Tipp edge out Waterford in dramatic encounter
GAA: Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 5
Tipperary 0-24
Waterford 2-16
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary stayed in the hunt for the quarter finals of the National Hurling League Division 1 after holding off a brave effort from Waterford who finished with thirteen men at Semple Stadium Thurles today.
A rather run of the mill league encounter exploded into life in the ten minutes before half time when no fewer than three red cards were issued by referee Sean Stack. Firstly, Austin Gleeson saw sent off for a second bookable offence in the 29th minute before five minutes later his half back colleague Kevin Moran was issued with a straight red card after the linesman drew the referee’s attention to an off the ball incident involving Jason Forde.
It led to an increase in tensions and in the third minute of added time Tipp lost a man with Cathal Barrett red carded following advice from an umpire after an altercation with Dessie Hutchinson.
All that overshadowed as opening half in which Tipperary led 0-14 to 1-8 at the break with Jason Forde again to the fore for Tipp with eight points while Waterford’s goal came from Peter Hogan on ten minutes.
Tipp’s defence never looked comfortable all through and the concession of a poor goal early in the second half to Stephen Bennett gave Waterford renewed hope. The visitors were the better side in the second half, despite their numerical disadvantage, shooting sixteen wides in all to Tipp’s six.
However, despite their struggles, Tipp just about did enough and but for three superb saves from Stephen O’Keeffe, the win could have been more convincing even though they scarcely deserved the two point win they ultimately achieved as they head to Galway next Sunday for a winner takes all encounter for the final quarter final berth from the group.
MATCH DIGEST
Man of the Match: Stephen O’Keeffe (Waterford)
SCORERS - Tipperary: Jason Forde 0-11 (5 65s, 4 frees); Dillon Quirke 0-4; Seamus Callanan, Padraic Maher 0-2 each; Cathal Barrett, Noel McGrath, John McGrath, Cian Darcy 0-1 each.
Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-7 (6 frees); Peter Hogan 1-2; Stephen Bennett 1-1; Jamie Barron 0-2; Kevin Moran, Conor Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson, Neil Montgomery 0-1 each.
TEAMS - Tipperary: Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher, Alan Flynn; Brian McGrath, Padraic Maher, Barry Heffernan; Paddy Cadell, Michael Breen; Jason Forde, Seamus Callanan, Dillon Quirke; Noel McGrath, John McGrath, Niall O’Meara.
Subs: Cian Darcy for N McGrath (blood 27-29); Bryan O’Mara for B McGrath (43);
Jake Morris for Breen (49); Cian Darcy for J McGrath (58); Craig Morgan for Flynn (62); Paul Flynn (Kiladangan) for O’Meara (62 inj).
Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe; Kieran Power, Shane McNulty, Conor Prunty; Shane Ryan, Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran; Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson; Jack Fagan, Pauric Mahony, Mikey Kearney; Peter Hogan, Stephen Bennett, Dessie Hutchinson.
Subs: Calum Lyons for Ryan (22); Jack Prendergast for Fagan (55); Darragh Lyons for Power (58); Neil Montgomery for Hutchinson (60); Patrick Curran for Hogan (66).
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)