Tipperary secure U20 Munster final berth with convincing win over Waterford

Tipperary too strong for Waterford despite the absence of senior stars Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell.

Tipperary's Paddy McCormack in action. Pic: Eamon Ward

Munster U20 HC: Tipperary 1-24 Waterford 2-14 

Defending champions Tipperary made it back to the Munster U20 hurling final, beating Waterford by seven points despite the absence of senior stars Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell.

The duo played last Wednesday in Clare but the seven-day turnaround between the Limerick and Cork games saw them rested here.

Paddy McCormack notched 1-4 and stand-in free-taker Oisín O’Donoghue arrowed over 0-7. The most impressive performer was midfielder Adam Daly, who landed 0-5 and assisted all but one point of McCormack’s total.

Ben O’Sullivan scored 2-2 for Waterford, who need a big victory over Cork to salvage a top-three berth.

The visitors enjoyed a strong opening at Semple Stadium with Mark Hartley scoring from the throw-in. After Senan Butler drew in a gorgeous equaliser from the sideline, Waterford knocked over the next pair. O’Sullivan continued the trend of one-handed scores from the weekend when swiping the sliotar over from close range.

Tipp made the decisive move in the subsequent nine minutes, scoring 1-7 without reply. Daly enjoyed an eye-catching first half as he landed two points and created 1-3 for McCormack.

His midfield partner Joe Egan also impressed in a deeper role. He blocked down Hartley in the build-up to one of those scores and caught a Waterford puck-out in the lead-up to O’Donoghue’s first free.

In his first year out of minor, Adam Ryan put in a towering aerial display to catch three opposition puck-outs, which led to points for O’Donoghue and Cathal English.

Butler was only scoring highlight-reel points with his second after a deft flick-up.

The 14th-minute goal polished off a textbook puck-out routine in which the sliotar was never allowed to drop to the ground. Eoin Horgan’s precise ball picked out Daly on the run and the Kickhams man sent in a high delivery for McCormack to claim. From there, the targetman made a beeline for the posts to tuck away his third goal in three games into the top corner.

Conor Tobin’s super close control ended that scoring burst and O’Sullivan got in behind again, only for his pressurised shot to be collected by Horgan. The corner-forward returned to stitch the next point with a tremendous swing over the shoulder from the sideline.

A couple of missed frees halted their progress but they closed out the half with Gearóid Power and Michael Morrissey points to complete the set of all six forwards scoring. They trailed 1-13 to 0-9 at half-time.

Daly tagged on a pair to open the second half before standout sideline points from O’Donoghue and McCormack for a 0-4 streak. That was ended by a Jack Twomey sideline cut.

The Déise opted to replace the spine of their team with changes at full-back, centre-forward and full-forward, and both midfielders. With Tipp full-back Aaron O’Halloran forced off, Waterford’s new targetman Pat Walsh caused all sorts of trouble in the final quarter.

From the first long ball in, O’Sullivan got in around the back to pull home from an acute angle for 1-19 to 1-11 on 46 minutes.

Seven minutes later, he caught Cillian Ryan’s free and laid off for O’Sullivan to double to the net.

A Tom Carey free cut the gap to four, 1-20 to 2-13, and while Walsh snatched two more deliveries, they couldn’t take advantage.

Tipp responded with four consecutive points. Robbie Ryan teed up fellow substitute Jamie Ormond for a pair, Egan for another, and Daly completed his haul.

Scorers for Tipperary: P McCormack (1-4); O O’Donoghue (0-7, 4 frees); A Daly (0-5); C English, S Butler, J Ormond (0-2 each); J Ryan (free), J Egan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: B O’Sullivan (2-2); M Hartley (2 frees), T Carey (3 frees) (0-3 each); M Morrissey, J Twomey (1s/l) (0-2 each); C Tobin, G Power (0-1 each).

TIPPERARY: E Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); C O’Reilly (Holycross-Ballycahill), A O’Halloran (Carrick Swan), P O’Dwyer (Killenaule); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), J Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill), D Ryan (Arravale Rovers); J Egan (Moycarkey-Borris), A Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams); C English (Fr Sheehys), C Martin (Cappawhite), D Costigan (Moycarkey-Borris); S Butler (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), P McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), O O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs).

Subs: M Cawley (Nenagh Éire Óg) for O’Halloran (39), J Ormond (JK Brackens) for Butler (43), R Ryan (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Costigan (53), C Fitzpatrick (Drom-Inch) for O’Donoghue (56-57, temp), Fitzpatrick for English (60+4).

WATERFORD: A Reade (Ballyduff Lower); D Lalor (De La Salle), F Cooney (Ballygunner), C Keane (De La Salle); S Mackey (Fenor), A O’Neill (Ballygunner, capt), C Ryan (Brickey Rangers); J McDonnell (Tallow), E Spelman (Fourmilewater); J Twomey (De La Salle), M Hartley (Ballygunner), M Morrissey (Fourmilewater); C Tobin (Ballygunner), G Power (Clonea), B O’Sullivan (Lismore).

Subs: J O’Keeffe (Lismore) for McDonnell (h-t), B O’Connell (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty) for Cooney (36), T Carey (Passage) for Hartley (43), P Walsh (Fourmilewater) for Power (43), A Regan (Mount Sion) for Spelman (52).

Referee: C O’Regan (Cork).