Tipp stride on to Munster semi-final

WITHOUT ever having to move into top gear, Tipperary dismissed Waterford’s feeble challenge and advanced to the semi-final of the Munster minor football championship at windswept Fraher Field, Dungarvan, last night.

Tipperary’s foundations for victory were laid in the opening half when, playing into the very strong wind, they were gifted a goal inside five minutes.

Waterford goalkeeper Dwane Kirwan fumbled Gavin Ryan’s speculative drive and the ball wormed past him into the net. It was a setback from which the home county never seemed to recover.

Twice subsequently Waterford failed to convert gilt-edged goal chances, and Tipp were firmly in the driving seat when Conor Sweeney’s superb goal in the 28th minute enabled them retire at the break with a three point cushion, setting scores at 2-2 to 0-5.

Two of those Waterford points came from prodigious distances from centre-back Niall Walsh who was outstanding in that opening half, but was then forced to miss the third quarter because of illness.

His loss was incalculable to the home side, and while he returned for the closing 15 minutes Tipp had by then booked their passage to the semi-final.

Waterford continued to enjoy a decent share of territorial possession but they lacked the necessary firepower to get back into contention.

The winners’ third, and clinching, goal came within six minutes of the restart from the penalty spot after a Waterford defender was adjudged to have fouled Darren Lowry. Sweeney clinically despatched the spot kick.

Tipp had by now assumed control throughout the field, with full-back Kevin O’Riordan standing out as the best player on view. And with victory wrapped up long before the hour had run its course their mentors could afford the luxury of withdrawing some of their best players, notably scorer in chief Conor Sweeney.

Scorers: Tipperary: C. Sweeney (2-2); G. Ryan(1-1); M. O’Dwyer(0-2); D. McGrath(0-1); A. Moloney( 0-1);D. Bourke (0-1); L. Treacy (0-1). Waterford: S. Corcoran (0-4, frees); N. Walsh (0-2); K. Murphy (0-1); C. Moloney (0-1).

TIPPERARY: J. English; D. Heffernan, K. O’Riordan, C. Walsh; B. O’Hara, R. Kiely, P. Acheson; D. Lowry, A. Moloney; P. Horan. G. Ryan. M. Hickey; C. Sweeney, D. McGrath. M. O’Dwyer.

Subs: D. Bourke for Hickey; T. Hanley for Horan; S. Boland for Ryan; E. Kendrick for Lowry; L. Treacy for Sweeney.

WATERFORD: D. Kirwan; C. Buckley, A. Seward, A. McGrath; J. McGrath, N. Walsh, T. O’hUallachain; S. Ahearne, S. Leahy; G. Guiry, D. Phelan, N. Skehan; S. Corcoran. C. Moloney. K. Murphy.

Subs: P. Crowley for N. Walsh; N. Walsh for Guiry; M. O’Halloran for Skehan.

Referee: Richard Moloney, Limerick.