Tipp book Munster final place
June 04, 2006
Tipperary will meet Cork in the 2006 Munster SHC final following an efficient 3-14 to 1-12 defeat of Waterford in an exciting match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Eoin Kelly's precision was a decisive factor once more as the Mullinahone clubman registered 2-9 during the course of another exhibition, but Waterford had their chances and could have been much closer but for a plethora of poor wides.
Waterford captain Paul Flynn's early free dropped into the Tipp goalmouth but was cleared. At the other end, John Carroll squandered a chance when perhaps he'd have been better advised to have placed his skipper, Ger O Grady.
Flynn spurned two more opportunities and the Premier County had the ball in the net through Carroll but the referee's whistle had sounded so play was called back for a free, which Eoin Kelly effortlessly converted for the game's opening score nine minutes in (Ken McGrath saw yellow for his indiscretion).
Within seconds, the Tipp dangerman landed the game's opening goal, firing ruthlessly to the net under Clinton Hennessy after visionary approach play from Diarmuid Fitzgerald.
The Decies replied with a Flynn point from play but Kelly was on fire for the second match in a row in this year's championship, bringing his and Tipp's tally to 1-2. Eoin McGrath pointed for Waterford but Babs Keating's side had quickfire points from John O'Brien and Kelly (65).
Another Kelly precision score made it 1-5 to 0-2 with a quarter of the match played.
Michaels from each team - Webster for Tipp and Walsh for Waterford - recorded a wide apiece and Flynn was uncharacteristically off target again. Dave Bennett's free brought Waterford's wides tally to five and Tipp corner back Paul Curran became the second player to get a yellow card for off-the-ball activities as Flynn prepared to take a free.
The 2004 All Star was successful this time, bringing another lengthy scoreless passage to an end.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Waterford as they had three more wides from Jack Kennedy (2) and Dan Shanahan, while Tipp broke at the other end for their second goal. It was that man Kelly again, slicing through a none-existent Decies rearguard on the half-hour to cleverly kick the sliothar home to avoid a possible hook - 2-5 to 0-3.
Flynn converted a Waterford free and shortly afterwards received a yellow card for striking with the hurl. In between those two incidents, Shanahan shot wide when under pressure.
Carroll was almost in for Tipp's third goal of the first half but had to settle for a point after his initial effort was blocked.
Waterford desperately needed a goal and were unfortunate not to get one when Flynn's low rasping shot drifting inches outside the post in the last minute of first-half normal time.
With 2-4 from unstoppable talisman Kelly, Tipp led by 2-6 to 0-4 at the short whistle.
Flynn (free) and O'Grady swapped points inside the first two minutes of the second half but Flynn missed another free, with Tipp's Conor O'Mahoney receiving a yellow card for the foul. Webster popped over a point for the more efficient Premier County boys
Jack Kennedy, who was operating on the edge of the square in a switch with Seamus Prendergast, blazed over a good point and a quick, short free from Flynn placed Ken McGrath for Waterford's seventh point.
Bennett's free drew the Decies within two goals, 2-8 to 0-8, by the 47th minute and veteran Tipp 'keeper Brendan Cummins pulled off an astonishing double save to deny Waterford a three-pointer.
But Waterford's tails were up and the introduction of John Mullane (for Bennett) 20 minutes from the end was followed by an inspirational 90-metre point from play by Ken McGrath, who was operating at midfield in the second half.
Lar Corbett replaced Carroll for Tipp and Flynn arrowed over his fifth point of the afternoon. Both sides had dangerous raids repelled before Tipp corner forward Kelly (who was well marshalled by Eamonn Murphy in the second period) punctuated his barren spell with a majestic point from play.
The World Cup is starting on Friday and it is doubtful that we'll see a better goal than the one Dan Shanahan struck twelve minutes from time to bring his side right back into contention. 'The Man' sprinted through the Tipp defence to send a low bullet to the net and reduced the arrears to just two points, 2-9 to 1-10. Game on.
Tipperary were not to be denied, however, and Fitzgerald's delivery found Corbett who blasted to the top left corner with his first contribution. Game over.
Kelly (free) and O'Brien extended the lead further with quickfire points and Ken McGrath sent over his third point for Justin McCarthy's team.
Flynn missed another scoreable free and Ken McGrath's pinpoint delivery almost produced a goal for either Shanahan or sub Paul O'Brien, but it wasn't Waterford's day and the chance passed by. With five minutes remaining, Tipp led by six points but the real story of the game was 14 Waterford wides to just three from Tipperary.
Kelly confirmed Tipp's place in the Munster final when he knocked over two more frees followed by a stunning point from play.
Mullane hit a late consolation for the losers, who go into the qualifiers and can still have a big say in this year's senior hurling championship.
Scorers:
Tipp: E Kelly (2-9), L Corbett (1-0), J O'Brien (0-2), J Carroll (0-1), G O'Grady (0-1), M Webster (0-1). Waterford: P Flynn (0-5), K McGrath (0-3), D Shanahan (1-0), J Kennedy (0-1), E McGrath (0-1), D Bennett (0-1), J Mullane (0-1)
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