Tipp Minor Hurlers withstand Waterford fightback

Tipperary summoned a gritty finish for the second week running to maintain their winning start to the Munster Minor Hurling Championship despite a dramatic Waterford fightback on Thursday evening.

GAA: Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 2

Waterford 2-14

Tipperary 3-16

Report: Stephen Barry at Fraher Field, Dungarvan

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Cathal O’Reilly (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Waterford: Mark Hartley 0-7 frees; Shane Power 1-2; Gearóid O’Shea 1-1; Cormac Spain 0-2; Jack Power, Caoillin Reville 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Eoghan Doughan 0-5 (4 frees); Adam Ryan, Billy O’Brien 1-1 each; Stefan Tobin 0-4; Cillian Minogue 1-0; Jake Donelan Houlihan 0-2; Euan Murray, Darragh O’Hora, Jack Cahill 0-1 each.

Few could’ve seen a nail-biter coming after three first-half goals from Adam Ryan, Cillian Minogue, and Billy O’Brien sent the Premier in twelve points to the good at half-time, 3-9 to 0-6.

The famous Fraher Field breeze would have its say, though. Armed with that advantage, the hosts tore into Tipp, who required a late stand led by Stefan Tobin’s point-taking and fierce defending from captain Cathal O’Reilly. The victory still wasn’t secure until the bench wrapped it up with stoppage-time points from Darragh O’Hora and Jack Cahill, son of senior boss Liam.

It means James Woodlock’s side can head into their three-week break satisfied with a perfect start from tough contests against Cork and the Déise. The visit of All-Ireland champions Clare to FBD Semple Stadium provides the next test on May 2nd.

Waterford were distant nine-point losers to the Banner last time out, but they opened the scoring here with Mark Hartley’s first of seven frees. Patrick O’Mahony’s whistle would play an overbearing role in this contest, with the number of overcarrying frees spilling into double-digits across the hour.

Ryan’s sixth-minute goal gave Tipp a lead they would hold until the end. An outnumbered Minogue did well to create the chance, winning the battle for possession along the endline with a skilful pick-up to release Ryan. The Arravale Rovers clubman’s sidestep opened the space for a sharp finish.

Jake Donelan-Houlihan was finding plenty of space simply by holding his wing-back berth. He landed two points inside ten minutes, won a free for another, and would later assist a goal. Stefan Tobin had a smart score on the turn but points from Jack & Shane Power, plus Hartley’s frees, kept the hosts in touch.

It was 1-5 to 0-5 after twenty minutes but from there, Tipp would outscore them 2-4 to 0-1 by the break. They were efficient in punishing errors compared to Waterford’s wastefulness. While the home side converted less than half of their shots, accumulating fifteen wides, Tipp’s scoring rate was closer to 66%.

Waterford were also preoccupied with avoiding the Premier puck-out dominance that swung the game against Cork. But four times when they went short, they were turned over inside their own 65 as they worked the sliotar out. From one such turnover for overcarrying, Eoghan Doughan’s free was batted down in front of the posts and Cillian Minogue showed a poacher’s eye to raise the green flag. Billy O’Brien and Doughan picked off turnover points and Ryan added another after snatching a long puck-out.

With the last act of the half, a third goal followed. It originated from another classy pick-up, this time by Euan Murray. Donelan-Houlihan’s delivery caught the defence off guard and O’Brien whipped the sliotar to the net.

The lead was 3-9 to 0-6 but with a couple of early subs and the wind behind them, Waterford upped the intensity all over the field. Stefan Tobin edged the lead out to thirteen, but O’Reilly was required to produce a last-gasp hook to deny Cormac Spain a potential goal.

Euan Murray’s sublime point along the sideline made it 3-11 to 0-8 but Waterford would rattle off 2-3 without reply between the 39th and 47th minutes. Shane Power scored an incredible individual goal, leaving six defenders in his wake and flicking the sliotar over his final opponent before unleashing a tidy finish.

Gearóid O’Shea had the next, smuggling the ball to the net after regaining possession.

Tipp manager Woodlock introduced fresh legs around midfield and the full-forward line, while Stefan Tobin came out to forty. It was the key move. He scored two momentum-breaking points to put daylight between the sides, including one off-the-hurley stunner after a solo run.

There was still just three in the difference for seven tension-packed minutes without a score. It was here captain Cathal O’Reilly came up trumps, executing a brilliant rob on Jack Power and following up to block down Shane Power.

Tipp had the deeper bench and O’Hora and Cahill broke the stalemate in stoppage time, although there was still time for a Shane Power shot and Hartley free to be blocked on the goal-line.

TEAMS – Waterford: Billy Murphy; Jack Twomey, Fiacra Cooney, Alex Furlong; Tommy Kennedy, Joseph McDonnell, Tadhg Corcoran; Jack Power, Ollie Fives; Gearóid O’Shea, Mark Hartley, Jamie Shanahan; Cormac Spain, Shane Power, Ben Cummins.

Subs: Conor Power for Corcoran (29); Caoillin Reville for Shanahan (HT); Donnachadh Hickey for O’Shea (60).

Tipperary: Evan Sherlock (Kiladangan); Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill, Capt), Toby Corbett (Upperchurch/Drombane), Shane Ryan (Killenaule); Jake Donelan Houlihan (Nenagh Éire Óg), Owen O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Patrick Ryan (Borris-Ileigh); Kieran Rossiter (Dúrlas Óg), Killian Cantwell (Moycarkey/Borris); Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Euan Murray (Dúrlas Óg), Billy O’Brien (Nenagh Éire Óg); Cillian Minogue (Dúrlas Óg), Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan), Eoghan Doughan (Moneygall).

Subs: Tiarnan Ryan (Holycross/Ballycahill) for Rossiter (44); Aaron Cagney (St Mary’s) for Cantwell (47); Jack Cahill (Ballingarry) for Minogue (53); Darragh O'Hora (Solohead) for O'Brien (55); Ryne Bargary (Boherlahan/Dualla) for A Ryan (60+2).

Referee: Patrick O’Mahony (Cork).