Euan Murray (Durlas Og 9), Paul Cummins (Ballybacon/Grange 6); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry 7),Tommy O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs 7), Conall Morrisson (Moyle Rovers 6).

Subs: Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers 6) for O’Shea (46); Chris Dunne (Gortnahoe/Glengoole 6) for Morrisson (49); Darragh Doyle (Killenaule NR) for O’Meara (60).

Waterford: James Comerford (6); Conor Lynch (6), Darragh Murphy (6), Darragh Keane (6); Bradley Penkert (6), Hugo Quann (7), Conor Power (7); Gearoid O’Shea (7), Pierce Quann (6); Eoin Burke (7), Jack Power (6), Tommy Kennedy (6); Cormac Spain (8), Shane Power (6), Jamie Shanahan (7).

Subs: Caoilinn Reville (6) for Shanahan (39); Andrew Power (6) for Burke (52).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Limerick).