Waterford share the points with Tipperary in Clonmel

Niall Carew’s Waterford Senior Football team collected their first points of this year’s National Football League on Sunday afternoon last when they shared the spoils with Tipperary at Clonmel.

A week earlier Waterford lost to Clare at Fraher Field in the opening round of games, while Tipperary recorded a big win over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park and went into this game as the slight favourites to collect another brace of points from this game.

Waterford went in at the break leading by two points after they proved to be the better of the two sides in the opening thirty-five minutes, but the home side came out much the better of the two sides at the start of the second half and it looked midway through the half that they were going to record a second win in this years league, but a strong finish by Waterford saw them earn a share of the spoils.

Waterford began brightly when Shane Aherne put them a point up after just thirty-five seconds, putting over from a tight angle.

Philip Austin replied for the home side but a Paul Whyte free on eight minutes soon had Waterford back in front.

Michael Quinlivan and Paul Whyte traded scores to give a Waterford a 0-3 to 0-2 advantage at the end of first quarter.

Barry Grogan and JJ Hutchinson were to swap scores for their respective sides before Conor Sweeny put over a brace of points to give the home side for the first time in the game.

Waterford however would finish the half with an advantage on the score board as Paul Whyte made no mistake in slotting past Paul Fitzgerald from the penalty line after the Tipperary defence fouled Liam Ó Lonáin.

However Waterford at this point could have been well in front, but some wayward shooting in front of goal, hitting eight wide’s in the opening half while playing with the wind at their backs was to cost them.

Trailing 1-4 to 0-5 at the break what ever was said behind closed doors in the home side dressing room worked as they came out firing on all guns.

Ger Mulhare, Barry Grogan, Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan and Barry Fox inside the first six minutes of the second half all hit points to give the home side a 0-10 to 1-4 advantage.

Scores dried up somewhat for the remainder of the third quarter with JJ Hutchinson and Conor Sweeney swapping scores to keep the home side three points to the good at the end of the third quarter.

In the final quarter it was Waterford that proved to be the better of the two sides.

Paul Whyte landed a brace of points before JJ Hutchinson pointed to level matter with six minutes of the game remaining.

When Paul Whyte landed his sixth score of the game with five minutes to play the signs were looking good for Waterford, but a Philip Austin point soon afterwards meant that the sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald; John Coughlan, Paddy Codd, Andrew Morrissey; Ger Mulhare, Peter Acheson, Donagh Leahy; George Hannigan, Stephen O’Brien; Brian Fox, Barry Grogan, Conal McCullagh; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Peter Austin. Subs: Ian Fahy for Conal McCullagh, Lorcan Egan for Stephen O’Brien, Cathal Dillon for Conor Sweeney.

Scorers: Conor Sweeney (0-4, 2fs), Michael Quinlivan, Peter Austin, Barry Grogan (2f) (0-2 each), Brian Fox, Conal McCullagh (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: Stephen Enright; Dean Crowley, Tomas O’Gorman, Kieran Connery; Cillian O’Keeffe, Shane Briggs, Conor Phelan; JJ Hutchinson, Shane Aherne; Declan Allen, Brian Wall, Tony Grey; Wayne Hutchinson, Paul Whyte, Liam O’Lionáin. Subs: Tadhg Ó’hUallacháin for Declan Allen, Tommy Prendergast for Wayne Hutchinson , Oran Keevers for Dean Crowley (black card, Robert Aherne for Liam Ó Lonáin, Tommy Connors for Brian Wall.

Scorers: Paul Whyte (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), JJ Hutchinson (0-3), Shane Aherne (0-1).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).