Munster Express Online

Tipperary 3-19; Waterford 1-18

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The semi-final misery for Waterford hurling supporters continues after another heart-breaking defeat at the penultimate stage in Croke Park last Sunday. The Déise were forced to play second fiddle to a much superior Tipperary team who as manager Davy Fitzgerald admitted afterwards, got their tactics spot on.

Tipperary were by far the better team in the first half and despite playing against a stiff breeze they shaded the territorial battle. The Premier players proved much more skilled in the area of working scoring chances than their Waterford counterparts and they soon made the advantage tell on the scoreboard.

For the first seventeen minutes, Waterford managed to match Tipperary score for score with John Mullane proving a thorn in the side of Paddy Stapleton. Kevin Moran, playing as expected on Tipperary’s Conor O’Mahony, was winning possession in the half-forward line while in defence Noel Connors was doing a fine job on Tipp danger-man Eoin Kelly.

It was elsewhere in defence that was the chief cause of worry for the Waterford selectors. In a surprising switch before the throw-in, Noel McGrath moved out to centre-half forward where he proceeded to run amuck, helping himself to four first-half points. Inside him the recalled John O’Brien was enjoying his reinstatement to the first fifteen and raised three white flags in the opening period.

The game changed in the 23rd minute of the half when disaster struck for Waterford. A long ball played into the goalmouth area was well fielded by Lar Corbett who turned and finished to the net with his right boot.

From then to the half-time break, Tipperary were very much on top and added to their advantage with excellent points from O’Brien, McGrath and a classic from Eoin Kelly whose life and strike in a crowded centre-field allowed the Tipperary supporters to ratchet the noise up another decibel.

It was not a first start to remember for Brian O’Halloran who was replaced after 21 minutes allowing Seamus Prendergast enter the fray. His introduction added some much needed ball-winning ability to the half-forward line and he scored a fine point moments after his arrival.

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