Waterford 3-21
Tipperary 1-27
THE CLOSING STAGES were laced with stunning drama and the outcome was a share of the spoils on a sunny Munster hurling evening in the south-east.
Waterford appeared on the cusp of victory heading down the stretch here, going four points clear on two occasions thanks to the accuracy of Patrick Curran and Jack Prendergast.
Tipperary, with their season on the line, found a way to stage a wonderful recovery. Mark Kehoe fetched a puckout in injury-time and offloaded Jake Morris, his snap shot was blocked but substitute Seanie Kenneally was on hand to bundle the rebound to the net. That left Tipperary one down, before Gearoid O’Connor and Darragh Lyons traded wides as the game became frantic and breathless.
And in one last pulsating passage of play, Tipperary managed to win a free in a crowded defence courtesy of Alan Tynan. O’Connor slotted the free to draw them level and James Owens blasted the final whistle shortly after.
The game was thrilling to the watch from the off. The first half boiled down to three clearcut goal chances. Waterford capitalising on both of theirs. The first provided them with an early boost, just like in their clash with Cork, as they raised a green flag for the game’s opening score. Michael Kiely was grounded by the scrambling Tipperary cover and Stephen Bennett’s finish from the resultant penalty was emphatic.
After Tipperary had slowly and methodically chipped away with points to overtake Waterford on the scoreboard, the home team pounced again in the 28th minute. Dessie Hutchinson’s shooting was off-colour in that first half as he chalked up four wides, but his alertness saw him find Jack Prendergast in plenty space and the Lismore man rifled his shot to the net.
Tipperary had their own chance before the break, Darragh Stakelum wriggling clear before looking for the bottom corner with his strike, Shaun O’Brien springing to his right and tipping the sliotar clear.
Yet Tipperary were well in the hunt at the break, trailing 2-8 to 0-12, and their performance level had notably improved from the humbling loss seven days previous against Limerick. They trailed 1-1 to 0-0 early on, yet were ahead 0-10 to 1-5 after 22 minutes.
Mark Kehoe was proving a real handful for the Waterford defence as he notched three first-half points and the Deise saw key defender Conor Prunty limp off injured in the early stages.
Prendergast’s goal meant Tipperary were in arrears at half-time, but Liam Cahill saw his team storm from the blocks for the second half, posting four points on the spin. Then came Waterford’s third goal – quick thinking on their part as Hutchinson tapped a free short to Bennett who crashed home his second goal, the concession a blot on Tipperary’s copybook.
It didn’t deter Tipperary, they stayed within touching distance. Waterford kept their noses in front by one or two points during the second half, Tadhg de Búrca and Calum Lyons were superb in their rearguard, while Tipperary’s defence also impressed, particularly captain Ronan Maher.
Substitute Kenneally tapped over the point that brought Tipperary level on 66 minutes, 3-16 to 0-25, yet it was Waterford who then made a decisive push for the finish line. Patrick Curran (2), Hutchinson and Lyons all split the posts.
A four-point advantage looked a handsome one at that juncture, yet with their hopes looking slim, Tipperary found a way to get a reward from their trip to Walsh Park.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 2-3 (1-0 pen), Dessie Hutchinson 0-6 (0-3f), Jack Prendergast 1-1, Calum Lyons 0-3, Patrick Curran 0-2, Kieran Bennett 0-1, Darragh Lyons 0-1, Michael Kiely 0-1, Neil Montgomery 0-1, Jack Fagan 0-1, Shane Bennett 0-1.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seánie Kenneally 1-1, Gearóid O’Connor 0-4 (0-3f), Mark Kehoe 0-4, Jake Morris 0-3, Jason Forde 0-3 (0-2f), Alan Tynan 0-2, Ronan Maher 0-2 (0-1f), Noel McGrath 0-2, Eoghan Connolly 0-2, Michael Breen 0-1, Patrick Maher 0-1, John McGrath 0-1.
Waterford
1. Shaun O’Brien (De La Salle)
4. Iarlaith Daly (Lismore), 3. Conor Prunty (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), 2. Kieran Bennett (Ballysaggart)
7. Calum Lyons (Ballyduff Lower), 6. Tadhg de Búrca (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg), 5. Mark Fitzgerald (Passage)
10. Neil Montgomery (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), 9. Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan)
12. Jack Prendergast (Lismore), 11. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart, joint-capt), 8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater, joint-capt)
13. Dessie Hutchinson (Ballygunner), 14. Michael Kiely (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), 15. Kevin Mahony (Ballygunner)
Subs
- 18. Jack Fagan (De La Salle) for Prunty (inj) (5)
- 22. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Mahony (50)
- 23. Peter Hogan (Ballygunner) for Montgomery (57)
- 20. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Stephen Bennett (64)
Tipperary
1. Barry Hogan (Kiladangan)
17, Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill) 3. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) 4. Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
5. Mikey Breen (Ballina), 6. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross Ballycahill), 7. Conor Bowe (Moyne Templetuohy)
10. Alan Tynan (Roscrea), 9. Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs)
11. Gearóid O’Connor (Moyne Templetuohy), 23, Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), 12. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
13. Jake Morris (Nenagh Eire Óg), 14. Mark Kehoe (Kilesheelan Kilcash), 26. Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields)
Subs
- 20. Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha) for Forde (51)
- 8. Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for Connolly (54)
- 22. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Noel McGrath (55)
- 19. Seánie Kenneally (Moneygall) for Stakelum (64)
- 21. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh) for O’Mara (70)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
