Kelly turns on the magic for Tipp

EOIN KELLY produced a virtuoso performance as Tipperary retained their Waterford Crystal trophy at Templemore yesterday. Showing the results of nine weeks of hard training, the Mullinahone man was in sparkling form, scoring 2-5 as Tipperary extended their unbeaten run.

However, Tipp manager Liam Sheedy wasn’t getting carried away: “While it’s nice to win, particularly in front of your own supporters, the principle difference between the sides today was that we have far more work done — and it showed. I would be telling lies if I said we weren’t expecting to win. We would have been very disappointing if we hadn’t won, given the amount of work we have put in.

“The plusses we can take from the game are that we got some excellent scores, registered another high score, and might have had another goal or two with a bit more luck around the square.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s good for confidence to be winning and hopefully it will become a habit. We play Offaly in the opening round of the league and nothing from the last three weeks will prepare us for that game. Offaly will come with all guns blazing and we’ll learn about more about ourselves.”

In glorious sunshine in front of 3,000 spectators and on a splendid pitch, Tipp struck early when Eoin Kelly flashed home his first goal in the opening minute after Waterford keeper Clinton Hennessey failed to hold John O’Brien’s long delivery.

Teak tough in defence, where Paul Curran, Eamon Corcoran and Benny Dunne gave nothing away, Tipp were in for their second goal six minutes later when Lar Corbett found the net. Waterford looked to be in for a drubbing. With Dan Shanahan well marked by Dunne, and John Mullane, Eoin Kelly and Shane Prendergast unable to make an impression in attack, it was left to the Passage man to do the scoring and he landed four points, three frees, to keep his side in tough.

There was a great edge to the game which helped to lift it, but the home side held all the aces and with Eoin Kelly unerring from frees and play, they deserved their led 2-8 to 0-5 at the break.

Waterford needed an early goal but the Tipperary defence was resolute and Brendan Cummins between the posts was never troubled. At the other end Eoin Kelly, John O’Brien and Pa Bourke were razor sharp and the magnificent Kelly effectively finished the game as a contest with his second goal four minutes into the second-half.

The impressive Eamon Corcoran drove a long free deep into the Waterford defence and Kelly met it on the button first time to billow the net for a score that was worth the admission fee alone. From there to the finish Tipp’s greater fitness was clearly evident and with both Eoin Kellys matching each other point for point, the home side led 3-12 to 0-12 after 50 minutes, and never looked like losing.

To compound Waterford’s problems, they had Wayne Hutchinson sent off for a straight red card offence and while Tipperary, for all their territorial advance, could manage one more point in the 10 minutes remaining, the victory was well secured long before the final whistle.

Despite the defeat, Waterford coach Justin McCarthy wasn’t too despondent, commenting that his side has nothing done in terms of training.

“The league starts in a fortnight’s time, we’ll have two weeks preparation under our belt for that. We should be far better than we were today.”

Referring to the sending off, Justin felt it was a bit harsh. “Sometimes when there is a wild pull in front of a crowd, everyone roars and shouts which draws attention, but there was no malice in it.

“Wayne is one of those players who will play in the league for us. Unfortunately we’ll be without Paul Flynn, Tony Browne, Ken McGrath, Stephen Molumphy and Eoin McGrath, but their absence will allow players like Wayne and Stephen Casey the chance to show what they can do.”

Scores: Tipperary: E. Kelly 2-5 (0-3 frees); L. Corbett 1-0; S. Butler, J. O’Brien, P. Bourke 0-2 each; J. Woodlock, R. O’Dwyer 0-1 each. Waterford: E. Kelly 0-11 (0-10 frees); M. Walsh, S. Walsh 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: B. Cummins; E. Buckley, P. Curran, C. O’Brien; E. Corcoran, D. Fanning, B. Dunne; J. Caeser, S. McGrath; S. Butler, R. O’Dwyer, J. O’Brien; E. Kelly, L. Corbett, P. Bourke.

Subs: J. Woodlock for McGrath; S. Callinan for O’Dwyer.

WATERFORD: C. Hennessy; A. Kearney, D. Prendergast, E. Murphy; W. Hutchonson, B. Phelan, J. Kennedy; D. Bennett, M. Walsh; E. Kelly, S. Prendergast, S. O’Sullivan; D. Shanahan, J. Mullane, S. Walsh.

Sub: S. Casey for Bennett.

Referee: S. McMahon (Clare).