Tipp Under 20 Hurlers finish strongly to see off Waterford to reach semi-final

GAA: oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 5

Tipperary 3-26

Waterford 3-13

Report: Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Darragh Stakelum (Tipperary)

Scorers - Tipperary: Jack Leamy 2-6; Peter McGarry 1-4; Darragh Stakelum 0-5; Eddie Ryan 0-4; Sean Kenneally, Cathal Quinn 0-2 each; Ronan Connolly, Darragh McCarthy, Ciaran McCormack 0-1 each.

Waterford: Charlie Treen 1-9; Jack Twomey 2-1; Oisin Walsh 0-2, Jack Booth, Conor Keane, 0-1 each.

Tipperary advanced to the semi-final of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship with a hard fought victory over Waterford on Friday evening.

A game which Tipp were in control of from tape to gun, they found it hard to put the Deise lads away and the concession of three goals helped to keep the Waterford hopes alive for most of the game. But, they were never going to cause an upset and the victory, coming on the back of the win over Limerick in the last round will help to bolster confidence as they ready themselves for the penultimate game in the province.

Tipperary needed to win this game if they were to progress to the semi-final. With victory finally secured at the third time of asking when they staved off a stern Limerick test a week previously, to add to the point earned against Clare in the first round drawn game, Brendan Cummins’ men knew the prize at stake for victory in this final round robin clash against the Deise.

It had been an indifferent Premier campaign, with fine passages of play mixed with very mediocre fare. And, though Waterford had nothing to play for apart from pride, Tipperary still knew that they would have to perform in order to secure those points to bring their tally to five for the series. Waterford though, were not going to simply roll over and allow their bellies to be rubbed – no, they had designs of ending the championship on a positive note.

The only change to the side from the Limerick tie was Cashel King Cormacs Ronan Connolly who was slated to start this game wearing the number fifteen jersey.

Tipp had a number of goal chances in the first half, but it was Waterford who rattled the net the more as they bagged efforts in the fifth minute through Charlie Treen and in the 21st minute through Jack Twomey. The goals had really come against the run of play as Tipp had been making most of the running with some fine passages of play and well taken points especially from the likes of midfielder Darragh Stakelum (3), Peter McGarry (4) and Sean Kenneally (2).

It was hard to credit that Waterford were in front following Twomey’s goal considering the dominance of the Tipp lads. But, it didn’t take them long to get back on terms – Peter McGarry and Eddie Ryan levelling matters up with two minutes of Tipp falling behind.

It got better for the Premier lads when Darragh Stakelum, Eddie Ryan and a fine goal from Peter McGarry in the 28th minute helping to bring a little more realism to the scoreboard.

A brace each from Charlie Treen for Waterford and Jack Leamy for Tipp left the Tipp lads in front by 1-16 to 2-9 and it was a lead fully deserved. They were using the ball very well and creating plenty of opportunities with seven players already on the scoresheet by the halfway mark in comparison to four Waterford scorers.

Tipp had three fast points upon resumption through Eddie Ryan, Jack Leamy and Darragh Stakelum, but Waterford hit back with a third goal through Jack Twomey to leave just four in it.

Tipp should have been coasting it but instead they were going point-for-point – Cathal Quinn and Darragh Stakelum trading with Conor Keane and Charlie Treen.

The trading of scores continued until Jack Leamy pounced for Tipp’s second goal in the 61st minute when Peter McGarry cut through the Waterford defence and set him up. It was game, set and match Tipperary even before Jack Leamy blasted Tipp’s third goal right at the very death.

Tipp's win sees them finish in second place in the table and will host Clare in the Munster semi-final on Monday, 8th May with Cork awaiting in the final a week later.

Teams - Tipperary: Jason O’Dwyer (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Danny Slattery (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane); Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs), Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill), Conor McKelvey (Silvermines), James Morris (St Mary’s), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Sean Kenneally (Moneygall), Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh), Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle); Peter McGarry (St Mary’s), Tony Cahill (Drom & Inch), Ronan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs).

Subs: Ciaran McCormack (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Cahill (41); Stephen Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Connolly (47); Michael Corcoran (Silvermines) for Morris (51); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara) for Ryan (57).

Waterford: Scott Ryan, Jamie Power, Cormac Cantwell, Rory Dobbyn, Michael Mullaney, Oisin Walsh, Niall Browne, Kevin Cullinane, Fionn Hallinan, Tom O’Connor, Conor Keane, Joe Booth, Evan Foley, Charlie Treen, Jack Twomey..

Subs: Willie Beresford for Cullinane (HT); Dean Walsh for Browne (39); Luke Horgan for Foley (49); Rian Walsh for Keane (51); Francis Roche for Twomey (57).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)