Referee Diarmuid Kirwan was booed from the Semple Stadium pitch on Wednesday night as Tipperary saw off a late rally from fourteen man Waterford to advance to a Munster semi final meeting with Cork. The anger and disappointment from Waterford supporters was understandable given a considerable number of Tipperary fouls that went unpunished particularly late on as Fergal Hartley’s side searched for a goal to force extra time. In the final analysis however the home side just about deserved their victory even with the rub of the green in their favour.
Their hurling in the opening half was of a vastly superior standard to a disjointed Waterford side who also suffered in the physical stakes. Spurred on by the majestic Noel McGrath at midfield, Tipp picked off their scores at will. By half time all of the Premier attack were on the board from play with Waterford’s full back line, which included Noel Connors and Darragh Fives, on the back foot.
The game began in bizarre fashion with a melee involving several players ending up with yellow cards for Sean Curran and Darragh Fives. Noel McGrath’s goal from a penalty on three minutes gave Tipp the ideal platform when things settled down with Sean Curran batting home a second on 13 minutes. Waterford struggled around midfield but recovered late in the half using the pace in their forward line. Maurice Shanahan, on his return to inter county action, fired three points from play with Pauric Mahony nailing three frees. Seven first half wides however in comparison to the sharp shooting of Tipperary’s Adrian Ryan and John O’Neill gave them a 2-9 to 0-7 lead by the interval.
Within ten second half minutes the deficit was reeled in to four points. Pauric Mahony, Brian O’Sullivan and Shanahan led the charge with Stephen Roche improving at midfield to counter Noel McGrath. The recovery effort hit the rocks however when substitute Owen Whelan received two yellow cards and his marching orders from Diarmuid Kirwan. The Mount Sion man was only introduced at half time but seconds after the throw in he saw his first yellow for a wild pull. Ten minutes later after a poor first touch, he lost possession and tripped his opponent to give Kirwan little option. John O’Dwyer added further misery as he rounded Stephen O’Keeffe minutes later for Tipp’s third goal. Waterford rallied again with Brian O’Sullivan a consistent threat and he picked off some vital points from play. The gap remained six points heading into injury time but then O’Sullivan popped up to bury a low shot and provide the goal Waterford’s challenge desperately needed. An unlikely comeback was nearly completed when Pauric Mahony found himself one on one with the goalkeeper only for his ground shot to be smothered by Paul Ryan. Lively substitute Owen Connors followed up with a white flag to make it a two point game. Kirwan frustrated Waterford followers further by ignoring claims for late frees particularly on Maurice Shanahan. John O’Neill’s clinical top corner finish in the fourth minute of an action packed injury time extinguished any lingering Deise hopes.
Brian O’Sullivan with 1-4 from play was Waterford’s outstanding player on the night particularly when leadership was required in the second half. Pauric Mahony from frees and Maurice Shanahan also showed up well in the forward division. Jake Dillon when moved around midfield in the second half improved that sector of the field along with the hard working Stephen Roche. Jamie Barron and Philip Mahony were the pick of a back line that too often allowed the Tipperary forwards time and space. Fergal Hartley and his management team will look back with frustration at the performance of the officials but also with regret that their first half performance wasn’t sharper and also that they completed a valiant second half effort with 14 men.
All of Tipperary’s forward unit led by John O’Neill displayed their class at various stages with seven different names contributing. Kevin O’Gorman in defence stood out by making a magnificent intervention in the first half when Eamonn Murphy was through on goal. Noel McGrath showed all of his ability in the first half but vanished from the game like many of his colleagues towards the end. Overall while they faded late in the second half their touch all over the field was crisper and they took their goal chances ruthlessly when presented with the opportunities. Ultimately these factors kept Tipperary’s All Ireland crown intact.
Scorers:- Tipperary: J. O’Neill 2-2, A. Ryan 0-3, N. McGrath 1-1 (1-0 pen), S. Curran 1-0, J. O’Dwyer 0-2(1f), P. Murphy 0-1, M. Sheedy 0-1, B Stapleton 0-1, B.O’Meara 0-1.
Waterford: B. O’Sullivan 1-4, P.Mahony 0-6 (6f), M. Shanahan 0-4, O. Connors 0-1, J. Dillon 0-1.
Tipperary: Paul Ryan, Ciaran Hough, Kevin O’Gorman, Stephen Maher, Brian Stapleton, James Barry, Padraig Heffernan, Noel McGrath, Joe Gallagher, Sean Curran, Paddy Murphy, Adrian Ryan, John O’Dwyer, Brian O’Meara, John O’Neill.
Subs: Sean O’Brien for Barry (H-T), Aidan McCormack for Gallagher (39 mins), Michael Sheedy for Curran (56 mins).
Waterford: Stephen O’Keeffe, Jamie Barron, Darragh Fives, Noel Connors, Paudie Prendergast, Philip Mahony, Stephen Daniels, Stephen Roche, Adam Brophy, Martin O’Neill, Eamonn Murphy, Pauric Mahony, Brian O’Sullivan, Maurice Shanahan, Jake Dillon.
Subs: Owen Whelan for O’Neill (H-T), Owen Connors for Brophy (47 mins), Eoin Madigan for Murphy (56 mins inj)
Wides – Tipperary: 12 Waterford: 9
Man of the match: John O’Neill (Tipperary)
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
Attendance: 4,392
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