Tipp held by Waterford in dramatic finale

GAA: Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 2

Waterford 3-24

Tipperary 1-30

Report: Shane Brophy

at Azzurri Walsh Park

MATCH DIGEST

SCORERS – Waterford: Stephen Bennett 1-11 (0-8 frees, 0-1 ‘65); Kevin Mahony 1-2; Jamie Barron 1-1; Calum Lyons 0-3; Dessie Hutchinson 0-2; Jack Fagan, Jack Prendergast, Billy Nolan (free), Sean Walsh, Sean Mackey 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-5 (4 frees); John McGrath, Oisin O’Donoghue, Eoghan Connolly (1 ’65) 0-4 each; Andrew Ormond 1-1; Jake Morris 0-3; Stefan Tobin, Ronan Maher 0-2 each; Sam O’Farrell, Willie Connors, Alan Tynan, Darragh Stakelum, Jason Forde 0-1 each.

Tipperary conceded a last gasp goal as Waterford claimed a share of the spoils in a dramatic Munster Senior Hurling Championship clash on Sunday.

The All-Ireland champions looked back to their best in the opening half when they opened 1-18 to 1-7 half time lead but were almost undone by a ferocious second half fightback from Waterford who not only evaporated the eleven point margin but also went two in front before Tipp showed greater resolve to go three ahead again in the sixth minute of added time with Billy Nolan landing a bomb of a puckout into the square which broke to Kevin Mahony who goaled for a deserved draw but Waterford will also rue sixteen wides.

Waterford went with an unchanged starting line-up from the defeat to Clare while Tipperary manager Liam Cahill made four changes with Seamus Kennedy coming in at wing back for Craig Morgan with Alan Tynan starting at midfield for Conor Stakelum. Sam O’Farrell and Darragh McCarthy came into the half and full forward line respectively in place of Jason Forde and Stefan Tobin.

Off the back of a sluggish display against Cork, Tipp were on it right from the off despite Calum Lyons getting the first score as the visitors rattled off six points inside nine minutes with McCarthy (2, 1 free), Andrew Ormond (2), O’Farrell, and Willie Connors on target while O’Farrell was also denied a goal by the post.

Waterford were sluggish put points from Stephen Bennett (free), Jack Fagan and Jamie Barron kept them close but Tipp kept the scoreboard ticking over through Jake Morris, Oisin O’Donoghue (2), another McCarthy free and John McGrath before the latter played in Ormond for a 23rd minute goal, 1-11 to 0-4.

Tipp handed the goal back almost straight away with Barron finding space through the middle to blast past Rhys Shelly. Tipp’s response was strong with McGrath, Alan Tynan and O’Donoghue on target before Calum Lyons got his second.

Darragh McCarthy converted two more frees with Ronan Maher and Jake Morris also on target as Tipp led by 11 at half time.

Waterford needed a strong start to the second half and scored four in a row from Dessie Hutchinson and three Bennett placed balls before Tipp scored again through John McGrath on 43 minutes.

It didn’t stem the surge with Bennett, sub Sean Mackey, Lyons and Jack Prendergast pointing to bring it back to three on 50 minutes.

Tipp needed to dig in a points from Eoghan Connolly and Jake Morris looked to turn the tide but a superb Stephen Bennett goal on 55 minutes really ignited the home crowd, 2-16 to 1-21.

Hutchinson and Bennett pointed to draw level before sub Stefan Tobin landed a much needed Tipp point. Bennett and Connolly traded points from play before the latter converted a 65 after Billy Nolan saved superbly from John McGrath.

Stephen Bennett was inspired in the second half and three more points pushed Waterford ahead for the first time on 65 minutes.

Tipp were sinking but showed great resolve with sub Darragh Stakelum pointing before Eoghan Connolly’s third from play brought them level before Oisin O’Donoghue’s fourth pushed Tipp back in front on 69 minutes.

Sean Walsh levelled for Waterford going into four minutes of added time in which Tobin, Jason Forde and captain Ronan Maher looked to have pointed Tipp to victory but as the clock went beyond the four minutes after Robert Doyle required treatment, one last Waterford attack broke kindly for Kevin Mahony to goal and throw the race for the top 3 in the Munster round-robin wide open as Tipp head into a three week break before they play again against Clare on Saturday, May 16th.

TEAMS – Waterford: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Mark Fitzgerald (Capt), Aaron O’Neill; Paddy Leavey, Iarlaith Daly, Jack Fagan; Darragh Lyons, Calum Lyons; Shane Bennett, Jamie Barron, Jack Prendergast; Dessie Hutchinson, Sean Walsh, Stephen Bennett.

Subs: Kevin Mahony for Shane Bennett (31); Sean Mackey for D Lyons (HT); Conor Keane for Kenny (47); Austin Gleeson for C Lyons (56); Tadgh de for Daly (59).

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris); Michael Breen (Ballina), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore); Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs); Willie Connors (Kiladangan), Alan Tynan (Roscrea); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Eire Og), Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens).

Subs: Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Kennedy (47); Noel McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Tynan (47-58 blood); Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for O’Farrell (50); Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan) for Ormond (55); Jason Forde (Silvermines) for McCarthy (59); Peter McGarry (St Mary’s) for Connors (65).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).

Attendance: 11,982.

Full report, analysis and reaction in the Nenagh Guardian on Wednesday.