Tipp avenge Waterford loss to progress in Munster

GAA: Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Tipperary 1-22

Waterford 1-19

Report: Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium

Photos: Bridget Delaney

MATCH DIGEST

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

SCORERS – Tipperary: Steven O’Brien 1-8 (2x2pt frees, 1x2pt, 1 ‘45); Cian Smith 0-6 (2 frees); Micheál Freaney 0-4 (1x2pt); Darragh Brennan 0-3; Paudie Feehan 0-1.

Waterford: Jason Curry 0-6 (4 frees, 1 ‘45); Alan Dunwoody 1-2; Conor Murray 0-5 (1x2pt); James Power 0-3 (1x2pt); James Walsh 0-2 (2pt); Liam Fennell 0-1.

Steven O’Brien marked his return from injury with a first-half haul of 1-8 as Tipperary avenged last year’s Munster quarter-final defeat to Waterford with a three-point success.

The Premier captain has been dogged by hamstring and quad issues but showed class is permanent during a 50-minute run out in front of 1,017 spectators at Semple Stadium.

O’Brien bagged a fourth-minute goal, kicked three two-pointers (two from frees), a 45, and another from play to book a semi-final trip to Clare on Saturday, April 19.

Fresh out of U20, Cian Smith and Micheál Freaney also gave standout performances, returning debut totals of 0-6 and 0-4 respectively.

Tipp led by eleven with nine minutes remaining but Alan Dunwoody’s goal and a couple of two-pointers made for a nervy finish.

The visitors started well with captain Conor Murray feeding James Power and Dunwoody for points.

But O’Brien showed the difference he would make with Tipp’s first three efforts. Mikey O’Shea took the turnover and found O’Brien, who cut inside to bury a low finish. He then slotted a two-point free off the turf after Freaney was fouled.

After Jason Curry converted his first free, O’Brien replied with a point from play for 1-3 to 0-3.

Luke Boland’s cross-field pass provided Smith’s opening point but the Moyle Rovers wing-back, just back from injury, pulled up soon after.

Some Murray opportunism forged a goal chance but Shane Ryan diverted his shot around the post and Curry kicked the 45.

Jack Harney replaced Boland and his first involvement was teeing up O’Brien to let fly a huge two-pointer between the posts.

Speedy captain Murray and Curry, punishing Freaney for blocking a solo-and-go, got Waterford back within one score.

Tipp bounced on with three in a row from Darragh Brennan, Freaney, and O’Brien’s 45. The latter score followed a flowing goal chance from a Jimmy Feehan turnover as O’Brien’s long pass found Brennan, who squared for an O’Shea half-volley which Paudie Hunt saved with his legs.

As the action switched to the other end, Paudie Feehan made a goal-line block to deny Dunwoody, Hawk-Eye ruled out a Murray effort, and Curry scored from play.

Centre-back Feehan then created back-to-back two-pointers. He was fouled for an O’Brien free before intercepting a pass to lay on a Freaney curler. Dunwoody cut the half-time gap to eight; 1-13 to 0-8.

Like the first half, Waterford resumed with the first pair from Murray and Curry (free), which Smith cancelled out with a brace. Murray kicked a response as Tipp began to threaten more goals. They had four opportunities in the space of ten minutes as Darach Ó Cathasaigh blocked Kieran Costello, Colin Foley denied Brennan, Hunt saved from Cathal Deely, and Conor Fahey blazed wide after intercepting a short kick-out.

Tipp had to settle for three points in a row instead from Freaney and a Smith brace, including his first free.

Power launched a two-pointer, but Tipp hit back with another trio. Darragh Brennan landed back-to-back efforts before Smith was presented with a tap-over free when Waterford failed to keep three forwards beyond the halfway line.

Tipp’s lead was eleven but that inexperience began to show. Curry kicked a free before Dunwoody netted in the 63rd minute from Power’s floated delivery over the cover.

After Paudie Feehan kicked Tipp’s closing point, the Déise whipped up a late whirlwind.

Ryan was forced into action to deny Tholom Guiry although Liam Fennell tidied up for a point. When Murray and James Walsh arrowed over consecutive two-pointers, it was a one-score game with two of the five added minutes remaining.

Curry missed the next attempt from outside the arc and Tipp turned it into keep ball for the remainder.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials); Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Jason Madigan (Clonmel Commercials); Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Mark Russell (Aherlow), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Capt), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen).

Subs: Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers) for Boland (14 inj); Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan) for Moloney (35+2-FT, temp); Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials) for O’Brien (50); Conor Fahey (Upperchurch/Drombane) for O’Shea (54); Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Freaney (67); Micheál Lowry (Arravale Rovers) for P Feehan (70+1).

Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Caoimhín Walsh, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell; Willie Beresford, Brian Everard, Dermot Ryan; Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong; Colm Murray (Capt), James Power, Donie Fitzgerald; Michael O’Brien, Jason Curry, Alan Dunwoody.

Subs: Colin Foley for C Walsh (HT); James Walsh for O’Brien (HT); Dylan Guiry for Fitzgerald (41); Jamie Power for Beresford (44 inj); Adam Crawford for Furlong (60).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).