Tipp fall to Waterford in Munster semi-final

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Waterford 2-25

Tipperary 4-11

Report: Liam Hogan at Pairc Ui Rinn

Tipperary found Waterford much too good in a one-sided Munster Minor Hurling semi-final played at Pairc Ui Rinn last evening.

Scoring 3-2 in the last seven minutes only served to put a better look on the scoreboard when in truth they had no answer to Waterford’s physical strength, first touch and speed for the majority of the game.

Tipp did manage a positive opening period which helped take a 0-4 to 0-2 lead on ten minutes after Darragh Guinan scored. But from there on it was Waterford all they way. The Deise scored six unanswered points to give them a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the first water-break. After the resumption, there was more to come with Peter Cummins grabbing a goal in the 27th minute following a decisive forty metre run from midfield by Liam O Siochain.

On reaching half time, it was 1-14 to 0-5 and the Deise continued on the front foot during the opening minutes as chief scorer Patrick Fitzgerald and Seanie Callaghan extended their lead.

Darragh Minogue gave Tipp some respite with a goal in the 35th minute but Waterford replied very swiftly as Marc O Mathuna doubled his account. Tipp tried to fight back and after Owen Harrigan pointed for Tipp, they commenced a five-point run leaving them nine adrift and sixteen remaining.

But any chance of closing the gap even more was dampened as Liam O Siochain scored with Fitzgerald (free) and Cummins adding a point each either side of the second water break.

There was more after the resumption with full forward Jack Twomey finding the net and Fitzgerald adding a free to make it 2-22 to 1-9 with seven-minute remaining.

Tipperary substitute Tom Delaney had made a major impact when introduced midway through the second half. He scored two quickfire points, but Tipp needed more and their persistence finally paid off as goals by Darragh Minogue, Tauri Shayanewako and Ronan Connolly served to put a gloss on the scoreboard.

By then Waterford had their sights on a final against Cork.

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS - Waterford: Patrick Fitzgerald 0-11 (6 frees); Peter Cummins 1-3; Jack Twomey 1-2; Seanie Callaghan 0-3 (1 frees); Fionn Hallinan, Marc O Mathuna 0-2 each; Jack O’Donnell, Liam O Siochain 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh Minogue 2-2; Ronan Connolly 1-2 (0-1 frees); Taurai Shayanewako 1-0; Tom Delaney, Conor Martin 0-2 each; Darragh Guinan, Owen Harrigan, Ben Currivan 0-1 each.

TEAMS – Waterford: Cian Troy; Conor Keane, Craig O’Keeffe, Rory Dobbyn; Billy O’Connell, Charlie Treen, Aaron O’Neill; Seanie Callaghan, Fionn Hallinan; Liam O Siochain, Jack O’Donnell, Marc O Mathuna; Patrick Fitzgerald, Jack Twomey, Peter Cummins.

Subs: Daniel Heffernan for O Siochain (55); Aidan Higgins for Dobbyn (59); Daniel Lawlor for P Fitzgerald (60 inj).

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan; Ciaran Woodlock, Jack Quinlan, Jack Collins; Stephen Walsh, Joe Egan, Ronan Connolly (Capt); Phil Hayes, Ben Currivan; Owen Harrigan, Conor Martin, Taurai Shayanewako; Orrin Jones, Darragh Guinan, Darragh Minogue.

Subs: Sam Farrell for J Egan (HT); Tom Delaney for Jones (40); Paddy McCormack for Woodlock (46); Paddy Phelan for Harrigan (46); Ciaran Foley for Shayanewako (56).

Referee: Joe Mullins (Clare).