Browne and red card too much for Déise

DECLAN BROWNE produced an exhibition of point scoring to edge Tipperary to victory in their first defence of the Tommy Murphy Cup at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on Saturday.

The game may not have set the scene alight for the small attendance, but those present were treated to a magnificent ten points display by the Moyle Rovers man.

The talents of Browne aside, Tipperary were also helped considerably by a controversial refereeing decision five minutes into the second half when Waterford midfielder Mick Aherne was dismissed on a red card.

Having led by 1-3 to 0-5 at the interval thanks in the main to a very soft 18th minute goal by Gary Hurney, Waterford had extended the lead to two points when Aherne was sent off. The offence hardly merited anything more than a yellow card but with his departure Tipp, and Browne, took over.

Browne kicked four glorious points from play between the 51st and 59th minute to ease his side into a 0-11 to 1-6 lead.

To Waterford’s credit they never stopped trying with Hurney driving them on, and substitute Lee Hayes’s point narrowed the deficit to the minimum. But fittingly, it was Browne who had the final say with another point from a free to secure the win for Tipperary.

Scorers: Tipperary: D. Browne (0-10); B. Lacey (0-1); H. Coughlan (0-1). Waterford: G. Hurney (1-0); K. O’Keeffe (0-2); J. Ryan (0-2); A. Hubbard (0- 1); J. Hurney (0-1); L. Hayes (0-1).

TIPPERARY: P. Fitzgerald; M. Phelan, A. Foley, A. Morrissey; P. O’Flaherty, R. Costigan, C. Maher; K. Mulryan, N. Fitzgerald; P. Austin, B. Lacey, B. Hickey; D. O’Brien, H. Coghlan, D. Crowne.

Subs: M. Peters for Phelan; G. Hannigan for Coghlan; M. Lynagh for N. Fitzgerald.

WATERFORD: T. Wall; S. Briggs, L. Hurney, E. Walsh; P. Ogle, E. Rockett, J. Hurney; A. Hubbard, M., Aherne; C. O’Keeffe, G. Hurney, K. O’Keeffe; S. Cunningham, W. Hennessy, J. Ryan.

Subs: L. Hayes for C. O’Keeffe.

Referee: D. Fahy, Longford.