Another agonising one-point defeat for the Déise
Waterford's Joe McDonnell burst out of defence with possession during the Fulfil Munster Under 20 hurling clash with Tipperary played at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field on Wednesday last. Photos: Noel Browne
The Waterford under-20 hurlers suffered a second successive one-point defeat on Wednesday night, in another game they left behind them versus All-Ireland champions Tipperary.
In a pulsating affair in front of almost 2,000 patrons in Dungarvan, the sides were level seven times, but the Déise’s profligacy in attack cost them at the finish as the Premier escaped with the points.
The hosts made a bright start as they established a three-point lead. A superb ball from Sean Mackey to Gearoid O’Shea saw him open the scoring on 33 seconds, before the St. Molleran’s man repeated the trick moments later. Mackey then turned provider to Shane Power, and he made no mistake as Waterford threw down the gauntlet to a side searching for a third successive Munster crown.
Tipperary responded well, a good score from Cormac Fitzpatrick got them off the mark on five minutes, before a blatant free for Waterford was ignored by Ciaran O’Regan and Tipp worked the sliotar upfield for Jamie Ormond to split the posts.
A Fitzpatrick free made it honours even, before Ballygunner men Mark Hartley and Conor Tobin combined to restore the Déise’s lead. Cathal O’Sullivan was next to tee up Tobin, and the electric forward had his shooting boots on, but so did his namesake Stefan Tobin, who profited from acres of space for the opposition.
Davy Comerford and Fitzpatrick then traded two frees apiece as the sides had little to split them, before David Costigan burst through to make it 0-7 each. Ormond then put the Premier ahead for the first time, before an outstanding catch and score from Stefan Tobin doubled that advantage.
Hartley capitalised on a loose ball to halve the gap, but Fitzpatrick’s first from play soon cancelled that out. Hartley began to grow into the game, approaching the half hour, winning two frees in succession, and Comerford making it count on both occasions.
It looked as if the sides would have nothing to split them at the break; however, approaching half-time, Jamie Ormond unleashed a powerful drive destined for the top left corner, but a save worthy of many superlatives from James Comerford denied Tipperary the opening goal. Fitzpatrick stepped up to notch the requisite ‘65 and the visitors lead 0-11 to 0-10 at the midway point.
Whatever James O’Connor said at half-time worked the oracle as the Déise became dominant after the break. A peach from Hartley levelled matters for the fourth occasion, but costly wides - 2 of 8 in total in the second half - were fast becoming a problem for Waterford.
Davy Comerford won a free and got up to send it over, before a golden opportunity arrived for the same man on 40 minutes. A brilliant ball from James Comerford was plucked from the skies by Jack Power; he was hauled down by Euan Murray, resulting in a black card and a penalty.
Comerford’s penalty was mishit and trickled tamely toward Paddy McCormack, and a sense of opportunity missed loomed large. Despite superb displays at the back from Tomas Ahern and Joe McDonnell that kept the All-Ireland kingpins largely at bay, Waterford weren’t working the scoreboard enough.
They soon found themselves behind as Fitzpatrick nailed another dead ball before Oisin O’Donoghue wriggled free to score. Waterford again showed great heart. Comerford was razor sharp from a difficult free to level, before substitutes Pierce Quann and Conor Shankey combined, and Conor Tobin clipped over a pearlier for Waterford to hit the front on 54 minutes.
Shane Cleary was allowed to coast down the left flank to cancel that out, before an expertly taken Fitzpatrick free saw Tipperary move back in front once more. In the dying embers, it was Fitzpatrick’s quality that told as he fired over another from a difficult position, and it seemed as if Brendan Cummins’ men had escaped Fraher Field with the points.
There was still time for drama to ensue, as three additional minutes were announced. Jack Power was hauled down again, and up stepped Hartley to send over the free, as Davy Comerford was replaced late on.
Waterford threw the kitchen sink at finding the equaliser, and they were afforded a lifeline late on when given a free right at the death.
Up stepped Hartley to salvage a draw, but his effort went agonisingly right and wide, and so sounded the final whistle.
A case of nearly but not quite again, as the Déise’s wretched luck at this grade continues.
Cork and Limerick to come, and two good performances in defeat - rule them out next time at your peril.
Davy Comerford (0-6; 0-6f); Mark Hartley (0-3; 0-1f); Conor Tobin (0-3); Gearoid O’Shea (0-2); Shane Power (0-1)
Cormac Fitzpatrick (0-9; 0-6f; 0-1 ‘65); Jamie Ormond and Stefan Tobin (0-2 each); Shane Cleary, David Costigan and Oisin O’Donoghue (0-1 each)
James Comerford; Fiacra Cooney, Conor Lynch, Tomas Ahern; Bradley Penkert, Joe McDonnell, Cathal O’Sullivan; Hugo Quann, Paddy Spelman; Shane Power, Pat Walsh, Mark Hartley; Gearoid O’Shea, Sean Mackey, David Comerford.
Jack Power for Sean Mackey (HT; inj); Pierce Quann for Fiacra Cooney (46); Conor Shankey for Shane Power (53); Caoilinn Reville for Davy Comerford (57)
Paddy McCormack; Cathal O’Reilly, Evan Morris, David Ryan; Jake Donelan Houlihan, Sam Rowan, Euan Murray; Tiarnan Ryan, Shane Cleary; Eoghan Doughan, Oisin O’Donoghue, David Costigan; Jamie Ormond, Stefan Tobin, Cormac Fitzpatrick
Jack Hayes for Eoghan Doughan (43); Patrick Ryan for David Ryan (53): Charlie Ryan for Jack Donelan-Houlihan (57)
Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)
