Waterford defeat sees Tipp fail to progress to phase 2 of the Munster U20 Football Championship

GAA: Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 1 Round 3

Waterford 1-1-15 (20)

Tipperary 0-1-9 (11)

Report: Stephen Barry

at Páirc Naomh Bríd, Lemybrien

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Fergal O’Brien (Waterford)

SCORERS – Waterford: Paddy McCarthy 0-6 (1x2free, 3frees); Joe Brennan 0-5 (2 frees); Daithí Colleran 1-1; Aaron Curran 0-2; Diarmuid Mackle, David Nyhan, Callum Royle 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Dylan Cotter 0-3 (1x2play); Oran Gahan, Liam Freaney (1 mark), James Power 0-2 each; Charlie Walsh, Shane Ryan 0-1 each.

If the Tipperary U20 hurlers got out of jail in Waterford 48 hours earlier, there was no such reprieve for the U20 footballers, who were soundly dispatched from the Munster Championship with a nine-point defeat on Friday evening.

The Premier drop into next Thursday’s ‘B’ final against Limerick at Mallow as Waterford march onto phase 2, with tests against Kerry and Cork their prize.

The winners scored the first 1-3 without reply, with midfielder Daithí Colleran punching to the net, and Tipp could never close within five points from there.

Waterford’s smart one-two combinations repeatedly exposed them down the middle, while Tipp’s shots were rushed from poor positions. They ended with 12 wides, four more dropped short, and two saved for a 36% conversion rate.

Midfield was Tipp’s most productive department. Dylan Cotter and Oran Gahan chipped in with five points and both threatened goals.

Otherwise, Andrew Ryan did a fine marking job on Blue & Gold captain Liam Freaney in a defence led by Fergal O’Brien. Up front, Paddy McCarthy and Joe Brennan combined for 0-11, although Jack McGonigle and Jack Kearney emerged with credit from those duels.

Tipp started their third consecutive game with a different full-back, with Seán Griffin swapping into the role. Cotter and Ciarán Kelly came in for Danny Morris and John Cronin in the starting team.

The Déise turned Tipp over for Brennan’s rapid opener before a patient move saw Diarmuid Mackle smash the crossbar in the second minute.

After a Waterford penalty claim was given as a free, which Brennan tapped over, Waterford got their goal in the 13th minute. The Tipp defence lost the flight of O’Brien’s high delivery in the evening sunshine and Colleran profited to poke home. His midfield partner Mackle was next to score to complete the 1-3 streak.

Conor Drohan protected their lead by saving from Ciarán Kelly. At the other end, Peter Boland prevented another goal with a diving save from Aaron Curran before brilliantly robbing Callum Royle.

Freaney broke Tipp’s drought in the 18th minute from Cotter’s super cross field pass. McCarthy replied with a pair of frees from inside and outside the arc.

Tipp cut the gap with Charlie Walsh keeping the ball in play to assist Shane Ryan’s score before Gahan notched a turnover point. McCarthy’s closing free made it 1-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

Tipp’s task was made tougher before the short whistle as Kelly was sin-binned for a trip on Ben Boland.

The Tipp players came together in a huddle on the halfway line before heading for the dressing room. They re-emerged with Cotter nailing a two-pointer from the throw-in. His next effort dropped short and Waterford responded with three in a row. Wing-back Curran surged forward for two white flags, one of which could’ve been worked for a goal chance. With Tipp back to 15, David Nyhan added another. A Freaney mark was cancelled out by a three-up breach, punished by Brennan tapping over.

Tipp had their best patch with three successive points. Gahan scythed through for two goal chances. One was fired over. The other was fluffed and blocked by Andrew Ryan.

James Power made an impact upon his introduction with a point before Charlie Walsh punished a sloppy pass. It was 1-11 to 0-9 until Brennan curled over under pressure.

Cotter flashed a shot over the bar, but there would be no further Tipp revival. Waterford outscored them by five points to one down the stretch. Brennan and Colleran split the posts before McCarthy drop-kicked just over the bar.

Power’s second point could’ve been more as his dipping shot grazed the crossbar on its way over.

Royle was brought down approaching goal by Peter Boland for a McCarthy free before the keeper saved from Paul Bagnall, with Royle mopping up the rebound for a point.

TEAMS – Waterford: Conor Drohan; Ben Boland, Corey Lyons, Fergal O’Brien; Darragh Jacob (Joint-capt), Andrew Ryan, Aaron Curran; Diarmuid Mackle, Daithí Colleran; Ben Qualter, Paddy McCarthy (Joint-capt), David Nyhan; Joe Brennan, Ciarán Power, Callum Royle.

Subs: Ciarán Cotter for Boland (41, inj); Paul Bagnall for Brennan (58, inj); James Hickey for Qualter (60+2).

Tipperary: Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Gavin Neville (Fethard), Seán Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers), Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), Jamie O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); Oran Gahan (St Patrick’s), Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Ciarán Kelly (Arravale Rovers), Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash, Capt), Liam Kiely (Fethard); Mark Neville (Fethard), Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan), Charlie Walsh (Fethard).

Subs: Seán Bourke (Aherlow) for Kiely (HT); Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for Kelly (39); Philip O’Dwyer (Upperchurch/Drombane) for M Neville (41); James Power (Clonmel Commercials) for Ryan (47); John Cronin (Moyle Rovers) for McGonigle (58).

Referee: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry).