Tipp hold off Waterford to reach Munster Under 20 Football Final

Tipperary0-11

Waterford0-9

Tipperary reached a first Munster Under 20 Football final since 2015 after edging out Waterford in a well-contested semi-final at Semple Stadium last evening.

Waterford started in confident fashion and raced into a four -point lead after seven minutes with Padraig Fitzgerald, Niall McSweeney (2), and Aaron Ryan kicking well-worked scores from play. It took Tipp nine minutes to trouble the scoreboard through captain Sean O’Connor who added a second before Padraig Fitzgerald restored Waterford’s three-point lead at the first water-break.

The Deise didn’t score in the second quarter as Tipp dominated possession, but they struggled to break down a solid Waterford defence while goalkeeper Ben Kirwan made an excellent save to deny Emmet Butler. Kevin Grogan converted the subsequent 45 and Ryan Walsh followed from play as Tipp were back on par at 0-5 apiece at half time.

Seamus Fitzgerald nudged Waterford back in front before Tipp took their first lead after 36 minutes following a Cathal Deeley free. They stretched it to three when Waterford captain Niall McSweeney spent ten minutes in the sinbin but the Deise dug in and a third Fitzgerald point brought them back within one but late points from Tipp captain Sean O’Connor to bring his personal tally to six, saw the home side prevail.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Tipperary: Sean O’Connor 0-6 (3 frees); Kevin Grogan 0-2 (1 free, 1 45); Cathal Deeley (free), Ryan Walsh, Conor Cadell 0-1 each.

Waterford: Padraig Fitzgerald 0-3; Niall McSweeney, Tom O’Connell (1 free) 0-2 each; Seamus Fitzgerald, Aaron Ryan 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Callan Scully; Sean Daly, Tadhg Condon, Brian McKeown; Emmet Butler, Billy O’Connor, Leon Kennedy; Cathal Deeley, Kevin Grogan; Jamie Holloway, Ryan Walsh, Conor Cadell; Mark O’Connor, Barry Kehoe, Sean O’Connor.

Subs: Conor McGrath for Kehoe (25); Ben Comerford for M O’Connor (HT); Jamie Duncan for Holloway (52); Christy English for Walsh (52);

Waterford: B Kirwan; S Boyce, K Taylor, L Fennell; A Ryan, C Foley, R Elliffe; O Geoghegan, C Walsh; P Fitzgerald, N McSweeney, T Dalton; Seamus Fitzgerald, T O’Connell, DJ Kiely. Subs: S Walsh for Geoghegan (21); J Power for Dalton (36); Sam Fitzgerald for Kiely (43); H Griffin for McSweeney (52); E Behan for Seamus Fitzgerald (60+4).

Referee: J Ryan (Cork)