Tipperary 2-13
Waterford 0-16
TIPPERARY HAVE BEATEN Waterford by three points in this evening’s Allianz NHL Division 1A opener at a chilly Semple Stadium.
Tipperary put a disappointing first half performance behind them to get their campaign off to winning start in front of 4,786 spectators in Thurles.
Seamus Callanan scored 1-4 in the second half and goalkeeper Darren Gleeson capped the win with a bizarre goal in the 70th minute.
At half-time, Tipperary were in trouble as they trailed by 0-5 to 0-8 against a hungry Waterford side playing with the aid of the breeze.
But the hosts were much better in the second half as Callanan opened up with his scoring blitz within the space of 14 minutes.
Callanan’s well-taken goal in the 47th minute, created by Noel McGrath’s brilliant pass, tied the scores at 1-7 to 0-10.
And it was Callanan who put Tipperary ahead for the first time in the game nine minutes later from a free.
Tipperary withstood a tense finish to claim the spoils but Waterford will rue a finishing tally of 13 wides.
By half-time, they had racked up eight wides with Pauric Mahony, who top-scored for the Déise with 0-10, guilty of five of those.
Waterford’s misery was complete in the final minute when Gleeson’s long-range free drifted all the way into the net.
Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 1-4 (0-2f), John O’Dwyer 0-4f, Darren Gleeson 1-0f, Noel McGrath 0-2, James Woodlock, Kieran Bergin & Denis Maher 0-1 each
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-10 (9f), Philip Mahony 0-2, Kevin Moran, Jake Dillon, Maurice Shanahan & Brian O’Sullivan 0-1 each
TIPPERARY: Darren Gleeson (Portroe); Cathal Barrett (Holycross-Ballycahill), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty); Brendan Maher (Borrisoleigh), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch); Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Kieran Bergin (Killenaule); Jason Forde (Silvermines), Paddy Murphy (Nenagh Éire Óg), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
Subs: Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney) for Forde (43), Denis Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) for O’Dwyer (49), Shane Bourke (JK Brackens) for Murphy (56), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields) for Woodlock (59)
WATERFORD: Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner); Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner), Shane Fives (Carrigtwohill), Noel Connors (Passage); Jamie Nagle (Dungarvan), Michael Walsh (Stradbally), Philip Mahony (Ballygunner); Kevin Moran (De La Salle), Shane O’Sullivan (Ballygunner); Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater), Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner), Jake Dillon (De La Salle); Maurice Shanahan (Lismore), Shane Walsh (Fourmilewater), Brian O’Sullivan (Ballygunner)
Subs: Stephen Molumphy (Ballyduff Upper) for S Walsh (48), Seamus Prendergast (Ardmore) for Dillon (58), Eddie Barrett (De La Salle) for Shanahan (67), Stephen Roche (Mount Sion) for S O’Sullivan (70)
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
Mon the premier… Unbeaten 2014
First game of course Tipp unbeaten
hard luck waterford,
Waterford deserved a draw
Tipp forward play very poor
Waterfords forwards worse.
It was the worst display from a tipp team I have seen, Gleesons puck outs were a disgrace , forward play rubbish, midfield not at races, first touch non existant, John o Dwyers free taking very shaky why he hits them so low I don’t know I had a lot of hope for this tipp team for the year , very subdued at moment
Tipp very poor in forward department tonight. Inability to win ball in forward line is a problem that dogged Tipp all through the Sheehy and Declan Ryan management periods and looks set to continue under E.O’Shea. Forwards lost possession so easily in the tackle and failed miserably to win possession every time there was a ruck – invariably a Waterford player emerged with the ball. Denis Maher did well when he came on – scored a brilliant point after fielding a Gleeson puck-out. ‘Bubbles’ really had an off-night as did young Jason Forde- maybe his Fitzgibbon efforts taking their toll. Tipp can thank their backs, all of whom were solid tonight, never allowing Waterford a sight of goal. Although Waterford’s dreadful wides tally contributed to their defeat.
And what of Seamie Callanan? The most maligned man ( apart from Lar, I suppose) in Tipp hurling executed a scoring burst in a ten minute period of the second half – a well-taken goal from an acute angle following a Noel McGrath pass, an absolutely brilliant point from the the sideline under the new stand, and a couple of pointed frees when he took over following ‘Bubbles’ substitution – gave Tipp a one point lead in a game that they had been chasing from the word go. The man has such class and brilliance – if only he could be consistent.
Some poor shooting cost Waterford the match.Thought Tipp were poor,Waterford rattled into them but got tired second half. Waterford had no goal threat all game.
John fogarty, through the Sheedy era? We won an all Ireland and were unlucky not to win another, as for tonight, first game of a new campaign, relax lads, it’s a winning start.
Hon The Premier
You might see tipp challenging for the the AI in 5 years time , Waterford will have an AI won by then
If only Ger Delee!
Tippearary very poor tonight i thought they play bad in frist half no forward line oshea need to sort it out waterford was the better side 1st half tipp came into in 2nd half tipp should of play alot better thought we should of score more up tipp
Tipp forwards very poor backroom staff just as bad what does Paudi O’Neill bring to the table as coach ?
Even at this early stage the Waterford v Dublin game in Walsh Park on March 9th looks like being the crucial game for both teams if they want to avoid relegation.
Oh it’s bog ball time of year again….uuuuggghhh!!!!
Greatest game in the world
This is small ball. Not big.
Tipp need either kelly or corbett to start in every match it would help to settle the forwards if they are on the panel they should be well capable of starting