Tipp have too much for spirited Waterford display
Waterford's Alan Dunwoody gets his kick in under pressure from Tipperary's Jack O'Neill during their Munster Senior Football Championship quarter-final clash at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field. Photos: INPHO
A strong second-half display from Tipperary saw them progress to the provincial semi-final at Waterford’s expense on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Dungarvan.
Waterford led by one at the break thanks to a Michael O’Brien goal, but a Sean O’Connor-inspired Tipperary kicked six of the last eight points to turn the Déise’s attentions onto the Táilteann Cup.
To say the first half was one for the ‘purists’ would be putting it politely. Waterford won the toss and elected to play with the breeze, but Tipperary opened the scoring approaching the four-minute mark, as Charlie King combined with Killian Butler and the Moyle Rovers man swept over the bar.
The Déise responded instantly as Donal Fitzgerald found Kilrossanty teammate Alan Dunwoody, and with the aid of the breeze, he levelled the scores. Five minutes passed before Tipperary regained the advantage, Micheál Freaney was left loose to run in and fist over before a barren spell of thirteen minutes with no score.
Tipperary dominated possession in this period but failed to make Waterford pay - and on 22 minutes, Waterford provided the perfect punishment. Everything positive from a Déise perspective came through Glen Power, and his searching ball toward goal was collected by a soaring Michael O’Brien. The Stradbally man swivelled and stuck the ball to the bottom left corner, and Waterford led 1-1 to 0-2.
A chance for an instant second was snuffed out miraculously moments later as Stephen Curry’s pass to an unmarked teammate was somehow intercepted. Their lead instantly evaporated as Tipperary responded well. Eoin Craddock was afforded room to reduce arrears to one before a close-range free from Cian Smyth made it honours even.
Waterford edged back ahead when Power and Aaron Ryan combined to tee up Curry off the shoulder. A beauty from Conor Murray on the left flank gave the Déise a two-point cushion approaching the interval - but it certainly should’ve been five points moments later.
Shane Garland’s kickout went straight to Dunwoody, and he played in Curry, but his effort off the ground was tame to say the least and trickled straight back to the grateful goalkeeper.
A Smyth free made it 1-3 to 0-5 as the hosts led by the minimum at the break.
One would’ve expected a Tipperary revival after the break, given the strength of the breeze, and a Smyth free soon brought about parity, but that was cancelled out by Curry.
Charlie King then burst through as the sides went level for a fourth time, before an excellent two-pointer from Sean O’Connor put the Premier in the driving seat. Dunwoody swivelled over another fine strike as Waterford kept knocking, but the Tipperary response was emphatic as they reeled off six with no reply to ultimately assume control.
O’Connor was allowed to wriggle free to point again before corner-back Jack O’Neill marauded upfield to get in on the act. The Déise needed inspiration, but a two-point attempt from goalkeeper Simon Burns floated agonisingly wide before a potential goal opportunity for Darragh Walsh when the ball was hand-passed across the face of the goal was quickly fizzled out by Garland.
O’Connor was on hand again to extend the lead before the same man was hauled down by Darach O’Cathasaigh and pointed the requisite free. A Cian Smyth effort from play made it 0-14 to 1-5 going into the final ten minutes.
Uncharacteristic wides from Stephen Curry and Conor Murray summed up the Déise’s day, as another O’Connor dead ball gave the Premier a seven-point cushion going into additional time.
Adam Murray curled over a consolatory effort, and Billy Hynes also drove upfield to point, but it was too little too late - as Tipperary march on to face Cork while Waterford’s 13-month wait for a win goes on.
Michael O’Brien (1-0); Stephen Curry (0-2; 0-1f); Alan Dunwoody (0-2); Conor Murray, Adam Murray and Billy Hynes (0-1 each)
Sean O’Connor (0-6; 1tp; 0-2f); Cian Smyth (0-4; 0-3f); Killian Butler; Micheál Freaney, Eoin Craddock, Charlie King and Jack O’Neill (0-1 each)
Simon Burns; Darach Ó’Cathasaigh, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Glen Power, Adam Crawford, Conor Murray; Michael O’Brien, Michael Curry; Donal Fitzgerald, Aaron Ryan, Liam Mulligan; Dermot Ryan, Stephen Curry, Alan Dunwoody.
Darragh Walsh for Aaron Ryan (50); Adam Murray for Donal Fitzgerald (57); Caoimhín Walsh for Alan Dunwoody (65)
Shane Garland; Jack O’Neill, Eoin O’Connell, Manus McFadden; Kieran Costello, James Morris, Charlie King; Joe Higgins, Paudie Feehan; Eoin Craddock, Micheál Freaney, Killian Butler; Cian Smith, Sean O’Connor, Daithí Hogan.
Mark Corcoran for Manus McFadden (55); Paddy Creedon for Micheál Freaney (55); Mark Stokes for Killian Butler (56); Emmet Moloney for Charlie King (65); Mark Russell for Cian Smith (66) Barry Tiernan (Dublin)
