Ten-point win for Tipperary minor footballers in first round of the championship

Tipperary 1-16 Waterford 1-6

Tipperary made a winning start to their Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship campaign with a ten-point victory over Waterford at Fethard Town Park on Monday evening. With the exception of a brief period at the start of the game, the home side led throughout.

Controlling the middle third and with captain Ned O’Meara giving a man of the match performance, they had built up a 0-7 to 0-2 lead by the 21st minute. The lone Waterford score in that period came from a two-pointer free from the boot of Senan Devine after two minutes.

Tipperary were quickly off the mark following the throw-in when Aaron McAndrew broke through the middle to set up Sean Burke, who split the posts after only thirty seconds. Following Devine’s two- pointer, they took control of the game and kept the scoreboard moving with three points in a five- minute spell. They continued to take the game to the visitors and had built up a 0-10 to 0-3 lead by half-time.

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Tipperary won possession from the restart and Killian Smith split the posts inside thirty seconds.Waterford had introduced Corry Lyons and Callum Royle at the break and their presence began to pay dividends around the middle. In a fifteen-minute spell they hit 1-3 without reply to leave just five points between the sides, as the game headed towards the final quarter.

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Waterford then had a goal chance when awarded a penalty but Oisin O’Hallahan’s shot was outside the post. After this Tipperary picked up again and finished the stronger, with Ned O’Meara finding the net two minutes into added time, to run out ten-point winners.

Tipp won the throw-in and following a run through the middle by Aaron McAndrew, Sean Burke split the posts inside thirty seconds. Waterford briefly went ahead when Senan Devine converted a two-point free after two minutes, but Tipp replied by scoring the next six points to go five up by the 21st minute. Darragh Bresnan, Dara Maher and Aaron McAndrew were all on target before captain Ned O’Meara began to have an influential effect on the game, both from open play and placed balls.

He kicked three points in an eight-minute spell, the latter coming when the referee moved the ball forward to the 20 metre line, after a Waterford player kicked the ball away following a line ball. Tom Lynch converted a placed ball six minutes before the break, but it was the home team who continued to set the pace.

Controlling the middle third, scores came from Dylan McCormack, Ned O’Meara and Sean Griffin to see them go in at the break leading 0-10 to 0-3.

Tipp were quickly off the mark following the restart, with Killian Smith splitting the posts after just thirty seconds. Darragh Bresnan got up for his second point of the evening and when McAndrew set up Dara Maher, Tipperary had built up a ten-point lead.

The introduction by Waterford of Corry Lyons and Callum Royle at the break began to pay dividends. Michael Barry came upfield and split the posts, before a good move finished with Oisin Hallahan setting up Aaron Curran for a major on forty minutes. Killian Smith and Jake Kearney traded minors before Ciarán Sullivan cut the deficit to five points with fifteen remaining.

Waterford were posing problems for the Tipp defence and when a free by Tom Lynch came back off the upright into play, a penalty was awarded. This gave Waterford a chance to make it a two-point game, but Oisin Hallahan’s shot went outside the upright and with it went any chance of a Waterford revival, as Tipp controlled the final quarter.

Tipperary introduced fresh legs and this certainly paid dividends. Aaron Brazil got on a huge amount of ball. Sean Cleary and Conor Freaney showed what they are capable of, while Reuben Grace and Charlie Kennedy played their part. Coming down the home strait, Ned O’Meara punished Waterford indiscretions with two points from placed balls before wrapping up the game with a major in added time.

Aaron Brazil took a quick 45 to Sean Griffin, who beat a defender before finding O’Meara, and the Mullinahone man made no mistake with a low shot to the corner of the net.

Next up for Tipp next Monday night is an away trip to Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale to take on Limerick, who went down to Clare in round 1.

Scorers: Tipperary: Ned O’Meara (1-6, 5 frees), Killian Smith (0-2), Dara Maher (0-2), Darragh Bresnan (0-2), Sean Griffin (0-1), Aaron McAndrew (0-1), Sean Burke (0-1), Dylan McCormack (0-1).

Waterford: Aaron Curran (1-0), Senan Devine (0-2, 1x2 ptf), Jake Kearney (0-1), Tom Lynch (0-1f), Michael Barry (0-1), Ciáran Sullivan (0-1).

Tipperary: James O’Brien (Moyle Rovers), Cormac McInerney (Cashel King Cormacs), Daniel Charles (Clonmel Commercials), Killian Fitzgerald (Lorrha Dorrha), Darragh Bresnan (Arravale Rovers), Conor Hurley (Moyle Rovers), Jack Kearney (Ballyporeen), Sean Griffin (Upperchurch Drombane), Aaron McAndrew (Moyle Rovers), Sean Burke (JK Brackens), Ned O’Meara (captain, Mullinahone), Luke McKeogh (Ballina), Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Dylan McCormack (Clonmel Óg), Dara Maher (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs: Sean Cleary (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) for Sean Burke (49), Conor Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash) for Luke McKeogh (49), Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers) for Dara Maher (50), Aaron Brazil (Lattin Cullen) for Aaron McAndrew (53), Charlie Kennedy (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Conor Hurley (58).

Waterford: Darragh Walsh (Dungarvan), Hugh Scanlan (Geraldines), Andrew Ryan (The Nire), Jesse Kelly (Rathgormack), Michael Barry (Tramore), Luke Higgins (Dunhill), Senan Woods-Wyse (St Saviours), Eddie O’Reilly (captain, Gaultier), Ronan Sullivan (Newtown), Aaron Curran (Stradbally), Tom Lynch (Rathgormack), Ciaran Sullivan (Newtown), Oisin Hallahan (Dungarvan), Jake Kearney (Colligan), Senan Devine (Kilgobnet).

Subs: Corry Lyons (Dungarvan) for Luke Higgins (HT), Callum Doyle (Brickey Rangers) for Eddie O’Reilly (HT), David Ryan (The Nire) for Senan Woods-Wyse (44), Paul Bagnell (Tramore) for Ciarán Sullivan (47), Charlie Crotty (Dungarvan) for Jake Kearney (50).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Limerick).