Munster MHC Play-Off
Waterford 1-20
Tipperary 1-17
EOGHAN MURRAY SPRAYED over 11 points in the Walsh Park sunshine as a hungry Waterford recovered from their first-round loss against Cork to dispatch Tipperary in an entertaining Munster MHC play-off.
The Ballyduff Upper attacker delivered six points from play, four frees and a stunning sideline cut for Stephen Gough’s side to push them through to the semi-finals on 29 June. The teams were level on seven occasions before Waterford cut loose in the third quarter. Neil Montgomery rifled to the net on 43 minutes and the Déise never looked back.
Goalkeeper Billy Nolan made a vital intervention midway through the second half when he parried away Dillon Quirke’s goalbound drive. Harry Ruddle, Cathal Curran and Jack Prendergast also starred on the winning side.
The reigning provincial champions travel to Clare next month in an attempt to resurrect their campaign. Lyndon Fairbrother recorded 10 points for Liam Cahill’s charges including eight in the second period.
The home side got their noses in front at the break (0-11 to 1-6) as they outscored Tipperary by six points to one over the last 10 minutes of the half.
Dillon Quirke blasted the sliotar past Billy Nolan on six minutes after Lyndon Fairbrother collected a Jake Morris sideline (1-1 to 0-1). Waterford restored parity with three quick points.
Fairbrother and Mark Kehoe opened up a 1-5 to 0-5 lead for Tipp on 21 minutes. Murray and Ruddle scored three points apiece however at the tail end of the half to edge the hosts two points clear.
The Premier levelled matters twice on the resumption as Fairbrother and Ger Browne raised white flags. Waterford strung together a purple patch of 1-3 without response to pull away from last year’s All-Ireland runners-up.
The lively Jack Prendergast notched his first single before Murray added two more. On 43 minutes, Nolan lofted a long distance free around the goalmouth and even though Ciarán Barrett saved a stinger from Thomas Douglas, Montgomery hammered in the rebound (1-15 to 1-9).
Despite the best efforts of Fairbrother on placed balls, Waterford kept their distance. Murray completed a spectacular afternoon with a line cut from all of 55 metres by the stand sideline. Cian Darcy and Fairbrother pared the margin down to three but the time ran out on the visitors.
It marked Waterford’s first minor triumph over Tipperary since 2011.
Scorers for Waterford: Eoghan Murray 0-11 (4fs, 1 s-l); Harry Ruddle Redmond 0-5 (3 65s, 2fs); Neil Montgomery 1-1; Jack Prendergast 0-2; Thomas Douglas 0-1.
Scorers for Tipperary: Lyndon Fairbrother 0-10 (7fs, 2 65s); Dillon Quirke 1-0; Cian Darcy 0-3; Ger Browne 0-2; Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe 0-1 each.
Waterford
1. Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
2. Conor Giles Doran (De La Salle)
3. James Flavin (Ardmore)
19. Tom Barron (Fourmilewater)
7. Michael O’Brien (Geraldines)
9. Harry Ruddle Redmond (Ballygunner)
17. Conor Dalton (Clonea)
5. Donal Power (Passage)
12. Cathal Curran (Brickey Rangers)
14. Neil Montgomery (Abbeyside)
13. Michael Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Eoin McGrath (Butlerstown)
10. Jack Prendergast (Lismore)
6. Eoghan Murray (Ballyduff Upper)
15. Thomas Douglas (De La Salle)
Subs
11. Dylan Guiry (Fourmilewater) for Mahony (51)
18. Ciarán Kirwan (Fenor) for Montgomery (59)
20 Jack Reade (St Mollerans) for Eoin McGrath (60)
4. Darragh McGrath (Abbeyside) for Douglas (62)
Tipperary
1. Ciarán Barrett (Clonmel Óg)
2. Cillian O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
3. Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
4. Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
5. Gavin Dunne (Holycross-Ballycahill)
6. Michael Whelan (Carrick Davins)
7. Tom Murphy (JK Brackens)
8. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill)
9. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)
10. Ger Browne (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
11. Dillion Quirke (Clonoulty-Rossmore)
12. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
13. Shane Neville (Lattin Cullen)
14. Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
15. Lyndon Fairbrother (JK Brackens)
Subs
17. Cian Flanagan (Newport) for O’Mara (H-T)
21. Dean O’Connor (Killenaule) for Morris (42)
18. Paddy Caddell (JK Brackens) for Murphy (48)
Referee: Rory McGann (Clare)
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