Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling Semi Final – Tipperary 0-26 Cork 1-19

Pre-season score-quake but Tipp go extra mile

Tipperary 0-26 Cork 1-19 aet

By Diarmuid O’Flynn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

The Waterford Crystal Tournament is meant to be an early-season warm-up competition, an opportunity for teams to shake loose the winter cobwebs. Given the competitive nature of this semi-final in Templemore yesterday, Tipperary establishing their superiority only after extra-time, one wonders if anyone has informed the players because this was one hell of a battle. Tipperary lined out with a very strong side, nine of the starting 15 from last year’s All-Ireland final loss to Kilkenny, while Cork, though they did feature Sean Óg Ó hAilpin in his first game for Cork since his superb performance against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of 2010, had a largely experimental team. It showed too, in the first half especially, as Tipperary time and again cut through the heart of the Cork defence only to squander several gilt-edged goal chances. As it was, with inside forwards Brian O’Meara (especially) and John O’Brien impressing, they led at the break by just a single point, 0-7 to 0-6.

The second-half was a far more even affair, Cork getting some fine performances from several newcomers, most notably centre-back Ross Cashman (Kilbrittain) and midfielder Darren Sweetman (Dohenys). “Darren Sweetman is only 18, doing his Leaving Cert,” said manager Jimmy Barry Murphy. “We’re thrilled with him, did a very good job; Ross Cashman played very well at centre-back — we’re casting the net wide to see if we can get players who are up to the standard.” Brian Corry too made a welcome return to the big stage, and though up against no less a defender than Padraic Maher, still managed three fine points from play.

At the end of that second half, Tipperary having managed to botch another couple of goal opportunities (though Martin Coleman in the Cork goals was an alert and imposing figure), the scores were level at 0-18 apiece. Then wing-forward Adrian Ryan had three fine points for Tipp, midfield sub James Woodlock had two, Brian O’Meara continuing to impress, while sub Luke O’Farrell was looking very sharp for the visitors.

Into extra-time then. The first half again was even enough, Tipp edging ahead by a point, 0-20 to 0-19 but again — as in the first half of regular time — hitting a slew of wides. The final period, however, was the real difference, five points in-a-row for the home team, two of those from sub Sean Curran, veteran Eoin Kelly also prominent, and though Tracton’s Michael O’Sullivan did manage a goal for Cork, a low grounder past the unsighted Brendan Cummins, that was mere consolation.

A good contest, and two satisfied managers — first up, Tipp’s Declan Ryan: “We missed a few goal chances but it’s nice to come out of a tight game and win it. It’s early days and the boys are in heavy training at the moment.” A few individuals caught his eye, most notably Brian O’Meara, but there were others. “Brian played well, he’s a ball winner and a very physical guy. He’s put in a big effort since January 1, training with WIT as well — I’m delighted with the way he played today. Adrian Ryan has been there or thereabouts for the last couple of years and played U21. It was a very workmanlike performance from Adrian today – he too has been putting in a huge effort, he’ll give you everything that he has.” As for Jimmy Barry Murphy, equally satisfied. “We could have done without the extra-time to be honest but we’re very pleased with the workout. Over the last couple of years Tipp have gone a little ahead of us and we’re working very hard to close that gap. I was very pleased with the attitude of the lads, I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them.”

Scorers for Tipperary: B O’Meara 0-5; E Kelly 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 65); A Ryan 0-3; J O’Brien 0-3; P Bourke 0-3 (0-2f); J Woodlock 0-2; S Curran 0-2; G Ryan 0-2; C O’Mahony, J Ryan, 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: M O’Sullivan 1-0; C Naughton 0-3; P Cronin 0-3; B Corry 0-3; J Coughlan 0-3 (0-2f); R Cashman 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65); L O’Farrell 0-2; R Clifford, N McCarthy, 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; C O’Brien, P Curran (c), M Cahill; S Maher, C O’Mahony, Padraic Maher; J Ryan, S McGrath; G Ryan, Patrick Maher, A Ryan; P Bourke, B O’Meara, J O’Brien.

Subs: J Woodlock (McGrath inj. 29); D Young (J Ryan 51); E Kelly (Bourke 51); S Curran (Maher 66); P Bourke (Patrick Maher inj. 68); J Ryan (A Ryan 73).

CORK: M Coleman; B Murphy, E Dillon, C O’Sullivan; J Gardiner, R Cashman, S O hAilpin; D Sweetman, P Cronin (c); B Corry, N McCarthy, C Naughton; J Coughlan, E Murphy, R Clifford.

Subs: M O’Sullivan (McCarthy 42); C Joyce (Ó hAilpin 48); L O’Farrell (Clifford 48); B O’Connor (E Murphy 54); S O’Neill (O’Sullivan 58); N McCarthy (Corry 70); R Clifford (Sweetman 70); E Murphy (Cronin inj. 77).

Referee: S Hourigan (Limerick)

Team News

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Cork in the Waterford Crystal Cup semi-final v Cork on Sunday February 12 at Templemore at 1pm is:

1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange)

2. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)

3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone) Captain

4. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields)

5. Shane Maher (Burgess)

6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport)

7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)

8. Johnny Ryan (Drom and Inch)

9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)

10. Gearóid Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)

11. Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha)

12. Adrian Ryan (Templederry Kenyons)

13. Timmy Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore)

14. Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs)

15. John O’Brien (Toomevara)

The Cork Senior Hurling team to play Tipperary in Sunday’s Waterford Crystal Cup Semi-Final at 1pm in Templemore will line out as follows:

1. Martin Coleman

2. Brian Murphy 3. Eoin Dillon 4. Conor O’Sullivan

5. Christopher Joyce 6. Ross Cashman 7. John Gardiner

8. Darren Sweetnam 9. Pa Cronin

10. Brian Corry 11. Niall McCarthy 12. Cathal Naughton

13. Luke O’ Farrell 14. Eoin Murphy 15. Ryan Clifford

The team shows a number of changes in personnel from the defeat of Kerry, with Martin Coleman replacing Anthony Nash in goals, while Brian Murphy is chosen at corner back in place of Damien Cahalane.

John Gardiner comes in at wing back instead of Tom Kenny, while last week’s substitute Darren Sweetnam gets a first start at midfield, where he is joined by Pa Cronin who started last Saturday’s game at centre forward but went off injured.

Niall McCarthy returns to the familiar centre-forward berth for this game, with Cathal Naughton moving to the wing

For the Record

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling 2012

Preliminary Round

Sunday January 22^nd

@ Dolla                                              Tipperary 2-24 Limerick Institute of Technology 1-16

Sunday January 29^th

@ Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney       Kerry 1-20 IT Tralee 1-15

@ Sixmilebridge                               Clare 3-25 WIT 0-5

Quarter-Finals

Saturday February 4^th

@ MacDonagh Park Nenagh          Tipperary 2-11 University of Limerick 0-12

@ Pairc Ui Rinn                                Cork 5-18 Kerry 1-14

@ Sixmilebridge                               Limerick 1-15 Clare 0-18 AET

Sunday February 5^th

@ WIT Sportsgrounds                      Waterford 3-19 UCC 1-19

Quarter-Final Replay

Tuesday February 7^th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick            Clare 2-13 Limerick 1-15

Semi-Finals (Extra time)
Sunday February 12^th

@ Templemore                                 Cork v Tipperary                                           @ 1:00pm

@ Walsh Park Waterford                 Waterford v Clare                                          @ 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Date TBC

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling – Odds and Ends

96 players scored in the eight matches played to date in the 2012 Waterford Crystal Cup.

Tipperary hold the record for the longest winning streak in the Waterford Crystal Cup since the competition began under that guise in 2006 when they won 10 consecutive matches between 2007 and 2009.

None of the five teams who take part in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship have a losing record in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006.

Since the Waterford Crystal Cup began in 2006, 64 games have been played with just 1 draw – the Limerick v Clare Q-Final on Saturday February 4^th.

Waterford have won 12 of their last 14 matches in the Waterford Crystal Cup, including a current winning streak of 8 matches.

Clare are the only team who have won at least one game each year since the Waterford Crystal Cup competition began in 2006.

Limerick won the first Waterford Crystal Cup title in 2006, winning four matches in the process. Since then, in five matches in the competition they have failed to win a game.

None of the third level colleges has a winning record in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006.

The record of the Third Level Colleges in the Waterford Crystal Cup since 2006 is Won 18, Lost 39, a 32% success rate. Since the Third Level Colleges entered the McGrath Cup (Senior Football) in 2005, their success rate is 32%.

Waterford Crystal Cup

Waterford Crystal began their sponsorship of the Munster pre-season hurling competition in 2006. Prior to this, the competition was played in different formats dating back to the early 1990’s and was most popularly known as the South Eastern Hurling League which also included county teams from Leinster.

Waterford Crystal Cup Senior Hurling Roll Of Honour

Waterford (2) – 2010, 2011

Tipperary (2) – 2007, 2008

Clare (1) – 2009

Limerick (1) – 2006

Waterford Crystal Cup – 2012 Scorers