Tipp minors end championship campaign on a high
GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 5
Tipperary 1-20
Waterford 1-12
Report: Michael Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Jamie Ormond (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Robbie Ryan 0-6 (3 frees); Stefan Tobin 1-2; Shane Buckley (frees), Sam Rowan 0-3 each; Jack Hayes 0-2; Jack Lahart, Jamie Ormond, David Costigan, Leigh Loughnane 0-1 each.
Waterford: Colm Hartley 0-8 (5 frees); Conor Tobin 1-1; Sean Mackey 0-2; Callum Carroll 0-1.
Tipperary ended a disappointing defence of their Munster & All-Ireland Minor Hurling titles with an emphatic win over Waterford at on Tuesday evening, their first win in four outings, but of no consequence to the championship with Cork, Limerick, and Clare having already progressed to the knockout stages prior to the game.
When Tipp reflect on this campaign, they will feel that things could have been very different had they not let a winning position slip against Limerick in their last game, victory in which would have kept them in the knock-out frame. Instead, both themselves and Waterford, who were also without a win after three rounds, engaged in a meaningless encounter with pride the only motivating factor.
The irrelevance of the game was reflected in paltry attendance. Tipperary won with something to spare but frustrated by the realisation that this team was capable of better. Having to play both their opening games away was a huge disadvantage, particularly for boys of such a young age, and while they improved as the campaign progressed, the damage was done early on and could not be undone.
That said, a win was important for morale and so both teams gave it their best shot. Tipp were quick out of the blocks, the tempo and quality of their opening quarter giving them a platform they never surrendered subsequently. A brace of Robbie Ryan points and another from Leigh Loughnane reflected the purposefulness in the side and in the eighth minute Stefan Tobin pounced for a cracking goal that put the home side in the driving seat.
It was a position they never subsequently relinquished though Waterford did come more into the game afterwards but some very poor shooting on their part diluted the potency of their challenge. The goal put Tipp into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead, and they were 1-7 to 0-3 ahead after 21 minutes when Waterford enjoyed a brief flourish that yielded three points, two from the impressive Conor Hartley, to keep them in touch.
At half-time Tipperary were 1-8 to 0-7 to the good but the game was still in the balance. Indeed, an early Colm Hartley point for Waterford on resuming suggested the possibility of a difficult second half for the home side, but it never transpired. Tipp fired over six points in the next eleven minutes per Robbie Ryan (3), David Costigan, Stefan Tobin, and Jack Lahart for a 1-14 to 0-8 lead after 42 minutes to put the game beyond Waterford’s reach.
The Deise boys could not be faulted for endeavour though with Hartley again their main source of scores, but wayward shooting continued to hamper them, and they had to wait until deep in injury time for the goal by Conor Tobin that was too late to prompt a rally. Had it come earlier, and Tobin did shoot into the side-netting with a likely chance in the 46th minute, things might have finished differently, but as it played out Tipp were comfortably in control and full value for their eight points win.
The galling thing for Tipp manager James Woodlock and his charges is that they have bowed out of the championship knowing that there was more in them than they showed, but heavy losses to Clare initially, and later to Cork, had them on the back foot, their fate then determined by that late slip against Limerick in their first home game.
Encouraging though was the manner in which the squad put those setbacks behind them to carve out this win. With nothing to play for, their pride in themselves and the jersey they wore, inspired a super effort which reaped a fitting reward. On an evening when they had nine players on the score-sheet, it was a team victory, with players doing what was expected of them efficiently and consistently.
The industrious captain Jamie Ormond led by example at midfield, but the defensive work of Jamie Lahart and Evan Morris was admirable. Harry Loughnane was a confident goalkeeper with his safe handling and accurate deliveries. Sam Rowan and Stefan Tobin spear-headed the attack where Robbie Ryan was also prominent.
Waterford struggled most of the way, their own errors compounding their difficulties. Colm Hartley was their biggest threat in attack with Conor Tobin and Sean Mackey also having their moments. Cathal O’Sullivan, Cormac Deevy and Dylan Ryan also did well. Overall, it was a poor campaign for Waterford, one they will be happy to quickly forget.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Harry Loughnane (Roscrea); Jack Lahart (Holycross/Ballycahill), Evan Morris (Holycross/Ballycahill), Ciaran Byrne (Golden Kilfeacle); Shane Buckley (Knockavilla Kickhams), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh Linnane (Mullinahone); Jamie Ormond (JK Brackens, Capt), David Costigan (Moycarkey/Borris); Colm Kennedy (Sean Treacys), Sam Rowan (Mullinahone), Leigh Loughnane (Roscrea); Jack Hayes (Moycarkey/Borris), Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan), Robbie Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill).
Subs: Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Kennedy (42), Cormac Cahill (Drom & Inch) for Costigan (53), Cillian Minogue (Durlas Og) for L Loughnane (55), Jake Houlihan (Nenagh Eire Og) for Hayes (58); Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall) for Ryan (58).
Waterford: Leon Lannon; Liam Lynch, Dylan Ryan, Tom Ahern; Cormac Deevy, Cathal O’Sullivan, Philip Power; David Comerford, Callum Carroll; Colm Hartley, Gearoid Power, Sean Kelly; Conor Tobin, Sean Mackey, Adam Regan.
Subs: Ben Cummins for Regan (HT), Conor Murphy for G Power (44); Charlie Lineen for Kelly (44); Mark Power for Mackey (49); Kristian McLoughlin for Carroll (55).
Referee: Shane Scanlon (Cork).