Tipp salvage draw with Waterford after sluggish ending

GAA: Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group A Round 1

Tipperary 1-18

Waterford 1-18

Report: Michael Heverin at Fethard Town Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Brian McGrath (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Tipperary: Paddy McCormack (frees), Jack Leamy (3 frees) 0-4 each; Paddy Creedon 1-1; Brian McGrath (1 free), Darragh Stakelum 0-2 each; Robert Doyle, Joe Caesar, Josh Keller, Alan Tynan, Andrew Ormond 0-1 each.

Waterford: Rueben Halloran 0-8 (7 frees, 1 ’65); Charlie Treen 1-3; Seaghan Walsh 0-2; Billy Nolan (free), Conor Keane, Joe Booth, James Power, Marc Mahony 0-1 each.

Tipperary’s first competitive game since the All-Ireland final in July saw them snatch an injury time draw with Waterford in the Munster Hurling League round one clash on Saturday.

The All Ireland champions looked to be cruising to victory when they led by eight points, 1-17 to 0-12, ten minutes from the end of the sixty-minute encounter.

However, a highly competitive Waterford side hit 1-6 without reply to take the lead entering added time. Tipperary blushes were saved when half time substitute Jack Leamy pointed a late free to equalise. Brian McGrath had a late chance to snatch a Tipp victory following a foul on Robert Doyle but his free tailed just wide.

The game was scheduled for Clonmel Sportsfield but the pitch was deemed unplayable just thirty minutes before the start – a section of the pitch shaded by the main stand was frozen. The tie was then switched to the grass pitch at Fethard Town Park where action got under way seventy-five minutes later than scheduled.

After fielding largely experimental sides in two charity matches over Christmas, Tipp manager Liam Cahill introduced more familiar names – including Robert Doyle, Michael Breen, Bryan O’Mara, Andrew Ormond, Alan Tynan, Oisín O’Donoghue and Darragh Stakelum, who started, and Conor Stakelum and Willie Connors, who came on as subs – all nine having featured in the All-Ireland final win over Cork.

Waterford were missing the Ballygunner players but looked well primed for the contest when they raced into a three point lead after two minutes, a free from goalkeeper Billy Nolan, and two from play from Joe Booth and Sean Walsh. Within three minutes Tipp were level with two points from Darragh Stakelum and a great score from Brian McGrath.

In an even first quarter, the sides were level on three more occasions, two Paddy McCormack frees and another from Brian McGrath for Tipperary, with two from play from the impressive Charlie Treen and one from James Power replying for Waterford.

However, Tipperary outscored the Deise 1-5 to 0-1 in the second quarter. A fine score from Josh Keller restored their lead – the Nenagh Eire Óg player putting in an impressive fifty minutes – before Tipp finally broke through for the game’s first goal, when Paddy Creedon finished a great run with a one-handed shot to the net past Billy Nolan.

Tipp were now playing their best hurling of the game and added another three points on the bounce – brilliant fielding from Oisín O’Donoghue saw him put Alan Tynan clear and he was fouled for McCormack to point the free; Joe Caesar followed up with a lovely score from the wing back, and another McCormack free made it 1-9 to 0-6 five minutes from the break.

Reuben Halloran had Waterford’s first score in ten minutes from a free, but Keller provided the assist for his midfield partner Alan Tynan to give the home side a double-score lead at the break, 1-11 to 0-7.

Tipperary made four substitutions at half time, and another six in the second half, and those wholesale changes appeared to disrupt their rhythm as the game wore on. Their lead fluctuated between six and eight points but Waterford always looked a threat.

Jack Leamy’s introduction saw the Golden/Kilfeacle player take over the free-taking duties from the replaced Paddy McCormack, hitting three from placed balls, including the late equaliser, as well as one from play, but the key player in the second thirty minutes was Waterford’s Reuben O’Halloran who converted seven placed balls.

Robert Doyle, Paddy Creedon, and Andrw Ormond also scored for Tipp in the second half, but Liam Cahill will be a little concerned about Waterford’s purple patch to take a late lead. Halloran pointed three frees in a row and as the traffic remained in one direction, Charlie Treen broke through to shoot past Barry Hogan and followed up with a superb point in the next move.

Waterford’s momentum was only broken by the late free they conceded and Leamy ensured that Tipp got at least a share of the spoils.

A concern for Tipperary was a second half shoulder injury to Alan Tynan who looked in considerable pain when leaving the field.

TEAMS - Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan 7); Conor Martin (Cappawhite 6), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore 7), Michael Breen (Ballina 8); Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill 7), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 8), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill 7); Josh Keller (Nenagh Eire Óg 7), Alan Tynan (Roscrea 7); Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs 6), Peter McGarry (St. Mary’s 6), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 8); Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens 6); Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields 8), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 7).

Subs: Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 6) for Stakelum (HT), Jack Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle 7) for McCormack (HT); Joe Fogarty (Moneygall 6) for McGarry (HT), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers 6) for Breen (HT), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-D Kickhams 6) for Tynan (33 inj); Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris 6) for Martin (43), Willie Connors (Kiladangan 7) for O’Mara (43), Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla 6) for Keller (50), Adam Hall (Toomevara 6) for Creedon (51), Billy Seymour (Kiladangan 6) for O’Donoghue (52).

Waterford: Billy Nolan (7); Daniel Lawlor (7), Jack Fagan (7), Conor Keane (7); Sean Mackey (6), Mark Fitzgerald (6), Brian Lynch (7); Seamus Fitzgerald (7), Tom O’Connell (7); Joe Booth (7), Rueben Halloran (8), Jack Twomey (6); Charlie Treen (8), Sean Walsh (7), James Power (7).

Subs: Marc Mahony (7) for Twomey (8 inj); Tholum Guiry (6) for O’Connell (HT); Mairtin Power (6) for S Fitzgerald (45); Patrick Curran (6) for Walsh (48); Tom Barron (6) for Lynch (51); PJ Fanning (6) for Mackey (56); Jack Lacey (NR) for Fagan (6O).

Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork).