Tipp top Waterford to book Munster Final berth

GAA: oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 4

Tipperary 1-24

Waterford 2-14

Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Paddy McCormack (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Oisin O’Donoghue (0-7, 4 frees); Paddy McCormack 1-4; Adam Daly 0-5; Cathal English, Senan Butler, Jamie Ormond 0-2 each; Jim Ryan (free), Joe Egan 0-1 each.

Waterford: Ben O’Sullivan 2-2; Mark Hartley (2 frees), T Casey (frees) 0-3 each; Jack Twomey, Michael Morrissey 0-2 each; Conor Tobin, Gearoid Power 0-1 each.

Defending champions, Tipperary, are through to the final of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship following their comfortable win over Waterford on Wednesday evening.

Three wins from their four round-robin games have Tipp topping the table and with Limerick losing to Cork, it means Tipperary cannot be usurped from that position and progress straight to the final on Wednesday, May 14th.

Tipp’s only loss was to Limerick in round 1 but their recovery, with away successes in Cork and Clare, was crowned in beating Waterford, completing their round-robin programme and next week’s final round games will determine the semi-finalists with all four teams in the matches between Cork v Waterford and Limerick v Clare still in with a chance.

The big talking point prior the start was the absence of county seniors Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell. Both were listed in the match programme to play but were held back for the senior clash with Cork on Sunday and having gone through a hectic battle with Limerick three days earlier, it was decided that they should sit this game out.

Tipp’s win in their absence is testimony to the depth of talent in this squad. In a contest they dominated for extensive periods, the Premier boys were undoubtedly the better team, but a two-goal burst from Waterford at the start of the last quarter, followed by a point, saw an eleven point lead reduced to four with six anxious minutes facing the home team. To their credit the Tipp lads held their nerve and hit four unanswered points in six minutes to close out the game.

Waterford’s bright start, 0-3 to 0-1 lead after five minutes, vanished in a ten-minute blitz by Tipp which yielded 1-7 without reply and set the home county on course for the expected win. Inside forwards Paddy McCormack and Oisin O’Donoghue were the architects of that surge with midfielder Adam Daly also on song with three points from play. Daly, a strong contender for man of the match, shot two points and set up McCormack for Tipp’s goal in the fourteenth minute and a 1-8 to 0-3 lead. O’Donoghue had three points, two from play, taking over the free-taking duties from the absent McCarthy as a Tipp rout threatened.

Under the cosh, Waterford gathered themselves to match their rivals in the run up to half-time at which stage Tipp led 1-13 to 0-9, a couple of missed frees denying Waterford the chance to close the gap further, but at the break Tipp were in control and poised for the win.

Tipp stretched their advantage in an impressive start to the second half, Daly (2), O’Donoghue (2), and McCormack points to a sole reply from Waterford’s Michael Morrissey, sending Tipp eleven points clear (1-18 to 0-10) after 40 minutes.

The loss of fullback Aaron O’Halloran to a leg injury, compounded by Waterford’s introduction of sub Pat Walsh changed things. Walsh’s height was a problem for the Tipp defence, and he was instrumental in they netting twice, both scored by Ben O’Sullivan in the 46th & 53rd minutes. A Tom Carey point for Waterford had the deficit down to four points (1-20 to 2-13) with six minutes to play.

A crucial time for Tipp but the boys showed their mettle as they hit back to score four points without reply through sub Jamie Ormond (2), Adam Daly, and Joe Egan to put the game beyond Waterford’s reach, though they did have the last point of the game from Tom Carey in the 64th minute.

A third successive win sets Tipp up nicely for the final, although they’ll have a three-week wait while their opponents will have played two games in the meantime. Paddy McCormack, Oisin O’Donoghue, Adam Daly, Jim Ryan, Cathal O’Reilly, and sub Jamie Ormond making notable contributions. Ben O’Sullivan, Michael Morrissey, Jack Twomey, Aaron O’Neill, Conor Keane, and sub Pat Walsh were Waterford’s best.

TEAMS – Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 7); Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan 6), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule 6); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers 7), Jim Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 6), David Ryan (Arravale Rovers 6); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris 6), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 8); Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s 7), Conor Martin (Cappawhite 6), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris 6); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash 6), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 8), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 9).

Subs: Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og 6) for O’Halloran (38 inj), Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens 7) for Butler (42); Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill 6) for Costigan (53); Cormac Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch) for English (60+3).

Waterford: Alex Reade (6); Daniel Lalor (6), Fiacra Cooney (6), Conor Keane (7); Sean Mackey (9), Aaron O’Neill (7), Cillian Ryan (6); Joe McDonnell (6), Evan Spellman (6); Michael Morrissey (7), Mark Hartley (7), Jack Twomey (7); Conor Tobin (6), Gearoid Power (6), Ben O’Sullivan (8).

Subs: Joe O’Keeffe (6) for McDonnell (HT); Billy O’Connell (6) for Cooney (35); Tom Casey (6) for Hartley (42 inj), Pat Walsh (7) for Power (42); Adam Regan (6) for Spellman (51).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork).