Greater efficiency turns game in visitors favour

Waterford v Tipperary Senior Football Match Analysis

By Stephen Barry

Given the previous week’s Tipp-Waterford football results at underage level, a minimum-fuss victory for the seniors was more welcome than ever on Sunday.

It wasn’t a derby that caught fire, but the Blue & Gold avoided getting burned like their last Dungarvan visit.

Manager Niall Fitzgerald felt that Tipp played in too much of a rush into the strong wind across the first half. It didn’t feel that way watching on as his side engaged in a series of recycled attacks outside Waterford’s arc defence.

On reflection, the numbers endorsed his view. Tipp had more attacks in the first half than the second. Of those 19 attacks, they only got off shots from seven. Eleven were turned over. The other attack was timed out by the first-half hooter. (Incidentally, a clock malfunction meant the hooter wasn’t used in the second half.)

The big difference after the interval was the care Tipp showed for the ball. From 17 attacks, they got off 15 shots and were only turned over twice.

In terms of the first-half spectacle, the onus was more on Waterford to press further out the field, as Tipp did after the break. However, the hosts were content to sit in and keep the game tight. Their manager, Ephie Fitzgerald, expressed considerable “pride and joy” at how they acquitted themselves.

For all of Tipp’s early wastefulness, they did punish Waterford in big moments. The Déise had another chance after Michael O’Brien’s 23rd minute goal. Stephen Curry’s final pass was intercepted by Jack O’Neill, who sparked a counterattack for Eoin Craddock’s point.

Before the break, Alan Dunwoody stole a short kick-out and released Curry. His scuffed strike rolled into Shane Garland’s grateful grasp. Tipp swooped up field for a Cian Smith pointed free.

Those four-point swings were instrumental in keeping Tipp in touch at all times. The visitors never fell more than two points in arrears.

The Premier’s superior efficiency was the biggest difference between the sides. Tipp nailed 14 of their 22 shots on goal (13 white flags and one orange for a 64% success rate). Waterford converted just eight of their 18 attempts (a 44% success rate).

Having been blown away on kick-outs in their 13-point league defeat, Ephie Fitzgerald felt that Waterford were “immense” and “absolutely dominated the breaks”. The Déise did retain six consecutive kick-out contests against the wind to gain a vital foothold.

It was no domination, though. Joe Higgins was Tipp’s top performer with his aerial fetching, so that central battle broke even.

Both teams won two-thirds of their restarts. Tipp did more damage when the Waterford kick-out broke down, taking them for 0-5. Waterford’s only point from a Tipp kick-out came in the very last play.

Higgins and Garland were among an impressive cadre of Tipp debutants. Charlie King was the most incisive runner on the field, scoring one point and assisting four more. In the half-forwards, Killian Butler and Craddock settled by kicking early points. The next man up in that department, Paddy Creedon, made a positive impact, playing a role in O’Connor and Smith points.

The congestion wasn’t just caused by the lorries and tractors on the road outside Fraher Field. It was also on the pitch as Waterford set up to contain Tipp in a low block.

Darach Ó Cathasaigh was a late inclusion and took up man-marking duties on Seán O’Connor. He held the Clonmel Commercials dangerman scoreless until the 43rd minute.

O’Connor was fouled for two pointed frees in that spell. Once he gained more space and supply, O’Connor reeled off six points from there to the finish.

Waterford will otherwise be satisfied with how they held Smith and Daithí Hogan to one point from play.

Tipp’s man-markers also enjoyed success. Eoin O’Connell got stuck into Curry. He put in a good early tackle to turn back the full-forward. He was then out in front to steal two turnovers inside eight minutes.

Kieran Costello was detailed with following Conor Murray. The success of his mission was demonstrated by how the Déise withdrew their captain deeper in an attempt to shake off the tigerish Thurles Sarsfields tagger. Murray’s one point was a pressure shot off the post from a tight angle.

With Costello positioned as one of Tipp’s three men back, Jack O’Neill was liberated to enjoy a freer role. He capped his day with a point.

O’Neill was also one of four Tipp players called for overcarrying by referee Barry Tiernan. The corner-forward Dermot Ryan must be hopping mad having been called for steps three times by the Dublin whistler. It remains to be seen whether that becomes part of a wider officiating crackdown or, as suspected, stands as a once-off.

Another point of analysis will be the goal Tipp conceded. Michael O’Brien won a high ball and drilled it to the net. However, Niall Fitzgerald will wonder how the midfielder was isolated in a two-v-two size mismatch against O’Neill and Butler.

This win will be taken in context. Waterford are on a 13-game losing streak across as many months. Tipp’s next opponents, Cork, have beaten both of last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists, Meath and Tyrone, en route to Division 1 promotion.

When they met in a 19-point McGrath Cup rout in January in Cappawhite, the gap in physicality was stark. That said, Cork had more of their championship team out that day (eight starters versus Tipp’s six), so it will be a different home side welcoming them to Thurles. Tipp will know a lot more about themselves after that test.