Tipperary and Waterford hurlers share the points in opening game of the year

Tipperary 1-18 Waterford 1-18

It was honours even when All-Ireland champions Tipperary and Waterford played their first competitive match of the year, in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League, on the grass pitch at a sunny but bitterly cold Fethard Town Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Tipp looked set fair for victory when they led by eight points (1-17 to 0-12) with ten minutes of normal time remaining. However, they eventually had to settle for a draw, after the visitors outscored them by 1-6 to 0-1 in the closing stages.

In the end, Tipp were grateful for Jack Leamy’s converted free to rescue a point, when it looked as if Waterford’s late surge might secure a surprise win.

This game was scheduled for Clonmel Sportsfield. But with supporters waiting to be admitted to the ground, it emerged that lingering frost on a section of the pitch near the seated stand hadn’t thawed sufficiently, necessitating an eleventh hour switch to the Fethard venue, with the throw-in delayed by an hour and a quarter.

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Tipp began with four starters from their All-Ireland final win over Cork - Robert Doyle, Michael Breen, Bryan O’Mara and Andrew Ormond - as well as three players who were introduced as subs on that glorious day six months ago; Alan Tynan, Oisín O’Donoghue and Darragh Stakelum. Two more starters from the All-Ireland final, Conor Stakelum and Willie Connors, appeared as subs on Saturday.

However, Tipp boss Liam Cahill will have been concerned at the sight of Alan Tynan, who had been one of the team’s most prominent performers, leaving the pitch in obvious discomfort, having shipped a shoulder injury when the second half was in its infancy.

Cahill said he hoped the injury wasn’t too bad, adding that the Roscrea player looked to be in quite a bit of pain. And while the game was a good workout for his team, he said he was “a little disappointed” that they hadn’t won. However, it was a preparation game for the National League, which gets underway later this month, and it was all about getting game time into players.

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Points from goalkeeper Billy Nolan’s long range free, Joe Booth and Sean Walsh saw Waterford race into a 0-3 to no score lead after three minutes. Tipp were level within three minutes thanks to scores from Darragh Stakelum, Brian McGrath and Darragh Stakelum again.

It was the first of four times that there was parity on the scoreboard during the first half, and the scores were tied on two further occasions in the second half.

Tipp struck the first significant blow of the game in the 21st minute when Paddy Creedon showed good strength to get around Waterford full back Jack Fagan and, after holding off a challenge, sent a one-handed strike to the net (1-7 to 0-6). It was the score that was instrumental in Tipp holding a 1-11 to 0-7 lead at the midway stage.

They were good value for that lead. Alan Tynan and Josh Keller were controlling midfield; Michael Breen, Brian McGrath and Bryan O’Mara were strong in defence while Oisín O’Donoghue, Darragh Stakelum and Paddy Creedon were impressive in attack.

Tipp were broadly comfortable for much of the second half, with half-time sub Jack Leamy beefing up the attack. However, Waterford were never too far off the pace, a viewpoint that was reinforced when Tipp goalie Barry Hogan was called upon to make a smart save at his near post from Charlie Treen in the 46th minute.

A Tipp win looked on the cards when Andrew Ormond scored his only point of the game to give them a 1-17 to 0-12 lead in the 50th minute.

However, Waterford were in no mood to throw in the towel. Four accurate frees from Reuben Halloran, as well as a Marc Mahony point, edged them ever closer before Charlie Treen shot the equalising goal in the 60th minute. Treen followed up with a point to restore their lead, the first time they led since the fifth minute, only for Jack Leamy to spare Tipp’s blushes with his additional time equaliser.

Tipp had a chance to win it but Brian McGrath’s free from deep in his own half drifted wide, and a draw was probably the fairest outcome.  

Tipperary: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore 0-1), Michael Breen (Ballina), Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill 0-1), Brian McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney 0-2, 1 free), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross/Ballycahill), Josh Keller (Nenagh Eire Og 0-1), Alan Tynan (Roscrea 0-1), Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s Clonmel), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields 0-2), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens 0-1), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields 1-1), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh 0-4 frees).

Substitutes: Jack Leamy (Golden/Kilfeacle 0-4, 3 frees) for Paddy McCormack, Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Darragh Stakelum, Joe Fogarty (Moneygall) for Peter McGarry, Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Michael Breen (all half-time), Adam Daly (Knockavilla/Donaskeigh Kickhams) for Alan Tynan (34 minutes), Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris) for Conor Martin (43 minutes), Willie Connors (Kiladangan) for Bryan O’Mara (43 minutes), Charlie Ryan (Boherlahan/Dualla) for Josh Keller (52 minutes), Adam Hall (Toomevara) for Paddy Creedon (52 minutes),  Billy Seymour (Kiladangan) for Oisín O’Donoghue (54 minutes).

Waterford: Billy Nolan (0-1 free), Daniel Lalor, Jack Fagan, Conor Keane (0-1), Sean Mackey, Mark Fitzgerald, Brian Lynch, Seamus Fitzgerald, Tom O’Connell, Joe Booth (0-1), Reuben Halloran (0-8, 7 frees, 1 ‘65), Jack Twomey, Charlie Treen (1-3), Sean Walsh (0-2), James Power (0-1).

Substitutes: Marc Mahony (0-1) for Jack Twomey (9 minutes), Darragh Lyons for Tom O’Connell (half-time), Mairtín Power for Seamus Fitzgerald (46 minutes), Patrick Curran for Sean Walsh (49 minutes), Tom Barron for Brian Lynch (52 minutes), PJ Fanning for Sean Mackey (57 minutes), Jack Lacey for Jack Fagan (61 minutes).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Cork).