Tipp U20's earn away win over Waterford

Tipperary prevailed in an error-ridden encounter to move top of the Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship round-robin table with a nine-point victory over Waterford on Friday evening.

GAA: oneills.com Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 3

Waterford 0-15

Tipperary 1-21

Report: Stephen Barry at Fraher Field, Dungarvan

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Oisín O’Donoghue (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Waterford: Marc Ó Mathúna 0-6 (4 frees, 1 65); Charlie Treen (2 frees), Michael Morrissey 0-3 each; Conor Keane 0-2; Cillian Ryan 0-1.

Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-7 (3 frees, 2 65s); Oisín O’Donoghue 1-3; Conor Martin, Senan Butler 0-3 each; Cathal English 0-2; Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly, Eoin Craddock 0-1 each.

It was scrappy for spells but the Premier were able to raise their game to win the second half by 0-14 to 0-5 as their entire front eight registered scores.

Oisín O’Donoghue finished with 1-3, while Senan Butler, Cathal English, Conor Martin, and Darragh McCarthy did plenty of damage. Full-backs Aaron O’Halloran and Podge O’Dwyer kept their markers scoreless in an accomplished defensive performance.

The victory leaves Tipp in a strong position to make the top three. They are on four points alongside Cork, while Limerick and Waterford have lost both their games. A clash against All-Ireland favourites Cork is up next on Friday, 4th May.

Tipp were without the suspended Paddy McCormack, who was replaced by Eoin Craddock among two changes to the team that defeated Limerick. Brendan Cummins also gave Jack Quinlan an opportunity to impress at corner-back, but he was stretchered off early on with a leg injury, replaced by Chris O’Donnell.

The hosts were without star player Patrick Fitzgerald as this game fell within a 60-hour window of their seniors’ clash with Cork but had the first two points from corner-back Cillian Ryan and a Charlie Treen free, but Tipp took over with a devastating 1-3 burst in the space of ninety seconds.

O’Donoghue got the goal after some fine build-up play from Cathal English to catch the long puck-out and Senan Butler, who whizzed a dangerous pass across the fourteen-yard line. The Cashel King Cormacs clubman did the rest with a tidy flick to the net.

Tipp turned over the next three home restarts to add quickfire points. English intercepted the first to tee up Adam Daly from midway, Darragh McCarthy was onto the break for the next, and Sam O’Farrell raced forward for the last from Butler’s visionary pick-out pass over four Déise defenders.

Treen and Michael Morrissey got Waterford back into the match but each time McCarthy replied with frees.

There were goal chances missed at either end. Michael Morrissey flicked wide after Tipp failed to clear their lines before direct hurling from English and McCarthy combined to set up Sam O’Farrell but the Nenagh native’s shot flashed across the posts. A Cathal English block down did allow Oisin O’Donoghue to claim a point from the latter attack.

The game was then held up for a lengthy stoppage as corner-back Quinlan received attention. That seemed to take the wind out of Tipp’s sails and gave Waterford a chance to regroup. The Premier had led 1-6 to 0-4 by the twelfth minute but would only score once more until half-time. The hosts got a stranglehold on the Tipp attackers and began to dominate the middle third. Marc Ó Mathúna opened his account and Treen added a free before McCarthy slotted a 65 after 24 minutes.

Ó Mathúna took over the placed balls after Treen picked up a knock and he slotted four in a row to take the sides level, 1-7 to 0-10, by the interval.

Tipp turned the tables in the second half, holding Waterford scoreless in the third quarter with improved ball retention and better discipline to avoid coughing up easy scores. They almost goaled from the throw-in after a defensive mistake, but goalkeeper Scott Ryan juggled Senan Butler’s shot off the line. Darragh McCarthy converted the subsequent 65 to restore their lead and kickstart a six-point streak.

There were first white flags of the evening for Conor Martin, Cathal English from his own interception, and Butler, with Sam O’Farrell laying on the final pass for two of those. A quick-thinking Darragh McCarthy sideline created another for Oisin O’Donoghue and Butler had his second when found by substitute Mason Cawley, 1-13 to 0-10.

A tap-over Ó Mathúna free got Waterford on the board, but any revival never came as Tipp tacked on the next three. A Darragh McCarthy free was followed by a flowing move from Butler to Cawley to Martin, who whistled his shot over despite aiming for the net.

Tipp came close to another goal when O’Donoghue and Craddock cut inside but Butler’s pull was closed down by Scott Ryan. Eoin Craddock still kept the sliotar alive for Conor Martin to split the posts.

Fine points from Conor Keane and Morrissey gave the home support something to cheer but Tipp added some gloss with a five-point run. Senan Butler used his turn of pace to land his third before intercepting the puck-out to assist McCarthy’s seventh. Cathal English opted to take a point when close to goal and Craddock completed the set of all forwards scoring before O’Donoghue capped a fine showing with a long-ranger.

Waterford finished as they began, with the final pair from Morrissey and Keane. They went goal-hunting at the end with Aaron O’Halloran’s diving blocks denying Jack Twomey and Morrissey before O’Dwyer clawed away a late free.

TEAMS – Waterford: Scott Ryan; Conor Keane, Daniel Lalor, Cillian Ryan; Aaron O’Neill (Capt), Billy O’Connell, Scott Fleming; Evan Spellman, Joseph O’Keeffe; Seán Mackey, Charlie Treen, Marc Ó Mathúna; Jack Twomey, Brian Callaghan, Michael Morrissey.

Subs: Jack Power for O’Keeffe (24-25, blood); Jack Power for Treen (28-30 blood); Jack Power for Treen (44); Jack O’Donnell for Callaghan (47); Michael Burke for Fleming (52); Fionn Hallinan for C Ryan (56, inj); Eoin O’Callaghan for Spellman (60).

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Jack Quinlan (Fethard), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Jack Collins (Ballina), Ben Currivan (Golden/Kilfeacle, Capt), Ronan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); Cathal English (Fr Sheehy’s), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara).

Subs: Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby/Castlegrace) for Quinlan (15 inj); Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Connolly (38); Jack O’Callaghan for Cawley (44-48 blood); Ciarán Foley (Borrisokane) for O’Farrell (48); Damien Corbett (Gortnahoe/Glengoole) for Martin (56); Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe) for O’Donoghue (60).

Referee: Éamonn Stapleton (Limerick).