Waterford advance in Munster U20 FC with famous victory over Tipp

The winners scored the first 1-3 without reply, with midfielder Daithí Colleran punching to the net, and Tipp could never close within five points from there. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Munster U20 FC Phase 1 Round 3: Waterford 1-17 (1-1-15) Tipperary 0-11 (0-1-9) 

Waterford delighted the home faithful among a 439 crowd at Lemybrien by recording a famous victory over Tipperary to advance to phase 2 of the Munster U20 Football Championship.

The winners scored the first 1-3 without reply, with midfielder Daithí Colleran punching to the net, and Tipp could never close within five points from there.

The Déise, who also beat Limerick in the first round, can now look forward to games against Kerry, Cork, and a Clare rematch. They welcome the Kingdom first next Thursday evening.

Waterford have invested a lot of hope in this team and they lived up to the billing, with Paddy McCarthy (0-6) and Joe Brennan (0-5) their standout scorers. Andrew Ryan and Fergal O’Brien led the defensive effort to shackle Tipp’s dangermen.

The hosts were able to carry the ball down the heart of the Tipp defence, with Brennan slotting the opening point before Diarmuid Mackle smashed the crossbar in the second minute.

Their goal arrived 11 minutes later as Peter Boland lost the flight of O’Brien’s high delivery in the evening sunshine and Colleran profited to poke home. His midfield partner Mackle was next to score to complete the 1-3 streak.

Conor Drohan protected their lead by saving from Ciarán Kelly. At the other end, Boland prevented another goal with a diving save from O’Brien before robbing Callum Royle.

Liam Freaney broke Tipp’s drought in the 18th minute, but McCarthy replied with a pair of frees from inside and outside the arc.

Tipp cut the gap with Shane Ryan and Dylan Cotter points. McCarthy’s closing free made it 1-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

Tipp’s task was made tougher before the short whistle as Kelly was sin-binned for a trip on Ben Boland.

Cotter nailed a two-pointer from the throw-in, but Waterford booted the next three. Wing-back Aaron Curran surged forward for two white flags. With Tipp back to 15, David Nyhan added another.

A Freaney mark was cancelled out by a three-up breach, punished by Brennan tapping over. Tipp had their best patch with points from Oran Gahan, who was aiming lower, James Power, and Charlie Walsh. It was 1-11 to 0-9 until Brennan curled over under pressure.

Cotter flashed a shot over the bar, but there would be no further Tipp revival. Waterford outscored them by five points to one down the stretch. Tipp’s one was a vicious Power shot, which grazed the crossbar on the way over, although Waterford also had goal chances which ended in McCarthy and Royle points.

Scorers for Waterford: P McCarthy (0-6, 1tpf, 3 frees); J Brennan (0-5, 2 frees); D Colleran (1-1); A Curran (0-2); D Mackle, D Nyhan, C Royle (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: D Cotter (0-4, 1tp); L Freaney (1 mark), J Power (0-2 each); O Gahan, C Walsh, S Ryan (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: C Drohan (Rathgormack); B Boland (St Saviour’s), C Lyons (Dungarvan), F O’Brien (Gaultier); D Jacob (St Saviour’s, j-capt), A Ryan (The Nire), A Curran (Stradbally); D Mackle (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty), D Colleran (Brickey Rangers); B Qualter (An Rinn), P McCarthy (Brickey Rangers, j-capt), D Nyhan (Brickey Rangers); J Brennan (Tramore), C Power (Rathgormack), C Royle (Brickey Rangers).

Subs: C Cotter (Geraldines) for Boland (41, inj), P Bagnall (Tramore) for Brennan (58, inj), J Hickey (Modeligo) for Qualter (60+2).

TIPPERARY: P Boland (Moyle Rovers); G Neville (Fethard), S Griffin (Upperchurch-Drombane), J Kearney (Ballyporeen); E Bonner (Galtee Rovers), J McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers), J O’Keeffe (Clonmel Commercials); O Gahan (St Patrick’s), D Cotter (Thurles Gaels); C Kelly (Arravale Rovers), L Freaney (Kilsheelan-Kilcash, capt), L Kiely (Fethard); M Neville (Fethard), S Ryan (Ardfinnan), C Walsh (Fethard).

Subs: S Bourke (Aherlow) for Kiely (h-t), K Smith (Clonmel Commercials) for Kelly (39), P O’Dwyer (Upperchurch-Drombane) for M Neville (41), J Power (Clonmel Commercials) for Ryan (47), J Cronin (Moyle Rovers) for McGonigle (58).

Referee: E Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry).