Tipperary captain Shane O’Connell was on the scoresheet from corner back. PHOTO: BRIDGET DELANEY
GAA: Tailteann Cup Round 3
Tipperary0-17
Waterford1-13
Report: Shane Brophy at Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Player of the Match: Jack Kennedy (Tipperary)
SCORERS – Tipperary: Jack Kennedy 0-8 (5 frees); Teddy Doyle, Conall Kennedy, Darragh Brennan 0-2 each; Shane O’Connell, Kevin Fahey, Mark Russell 0-1 each.
Waterford: Conor Murray 1-3; Darragh Corcoran 0-4 (3 frees); Jason Curry 0-2 frees; Jordan O’Sullivan, Jason Gleeson, Michael Curry, Donal Fitzgerald 0-1 each.
Tipperary likely ended their senior footballing season on a winning note as they edged out Waterford in this Tailteann Cup round 3 clash on Saturday.
The Premier were chasing a large margin of victory to give them some chance of progressing to the preliminary quarter finals as one of the three-best third placed teams, but it wasn’t to be. Tipp will need a 21-point defeat by Carlow against Longford to survive and that looks exceedingly unlikely.
However, they started promisingly with the first three points, the first two from the excellent Jack Kennedy while Teddy Doyle intercepted a Waterford kickout for the third.
Goalkeeper Michael O’Reilly was forced into a fine save to deny Darragh Corcoran on eleven minutes, but Tipp stretched their lead with Kennedy bringing his tally to four by the time Waterford opened their account in the 21st minute from a Darragh Corcoran free.
Tipp pressed on with Kennedy (free), Mark Russell and Conall Kennedy extending the lead to 0-8 to 0-1 on 28 minutes and a big margin of victory looked possible. However, that was undone in the run up to half time as Waterford finished strongly to the break with a Jason Gleeson point answered by Shane O’Connell, before Conor Murray fired to the net on 32 minutes.
Frees from Corcoran and Jason Curry brought Tipp back within two but a sixth point of the half from Jack Kennedy gave Tipp a 0-10 to 1-4 half time advantage.
Waterford continued where they left off with Darragh Corcoran and Michael Curry bringing them within one before debutante Darragh Brennan provided a brief reposte but the Deise were level by the 43rd minutes through Jordan O’Sullivan and Conor Murray.
A first championship defeat against Waterford since 1988 looked a distinct possibility but Tipp responded well with Conall Kennedy bursting through the middle to score, Darragh Brennan getting his second point, while Teddy Doyle scored a fine long range point on 53 minutes.
Waterford kept in touch with Conor Murray bringing his tally to 1-3 from play but Jack Kennedy responded each time from frees. A Donal Fitzgerald point brough Waterford back within one but Kevin Fahey’s injury time point proved to be the clincher as Darragh Corcoran’s subsequent free proved mere consolation for Waterford.
TEAMS – Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials); Shane O’Connell (Golden Kilfeacle, Capt), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan); James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Mark Russell (Aherlow), Conall Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch); Teddy Doyle (Ballina), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen).
Subs: Paudie Feehan (Killenaule) for Colman Kennedy (42); Donough Leahy (Arravale Rovers) for Quirke (51); Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone) for Doyle (58); Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane) for Boland (63); Willie Eviston (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Moloney (68).
Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Liam Fennell, Darragh O Cathasaigh, Eoghan McGrath-Butler; Dermot Ryan (Capt), Brian Looby, Jordan O’Sullivan; Michael Curry, Brian Lynch; Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Jason Curry; Michael Kiely, Jason Gleeson, Sean Whelan-Barrett.
Subs: Tom O’Connell for Whelan-Barrett (48); Donal Fitzgerald for O’Sullivan (54); John Gleeson for Devine (58); Caoimhin Walsh for O Cathasaigh (70+2).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).