Tipperary 3-21
Wexford 1-21
Fintan O’Toole reports from Semple Stadium
TIPPERARY GOT OVER the finish line first in Thurles tonight as Patrick Bonner Maher slammed home an injury-time goal that ensured they would deprive Wexford of capping their second-half comeback with a positive result.
Outplayed in the phase before half-time Wexford faced a seven-point deficit entering the second half but they chipped away at it manfully with Lee Chin spearheading their challenge as he finished with 0-10.
They couldn’t find a way to hit the net though with goalkeeper Daragh Mooney producing a couple of outstanding saves to deny Wexford’s Conor McDonald.
Jason Forde finished with 2-9 to his credit for Tipperary while Bonner chipped in with 1-2 and Michael Ryan saw 11 of his players get on the scoresheet. Success means Tipperary go top of the Division 1A league table on scoring difference as they have recovered from an opening loss to Clare and Wexford suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
The opening half produced a pair of goals, Jason Forde finishing delightfully to the net for Tipperary in the 13th minute after Sean Curran swept the ball across.
Wexford countered five minutes later as Kevin Foley’s vision saw him float a hand pass into the path of Lee Chin and he was grounded by Barry Heffernan. Aidan Nolan’s finish was sound from the resultant penalty and a green flag was raised.
A Paul Morris free quickly after Nolan’s goal edged Wexford ahead 1-7 to 1-4 but they trailed 1-15 to 1-8 at the break after Tipperary had dominated in several sectors of the pitch in the build-up to half-time.
Jason Forde found the net once more in the 44th minute and with 11 minutes of normal time left Tipperary were 2-20 to 1-14 clear. But Wexford reeled off five points without reply and after Padraic Maher landed a storming point from distance, Chin picked off a brace of points to cut the gap to three.
The home support in the crowd of 8,358 were growing nervous but Bonner Maher intervened with a clinical strike to the net to copperfasten victory.
Scorers for Tipperary: Jason Forde 2-9 (0-8f, 0-1 sideline), Patrick Maher 1-2, John McGrath 0-2, Donagh Maher, Barry Heffernan, Padraic Maher, Ronan Maher, Sean Curran, Noel McGrath, Michael Breen, Billy McCarthy 0-1 each.
Scorers for Wexford: Lee Chin 0-10 (0-4f, 0-2 ’65), Paul Morris 0-3 (0-3f), Aidan Nolan 1-0 (1-0 pen), Jack O’Connor, Kevin Foley 0-2 each, Shaun Murphy, Conor McDonald, David Dunne, Rory O’Connor 0-1 each.
Tipperary
1. Daragh Mooney (Éire Óg Annacarty-Donahill)
2. Seán O’Brien (Newport)
3. James Barry (Upperchurch-Drombane)
23. Donagh Maher (Burgess)
5. Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields – captain)
7. Paudie Feehan (Killenaule)
8. Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh)
9. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
10. Seán Curran (Mullinahone)
11. Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
12.Patrick Maher (Lorrha-Dorrha)
13. Michael Breen (Ballina)
14. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
15. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
Subs
24. Billy McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields) for Heffernan (53)
18. Ger Browne (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams) for Curran (60)
26. Mark Russell (Lattin-Cullen) for Breen (60)
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn-Barntown)
19. Conor Firman (St Martin’s)
2. Damien Reck (Oylgate-Glenbrien)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
9. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-the-Ballagh)
7. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s)
6. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James – joit captain)
5. Paudie Foley (Crossabeg-Ballymurn)
8. Kevin Foley (Rapparees)
10. Aidan Nolan (Half Way House Bunclody)
12. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s)
11. David Dunne (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy)
14. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers – joint captain)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
15. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
Subs
22. Rory O’Connor (St Martin’s) for Morris (48)
21. Cathal Dunbar (Ballygarrett) for Dunne (58)
20. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for Murphy (62)
18. Eanna Martin (Carrickshock, Kilkenny) for O’Keeffe (70)
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)
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Some score line from both teams .. Makes trying to watch football even harder
Hard luck Wexford …we gifted them 2 goals,too many soft frees and could have had 3 goals with some luck and need to convert our frees
But we are definitely goin in the right direction
Credit to all ladsfor supreme effort…up wexford
@David Kinsella: dream on David
@David Kinsella: dream on
@David Kinsella: Woulda coulda shoulda
Home advantage seems to be huge during the league. It will be interesting to see will this transfer into the new championship format. If so neutral venues maybe needed.
Wexford paid Tipp too much respect and didn’t commit enough to attack once Tipp figured out where the spare man was Paudie Maher and Heffernan started to Lord it at half back.If Wexford are too push on they need to commit more to attack at one stage I only saw two Wex players inside the Tipp 65. This “Waterford tatic” can only get you so far. I think Wex have better forwards than Waterford so they could be better here. As for Tipp typically excellent for periods but fell asleep for the last 15. Some of the ball winning in the half forward is still a big of a concern plus the goalie (even though he made two great saves)doesn’t instill confidence.The first touch of Tipp and the natural hurling is the best in the country but work rate hooks and blocks is where All Ireland’s are won.
@Colly08: Good summation in fairness
@Colly08: jesus lad give the goalies a break their both new and it takes time to build confidence at this level . Also being chopped and changed the whole time doesnt allow you to build this confidence. I thought they both played very well so far
@Colly08: While Tipp’s defence was opened up by Wexford several times in that 2nd half, it reflected poorly that Wexford didn’t have the patience to chip away with points rather than desperately going for goals when they had plenty of time. But they’re going in the right direction for sure.
Equally, Michael Ryan will be quietly pleased overall with that game in that he’s testing out new players and moving established players into new positions, building a stronger squad depth and new positional strength, which will be desperately needed for the new format Championship.
@Michael McGrath: Very Poor down in Cork last year against Clare in the 1/4 final as well. I hope he improves given an extended run in the team.
Great game of hurling, Lee Chin and Bonner Maher were brilliant throughout, thought Lar Corbett was very poor for Tip when he came on. Jason Forde was deadly from placed balls.
@Flembomb: Lar Corbett? What year are you living in??
@Flembomb: Nicky English was poor enough when he came on aswell think the age is catching up to him
@800yearsofoppresion: taught the same myself. Philly Maher was ok when he came on for Barry full back!
@Flembomb: Flem caught talking yet more sh*te
@Tomás Tiernan: Babs played well though.
@Johnny B: Nicky Rackard had an absolute mare tho
@Flembomb: haha
Nobody going to mention how despite Chin playing so well overall, he let us down badly from frees….again? By my count, he missed six. Even converting half of those would have meant the aides were level in injury time.
@Jumperoo: very true. Taught ye were trying for a goal too much when a point would of been easier and keep the score board ticking over!
Dreams come true when you work hard and believe…up wexford
@David Kinsella: it’s only the league kid relax.
“We put the pressure on Tipp”
Dream on David
Thanks Journal,owe you one