Tonic for the troops as Tipperary start new year with positive McGrath Cup win over Waterford

Munster GAA McGrath Cup Group B Round 2

TIPPERARY 2-14 WATERFORD 0-7

Tipperary senior footballers got their new year off to a winning start with a solid performance in overcoming Waterford by 13 points in Round 2 of the McGrath Cup played at the Gold Coast, Ballinacourty this afternoon (Sunday).

It was a positive and satisfying outing for the Premier County who were always in control following a dream start in which they goaled in the very first attack of the game. The day also provided manager David Power and selectors with the opportunity to look at no less than 24 players over the 70 minutes as they prepare to finalise their 2023 panel.

Today’s win sets Tipp up nicely for a tilt at Limerick on Saturday afternoon next in Templetuohy in which the winners, having both now defeated Waterford, will advance to the McGrath Cup final most likely against Cork.

A close to full-strength Tipperary team took to the field and within 18 seconds of the start had the ball in the back of the Waterford net for a tonic start. The midfield pairing of Paudie Feehan and Conal Kennedy secured the throw-in and thereafter Mikey O’Shea and Sean O’Connor combined in cutting through the Waterford defence before the Clonmel Commercials man rifled past Waterford keeper Ben Kirwan, who was the first home player to touch the ball in retrieving it from the back of the net.

Inside a minute Tipp had extended that lead when a quickly taken sideline ball by Conor Sweeney to Steven O’Brien was pointed from a tight angle for a 1-1 to 0-0 advantage after just 58 seconds on the clock.

Tipp had hit the ground running and were dominating the early exchanges with Steven O’Brien, Jack and Conal Kennedy and Paudie Feehan prominent around the middle, and following a well delivered pass from O’Brien, captain Conor Sweeney opened his 2023 account with a marked point in the sixth minute.

Such was the Tipp superiority early on that it was 10 minutes before Waterford even registered a wide, and they found themselves six points behind after 13 minutes. A break down the left wing initiated by Jack Harney ended with Mikey O’Shea slotting over a sweet point on the turn to leave the visitors 1-3 to 0-0 ahead.

On the quarter hour mark it got even better for David Power’s charges. Steven O’Brien and Conor Sweeney were causing all sorts of problems to the Waterford backs in a move that eventually fell to Kevin Fahey. The Tipp defender was in the right place at the right time at the edge of the square to finish superbly with a right legged shot to the back of the net for a 2-3 to 0-0 lead. It was beginning to look like a long day for the Deise hosts.

Tipp almost had a third goal five minutes later when Sweeney and O’Brien combined again, with the Ballina man firing a low shot that looked destined for the corner but Ben Kirwan went full length to save magnificently. Jack Kennedy pointed the resultant 45. And the Tipperary advantage was out to 11 points in the 24th minute when Conor Sweeney pointed while playing advantage after O’Brien had been fouled close-in. 

Finally, 26 minutes, in Waterford got off the mark when one of their better players on the day, Sean Whelan-Barrett sent over an excellent point from 35 metres out.

The closing minutes of the opening half saw a mini revival from Waterford with two points before the break, a free from Conor Murray won by captain Liam Fennell; and another superb long range effort from John Devine with the outside of the boot.

In the last move of the first period Tipperary strung together a fine passage of play linking Mikey O’Shea, Jack Kennedy and Sean O’Connor before Conor Sweeney’s attempt to place the ball just went on the outside of the post. At the break Tipp led 2-5 to 0-3 but it could easily have been more than the eight points margin.

While the result might have looked beyond doubt at the break, the second half was keenly contested with Tipperary introducing nine subs and Waterford going two better with 11 introductions. And there was nothing pedestrian either about the exchanges with some strong tackles going in as players attempted to stake claims for upcoming league starting places.

The first nine scores after the resumption were all from frees, an indication of the physicality involved in some of the challenges. Within seven minutes of the restart Tipp had stretched their lead to 11 with three consecutive frees from Conor Sweeney and Jack Kennedy (2) - Kevin Fahey, half-time substitute Teddy Doyle and Mikey O’Shea winning the kicks. 

The next six scores were tit-for-tat frees, three apiece, John Devine (superbly from 45 metres) and Conor Murray (2) for Waterford (Luke Boland desperately unlucky to have been charged with over carrying for one); Jack Kennedy and Sean O’Connor (2) replied for Tipperary, the Commercials man taking over the close-in duties after Conor Sweeney was called ashore.

The hour mark had passed before we had the first point from play in the second half, Sean O’Connor scoring in the 61st minute. Two further points quickly followed for the visitors with second half introductions Donough Leahy and Liam McGrath putting up their hands for the next day.

The game’s final score came in the 67th minute with another Conor Murray free meaning the hosts hadn’t scored from play in the second half, managing just two points on the day from open play. They had, especially in the first half, kicked at least four balls short to the Tipperary goalkeeper, all of which Michael O’Reilly dealt with capably under pressure.

Limerick will be a far bigger test next weekend for David Power’s side, but overall the exercise against Waterford was fruitful. Tipp looked sharp for the start of the year and the intent from the outset was encouraging. All those introduced went about their roles also with determination, so a good day at the Gold Coast overall and a thoroughly deserved victory.

TIPPERARY: 

Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers), Dean Carew (Upperchurch/Drombane), Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials, 1-0), Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials, 0-3, 0-1x45, 0-2F), Conor Cadell (JK Brackens), Mikey O’Shea (CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone, 0-1), Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Conor Sweeney (capt., Ballyporeen, 0-4, 0-1M, 0-2F), Steven O’Brien (Ballina, 0-1), Sean O’Connor (Clonmel Commercials, 1-3, 0-2F).

Tipperary Subs:

Teddy Doyle (Ballina) for Cadell (half-time);

Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash) for C. Kennedy (46 mins);

Donough Leahy (Arravale Rovers, 0-1) for Feehan (49 mins);

Tommy Maher (Loughmore/Castleiney) for Boland (50 mins);

Liam McGrath (Loughmore/Castleiney, 0-1) for O’Shea (55 mins);

Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen) for Conor Sweeney (55 mins);

Cathal Deely (Clonmel Commercials) for O'Connor (60 mins);

Joe Lawrence (Rockwell Rovers) for J. Kennedy (60 mins);

Cian O’Mahoney (GK, Ardfinnan) for O’Reilly (62 mins).

WATERFORD:

Ben Kirwan (Kill), Ronan O’Connell (Portlaw), Caoimhín Walsh (Kilrossanty), Darach Ó Cathasaigh (An Rinn), Conor Ó Currín (An Rinn), Jack Keane (Ardmore), Liam Fennell (capt., Stradbally), Michael Curry (Rathgormack), Kevin Sheehan (Sliabh gCua), Brian Lynch (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg), Sean Whelan-Barrett (Ballinacourty, 0-1), John Devine (Modeligo, 0-2, 0-1F), Damien Quirke (Sliabh gCua), Conor Murray (Rathgormack, 0-4F), Michael Kiely (Dungarvan).

Waterford Subs:

Barry O’Brien (Stradbally) for Ó Cuirrín (half-time);

Caomhín Maguire (Gaultier) for Sheehan (inj., 44 minutes);

Seamus Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) for Quirke (45 mins);

Aaron Breresford (GK, Ballinacourty) for Kirwan (48 mins);

Mark Cummins (Brickey Rangers) for Keane (48 mins);

Billy Hynes (Shamrocks) for Devine (48 mins);

Dean Reidy (Roanmore) for Fennell (55 mins);

Brian Looby (Ballinacourty) for Kiely (55 mins);

Donal Fitzgerald (Kilrossanty) for O’Connell (55 mins);

Reece Stringer (Colligan) for Walsh (58 mins);

Gareth Duffy (St Saviour’s) for Whelan-Barrett (58 mins).

Referee: Timmy McGrath (Limerick).