Poorest championship performance in years sees Tipperary lose out to Waterford in Munster

Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final:

WATERFORD 2-7 TIPPERARY 1-5

At the 12th time of asking since they last defeated Tipperary in the Munster Senior Football Championship in 1988, Waterford finally overcame their near-neighbours with a fully deserved victory at Fraher Field, Dungarvan this afternoon

It was a Phoenix-like comeback for the Déise who looked doomed at the interval when trailing by four points (1-2 to 0-1), having played with a gale force wind behind them. The formbook at that stage suggested a comfortable win for the visitors but during the interval that mythical formbook was shredded in the Waterford dressing rooms. The home side emerged for the second half to heroically put their shoulders to the tail end of Storm Kathleen and take the game to Tipperary. In the end they got their just rewards with an uplifting first Munster Senior Championship win since 2010 when Waterford defeated a Páidí Ó Sé managed Clare at the same venue.

It would be easy to find fault with Tipperary’s display - and it most definitely was their most disappointing championship display in many years - but nothing should be taken from Waterford’s rare moment in the sun. This had been coming for a while. At the same stage of the championship last year in Thurles, Tipperary had to rally late to edge their neighbours by four points. Later in the summer in the Tailteann Cup at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the then David Power managed Tipp won by a single point. In Bansha last month in the Allianz League, Tipperary were fortunate enough to get a draw. This time it was to be Waterford’s day.

But it didn’t look like that at all in the first half. Having won the toss the home side decided to play with the strong wind but inside three minutes Tipperary had goaled. An effort at a point from Cathal Deely drifted away from goal where debutant Mark Stokes fielded well to keep the ball alive, beat his man on the end line and blasted low to the Waterford net. It was a tonic start for Tipp.

That early goal was the highlight of what was a totally forgettable first half. Tipperary seemed to be at their ease in terms of possession and territorial advantage without anything much being created. It would take Tipp nine minutes to register a wide; Waterford 15 minutes.

At the quarter-hour mark Tipperary’s second score came from a Stephen Grogan point, and on a day with scores at an absolute premium, a move up the field between Conor Cadell and Riain Quigley finished with the Moyle Rovers’ man pointing to make it 1-2 to 0-0 after 24 minutes.

Tipperary senior football manager Paul Kelly will have a lot to reflect upon after his side's exit from the Munster Senior Football Championship against Waterford. Pic: Sportsfile

Finally, Waterford responded when capitalising on a Tipp turnover before Michael Curry set up his brother Stephen to kick a point that avoided a first half whitewash for the home side. At the interval, had the day been a little warmer, one felt many might have been tempted by a walk on the beach in Clonea.

Neither side changed anything at the break, except attitude, and Paul Shankey’s side emerged for the second half on a real mission and were first off the mark with a point from Stephen Curry after two minutes. 

Soon Tipperary were introducing subs, with Emmet Moloney and Conor Sweeney entering the fray, the former All-Star in for his first competitive action since January 2023.

Now Waterford were the team enjoying the most possession and playing the short passing game more intricately than Tipp could. After wing-back Robbie McGrath was fouled Tom O’Connell announced his presence on what would be a huge day for the Brickey Rangers man when pointing the resultant free on 38 minutes.

And it was back to a one point game three minutes later when the hard-working William Beresford fed Stephen Curry for another fine point when swivelling on a sixpence to make it 1-2 to 0-3 on 46 minutes.

Pumped up now and believing they had a shot of football folklore, the home side levelled matters 14 minutes into the second half when Caolan MacCraith won a free and O’Connell popped over the kick. Game on.

Another championship debutant for Tipperary, Peter McGarry, pointed from 40 metres to restore Tipperary’s lead in the 51st minute - their first of the second half and their first in a worrying 25 minutes of play. However, that advantage was short lived when Jason Curry sent over a free to restore parity for the second time two minutes later.

Conor Sweeney’s introduction saw more Tipperary ball sticking, but twice the Ballyporeen man was off with frees, the second attempt from distance superbly hauled down from almost behind the crossbar by Waterford full-back Caoimhín Walsh. But Tipperary got back in front 10 minutes from the end when substitute Teddy Doyle, only a minute on the field, sent over a point from distance.

Tipp's Colm O'Shaughessy gets away from James Power during Sunday's Munster SFC game at Fraher Field, Dungarvan.

Stubbornly Waterford were refusing to go away and were unlucky for a possible goal in the 62nd minute when a Jason Curry free came down off the upright and in the resultant ping-pong around the goalmouth a Waterford effort trailed just wide.

But that luck was about to change when a break from defence linked William Beresford, Jason Curry and Alan Dunwoody whose final pass was fisted powerfully to the Tipperary net by Tom O’Connell. Amazingly the home side had hit the front for the first time, at the right time, to lead 1-6 to 1-4 with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Tails up now, the workrate of the Waterford team seemed to double, epitomised by a vital interception by corner-forward James Power near his own goal as a goal-seeking Tipperary threatened. Waterford broke and that possession was converted to a free, superbly slotted off the ground into a stiff wind from 40 metres, by an ice cool Jason Curry with the clock just into red.

Three minutes added time gave Tipperary a chance to alter that always dangerous two points deficit but on a day of many imponderables it was Waterford who would apply that coup de grace. A shot at a point from Conor Ó Cuirrín came down off the upright but who was there underneath the dropping ball, in a dream it seemed, but Tom O’Connell to bury a low effort past Evan Comerford. It was the crowning glory on a kind of day that doesn’t happen too often at Fraher Field. And it was fully deserved and well done to all involved.

Scorers for Waterford: T O’Connell (2-3, 0-3 frees); S Curry (0-3); J Curry (0-1 free).

Scorers for Tipperary: Mark Stokes (1-0); Stephen Grogan, Peter McGarry, Riain Quigley, Teddy Doyle, Conor Sweeney (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: P Hunt; R Browne, C Walsh, C McCarthy; B O’Keeffe, S Whelan-Barrett, R McGrath; M Curry, J Curry; C Mac Craith, D Fitzgerald, W Beresford; S Curry, T O’Connell, J Power.

Subs: C Ó Currín for McCarthy (56, inj), A Dunwoody for Mac Craith (63), J Walsh for Fitzgerald (70).

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford (Clonmel Commercials), Tadhg Condon (Clonmel Commercials), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan); James Morris (Clonmel Commercials), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Stephen Grogan (Cahir), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials); Conor Cadell (JK Brackens), Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials), Peter McGarry (Clonmel Commercials); Riain Quigley (Moyle Rovers), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials).

Subs: Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise) for Deely (42), Conor Sweeney for Quigley (42), Shane Neville (Cratloe) for O’Shaughnessy (52), Shane  O’Connell (Golden/Kilfeacle) for Condon (53), Teddy Doyle (Ballina) for Stokes (59).

Referee: B Griffin (Kerry).