Wonderful Waterford minors power past Premier
Waterford's James Skehan was rock solid in defence comes out with possession with Tipperary during the Munster Minor Football Championship. Photo: Eddie Dee
Waterford made it back-to-back victories in the Munster Minor Football Championship on a memorable Easter Monday, thanks to a first half finishing clinic that got them past Tipperary in Lemybrien.
Dara Gough starred with 1-9 on the night, while Rian Hallahan found the net twice as Brendan Kearney’s men backed up the Déise’s first away win in the grade in 25 years last week with another red letter victory.
The hosts started like a house on fire, racing into a three-point lead. Gough set his stall out early, pointing a close-range free to open the scoring before kicking an outstanding two-pointer from well outside the arc 4 minutes in when picked out by Arlo McManus.
A Danny Cashin free just inside the arc got the visitors on the board moments later, but a black card for Cian Cahill would soon prove their downfall. Cahill was given temporary marching orders for a cynical challenge on Anthony O’Donnell - and Waterford made them pay with a quickfire 3-1 in his absence.
The opening goal arrived on 8 minutes when Rory Kirwan won the Tipperary kickout and burst down the left flank on a mazy run, before squaring to Rían Hallahan who made no mistake from close range. From that resultant kickout, the Déise again soared highest - Enda Bloomer on this occasion, he offloaded to Gough and he drove at goal and nearly ripped the net to make it 2-3 to 0-1 from nowhere.
A well-taken score from Conor O’Meara temporarily stopped the Tipperary rot but a ruthless Waterford smelt blood. O’Donnell was dragged down again and Gough made no mistake from the free, before the arrival of goal number three.
Waterford again penned Tipperary into no man’s land and Aidan McMaugh won possession before unleashing a rasping effort that crashed off the crossbar, but Dungarvan man Hallahan was on hand to turn home his second goal within just 13 minutes and the game was already as good as over.
O’Meara from an impossible angle and Cillian Morrissey attempted to keep Tipp in touch, but Waterford kicked another four without response. Gough nailed a free, and then showed all his class with another from miles out to bring his personal tally to 1-7 before Shay Healy and Reuben Grace traded scores to make it 3-8 to 0-5 at the break.
A Cashin free and an impressive Hugh Carolan two-pointer either side of a Peter Murray score drew the Premier somewhat closer, before a beauty from Evan Lonergan had them back within three goals.
Conor O’Meara continued to stem the tide from a free, before another good score from Carolan reduced arrears back to seven approaching the final quarter.
A Cillian Morrissey free kept the momentum with Tipperary as the unlikeliest of comebacks became somewhat likelier, but trust Gough to kill that hope - the Stradbally star kicking another stunning two-point free on 53 minutes.
A Cashin two-pointer in stoppage time rounded out the scoring, but Waterford ran out deserved six-point winners to prolong a memorable spell for the county in underage football.
Dara Gough (1-9; 0-4tpf; 0-2tp; 0-3f); Rían Hallahan (2-0); Shay Healy and Peter Murray (0-1 each)
Danny Cashin (0-4; 0-2 tpf; 0-2f); Hugh Carolan (0-3; 0-2tp); Conor O’Meara (0-3; 0-1f); Cillian Morrissey (0-2; 0-1f); Reuben Grace and Evan Lonergan (0-1 each)
Jack Sheehan; Arlo McManus, James Skehan, Cian Power; Shay Healy, Anthony O’Donnell, Liam O’Grady; Theo Meagher, Tomas Walsh; Enda Bloomer, Aidan McMaugh, Peter Murray; Dara Gough, Rian Hallahan, Ronan Kirwan.
Eoin Keane for Liam O’Grady (47); Charlie Kelly for Tomas Walsh (49); Caolan Johnston for Anthony O’Donnell (56); Darragh Hutchinson for Peter Murray (56)
Danny Cashin; Nicholas Walsh, Oisin McCarthy, Oisin O’Reilly; Colin Maher, Evan Lonergan, Conor Hurley; Cian Cahill, Adam O’Callaghan; Tadhg Dunlea, Reuben Grace, Hugh Carolan; Cillian Morrissey, Sam Gallahue, Conor O’Meara
Jack Donnelly for Colin Maher (23); Eoin O’Connell for Tadhg Dunlea (27); Charlie Brazil for Sam Gallahue (38); Rory Dunphy for Reuben Grace (60)
Eoin Keane (Clare)
