Three goals in five first half minutes put paid to Tipperary's hopes of victory

Tipperary 0-14 Waterford 3-11

Tipperary travelled in hope to Páirc Naomh Bríd in Lemybrien in search of a first win in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship on Easter Monday evening. But after a big second half performance in front of a 664 attendance, they had to play second fiddle to a very slick Waterford side who made it back-to-back victories, having accounted for Clare in round 1.

Tipp must now beat Clare, probably by a margin of five or six points, in their last Phase One group game in Quilty next Monday night (April 13) to have any chance of progressing in the championship.

This game was won and lost over a five-minute period coming up to the end of the opening quarter, when the home side capitalised on their numerical advantage, following the dismissal of Cian Cahill to a black card, following an accidental trip on a Waterford forward.

During this five-minute period they crashed home three goals, as they ran through the Tipperary defence, before going in at the short whistle leading by twelve points, 3-8 to 0-5.

After the restart, Tipperary upped the intensity and took control of the game, reducing the deficit to six while outscoring their opponents by 0-7 to 0-1 up to the 52nd minute. However, the goal that was needed never materialised and the final eight minutes were shared equally, with both sides kicking two- point frees.

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Tipperary, who had made four changes in personnel as well as numerous positional changes to their starting fifteen from their opening round 1 defeat by Limerick, saw the home side make the early running, attacking immediately from the throw-in and racing into a three-point lead. Dara Gough kicked the opening score, a point from a placed ball inside the first minute before landing a two-pointer after the ball was worked upfield out of their defence, with Arlo McManus supplying the final pass.

Goalkeeper Danny Cashin got Tipperary moving with a score from a placed ball after six minutes, before disaster struck for the Premier County. Cian Cahill received a black card for an accidental tangling of legs with Anthony O’Donnell and was given ten minutes in the sin bin. This dismissal was to prove crucial, as Waterford took full advantage and hit 3-1 during this period.

The opening goal arrived on eight minutes, with Waterford leading by 0-3 to 0-1, after Ronan Kirwan won a kickout and ran at the defence before off loading to Rian Hallahan, who blasted a low shot to the corner of the net from close range. Waterford won possession from the resulting kickout through Enda Bloomer and the Gaultier clubman set up Dara Gough for goal number two. Conor O’Meara slotted a minor for Tipperary, which was cancelled out by Gough from a placed ball.

Goal number three arrived on thirteen minutes when full forward Hallahan reacted first to a scorching shot from Aidan McMaugh that came back off the crossbar, to bang in his second. Conor O’Meara and Cillian Morrissey kicked two on the bounce for Tipp, but Dara Gough landed a two-point free from outside the arc, with five minutes remaining before the short whistle. Shay Healy and Reuben Grace exchanged minors as the home side went in at the break leading by 3-8 to 0-5.

Tipperary came out for the second half with a different attitude, upping the intensity and taking the game to Waterford. Danny Cashin kicked a 45, and Hugh Carolan landed a two-pointer either side of Peter Murray kicking a Waterford minor.

Tipperary kicked the next four points as their supporters got behind them. Evan Lonergan kicked over from the open side before Conor O’Meara landed a free. Hugh Carolan, from open play and Cillian Morrissey from a placed ball reduced the deficit to six points with twelve minutes remaining, but this was as close as they got.

Dara Gough kicked a two-point free from 45 metres, before Danny Cashin closed out the scoring in added time with a similar score, as Waterford ran out six-point winners to guarantee their place in phase 2.

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Scorers: Tipperary: Danny Cashin (0-4, 1x2ptf, 1x45, 1f), Conor O’Meara (0-3, 1f), Hugh Carolan (0-3, 1x2pt), Cillian Morrissey (0-2,1f), Evan Lonergan (0-1), Reuben Grace (0-1).
Waterford: Dara Gough (1-9, 2x2ptf, 1x2pt, 3f), Rian Hallahan (2-0), Peter Murray (0-1), Shay Healy (0-1).

Tipperary: Danny Cashin (Killenaule), Nicholas Walsh (Cashel King Cormacs), Oisín McCarthy (Moyle Rovers), Oisín O’Reilly (Clonmel Óg), Colin Maher (Cashel King Cormacs), Evan Lonergan (Emly), Conor Hurley (captain, Moyle Rovers), Cian Cahill (JK Brackens), Adam O’Callaghan (Portroe), Tadhg Dunlea (Ballylooby Castlegrace), Reuben Grace (Galtee Rovers), Hugh Carolan (Moyle Rovers), Cillian Morrissey (Moyle Rovers), Sam Gallahue (Portroe), Conor O’Meara (Grangemockler Ballyneale).
Subs: Jack Donnelly (Golden Kilfeacle) for Colin Maher (23), Eoin O’Connell (Aherlow) for Tadhg Dunlea (27), Charlie Brazil (Aherlow) for Sam Gallahue (38), Rory Dunphy (Clonmel Commercials) for Reuben Peters (60).

Waterford: Jack Sheehan, Arlo McManus, James Skehan, Cian Power, Shay Healy, Anthony O’Donnell, Liam O’Grady, Theo Meagher, Tomás Walsh, Enda Bloomer, Aidan McMaugh, Peter Murray, Dara Gough, Rian Hallahan, Ronan Kirwan.
Subs: Eoin Keane for Liam O’Grady (47), Charlie Kelly for Tomás Walsh (52), Caolan Johnston for Anthony Purcell (56), Darragh Hutchinson for Peter Murray (56), Eoin Lavery for Rian Hallahan (62).

Referee: Eoin Keane (Clare).