O’Connell double fires Déise to famous Munster win for footballers
Waterford’s Billy O’Keeffe at the end of the game.
At Fraher Field Family and friends rushed onto the field at full time as the long suffering Waterford footballers got their day in the sun at last. Players posed for photos in front of the scoreboard and music blared out of the dressing room.
A famous result for all sorts of reasons. A first championship win over Tipperary in 36 years, a first Munster championship win in fourteen years, a first championship win in six years, a first competitive win in 386 days and a first win for Paul Shankey.
Nobody among the 1,071 in attendance saw this coming at half time. After playing with a ferocious breeze, towards the road goal, the home side only had one point to their credit. It was tough watch as Waterford turned over ball after ball and only managed six attempts at the posts. Tipp dominated possession. Just before the break, they ran down the clock by passing the ball around under very little pressure. A comeback from the team that finished bottom of Division 4 and shipped a 25 point defeat to Laois two weeks earlier seemed far-fetched.
But back they came. From five points down after 25 minutes, the hosts quite literally threw caution to the wind and outscored their opponents 2-6 to 0-3 in the second period. Full forward Tom O'Connell accounted for 2-3. Tipp led by a point, with three minutes left, when Waterford worked the ball down the stand side of the field. A kick pass from Willie Beresford found Jason Curry who released substitute Alan Dunwoody. The Kilrossanty man crossed to O’Connell who took a swing and punched it past Evan Comerford. The Waterford number fourteen turned and took in the adulation of the home crowd.
Shankey’s team didn’t sit back. Jason Curry converted a free after a foul on Donie Fitzgerald. Two minutes into added time, a Stephen Curry point effort struck the post and O’Connell rammed in the rebound. Players, management and supporters could enjoy the closing seconds.
Like O’Connell, Stephen ‘Gooch’ Curry came up trumps. He shot three points from play off both feet. His third, when he spun and scored off his left, was a delight. Michael Curry, making his 97th appearance, produced a mighty shift at midfield. Willie Beresford turned over ball and supplied quality deliveries inside.
Waterford lined out minus eleven starters from last summer’s Tailteann Cup loss to Tipperary, including all six defenders. Dermot Ryan cried off with a hamstring injury before the throw in. Ross Browne, Robbie McGrath, Caolan Mac Craith, Willie Beresford and James Power all made their championship debuts.
The introduction of 2020 All Star Conor Sweeney couldn't inspire Tipp to victory. They also struggled with the gale and registered six second half wides. Paudie Hunt and Caoimhín Walsh dealt with frees which dropped short. Top scorer Sean O’Connor was unavailable due to injury.
On a bright and blustery Sunday afternoon, Tipp won the toss and elected to play against the elements. After just three minutes, Mark Stokes fetched a high ball and fired low to the Waterford net. The visitors bossed possession as the Déise kept fourteen men inside the 45. Points from Stephen Grogan and Riain Quigley extended the Premier lead to five.
Jason Curry, Ross Browne and Donie Fitzgerald kicked Waterford wides. Tom O’Connell saw a goal chance snuffed out after he caught a Willie Beresford delivery. The Déise finally raised a cheer on 31 minutes when Michael Curry set up Stephen Curry for a left footed finish (1-2 to 0-1).
As the Primary Game kids departed, Waterford went through a mini warm-up to prepare for the second period. Curry slotted his second point off his right. Conor Sweeney came on for Tipp but there was no stopping the Déise comeback. Curry spun and scored with his left before a Tom O’Connell free levelled matters for the first time (1-2 to 0-5).
A controversial Peter McGarry score sent Tipp back in front. Waterford management argued that the ball was wide. O’Connell replied with a free before Conor McCarthy hobbled off with an ankle injury. The Ballinacourty defender was coping well with Sweeney at the time. Substitute Teddy Doyle snuck Tipp 1-4 to 0-6 ahead with his first touch. With six minutes left, O’Connell smacked the crossbar after a Jason Curry free hit the post.
It looked like another one of those hard luck stories but O’Connell’s late double turned it into a fairytale.
Tom O’Connell 2-3 (3fs), Stephen Curry 0-3, Jason Curry 0-1 (1f).
Mark Stokes 1-0, Stephen Grogan, Riain Quigley, Peter McGarry, Teddy Doyle, Conor Sweeney 0-1 each.
Paudie Hunt; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Conor McCarthy; Billy O'Keeffe, Sean Whelan Barrett, Robbie McGrath; Michael Curry, Jason Curry; Caolan Mac Craith, Donie Fitzgerald, Willie Beresford; Stephen Curry, Tom O’Connell, James Power. Conor Ó Cuirrín for McCarthy (56), Alan Dunwoody for Mac Craith (63), James Walsh for Fitzgerald (70).
Evan Comerford; Tadhg Condon, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O’Shaughnessy; James Morris, Paudie Feehan, Conor Cadell; Kieran Costello, Conall Kennedy; Stephen Grogan, Mark Stokes, Cathal Deely; Jack Kennedy, Riain Quigley, Peter McGarry. Emmet Moloney for Deely (42), Conor Sweeney for Quigley (42), Shane Neville for O’Shaughnessy (52), Shane O’Connell for Condon (54), Teddy Doyle for Stokes (59).
Brendan Griffin (Kerry).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Hard to look past two goal hero Tom O’Connell.
TURNING POINT: O’Connell’s punched goal with three minutes left was a haymaker.
TALKING POINT: That storming second half performance.
WHAT’S NEXT? Waterford return to Fraher Field for a Munster semi-final against Clare on April 20.
