Tipp produce injury time comeback earn vital draw with Waterford

Tipperary senior hurlers showed what they are truly made of as they came from four points down in injury time to salvage a draw with Waterford and keep their chances of progressing in the Munster Championship in their own hands following an enthralling game on Saturday evening.

GAA: Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3

Waterford 3-21

Tipperary 1-27

Report: Shane Brophy at Walsh Park, Waterford

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Jamie Barron (Waterford)

SCORERS – Waterford: Stephen Bennett 2-3 (1-0 pen); Dessie Hutchinson 0-6 (3 frees); Jack Prendergast 1-1; Calum Lyons 0-3; Patrick Curran 0-2; Kieran Bennett Darragh Lyons, Neil Montgomery, Michael Kiely, Jack Fagan, Shane Bennett 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Mark Kehoe, Gearoid O’Connor (3 frees) 0-4 each; Sean Kenneally 1-1; Jason Forde (2 frees), Jake Morris 0-3 each; Eoghan Connolly, Ronan Maher (1 free), Alan Tynan, Noel McGrath 0-2 each; Michael Breen, Darragh Stakelum, Patrick Maher, John McGrath 0-1.

The concession of first half goals to Stephen Bennett (penalty), Jack Prendergast, and a second goal from Bennett after half time looked set to prove costly, but after a difficult week following the hammering by Limerick, Liam Cahill’s charges displayed a mentality that no set-backs were going to hold them back.

A Jack Prendergast point in the first minute of four of added time looked to have won the game for Waterford but Tipp stayed coming and from the next play, the outstanding Mark Kehoe played in Jake Morris whose shot was saved by Shaun O’Brien but sub Sean Kenneally was on hand to send the rebound to the net.

In the three minutes that remained, Conor Bowe missed a good chance for an equaliser before Alan Tynan earned the free which Gearoid O’Connor converted to earn what could be a vital point for Tipp who have two home games to come against Cork and Clare with their fate of reaching a first provincial final since 2021 firmly in their own hands.

The Tipperary starting line-up contained three changes from the side that were defeated by Limerick with Cathal Barrett returning from injury to make his first start of the campaign at corner-back with Johnny Ryan dropping to the bench, as did Willie Connors with Noel McGrath coming into the side with Darragh Stakelum handed his first championship start in place of Sean Hayes.

Tipperary trailed 2-8 to 0-12 at half time with both goals controversial in nature. Michael Kiely was fouled in the fifth minute and as Stephen Bennett stepped up to take the penalty, the referee stepped across the eye-line of Barry Hogan who was sent the wrong way.

Tipp had strong claims for a penalty of their own three minutes later when Mark Kehoe was held in the square but their protestations were waved away. Eoghan Connolly was to the fore in the opening half as well as Ronan Maher as Tipp produced a response to their dismal showing against Limerick six days later.

The continued on the front foot in the second half and hit the first four points before conceding a poor goal on 42 minutes when they switched off from a 21-yard free with Dessie Hutchinson playing the free short to Stephen Bennett who fired past the Tipp rearguard.

From there on the action was dramatic, score for score, with Alan Tynan, Noel McGrath and Jake Morris stepping forward for Tipp along with Kehoe and debutante Darragh Stakelum. Tipp’s bench also made marked contributions with Patrick Maher and John McGrath impactful, with Sean Kenneally proving to be the saviour as his goal gave Tipp a chance of earning what was a deserved draw which they grasped.

FULL ANALYSIS AND REACTION IN WEDNESDAY'S NENAGH GUARDIAN

TEAMS – Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Burca, Kieran Bennett; Jamie Barron, Darragh Lyons; Neil Montgomery, Kevin Mahony, Jack Prendergast; Stephen Bennett, Dessie Hutchinson, Michael Kiely.

Subs: Jack Fagan for Prunty (7 inj); Shane Bennett for Mahony (51); Peter Hogan for Montgomery (58); Patrick Curran for Stephen Bennett (64).

Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan); Cathal Barrett (Holycross/Ballycahill), Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Michael Breen (Ballina); Conor Bowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields, Capt), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill); Alan Tynan (Roscrea), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs); Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne-Templetuohy), Jason Forde (Silvermines); Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields).

Subs: Patrick Maher (Lorrha) for Forde (51); Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for Connolly (54); John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for McGrath (56); Sean Kenneally (Moneygall) for Stakelum (64); Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) for O’Mara (67).

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).