Allianz Hurling League Division 1

TIPPERARY 4-23 WATERFORD 0-25

By Noel Dundon at FBD Semple Stadium

Three goals from attacking star Jake Morris helped Tipperary to victory over Waterford in the Allianz National Hurling League at FBD Semple Stadium this evening.

Having bagged the goal which sparked Tipperary into life in the first half, Morris raised two further green flags in the second half to break the Waterford momentum and then seal the victory.

In a fine encounter which saw both sides really go at it, Tipperary took their chances. Waterford didn’t, and that would prove to be the difference.

Waterford made a number of changes from the one named in the programme, though it was largely in keeping with the team announced on Friday evening ahead of the match.

And, despite the fact that ticket sales were slow up to midday, a large surge of spectators arrived at FBD Semple Stadium for a highly anticipated clash between two very keen rivals – one of the major highlights being outside the tramlines with Davy Fitzgerald coming up against last year's Waterford boss Liam Cahill, now in the Tipp camp. Tipperary legend Eoin Kelly occupied a seat in the Deise dugout, and Waterford legend Tony Browne did likewise but in the Tipperary dugout. Srange times indeed.

It was a damp enough evening in Thurles after a day of rain but there was a great atmosphere in the stadium as Tipp went in search of their fourth straight win in this years campaign. However, in the last six meetings in the league, the sides shared the bragging rights equally – three wins apiece. So, it was all to play for on the evening.

In a fast paced and at times hard hitting first half, Tipperary, despite loss of Seamus Callanan with a knee injury in the 20th minute, went from being three down after four minutes, to leading the game by six points at the half hour mark. It was a big about-turn and it all kicked off for Tipp from an 8th minute Jake Morris goal which was created by Dan McCormack.

That goal tied up the game and when Noel McGrath pointed almost immediately, Tipp took control of the game. Even though they went in arrears when Callum Lyons hit a brace of scores in the 12th and 13th minutes, Tipperary struck eight points in succession to take up a commanding position – seven of those coming from centre forward Gearoid O’Connor, with veteran Patrick Maher getting the other.

Waterford went twenty minutes without a score in the half and this spelled bad news for them considering they had the breeze at their backs. However, they did manage four of the last five points through Jamie Barron (2) and Stephen Bennett (2), to go in 1-12 to 0-11 in arrears at the break – not a terribly bad position for them to be in considering how they had been dominated by the hosts.

Waterford started the second half in a bright fashion with points from Jack Prendergast and Callum Lyons. But, they also had two early goal chances which they failed to take – these would come back to haunt the Deise.

Waterford had taken the lead by the 13th minute when they hit four points in succession through Iarlaith Daly, Stephen Bennett (2) and Jack Prendergast, and it was flowing over and back until Morris struck his second goal in the 20th minute – a score which sent Tipp three clear, with sub Jason Forde having adding much danger to the Premier attack.

Indeed, Forde would end up with six points to show from his cameo and the story got even worse for Waterford when midfielder Jamie Barron was red carded immediately after Morris’ goal for an off the ball incident involving Tipp midfielder Conor Stakelum.

Another Tipp sub Conor Bowe goaled two minutes after Morris with his first touch to really blitz Waterford. And, when Morris hit Tipperary’s fourth goal in the 35th minute of the second half, it was game over with all the spoils going to the home side.

Tipperary got much more from their attack than the Waterford lads did – a fact which will leave Manager Davy Fitzgerald with much to ponder in the coming days.

Scorers for Tipperary: Jake Morris 3-0, Gearóid O’Connor 0-9 (8f), Jason Forde 0-6 (1f), Conor Bowe 1-0, Conor Stakelum 0-3, Mark Kehoe 0-2, Alan Tynan 0-1, Noel McGrath 0-1, Patrick Maher 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-8 (8f), Calum Lyons 0-4, Jack Prendergast 0-3, Patrick Fitzgerald 0-3 (1f), Jamie Barron 0-2, Iarlaith Daly 0-1, Neil Montgomery 0-1, Dessie Hutchinson 0-1, Colin Dunford 0-1, Paudie Fitzgerald 0-1.

TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Johnny Ryan, Bryan O’Mara, Eoghan Connolly; Michael Breen, Ronan Maher, Seamus Kennedy; Conor Stakelum, Noel McGrath; Dan McCormack, Gearoid O’Connor, Alan Tynan; Jake Morris, Patrick Maher, Seamus Callanan. Subs: Mark Kehoe for Seamus Callanan; Jason Forde for Alan Tynan; Conor Bowe for Gearoid O’Connor; John McGrath for Conor Bowe; John Campion for Noel McGrath.

WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Prunty, Tadhg de Burca; Shane McNulty, Calum Lyons Iarlaith Daly; Austin Gleeson, Jamie Barron, Neil Montgomery, Colin Dunford, Patrick Curran, Dessie Hutchinson, Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett. Subs: Conor Ryan for Conor Prunty; Carthach Daly for Patrick Curran; Patrick Fitzgerald 0-3 for Stephen Bennett; Paudie Fitzgerald 0-1for Colin Dunford.

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)