Tipperary lose out to Waterford in the opening game of the Munster Hurling League

Waterford 0-21 Tipperary 1-15

For the second year in a row, Tipperary’s hurlers have opened their season with a defeat, although this loss to Waterford in the first round of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League in Mallow this evening will hardly set the alarm bells ringing in the same manner as the defeat by Kerry in Tralee 12 months ago.

In manager Liam Cahill’s first game in charge, Tipp were competitive for much of a contest that plodded along in a fairly pedestrian manner in the first half before bursting to life on the turnover.

As Davy Fitzgerald enjoyed a winning start to his second coming as Waterford manager, a good start to either half stood to his team in a game in which Tipperary finished with 14 players, after Cathal Barrett received a second yellow card twelve minutes from the end of normal time. 

However, the Holycross defender must have looked on in bemusement from the stand as a later high challenge by Waterford substitute Austin Gleeson went totally unpunished.

Liam Cahill will have been encouraged by his team’s defensive performance, with goalie Rhys Shelly, Michael Breen, Dan McCormack, Cathal Barrett and Gavin Ryan the linchpins of that defiant rearguard action.

However, too much of the responsibility for scores rested on Jason Forde’s shoulders. The Silvermines player scored 1-11, including a haul of 1-4 from play that featured an incredible point from near the sideline on the stand side in the closing stages.

Elsewhere Alan Tynan, Mark Kehoe and Conor Bowe had their moments in attack, while substitute Cian O’Dwyer also did well, scoring two points from play. However, Tipp will need more scoring forwards if they’re to make an impression this year.

It was notable that they also finished with 11 wides, with Waterford shooting seven.   

Ahead by four points at the break, Waterford extended their advantage to five with an accurate 65 from Reuben Halloran in the 54th minute, although they had a great chance to move even further ahead a minute earlier when Stephen Bennett’s penalty was stopped by Tipp goalie Rhys Shelly.  

Boosted by that let-off, Tipp launched an attack from the puckout that ended with their main man Jason Forde driving a low shot to the net.

They might have had another goal within a minute, when substitute Jack Ryan shot straight at Waterford ‘keeper Billy Nolan.

Just before Cathal Barrett received his marching orders, a Jason Forde free tied the scores in the 57th minute (1-11 to 0-14).

The teams were level twice more before the end but Waterford finished the stronger, two points from substitute Paudie Fitzgerald, as well as scores from Mark Fitzgerald and Austin Gleeson securing the win.

Starting with the wind and steady drizzle, all the early momentum was with Waterford. By the 22nd minute they had raced into an 0-8 to 0-1 lead, midfielder Reuben Halloran striking four of those points from long range frees. 

It took Tipp 13 minutes to open their account, a converted free by Jason Forde. When they were seven points down, they finally began to get to grips with the game and hit three points without reply from Conor Bowe, a Jason Forde free and a fine point from play by Forde.

Points from Sean Walsh and another Halloran free kept Waterford motoring. Meanwhile, at the other end, Jason Forde hit two more points, one from a free, to leave Tipp four in arrears at the midway stage, 0-10 to 0-6.

Playing into the teeth of a difficult breeze, Tipp also had five wides in the opening half, as well as a few shorts that fell short into the lap of Waterford goalie Billy Nolan. Paddy Creedon also had a goal-bound effort blocked by Nolan, although play was brought back for a free from which Jason Forde scored, while Conor Bowe had a later shot smothered by the Waterford defence. 

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris), Cathal Barrett (Holycross/Ballycahill), Michael Breen (Ballina), Gavin Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane), Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Pauric Campion (Drom/Inch), Shane Neville (Cratloe, Clare), Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens), Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs), Alan Tynan (Roscrea 0-1), Jason Forde (Silvermines 1-11, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Joe Fogarty (Moneygall), Conor Bowe (Moyne/Templetuohy (0-1), Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields).

Substitutes: Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) for Joe Fogarty (27 minutes), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers) for Alan Tynan (45 minutes), Jack Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore) for Ger Browne (45 minutes), Cian O’Dwyer (Clonakenny 0-2) for Paddy Creedon (45 minutes), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s) for Conor Bowe (64 minutes), Gearoid O’Connor (Moyne/Templetuohy) for Mark Kehoe (70 minutes). 

Waterford: Billy Nolan (0-1 free), Cathrach Daly (0-1), Mark Fitzgerald (0-1), Conor Ryan, Michael Harney, Calum Lyons, Shane McNulty, Paddy Leavey (0-1), Reuben Halloran (0-7, 6 frees, 1 ‘65) Neil Montgomery, Colin Dunford (0-2), Sean Walsh (0-2), James Power, DJ Foran (0-1), Billy Power (0-1).

Substitutes: Iarlaith Daly (0-1) for Shane McNulty (half-time), Michael Kiely for DJ Foran (47 minutes), Stephen Bennett for Sean Walsh (48 minutes), Austin Gleeson (0-1) for Billy Power (66 minutes), Paudie Fitzgerald (0-2) for Colin Dunford (68 minutes), Aaron Ryan for Carthach Daly (75 minutes)

Referee: John O’Halloran (Limerick).