Little to learn as Tipp make late dash - Tipperary 2-21 Waterford 1-21

 

 

Challenge games pose plenty of conundrums. Managers seek competitive action to tune up for championship but in a loose environment, it doesn’t offer the required intensity to make conclusive judgements on players, formations or tactics. Players want to impress but also avoid the injury that could rule them out of the curtain call. Journalists meanwhile are desperately trying to scribble down scorers and substitutes.

Waterford and Tipperary were level with five minutes remaining at Davin Park in Carrick On Suir before three late points through Johnny Ryan, Brian O’Meara and Noel McGrath saw Eamonn O’Shea’s men pull through. In truth, the pace of the game never rose above lukewarm. 46 players in total saw action as the managers chopped and changed in the second half. It’s difficult to see how either could gain much from the experience.

Supporters on both banks got a drenching in the first half and the fare on the field didn’t take their mind off things. Towards the latter part however, the pace did pick up. A sloppy defensive mix-up gifted Pa Bourke a goal but Waterford recovered. Seamus Prendergast was central to all the positive play up front. Once again, he emphasised his importance to the forward unit with an imposing display. He popped up with three first half points and had a shot saved by Darren Gleeson. Apart from that effort, the Déise found it difficult to carve openings for goals. From long distance, Ray Barry fired three points and Darragh Fives hit a brace as Waterford led by 0-13 to 1-9 at the break.

The substitutions came thick and fast after the interval. There continued to be a lack of bite to the exchanges although the scores kept coming at both ends. Now positioned at full forward, Seamus Prendergast flicked in a goal to give Waterford the initiative. Pauric Mahony also chipped in with a couple to keep them at the head of affairs. Tipperary always threatened a goal however and Stephen O’Keeffe pulled off a fine stop before they flashed one to the net. Pa Bourke supplied Shane Bourke and the man in the red helmet drilled it to the corner despite O’Keeffe’s attempt to the keep it out. Tony Browne made his return at centre back mid way through the half along with seven other Waterford substitutes. Not much separated the sides on the night and a late flurry of tidy Tipperary points saw them shade the verdict.

There were only a couple of snippets for Michael Ryan to take note of. Darragh Fives showed that he can perform more than capably around midfield and also drive forward to take a score. Finding a partner for Shane O’Sullivan has been a head scratcher but the Tourin man could offer the solution. Ray Barry and Pauric Mahony caught the eye up front and at the back Shane Fives was again solid at corner back. In the absence of Stephen Daniels, this is another jersey that is up for grabs. More work is required on how to break down defences and the movement will need to be much slicker to rattle in a couple on the June Bank Holiday weekend. Despite the experimentation that was conducted, Tipperary certainly seemed a couple of steps ahead in this regard. Friday’s game offered a reminder that Seamus Prendergast must stay fit if Waterford are to make headway this summer. Nothing enlightening about that just a reinforcement of what we knew already.

Scorers: Tipperary – P Bourke 1-3 (1 65'), S Bourke 1-0, E Kelly, J Ryan 0-3 each, B O’Meara, J O’Brien, S Callanan (1f), B Maher, S McGrath 0-2 each, C O’Brien, N McGrath 0-1 each.

Waterford – S Prendergast 1-3, P Mahony 0-5 (2fs), M Shanahan (3fs), R Barry 0-4 each, D Fives 0-3, J Dillon, J Barron 0-1 each.

Tipperary: D Gleeson; M Cahill, D Maher, J O’Keeffe; T Stapleton, C O’Mahony, C O’Brien; S McGrath, J Ryan; P Bourke, P Maher, J O’Brien; B O’Meara, E Kelly, M Heffernan.

Subs used: B Cummins, K Bergin, P Curran, J Barry, S Callanan, S Bourke, B Maher, N McGrath.

Waterford: I O’Regan; S Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; J Nagle, M Walsh, K Moran; S O’Sullivan, D Fives; M Shanahan, S Prendergast, J Dillon; R Barry, P Mahony, J Barron.

Subs used: S O’Keeffe, M O’Neill, E Barrett, D Twomey, B Coughlan, K Fitzgerald, T Browne, M Wyse.

Referee: J Owens (Wexford)