Late, late Kevin Mahony goal earns Waterford a draw in Tipperary thriller

The hosts had been 11 points down at the break. 

Waterford's Dessie Hutchinson and Tipperary's Robert Doyle. Pic: INPHO

WATERFORD 3-24 TIPPERARY 1-30 

Kevin Mahony struck a last-gasp goal to earn a share of the spoils against Tipperary in this pulsating Munster SHC Round 2 game in Azzurri Walsh Park.

Attended by just shy of 12,000, a Stephen Bennett-inspired Waterford had eroded an 11-point half-time deficit, 1-7 to 1-18, to lead by the 64th minute. Bennett’s 55th-minute goal had been vital to the fightback.

The Ballysaggart man doubled the lead in the 66th minute but advantage returned to Tipperary with three points in as many minutes. Seán Walsh then restored parity only for substitutes Stefan Tobin and Jason Forde to hit back with points.

The combination of an Austin Gleeson wide, Waterford’s 16th of the afternoon, along with a Ronan Maher point appeared to be huge but Kevin Mahony had other ideas.

A long Billy Nolan delivery was broken down from a Bennett challenge and the Ballygunner man finished calmly for a draw as it finished here in this meeting two years ago.

Tipperary changes were expected but perhaps not as many as four. Seamus Kennedy, Alan Tynan, Sam O’Farrell and Darragh McCarthy were introduced at the expense of Craig Morgan, Conor Stakelum, Stefan Tobin and Jason Forde.

Assisted by a small breeze, Tipperary went to work early and O’Farrell was in the thick of things on the left wing. After Calum Lyons opened the scoring, Liam Cahill’s side hit the hosts for six in a row.

Tipperary were far more energetic than last weekend and four of their front six had scored from play by the ninth minute when it had taken then nearly 30 minutes to produce a point in the second half of the defeat to Cork.

The margin was five points after 10 minutes and had grown to seven by the 22nd minute through John McGrath’s second point when they struck for goal.

Two minutes later, the sizeable Tipperary support sensed an opening when Rhys Shelly landed a ball just outside the square. John McGrath was held up but did enough to get to the break and the ball bounced up for Andrew Ormond to fetch and finish.

Much like Wexford did after Kilkenny’s opening goal the evening before, Waterford struck back instantly. Jamie Barron cancelled out the score with a tidy strike but McGrath landed his third point seconds later and Tynan and Oisin O’Donoghue followed his example.

A brace of McCarthy frees, the second brought forward for dissent by Peter Queally, stretched Tipperary’s lead to 11 with two minutes of the half remaining. Two more scores followed for each team before the turnaround and the margin remained 11. It felt plenty. It wasn't enough.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett (1-10, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65); K. Mahony (1-2); J. Barron (1-1); C. Lyons (0-3); D. Hutchinson, S. Walsh (0-2 each); J. Fagan, B. Nolan (free), S. Mackey, J. Prendergast (0-1 each).

Scorers for Tipperary: D. McCarthy (0-5, 4 frees); A. Ormond (1-1); J. McGrath, E. Connolly (1 65), O. O’Donoghue (0-4 each); J. Morris (0-3); S. Tobin, R. Maher (0-2 each); S O’Farrell, W. Connors, A. Tynan, D. Stakelum, J. Forde (0-1 each).

WATERFORD: B. Nolan; I. Kenny, M. Fitzgerald (c), A. O’Neill; J. Fagan, I. Daly, P. Leavey; Shane Bennett, D. Lyons; J. Barron, J. Prendergast, ; D. Hutchinson, S. Walsh, Stephen Bennett.

Subs for Waterford: K. Mahony for Shane Bennett (31); S. Mackey for D. Lyons (h-t); C. Keane for I. Kenny (inj 48); A. Gleeson for C. Lyons (56); T. de Búrca for I. Daly (59).

TIPPERARY: R. Shelly; M. Breen, R. Maher (c), R. Doyle; S. Kennedy, E. Connolly, B. O’Mara; W. Connors, A. Tynan; O. O’Donoghue, J. Morris, S. O’Farrell; A. Ormond, J. McGrath, D. McCarthy.

Subs for Tipperary: C. Morgan for S. Kennedy (48); N. McGrath for A. Tynan (blood, 48-58); D. Stakelum for S. O’Farrell (50); S. Tobin for A. Ormond (56); J. Forde for D. McCarthy (59); P. McGarry for W. Connors (66).

Referee: C. Mooney (Dublin)