Tipp avoid sweep with controlled win over Waterford

GAA: Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

Waterford 1-0-7 (10)

Tipperary 0-1-13 (15)

Report: Stephen Barry at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Joe Higgins (Tipperary)

SCORERS – Waterford: Michael O’Brien 1-0; Stephen Curry (1 free), Alan Dunwoody 0-2 each; Conor Murray, Adam Murray, Billy Hynes 0-1 each.

Tipperary: Seán O’Connor 0-6 (1x2play, 2 frees); Cian Smith 0-4 (3 frees); Jack O’Neill, Charlie King, Eoin Craddock, Micheál Freaney, Killian Butler 0-1 each.

Six second-half points from Seán O’Connor were enough for Tipperary to see off Waterford on Sunday and progress to the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Football Championship.

The Premier trailed by 1-3 to 0-5 at half-time, having played against a strong wind, but once O’Connor’s orange flag pushed them ahead in the 43rd minute, the visitors would never be caught.

They outscored the Déise by 0-10 to 0-2 until two late consolation points. The victory denied the hosts a historic clean sweep of victories over Tipp after wins for their minors and U20s in the previous week.

Both teams featured just three starters from Waterford's famous victory over Tipp in their last Dungarvan clash two years ago.

For his first championship game in charge, Niall Fitzgerald handed out five debuts. Charlie King, Joe Higgins, and Killian Butler made the step straight up from U20 level. New recruits Shane Garland and Eoin Craddock also got their first championship starts. Each acquitted themselves well. Higgins emerged as the dominant figure in midfield and King assisted a handful of points.

With Steven O’Brien, man of the match in last year’s contest, injured and Jack Harney having left the panel to head for America, Butler and Jack O’Neill came into the team that rounded out the league with a 13-point victory over the Déise.

With a fuel protest closing the N20 bypass outside Fraher Field, 846 fans turned out on a day that mixed sunshine and rain. There was also a gale-force wind blowing into the estuary. Waterford won the toss and chose to play with the elements.

Tipp slowed the game down with controlled attacks outside Waterford’s arc defence. They worked the first point for through King and Micheál Freaney for debutant Butler. Alan Dunwoody levelled before Freaney handpassed Tipp back in front after more good work by King.

There followed thirteen scoreless minutes until Waterford’s goal. Glen Power appeared to attempt a two-pointer, but it fell perfectly for midfielder Michael O’Brien to catch and fire low into the net.

They led 1-1 to 0-2, but Tipp were level within three minutes with points from Craddock and a Cian Smith free.

Referee Barry Tiernan made five overcarrying calls in the first half. Waterford punished one of those for a Stephen Curry point. Conor Murray moved them two ahead before Curry let a misplaced Tipp kick-out off the hook with a weak shot at Garland.

Smith’s second free left one in the difference, 1-3 to 0-5, at half-time, and he levelled upon the resumption.

Stephen Curry got Waterford back in front, but Tipp began to find a higher gear with King’s fisted point. Then, the Ballina half-back teed up O’Connor’s first score of the day, a two-pointer, to give Tipp a 0-9 to 1-4 advantage.

Dunwoody brought it back to a one-point game, but Tipp eventually peeled away with six points without reply. O’Connor (two each from play and frees), Jack O’Neill, and Smith accounted for those scores. O’Connor also had a shot on goal blocked by Adam Crawford.

Adam Murray and Billy Hynes pulled two back for the Déise in stoppage time before Michael Curry was black carded in the final play for a foul on Mark Russell.

TEAMS – Waterford: Simon Burns; Conor Ó Cuirrín, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Billy Hynes; Aaron Ryan, Adam Crawford, Glen Power; Michael O’Brien, Michael Curry; Liam Mulligan, Conor Murray, Donal Fitzgerald; Dermot Ryan, Stephen Curry, Alan Dunwoody.

Subs: Darragh Walsh for A Ryan (50); Adam Murray for Fitzgerald (58); Caoimhín Walsh for Dunwoody (66).

Tipperary: Shane Garland (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Eoin O’Connell (Loughmore/Castleiney), Jack O’Neill (Ardfinnan); James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields), Charlie King (Ballina); Joe Higgins (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, Capt); Eoin Craddock (Holycross/Ballycahill), Micheál Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Killian Butler (Moyle Rovers); Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Seán O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Daithí Hogan (St Patrick’s).

Subs: Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields) for Freaney (56), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for Butler (56), Mark Corcoran (Clonmel Commercials) for McFadden (56), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise) for King (66), Mark Russell (Aherlow) for Smith (67).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).

See full report, analysis, reaction and ratings in Wednesday's Nenagh Guardian