Late pair of goals give Tipperary the win over Waterford to maintain Munster final dream

Late goals from Emma Morrissey and Emer McCarthy saw Tipperary shake off Waterford and keep their Munster final hopes alive at a rainy Bansha on Saturday afternoon.

These next-door neighbours were level five times before the Premier scored 2-3 without reply in the final quarter. Towering midfielder Anna-Rose Kennedy was the Premier’s star performer with 2-1 from play. The Aherlow number nine found the top corner twice in the first half. Emma Morrissey and Aishling Moloney came alive in the closing stages.

A yellow card to defender Eve Power and a shoulder injury to attacker Bríd McMaugh hurt Waterford in that last quarter. Power shadowed Moloney throughout. Pat Sullivan’s side also took the field without the injured Clare Walsh. Captain Kellyann Hogan kicked seven points for the Déise (six frees), while Alannah McNulty battled hard in defence. They are out of provincial final contention ahead of a trip to Kerry.

The teams were level three times in the opening half. The rain arrived just as Conor McCarthy threw in the ball. With just 30 seconds on his stopwatch, Anna-Rose Kennedy planted the ball in the top left corner of the Waterford net.

The Déise dragged themselves back into the game. A fisted effort from Annie Fitzgerald and three Kellyann Hogan points (two frees) edged them 0-4 to 1-0 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

Neassa Towey levelled before Premier netminder Lauren Fitzpatrick saved from her Ballymacarbry club-mate Kellyann Hogan. On 21 minutes, Emma Morrissey supplied Kennedy and she belted the ball into the top right corner past Evelyn O’Brien on this occasion. The visitors recovered again. Ellen Bolger and Hogan (free) tied the scores at the break (2-1 to 0-7).

In a scrappy third quarter, two Hogan frees helped the away team into a slender advantage (0-9 to 2-2). Eve Power got her marching orders for ten minutes and Tipp took charge. Emma Morrissey and Aishling Moloney combined from a quick free before Morrissey equalised. All-Star Moloney then floated over the lead point from 30 metres. A Moloney catch then led to a Kennedy point.

With four minutes left, a Morrissey point attempt landed in the corner of the Waterford cobwebs. Two minutes later, Emer McCarthy’s shot slipped under Evelyn O’Brien (4-5 to 0-9). Restored to fifteen players, Emma Murray and Alannah McNulty knocked over consolation points for the Déise. Tipp will face Cork in the final round.

Scorers – Tipperary: AR Kennedy 2-1; E Morrissey 1-2 (1f); E McCarthy 1-0; N Towey, A Moloney 0-1 each. Waterford: K Hogan 0-7 (6fs); A McNulty, E Murray, E Bolger, A Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; E Kelly, L Spillane, E Cronin; C O’Dwyer, M Curley, S English; L Morrissey, AR Kennedy; E Morrissey, A McGuigan, A Moloney; N Towey, K Downey, E McCarthy. Sub: M Creedon for Towey (44).

Waterford: E O’Brien; K McGrath, H Power, A McNulty; N Power, E Murray, A O’Neill; M O’Brien, E Power; A Fitzgerald, K Hogan, A Murray; B McMaugh, E Bolger, K Murray. Subs: L McGregor for Bolger (HT), A Brazil for M O’Brien (50), C Murray for McMaugh (52), L O’Shea for Fitzgerald (59), A Waring for N Power (61).

Referee: C McCarthy (Cork)

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