Allianz Football League Division 4 – Tipperary 0-12 Waterford 1-9

Tipperary drew with Waterford in round 2 of the Allianz Football League Division 4 on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-9 on Sunday February 9th at Clonmel.

Managers happy but White so close to winning scrappy affair for Déise

Tipperary 0-12 Waterford 1-9

By Jackie Cahill at Clonmel Sportsfield for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Top scorer Paul Whyte missed a late chance to snatch maximum points for Waterford in yesterday’s Allianz NFL Division 4 clash against Tipperary in Clonmel. In the first minute of stoppage time, the normally reliable Kilrossanty forward dragged a right-footed shot wide and a scrappy encounter at the Clonmel Sportsfield ended level. But talented hitman Whyte was the star turn for the Déise, nonetheless, as he finished with 1-5 of his side’s total, including three points from play.

Waterford boss Niall Carew declared himself satisfied with the stalemate following the disappointing opening round defeat against Clare. His Tipperary counterpart Peter Creedon had no complaints with the result either but after his side moved three points clear with less than 20 minutes remaining, they should have pushed on in front of 490 spectators.

Tipp had the breeze at their backs but Waterford responded with a run of four unanswered points to move one clear, including three from Whyte. Philip Austin levelled matters in the 66th and the remainder of the game failed to yield a winner. Austin’s score was Tipp’s first for 14 minutes and while the only goal of the game came courtesy of Whyte’s penalty before half-time, the hosts spurned a number of good opportunities.

Conor Sweeney could have had a hat-trick before the break and Austin spurned another chance with 17 minutes to go, Waterford goalkeeper Stephen Enright making a good save. Tipp ran riot in Carlow in their first game but they found Waterford a tougher nut to crack. In the first-half, the sides were level four times before Sweeney put Tipp ahead for the first time in the 27th minute.

But Whyte’s coolly taken penalty was the key score of the half as he sent Paul Fitzgerald the wrong way after Liam O’Lonáin was fouled. Tipp trailed 0-5 to 1-4 at the break but they opened the second-half in fine style, with a run of five unanswered points. JJ Hutchinson, impressive with three points for the visitors, opened Waterford’s account but Carew lost corner back Dean Crowley to a black card in the 51st minute. And when Sweeney put Tipp 0-11 to 1-5 clear, it appeared that they would push for home. But Waterford hung in there and deservedly claimed a share of the spoils.

“When Waterford went a point ahead, we’ve have taken a draw. Over the course of the game, it was a fair enough result,” Creedon admitted. “When we went three points up, if we had kicked on two points to make it five, the game would have petered out but credit to Waterford, they showed great spirit.” Carew said: “Paul Whyte, normally he’s the right man with the ball to get that last score but a draw was probably a fair result overall.”

Scorers for Tipperary: C Sweeney (0-4, 2fs), M Quinlivan, P Austin, B Grogan (2f) (0-2 each), B Fox, C McCullagh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: P Whyte (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-2f), JJ Hutchinson (0-3), S Aherne (0-1).

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; J Coughlan, P Codd, A Morrissey; G Mulhare, P Acheson, D Leahy; G Hannigan, S O’Brien; B Fox, B Grogan, C McCullagh; C Sweeney, M Quinlivan, P Austin
Subs: I Fahy for McCullagh (52), L Egan for O’Brien (60), C Dillon for Sweeney (70+2).

WATERFORD: S Enright; D Crowley, T O’Gorman, K Connery; C O’Keeffe, S Briggs, C Phelan; JJ Hutchinson, S Aherne; D Allen, B Wall, T Grey; W Hutchinson, P Whyte, L O’Lionáin
Subs: T Ó’hUallacháin for Allen (43), T Prendergast for W Hutchinson (46), O Keevers for Crowley (black card, 51), R Aherne for Ó’Lonáin (62), T Connors for Wall (70+2).

Referee: J Hickey (Carlow).

Team News

WATERFORD (NFL v Tipperary): S Enright; D Crowley, T O’Gorman, K Connery; C O’Keeffe, S Briggs, C Phelan; T Prendergast, S Aherne; D Allen, B Wall, T Grey; W Hutchinson, P Whyte, L Ó Lonáin.

Admission Prices

Adults – €10
OAP / Student – €5
Under 16s free

Web Poll Results – Tipperary v Waterford – Predict the result

Tipp by 6+ points – 51%

Tipp by 4 to 6 points – 40%

Tipp by 1 to 3 points – 5%

Draw -0%

Waterford by 1 to 3 points – 0%

Waterford by 4 to 6 points – 2%

Waterford by 6+ points – 2%