Tipperary Under 20 hurlers make it two wins from two games in Munster championship

Tipperary 1-21 Waterford 0-15

A one-sided second half saw Brendan Cummins’ Tipperary Under 20 hurling team outscore Ken McGrath’s Waterford by fourteen points to five in the Dungarvan sunshine last Friday evening and secure back to back Munster Championship wins.

The teams were level at the break but the hosts should have been ahead after shooting six wides.

They wouldn’t score again until the 46th minute, as a slick and speedy Premier County side took over and punished misplaced short passes from the Déise.

Minus the suspended Paddy McCormack, all six Tipp forwards and both midfielders worked the umpires.

Oisin O’Donoghue led the way with 1-3 from play, including a fourth minute green flag. Darragh McCarthy (0-7), Conor Martin (0-3) and Senan Butler (0-3) also shone for the visitors, who lost corner back Jack Quinlan to injury in the first quarter.

Waterford couldn’t call on senior panellist Patrick Fitzgerald and finished with ten wides. Cillian Ryan and Michael Morrissey were best for the hosts, who suffered their second defeat of the campaign.

The floodlights were switched on but they proved unnecessary, as the sun made a welcome appearance. It started so well for Waterford as Cillian Ryan landed a long range point and Charlie Treen slotted a free over the bar.

However, a two-minute Tipperary blitz of 1-3 knocked the stuffing out of them. Senan Butler crossed for Oisin O’Donoghue on four minutes and he fired home. Adam Daly, Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell tacked on points.

In an end to end first quarter, white flags from Treen and Michael Morrissey reduced the deficit to three.

Two Waterford errors were punished by McCarthy and O’Donoghue to make it 1-6 to 0-4 before O’Farrell fired a shot across the face of goal. Jack Quinlan was stretchered off after a three-minute stoppage.

Waterford stormed back in the second quarter. Marc Ó Mathuna took over the dead ball duties, after Treen went off with a blood injury, and he nailed five points, as McGrath’s men went in on level terms (1-7 to 0-10). They should have been in front after clocking up six wides.

Tipp launched the first attack on the restart and it nearly yielded a goal, as Scott Ryan saved from Senan Butler. Darragh McCarthy dispatched the subsequent 65.

Butler and Conor Martin struck three points apiece in the second half as the Premier pulled away. Waterford’s short passing game broke down and it took sixteen minutes to move the scoreboard via another Ó Mathuna free.

Scorers for Waterford: Marc Ó Mathuna 0-6 (4fs, 1 ‘65), Charlie Treen (2fs), Michael Morrissey 0-3 each, Conor Keane 0-2, Cillian Ryan 0-1.

Scorers for Tipperary: Darragh McCarthy 0-7 (3fs, 2 65s), Oisin O’Donoghue 1-3, Senan Butler, Conor Martin 0-3 each, Cathal English 0-2, Sam O’Farrell, Adam Daly, Eoin Craddock 0-1 each.

Waterford: Scott Ryan (Mount Sion); Conor Keane (De La Salle), Daniel Lalor (De La Salle), Cillian Ryan (Brickey Rangers); Aaron O’Neill (Ballygunner), Billy O’Connell (Abbeyside), Scott Fleming (Ballygunner); Joseph O’Keeffe (Lismore), Evan Spellman (Fourmilewater); Sean Mackey (Fenor), Charlie Treen (Abbeyside), Marc Ó Mathuna (An Sean Phobal); Jack Twomey (De La Salle), Michael Morrissey (Fourmilewater), Brian Callaghan (Abbeyside).

Subs: Jack Power (Kilrossanty) for O’Keeffe (temporary, 24-25), Jack Power (Kilrossanty) for Treen (temporary, 28-30), Jack Power (Kilrossanty) for Treen (44), Jack O’Donnell (Ballyduff Lower) for Callaghan (47), Michael Burke (Dungarvan) for Fleming (53), Fionn Hallinan (Fourmilewater) for Ryan (56), Eoin O’Callaghan (Dungarvan) for Spellman (60).

Tipperary: Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); Jack Quinlan (Fethard), Aaron O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), Podge O’Dwyer (Killenaule); Ronan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Ben Currivan (Golden Kilfeacle), Jack Collins (Ballina); Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg), Adam Daly (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams); Cathal English (Fr Sheehys), Conor Martin (Cappawhite), Eoin Craddock (Holycross Ballycahill); Senan Butler (Kilsheelan Kilcash), Oisin O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara).

Subs: Chris O’Donnell (Ballylooby Castlegrace) for Quinlan (14), Mason Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for Connolly (38), Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe) for Cawley (temporary, 44-48), Ciaran Foley (Borrisokane) for O’Farrell (48), Damien Corbett (Gortnahoe Glengoole) for Martin (57), Jack O’Callaghan (Portroe) for O’Donoghue (60).

Referee: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick).