Munster U21 HC: Shanahan inspires shock Deise win

Maurice Shanahan hit 0-13 as Waterford sent holders Tipperary crashing out of the Bord Gais Energy Munster U21 HC at Dungarvan's Fraher Field last night.

Waterford.3-21
Tipperary..2-14

The younger brother of former Hurler of the Year Dan was in inspired form as the Deise moved within 60 minutes of their first provincial title in the grade since 1994. Thomas Ryan also starred for the Deise with goals in either half, much to the delight of the majority in the 5,000-strong crowd.

Tipp, who paraded a number of the senior side that defeated Waterford in last Sunday's Munster final, came into the final as hot favourites and when Pa Bourke netted in the seventh minute, things looked to be going according to plan.

But the home refused to be rattled and hit back with goals in the 13th and 14th minutes from Ryan and Thomas Connors to take a 2-3 to 1-4 lead.

Leading by 2-6 to 1-8 at half-time, Waterford moved up a gear after the restart and with Shanahan in unstoppable form, they established a 2-15 to 1-13 advantage by the three-quarter hour mark.

A brilliant save by Adrian Power in the 54th minute kept Tipp at bay, and when Ryan bagged his second goal on the hour to make it 3-19 to 1-14, Tipp's fate was sealed.

Michael Heffernan did manage a late goal for the visitors, but it proved to be no more than a consolation score as Waterford impressively set up a final date with Clare in a fortnight's time.

Waterford - A Power; J Maher, S Fives, N Connors; P Mahony, S Daniels, D O'Sullivan (0-1); J Gorman, S O'Hare; P Murray (0-2), T Connors (0-2), M Shanahan (0-13); B O'Sullivan (0-1), S Casey (0-2), T Ryan (3-0). Subs: S Walsh for O'Hare (22), S Power for Shanahan (61)

Tipperary - B McCormack; D Maher, P Maher, M Cahill; B Maher, T Stapleton, K Maher (0-1); G Ryan, S Hennessy (0-1); N McGrath (0-7), S Callinan, P Maher; P Bourke (1-2), J O'Neill (0-2), S Bourke (0-1). Subs: J O'Keeffe for D Maher, S Carey for G Ryan, M Heffernan (1-0) for S Bourke, J Coughlan for Stapleton.

Ref - D O'Driscoll (Limerick)