Clinical Kelly seals spoils for Tipperary

Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 1-12:IN THE context of yesterday's weather the fact that so many matches got played in the first round of the Allianz NHL Division One was an achievement but yesterday's opening fixture in Tipp's defence of the title just about got in under the wire, surviving a pitch inspection within less than an hour to throw-in. It would be safe to speculate that but for the presence of TG4's cameras the match might not have gone ahead.

Ultimately, Tipperary and Waterford, with two shadow teams, delivered an exciting contest in poor conditions with the holders deservedly winning and being worth more than their four-point margin. Yet, the outcome could have been even more distorted but for a flash of inspiration from the returned Paul Kelly.

No sooner had Clinton Hennessy capped the long run upfield by crashing a 20-metre free into the Tipperary net to cut the margin to four, 1-8 to 1-12, with 10 minutes to go than Thomas Stapleton, in what was his last act of the afternoon before being replaced, rifled the ball into Kelly’s right corner. A catch, solo and crashing finish snuffed out Waterford’s challenge as quickly as it had revived.

“It was a killer,” said Waterford manager David Fitzgerald afterwards. “We were after getting back into it. It was a big momentum shift for the crowd had gone flat again within a minute. In fairness, Clinton made a few great saves in the first half. We could have been down more – I’m not under any illusions. Tipp are a super team.”

Hennessy had indeed played a major role in keeping Tipp out in the first 35 minutes preventing, at a conservative assessment, three goals. That first half had showcased defences in a far brighter spotlight than forwards. In particular Tipperary’s trio of Benny Dunne, outstanding All Star Conor O’Mahony and Diarmaid Fitzgerald mopped up nearly everything that came their way.

What they missed was equally adeptly handled by a sound full-back line where Declan Fanning ruled the roost in his contest with Dan Shanahan.

At the other end Waterford’s defence was also performing well early on with Eoin Murphy in particular tidying up effectively, young Noel Connors getting in a good block on Kelly and the half backs resisting manfully the barrage of returning ball from the other end.

But it was all a struggle and stretched them more than was the case with their opponents. Inevitably they coughed up chances in the second quarter and, although Hennessy came to the rescue, Tipp manager Liam Sheedy was content with the drift of the match.

“We could have had one or two more goals, but I was happy we were creating chances. We got the two points straight after half-time and I think that was an important impetus. We knew Waterford would come at us and we were disappointed to give away a soft enough ‘21’ that let Waterford back into the game.

“In fairness to the backs, I thought they were very impressive. The amount of ball being hit out of there and they were tenacious in the tackle. As Tipperary manager that’s what I’m looking for. Today was workmanlike and that’s what I was looking for.

Waterford managed just three points before half-time, the only one from play arriving in injury-time from Shanahan whereas the visitors were scoring more fluently. James Woodlock hit two fine points from distance and John O’Brien, who appeared to suffer greater disruption in the slippery conditions than his colleagues, finally getting a pay-out for his troubles when he placed Pat Kerwick for the opening goal in the 33rd minute.

Tipp started the second half confidently, but Waterford refused to give up and hustled away even though the margin oscillated in the range of six, seven and eight points before Hennessy’s goal cut the gap.

“I was happy enough,” said Fitzgerald who ruefully referred to his tighter range of options in the face of players absent through club commitments and injury.

The Waterford manager, in his first NHL match in charge, was mildly critical of referee Barry Kelly, who over-ruled his sun-blinded umpires on four occasions. “We were pulled and dragged a lot and didn’t get frees – that’s being honest. But I though he refereed it well in the conditions.”

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; C O’Brien, D Fanning, P Curran; B Dunne (0-1), C O’Mahony (0-1, 65), D Fitzgerald; S Maher, T Stapleton; P Kerwick (1-1), P Maher (0-1), J Woodlock (0-2); P Kelly (1-1), J O’Brien, W Ryan (0-4, three frees). Subs: J Devane (0-2) for Woodlock (52 mins), S McGrath for Stapleton (62 mins), S Callanan for P Maher (70 mins).

WATERFORD: C Hennessy (1-0, free); E Murphy, D Prendergast, N Connors; R Foley, M Walsh, J Murray; S O’Sullivan, J Nagle (0-1); J Kennedy (0-1), G Hurney, S Prendergast (0-6, three frees and two 65s); S Walsh, D Shanahan (0-1), S Molumphy (capt; 0-2). Subs: S Casey for S Walsh (5 mins), P Hurney (0-1) for G Hurney (49 mins), M Shanahan for Casey (59 mins), T Connors for Nagle (69 mins).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).