That was a result few saw coming

I don’t think anybody saw this one coming.

While many of us had predicted that Waterford would win in Thurles this afternoon or at least go very close to winning, I don’t think anybody could have predicted a twenty-two point defeat.

This defeat will add to the calls of some that Football should be forgotten about within the county, but such calls should not be listened to.

At club level and in particular in the senior grades clubs like The Nire, Ballinacourty, Stradbally and Kilrossanty in the last thirty years have served up some excellent performances in the Munster Club Championship and are very unlucky on more than one occasion not to have won.

On the inter county front things however are a little more different as Waterford have standing to be corrected on this have just one championship win since 1988 in the senior grade and while Waterford have won two Junior Munster and All-Ireland Finals in this time as well as one Under 21 Munster Final, Waterford’s record in other levels over this time have been far from satisfactory.

Everyone will have their view on why Waterford are not getting the results at this grade, here is not the place to air them, but maybe I might see what is wrong at another time, instead just look at today’s game.

Tipperary from the off were in devastating scoring form as they set up a Munster semi-final clash against All-Ireland champions Kerry in two weeks time.

Over the seventy minutes, ten different Tipperary players got their names on the score sheet.

Tipperary led by 1-13 to 0-3 at the break having played against the breeze and had six different players getting their names on the score sheet.

Steven O’Brien in the middle of the field had a huge game for the home side hitting six points in the game, three in each half.

The Tipperary goal came ten minutes from the break as Michael Quinlivan was quickest to react to a free from Ballyporeen’s Conor Sweeney hit the post and the Clonmel Commercial’s player was on hand to fist past Sean Barron who had a solid Championship debut for Waterford between the posts.

Tipperary had a brilliant start to this game and were six points up before Michael O’Halloran on his Senior Championship debut opened Waterford’s account.

Conor Sweeney opened the scoring from a free on one minute. Points from the very impressive Steven O’Brien, Philip Austin, Ger Mulhaire and a brace from Stephen O’Brien followed in the next ten minutes to give the eventual winners a handsome lead on the score board before Michael O’Halloran landed Waterford’s first score.

Brian Fox and Michael O’Halloran traded scores on fourteen minutes to keep Tipperary five in front, before Michael Quinlivan in front of an attendance of 1.641 slotted over three points in a row, before the same player registered the games only goal on twenty four minutes.

Tipperary in the time that remained in the first half continued to be the better side and turned around with a 13 advantage on the score board as Conor Sweeney landed a brace of points and Philip Austin also added one with Waterford’s response coming from a JJ Hutchinson free.

Tipperary in the second half continued to be the better team right throughout the field.

Centre back Peter Acheson opened the second half scoring and points from Stephen O’Brien, Philip Austin, Seamus Kennedy and George Hannigan followed for Tipperary before Shane Briggs hit Waterford’s first score of the second half on fifty one minutes.

Brian Fox and JJ Hutchinson again from a free traded scores, the latter proving to be Waterford’s last of the game to give Tipperary a 1-19 to 0-5 lead with a quarter of the game still to play.

In the last quarter, Tipperary refused to relent and attacked the Waterford defence at every opportunity.

Stephen O’Brien hit his fifth score of the game on fifty six minutes. Brian Fox added another a minute later to send Tipperary 19 points in front.

In the final ten minutes, the home side hit three further scores.

George Hannigan hit his second of the game with seven minutes of normal time to play. Steven O’Brien rounded off a fine afternoon’s work three minutes from time and in added time Jason Lonergan who replaced Colin O’Riordan seven minutes into the second half after he picked up an injury, became the tenth member of the home sides panel to score on the day.

Tipperary now advance to a Munster Semi Final where they will face a much harder battle against Kerry than they had today, while Waterford will be involved in the All-Ireland qualifiers where the side will be hoping to firstly receive a home draw and secondly avoid some of the stronger sides that have already exited this years provincial championships.

TIPPERARY: Evan Comerford; Paddy Codd, Ciarán McDonald, Robbie Kiely; Alan Campbell, Peter Acheson, Seamus Kennedy; Steven O’Brien, George Hannigan; Ger Mulhaire, Colin O’Riordan, Philip Austin; Conor Sweeney, Michael Quinlivan, Brian Fox.  Subs: Jason Lonergan for Colin O’Riordan (42), Barry Grogan for Michael Quinlivan (44), Liam Casey for Conor Sweeney (58), Brian Mulvihill for Brian Fox (58), Andrew Morrissey for Peter Acheson (64), Sean Flynn for Ger Mulhaire (66).

Scorers: Michael Quinlivan 1-3 (0-1f), Steven O’Brien 0-6, Brian Fox, Philip Austin & Conor Sweeney (2f) 0-3 each, George Hannigan 0-2, Seamus Kennedy, Peter Acheson, Ger Mulhaire & Jason Lonergan 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Sean Barron; Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Thomas O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman; Dean Crowley, Shane Briggs, Liam Lawlor; Patrick Hurney, Tommy Prendergast; Mark Ferncombe, Michael O’Halloran, JJ Hutchinson; Michael Curry, Paul Whyte, Joey Veale. Liam Ó Lonáin for Michael Curry (h.t.), Cillian O’Keeffe for Patrick Hurney (49), Stephen Prendergast for Mark Ferncombe (51), Ray O Ceallaigh for Paul Whyte (59).

Scorers: Michael O’Halloran & JJ Hutchinson (2f), 0-2 each, Shane Briggs 0-1.

Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).