Tipperary have the last laugh in comedy of errors

TIPPERARY manager Paddy Morrissey was not prepared to mince his words after watching his side contribute ominously to a poor Munster first round championship match in Dungarvan yesterday.

"If we play like that against Kerry in Tralee," he said, "we wouldn't deserve to be driven home."

His counterpart, Joe Curran, was a little more restrained, although, no little with understatement, did say to the Tipperary players: "I don't wish to criticise you, but you will have to step up the pace a little against Kerry".

Tipperary failed to score until the 28th minute, despite enjoying a 70:30 possession rate against a tricky breeze. By that time, Waterford had snatched a six points march on them.

The goal that opened Tipperary's account was a complete fluke - which didn't look out of place in a bizarre encounter.

The crowd of 2,225 watched in amazement as Waterford goalkeeper Kieran Cotter failed to deal with a 45 yard lob. He had unwisely allowed to hop before the ball slipped under the bar.

Foley was big enough to acknowledge the freak nature of the score. "It was truly a freak. I could not get the ball onto my left foot and settled for a tentative lob with my right. I actually miskicked."

The fortuitous score was accepted as the game's turning point by players and mentors from both sides.

The cooling breeze was welcomed by the baked spectators, but not by the placekickers, particularly Brendan Cummins, Tipperary's dual star. He missed the simplest of placed kicks, the worst coming in the second half when he slotted a 14 metre free wide of the post.

The match was only a few minutes old when it was clear it was going to be poor fare. Tipperary started with waves of attacks that either ended up in the hands of Cotter, went wide or were ushered away by close marking Waterford defenders.

Some of Tipperary's key attackers, notably John Owens, did not find the long ball played by their defence to their liking. At least four passes too many were used as Tipperary endeavoured to break down the Waterford cover.

It was equally true that the young Waterford side is far from being streetwise in championship football.

Cummins, who played in goal against Kilkenny in the NHL Thurles on the previous evening, took a bit of stick from wags in the crowd whenever his form betrayed. "Get a hurley," was the most popular jibe.

Later Cummins answered his critics in the best possible way by shooting a great goal in the last quarter. He collected a Sean Maher freekick close in and picked his spot.

This gave Tipperary a three points advantage, and although Oliver Costelloe responded with Waterford's only second half point, Tipperary finished in determined fashion.

Cummins had a huge point from a line ball, while John Owens and substitute Darren O'Connor tagged on points.

Liam Cronin, the Tipperary captain and left full back, is entitled to distance himself from the poverty of his team's overall display. He had an inspirational game from start to finish. Bernard Hahessy was not far behind in workrate at wing half back.

But with midfielder Derry Foley having a quiet day, that crazy goal apart, Tipperary were left without a central dynamo.

Gavin Keane, the tall Waterford forward, looked likely for a spell in the first half to be the one to raise Waterford's game. He had a great goal after leaving Niall Kelly for dead with a smart dummy and he tagged on two points and hit a post.

Tipperary players were perhaps justified in saying afterwards that they never felt they were going to be beaten, despite being three points down at the interval. Limerick referee Willie O'Mahoney had an erratic game, although he was intent on letting the players know from an early stage who was the boss. He booked seven players in all, four of them in the opening eight minutes.