Scores aplenty but truly a final to forget

LOOKS like it was a classic, doesn’t it? Eighteen scores apiece, just four points separating them at the end, another in a long line of epic Munster senior hurling finals, yes?

To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the GAA, all the bunting and banners were in place for a day of old-fashioned pageantry, the Artane Band graced Semple Stadium with their own storied presence, down from Dublin for the day. Even the rain, which had fallen in buckets before the start of the minor game between the same two counties, held off. After a thunder-and-lightning start, however, the game soon blew itself out, eventually became just another damp squib; even if it wasn’t quite over at half-time, at which point Tipp led by nine points, 3-10 to 2-4, it was certainly over just six minutes after the restart, when Lar Corbett’s second goal (the result of another defensive blunder in a game peppered with them) put Tipp 11 points clear.

The final four-point margin? Deceptive, very deceptive, Tipperary surrendering six points to Waterford in the final 10 minutes of almost uncontested play. A pity, and for the thousands of loyal Waterford fans who again turned up with real hope, those hopes cruelly dashed.

It all began so brightly for the Déise. Within 20 seconds of the throw-in John Mullane – continuing the rich form he has shown this championship season – had them in front, a point drilled from wide right after a superb ball forward from centre-back Micheál ‘Brick’ Walsh. Fitting it was that those two should have been involved in the first Waterford score, because even as most of those around them in white-and-blue failed, it was their consistent brilliance that made this any kind of contest at all. All that disappointment was ahead of us, however; for the first 20 minutes or so the match was a real contest. Waterford raced into the lead, 1-2 to 0-1 after six minutes, Kelly with the goal from a 22m free, taking Brendan Cummins by surprise with a low blast. It could have been an even bigger lead for Waterford, and should have been, three clear goal chances going a-begging in those opening minutes, though Cummins did make a fine save to deny Kelly.

Gradually, however, Tipp’s scoring machine began to crank into gear; driven on by a dominant half-back line of Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony and Paraic Maher, with Shane McGrath ruling in midfield, they stormed forward and the points began to roll. Six in a row, two from the rejuvenated Eoin Kelly (Tipp version), operating at full-forward, two from youngster Noel McGrath in the corner, one each from Shane McGrath and O’Mahony (a massive free from his own 50m), had Tipp in front, 0-7 to 1-2, when we had the second Waterford goal. Mullane this time, pounced on an error by full-back Paul Curran, took off, gave Cummins no chance – Waterford back in the lead, and how their fans roared. It was their last time in full voice on, however; three goals in the next 10 minutes, one each from centre-forward Seamus Callanan, Eoin Kelly and the magnificent Lar Corbett, saw Tipp surge into that nine-point half-time lead, and even with 35 minutes to go, this game was teetering on the brink. The one hope Waterford fans had that this game could be salvaged, was the recent Tipp habit of losing big leads. Eight points up against Kilkenny in the league final at the beginning of May, lost it in extra-time; five points up on Cork into the second half of the Munster championship first round, almost lost it; nine points up well into the second half against Clare in the Munster semi-final and again, hanging on at the end. Given that recent Tipp record, and given the potential still in that Waterford attack while Mullane is in form, there was hope for the Déise, albeit just a glimmer. Six minutes into the second half, however, the second Lar Corbett goal, all hope was gone, and from there the match just petered out.

In an effort to try and recover what was now a lost cause, Waterford made changes, a raft of changes, youngster Maurice Shanahan joining big brother Dan on the pitch for the first time in championship and making a reasonable impression. All to no avail. Though Mullane continued to do damage, three second half points, and Brick Walsh was joined by Stephen Molumphy in his efforts to pick up the slack outfield for Waterford, every score now was merely academic, putting a gloss on a very poor final. Youngster Noel Connors did well for Waterford, as did veteran Tony Browne, but Tipperary were a vastly superior force yesterday.

Of real concern to manager Liam Sheedy, however, has to be the manner in which they again conceded the field to their opponents, having built up their substantial lead. “You’re not going to dominate a team like Waterford for the full 70 minutes,” he said, and of course you’re not, but when you do dominate, and to the extent that Tipperary did, then you should put them out of sight. “We’re making the simple things complicated,” Liam continued, and they are, several players guilty of trying to gild the lily with ornate passing and intricate moves when further scores were there for the taking.

They got away with it yesterday, but what would happen against a more complete team? And as for Waterford, one shudders to think of where they would have been yesterday without Brick Walsh at the back and John Mullane up front. Only two weeks to prepare for the winners of Cork/Galway (assuming Limerick beat Laois, who then can’t meet Waterford again), they have some ground to make up.

Scorers for Tipperary: L. Corbett 2-2; E. Kelly 1-3 (0-2 frees); S. Callanan 1-1; N. McGrath 0-3 (0-1 free); S. McGrath, P. Kerwick, J. O’Brien, B. Dunne, C. O’Mahony (free), 0-1 each.

Waterford: E. Kelly 1-7 (all frees); J. Mullane 1-5; S. Molumphy 0-2; D. Shanahan, R. Foley, 0-1 each.

Tipperary subs: B. Maher (P Curran 34); W. Ryan (E Kelly 35); B. Dunne (J Woodlock 46); H. Moloney (P Kerwick 56); M. Webster (J O’Brien 69).

Waterford subs: D. Shanahan (for J Kennedy 27); E. McGrath (for K Moran 45); R. Foley (S Nagle 45); M. Shanahan (S. Prendergast 55).

Blood sub: S. Casey (Mullane 45-47 mins).

Referee: J. Sexton (Cork).