James Power, Waterford, and Micheál Freaney, Tipperary, in Munster SFC action at FBD Semple Stadium. Photo by David Ribeiro/Sportsfile
Munster SFC Quarter-Final
Tipperary 1-22 (1-4-14) Waterford 1-19 (1-3-13)
By Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium
Tipperary matched their early season league victory over Waterford with a Munster championship first round win at FBD Semple Stadium this evening when the hosts proved to have too much fire-power for the visitors.
On a perfect evening for the game, Tipperary enacted sweet revenge for the Deise defeat at the same stage of last year's championships, setting up a clash with Clare in Ennis in two weeks time.
Tipperary had the breeze on their backs in the first half and they made the most of it kicking four two pointers to help them to a decisive 1-13 to 0-8 interval lead.
Steven O’Brien was their scorer-in-chief and he helped himself to three of those two-pointers – two from placed balls, while also adding a fourth minute goal which was Tipperary’s first score of the match, and a point from play, and one from an ordinary free. The Ballina man struck 1-8 of the Tipp total.
Waterford had started well and they had two points from James Power and Alan Dunwoody, but once O’Brien netted for Tipp, the Premier men were in front all the way.
Cian Smith, Darragh Brennan and Michael Freaney had points for Tipp also while Jason Curry (3), Conor Murray and Alan Dunwoody were on target for Waterford who had matched Tipp in the half, but were just suffering with those Tipp two-pointers.
Michael Freaney had a fourth two pointer for Tipp just before the break and this score gave Tipp an added boost as they headed for the half-time break.
Conor Murray and Jason Curry kicked two in succession for Waterford upon resumption, but five from Tipp through Ben Comerford, Cian Smith (3) and Michael Freaney extended the lead to 10 points with 15 minutes gone in the second half.
There seemed to be no way back for Waterford, but they battled hard and were rewarded with an Alan Dunwoody goal in the 28th minute as well as two two-pointers from Conor Murray and James Walsh to cut the deficit to three. Darragh Brennan (2) and Paudie Feehan added to Tipp'stally before the end.
Scorers for Tipperary: Steven O’Brien 1-8 ( 2x2 fpts, 1x2pt, 1f), Michael Freaney 0-4 (1x2pt), Cian Smith 0-5 (2fs), Darragh Brennan 0-3, Paudie Feehan 0-1, Ben Comerford 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: Jason Curry 0-6 (5fs), Alan Dunwoody 1-2, Conor Murray 0-5 (1x 2ptr), James Walsh 0-2 (2ptr), James Power 0-3 (1x 2ptr), Liam Fennell 0-1.
Tipperary: Shane Ryan, Jason Madigan, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney, Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, Luke Boland, Mark Russell, Kieran Costello, Ben Comerford, Mikie O’Shea, Michael Freaney, Cian Smith, Steven O’Brien, Darragh Brennan.
Subs: Jack Harney for Luke Boland; Cathal Deely for Steven O’Brien; Conor Fahey for Mikey O’Shea; Billy O’Connor for Michael Freaney; Micheal Lowry for Paudie Feehan.
Waterford: Paudie Hunt, Caoimhin Walsh, Darach Ó Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell, William Beresford, Brian Everard, Dermot Ryan, Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong, Conor Murray, James Power, Donie Fitzgerald, Michael O’Brien, Jason Curry, Alan Dunwoody.
Subs: James Walsh for Michael O’Brien; Colin Foley for Caoimhin Walsh; Dylan Quiry for Donie Fitzgerald; Jamie Power for William Beresford; Alan Crawford for Rory Furlong.
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).
