Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final – Waterford 1-19 Tipperary 2-15

Waterford defeated Tipperary by 1-19 to 2-15 in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final on Sunday April 19th at Nowlan Park Kilkenny.

Report: @WaterfordGAA hold their nerve to beat @TipperaryGAA and reach first final since 2007: http://t.co/0l7htvvkYL pic.twitter.com/aSvaKcBLY7

— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 19, 2015

Hurling S-F: Deise hold their nerve to beat Tipp

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL: WATERFORD 1-19 TIPPERARY 2-15

Waterford earned due reward for a ferocious workrate and a belief in their system with a victory that sees their progress continue apace under Derek McGrath. The Allianz Hurling League final, due to be played on May 3, will now be a repeat of the Munster championship opener between Cork and Waterford, and while that might not be ideal, the manner of both wins will have pleased the managers involved.

It is hard to believe but McGrath was on the receiving end of quite a bit of criticism after his debut season, despite a proven record of working with young players at colleges’ and underage level. Testament to his ability was on show once more today as unlike other teams that have come out of Division 1B, Waterford had the pace of hurling and touch to match the top-tier sides, following up the defeat of Galway with this tremendous win over the hot favourites.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Tipperary gradually chipped away at Waterford’s lead. Having gone 11 minutes without a score, they went from two points in front to four behind after Colin Dunford’s 51st minute goal.
As Waterford’s inexperience began to show and they all too often hit aimless ball away to spaces unpopulated by teammates, it looked like Tipperary had timed their run well when Pádraic Maher levelled in the 67th minute.
It was the Déise men that prevented a period of extra time though. Kevin Moran was fouled 55m out and tight to the right sideline. Pauric Mahony made light of the tension to register his 13th point and after a final minute of incessant Tipp pressure, Waterford held out for a deserved success.

Like Cork for much of the first semi-final, Tipperary looked flat for a lot of this game, although that lethargy was something that seeped in as the game wore in. While appearing not to operate at full tilt, Eamon O’Shea’s crew could not cope with the desire and industry of their opponents, and after scoring two goals in the first 14 minutes, rarely threatened another major.

Waterford needed a good start and two points from a Pauric Mahony 65 and free was encouraging. Tipperary showed where there strength lay though with a fifth minute goal from Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher, that was clinically taken after a Jason Forde delivery.

The Waterford defence did look quite stretched at times in the opening quarter of an hour and John O’Dwyer had a brilliant goal after some dextrous work by Forde and a well-timed pass by Brendan Maher. A couple of points from Seamus Callanan and it was 2-4 to 0-3. Waterford began to get on top around midfield though and with Mahony clinical from placed balls were right back in it at half time, trailing by just 2-8 to 0-11.

There was one wonderful cameo from Austin Gleeson, who ran from inside his own half, burning off three defenders and beating another with a swerve of hip, stick and sliotar, before having a shot saved by Darren Gleeson. That never looked enough given the strength of the wind. O’Shea acknowledged Waterford’s dominance around the centre by relocating Shane McGrath to his more natural habitat but Jamie Barron and Moran continued to prosper in that area, while Maurice Shanahan was colossal as well.

When Forde pointed in the 48th minute, it was 2-11 to 0-15 but Shanahan, who had landed a monster score just before that, knocked over his second. Then came Dunford’s score and one sense the belief of the Waterford support growing. The players too.

Shanahan placed Barron for another long-distance score and Mahony converted two frees, including one inside his own 65. O’Keeffe did make a smart stop from Niall O’Meara, while Darren Gleeson did the same from Tom Devine at the other end. Conor Kenny started the Tipp comeback and it looked like they would deny the underdogs. It wasn’t to be though and it was Waterford’s day.
***
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-13(11fs, 1 65); C Dunford 1-1; M Shanahan 0-3; J Dillon, J Barron 0-1 each

Scorers for Tipperary: S Callanan 0-8(6fs, 1 65); J O’Dwyer 1-1; P Maher 1-0; N O’Meara 0-2; J Forde, J Woodlock, P Maher, C Kenny 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: D Gleeson, P Curran, C O’Mahony, P Stapleton, S McGrath, P Maher, R Maher, J Woodlock, M Breen, P Maher, B Maher, J Forde, S Callanan, J O’Dwyer, N O’Meara
Subs: J Barry for Stapleton (43), S Bourke for O’Dwyer (45), C Kenny for Forde (53), G Ryan for McGrath (58), J Meagher for Curran (67)

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe, S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors, A Gleeson, T De Búrca, Philip Mahony, J Barron, K Moran, M Walsh, Pauric Mahony, J Dillon, C Dunford, M Shanahan, Stephen Bennett
Subs: B O’Halloran for Bennett (51), S O’Sullivan for Walsh (63), E Barrett for Moran (70).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)
***
Report: Daragh Ó Conchúir for GAA.ie

Fixture Details

19.04.2015 (Sun)
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1 Semi Final
Nowlan Park, Kilkenny 16:00
Tiobraid Árann v Port Láirge
Referee: Barry Kelly (An Iarmhí)
(E.T. if Necessary)

Admission Prices

Pre-purchase price:
Adult: €15/£13 (No concessions)
Juveniles: €5/£5

Match Day Price:
Adult: €20/£18
Concessions: €15 (bought at the venue on match day only)
Juveniles: €5/£5

This is an unreserved seating fixture

Click to buy tickets in advance

Team News

The Tipperary Senior Hurling team to play Waterford on Sunday next, April 19th, in the Allianz Hurling League Semi-final in Nowlan Park at 4pm has been announced.

Though the squad has been hit with a number of recent injuries, Eamon O’Shea and his management team are still able to field a strong and experienced starting XV.

Darren Gleeson and John O’Dwyer return after their recent injuries, Conor O’Brien and Shane McGrath replace the injured Cathal Barrett and Kieran Bergin, while the big news is the addition of Seamus Callanan to the full forward line after his successful red card appeal last night.

So the team lines out as follows;

Darren Gleeson (Portroe), Paddy Stapleton (Borris Ileigh), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty), Michael Breen (Ballina), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), James Woodlock (Drom & Inch), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Brendan Maher Capt., (Borris Ileigh), Jason Forde (Silvermines), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch), Patrick Maher (Lorrha Dorrha), Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

The Waterford Senior Hurling Team to play Tipperary on Sunday in the Allianz Hurling League Semi Final has been announced following training tonight.
1. Stephen O’Keeffe Ballygunner
2. Shane Fives Tourin
3. Barry Coughlan Ballygunner
4. Noel Connors Passage
5. Tadhg de Búrca Clashmore Kinsalebeg
6. Austin Gleeson Mount S ion
7. Philip Mahony Ballygunner
8. Jamie Barron Fourmilewater
9. Tom Devine Modeligo
10. Kevin Moran De La Salle
11. Pauric Mahony Ballygunner
12. Jake Dillon De La Salle
13. Brian O’Halloran Clashmore Kinsalebeg
14. Michael Walsh Stradbally
15. Colin Dunford Colligan

Match Coverage

This game will be shown live on TG4

Match Day Information

Kilkenny GAA looks forward to welcoming supporters from all participating counties to Nowlan Park next Sunday. We do encourage patrons to purchase tickets in advance both to avail of discount and to facilitate easy entry to the stadium on match day. The weather forecast for the weekend looks quite settled and I can assure you that the playing surface is in great condition for the games. So we are really set fair for a great occasion and great atmosphere in the compact Nowlan Park grounds.

Season Tickets
Season Tickets are valid for this fixture and access is to Ardan de Gras (Paddy Grace Stand) only via Stiles 9 to 12 on Hebron Road.

Car Parking
Car Parking will be available at O’Loughlin Gaels GAA Club adjacent to Nowlan Park. There is also a facility at the HSE premises in Lacken on the Carlow Road – 5 minute walk to Nowlan Park. MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre right beside the Ground also offers very reasonable car parking together with the usual Shopping Centre catering facilities. Please follow Match Parking signs from Kilkenny’s Ring Road.

Nowlan Park Stand Names
We have provided each county with an aerial photo of Nowlan Park showing the various stands. Please note that there is no facility to move from one section of the ground to the other. Please check the Stile number information on your tickets to ensure entry in to the correct section of the Ground. Nowlan Park has over 17,000 seats and next Sunday it is on an unreserved basis i.e. “First Come First Served”. We hope to have all our stiles open by 12.30