Tipperary survive big scare from Waterford to advance to Munster semi-final

Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

TIPPERARY 3-9 WATERFORD 1-11

Tipperary survived a big scare from Waterford this afternoon at FBD Semple Stadium to advance to a provincial semi-final with Kerry in two weeks time, but with just 10 minutes remaining it looked like a shock was on the cards when Waterford hit the front with a Darragh Corcoran goal.

But Tipperary, who had been struggling all through to get on top of their near neighbours, struck two goals down the stretch from Stephen Quirke and Paudie Feehan to save their blushes in an entertaining finale to what had up to then been a close if somewhat disappointing game.

Waterford who trailed at the break by three took the game to Tipperary in the second half and with a breeze behind them and playing into the Killinan end they had the first two scores of the second half and were just a point off the pace after 45 minutes, the impressive Darragh Corcoran and Dermot Ryan raising those early white flags.

It took Tipp all of 12 minutes to register their first point of the second period, a close-in Sean O’Connor free won by Stephen Quirke, but a Jason Curry free in quick response kept it at a one point game. 

Waterford keeper Paudie Nugent then produced a magnificent point blank save to force a Colman Kennedy effort over the crossbar in the 49th minute to double Tipp’s lead. Ten minutes of play passed without another score but then Waterford rocked Tipperary when Brian Lynch found Darragh Corcoran and he managed to shake off the challenge of Shane O’Connell and produced a fine finish beyond Michael O’Reilly.

Stephen Quirke had parity restored within a minute to somewhat settle a shaky looking Tipperary and a minute later Quirke was in the right place to finish to the net. The creation of the goal was purely down to Jack Kennedy’s soccer skills and never giving up on what looked a lost cause, and he superbly squared a low ball for the big Moyle Rovers man to slide home.

A Jack Kennedy free in the 67th minute was cancelled by another fine point from the Waterford centre-forward before Tipperary had their third goal of the game in time added-on. A move out of defence by Waterford was turned over by the hard-working Steven O’Brien who in turn put Martin Kehoe in the clear and his pass was eventually finished to the net by Paudie Feehan to wrap up the win for Tipperary.

In the dying moments of the game Jason Curry added two frees but by that stage Tipperary’s progression to a clash with Kerry had been secured.

At half-time Tipperary had led by 1-5 to 0-5, the difference between the sides a Steven O’Brien goal which arrived in the 28th minute. It came from a long delivery from the new stand side of the field by Donough Leahy and the big Ballina man got a powerful fist to the ball to send it beyond Paudie Hunt in the Waterford goal.

Steven O’Brien’s contribution for Tipperary was significant and he had the home side’s first two points of the game, one from play in the fourth minute followed by a marked point in the eighth minute from 40 metres out.

A Jason Curry free finally got the Deise up and running in the 12th minute but two points within a minute from O’Brien and Sean O’Connor, capitalising on a kick-out move that went astray, had Tipperary 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after a quarter of an hour.

Darragh Donovan had Waterford’s first point from play in the 16th minute and it was back to a single point game in the 20th minute when captain Dermot Ryan kicked a fine point from 35 metres out.

Tipperary were playing a very cautious and slow-building game and one of the few goal chances they had arrived in the 22nd minute, however full-forward Stephen Quirke’s attempt was well smothered by the Waterford defenders.

O’Brien’s goal gave some breathing space to David Power’s side seven minutes before the interval stretching their advantage to four. However over the closing minutes of the half Waterford outscored Tipperary 2-1 with Jason Curry and Darragh Corcoran from play sandwiching a Jack Kennedy free. At the break Tipperary led 1-5 to 0-5.

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials), Shane O’Connell (Golden/Kilfeacle), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan), Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials), Colman Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, 0-1), Keith Ryan (Upperchurch/ Drombane), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule, 1-0), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, 0-2F), Emmet Moloney (Drom/Inch), Donough Leahy (Arravale Rovers), Mikey O’Shea (Mullinahone), Steven O’Brien (capt., Ballina, 1-3, 0-1M), Stephen Quirke (Moyle Rovers, 1-1), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, 0-2, 01F).

Subs: Conor Cadell (JK Brackens) for Emmet Moloney (inj., 27th minute); Riain Quigley (Moyle Rovers) for O’Connor (56); Martin  Kehoe (Mullinahone) for O’Shea (56); Willie Eviston (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Ryan (69). 

Waterford: Paudie Hunt (Rathgormack), Conor Ó Cuirrín (An Rinn), Darragh Ó Cathasaigh (An Rinn), Liam Fennell (Stradbally), Dermot Ryan (capt., The Nire, 0-2), Brian Looby (Ballinacourty), Jordan O’Sullivan (Portlaw), Michael Curry (Rathgormack), Brian Lynch (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg), Conor Murray (Rathgormack), Darragh Corcoran (St Saviour’s, 1-3), Jason Curry (Rathgormack, 0-5F), Michael Kiely (Dungarvan), Sean Whelan-Barrett (Ballinacourty), Eoghan McGrath-Butler (De La Salle).

Subs: John Devine (Modeligo) for Whelan-Barrett (56th minute); Donal Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) for Ó Cathasaigh (67).

Referee: James Molloy (Galway).