Spain reigns on a proud Thurles night
Waterford's Jack Power under pressure from Tipperary's Kevin Fitzpatrick and Patrick Hackett during their Munster Minor Hurling Championship game in Semple Stadium, Thurles. Photo Sean Byrne
Proud parents clapped the Waterford minor hurlers off the field on Friday night in Thurles. There were high hopes for this team beforehand and they delivered when the chips were down in the second half.
James O’Connor’s charges trailed by five points near the end of the third quarter but fought back brilliantly to pip the defending All Ireland champions. Two late points from Cormac Spain got the visitors over the line. The fleet footed Ballygunner corner forward shot 1-9 (1-4 from play). The Déise’s first minor win away to Tipperary since the 2009 Munster final.
In a seesaw contest, Tipp led 0-15 to 1-7 on 41 minutes after shooting nine unanswered points either side of the break. Jack Cahill (0-7), Euan Murray (0-4) and Kieran Rossiter (0-2) all caught the eye for James Woodlock's side but Spain spearheaded the Waterford recovery. Six second half points from the small but silky attacker secured a memorable comeback victory. James Comerford's close range save from Tommy O'Meara also proved crucial. Waterford’s second half switches paid dividends. Gearóid O’Shea to full forward, Shane Power to centre forward and Caoilinn Reville off the bench all made a difference.
A fine crowd of 2,520 packed into the New Stand on a bitterly cold Friday night. Déise captain James Comerford was a late replacement for Ballygunner clubmate Darragh Duffy between the posts. Comerford broke a finger three weeks ago but passed a fitness test on Wednesday night and management gave him the nod to start.
In the fourth minute, tall wing forward Tommy Kennedy cut through the Tipp defence and found Cormac Spain who stung the roof of the net. A couple of Spain frees and a solo point from wing back Conor Power made it 1-3 to 0-2 in favour of the visitors.
2024 Minor Player of the Year Euan Murray brought the Premier back into the game with three points from play. Jack Cahill, son of Tipp senior manager Liam, nailed four frees. Two Jamie Shanahan efforts and one from Gearóid O'Shea left the Déise a goal up at the break (1-7 to 0-7). Tipp were guilty of seven first half wides.
Croke Cup winner with Thurles CBS Kieran Rossiter threatened a goal off the restart with a defence splitting solo run. He was stopped illegally and Cahill tapped over the free. Cahill added two more, one from play and one from a 65, before defender Dylan Hennessy sent the home side ahead in the 37th minute. Rossiter punched the air when he split the posts. Goalkeeper Patrick McCormack got in on the act with a free from his own 45. Everything Tipp touched resulted in a white flag as Paul Cummins and Conall Morrisson made it 0-15 to 1-7.
A Spain free on 44 minutes stopped the rot for the Déise before captain and goalkeeper James Comerford thwarted Tommy O'Meara. Further points from O’Shea, Spain, Shane Power and substitute Caoilinn Reville dragged the Déise back level. With two minutes left, Spain collected a long delivery from Comerford and struck the lead point. More Waterford roars went up, three minutes into injury time, when he scored again. Cahill lobbed in a late, late free but the Déise defence batted it clear and the sounds of ‘Glory Days’ by Bruce Springsteen blared over the speakers at the final whistle.
The Semple Stadium crew were a little too eager to clear the pitch afterwards and switched off the floodlights with players, mentors and supporters still on the field.
Cormac Spain 1-9 (5fs), Gearóid O'Shea, Jamie Shanahan 0-2 each, Caoilinn Reville, Shane Power, Conor Power 0-1 each.
ack Cahill 0-7 (5fs, 1 65), Euan Murray 0-4, Kieran Rossiter 0-2, Conall Morrisson, Patrick Cummins, Patrick McCormack (f), Dylan Hennessy 0-1 each.
James Comerford; Conor Lynch, Darragh Murphy, Darragh Keane; Bradley Penkert, Hugo Quann, Conor Power; Gearóid O’Shea, Pierce Quann; Eoin Burke, Jack Power, Tommy Kennedy; Cormac Spain, Shane Power, Jamie Shanahan.
Caoilinn Reville for Shanahan (39), Andrew Power for Burke (53).
Patrick McCormack; Fred Perry, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Conor Collins; Dylan Hennessy, Patrick Hackett, Shane Cooney; Kieran Rossiter, Conor Kennedy; Padraic O’Shea, Euan Murray, Patrick Cummins; Jack Cahill, Tommy O’Meara, Conall Morrisson.
Jack McGonigle for O'Shea (47), Chris Dunne for Morrisson (49), Darragh Doyle for O'Meara (61).
Kieran Guina (Limerick)
Waterford matchwinner Cormac Spain.
That James Comerford save kept the Déise in the hunt.
The Thurles pitch wasn’t in Tipp top condition.
Waterford welcome Limerick to Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field on Friday at 7 o’clock.
