Waterford 2-19 Tipperary 0-15
A Peter Hogan goal 10 minutes from time was the crucial score in delivering Waterford a first Munster U21 title in 22 years, writes Eoghan Cormican.
With Tipperary having outscored the Déise by 0-6 to 0-1 in a nine-minute spell midway through the second-half to draw level at 1-11 to 0-14 entering the final quarter, the Premier men’s resistance was broken when Waterford engineered a second green flag.
An Austin Gleeson delivery was superbly flicked into Peter Hogan’s path by Stephen Bennett and the second-half sub made no mistake from close range.
The score put Waterford 2-13 to 0-14 in front and they quickly put the contest to bed with three scores in the ensuing two minutes from Tom Devine, Patrick Curran and Stephen Bennett.
In all, Waterford outscored Tipperary by 1-8 to 0-1 in the final quarter.
During a first-half that was level on three occasions, it was Stephen Bennett’s 28th-minute goal that separated the sides at the break. A mishit Patrick Curran free landed in the Tipperary square and the Waterford full-forward reacted quickest to pull to the net.
The home outfit wasted little time in settling into the contest, justifying their favourites tag when moving four clear by the 10th minute – three Patrick Curran placed balls and a DJ Foran effort giving the strong Waterford contingent plenty to shout about early on.
Andrew Coffey had Tipperary off the mark after 11 minutes and they were back level by the 17th minute with Stephen Quirke, Conor Lanigan and Coffey again on the mark. The visitors did manage to sneak in front when Josh Keane (free) and Andrew Coffey split the posts following Waterford’s fifth from Mark O’Brien.
Thereafter arrived Bennett’s goal and Waterford never looked back.
Scorers for Waterford: P Curran (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65); Stephen Bennett (1-1); P Hogan (1-0); A Gleeson (0-4, 0-1 free); T Devine (0-2); DJ Foran, M O’Brien, C Roche (0-1);
Scorers for Tipperary: J Keane (0-6, 0-5 frees); A Coffey (0-4); S Quirke (0-3); C Lanigan, R Teehan (0-1 each).
Waterford: J Hanley (Tallow); D Lyons (Dungarvan), C Gleeson (Fourmilewater), W Hahessy (Clonea); M Harney (Bunmahon), A Gleeson (Mount Sion), C Prunty (Abbeyside); C Roche (Shamrocks), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart); M O’Brien (Ferrybank), T Devine (Modeligo), DJ Foran (Portlaw); M Kearney (Ballyduff Upper), Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart), P Curran (Dungarvan).
Subs: P Hogan (Ballygunner) for Roche (42 mins); J Fagan (De La Salle) for Kearney (57); D Ryan (Fourmilewater) for Lyons (60); B Whelan (Tramore) for Hahessy (61); N Fives (Tourin) for Foran (62).
Tipperary: B Hogan (Lorra-Dorrha); T Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty Donohill), D Sweeney (Kiladangan), P Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); S Ryan (Sean Treacy’s), R Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), R Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg); J Ryan (Toomevara), W Connors (Kiladangan); B McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields), S Quirke (Moyle Rovers), A Coffey (Nenagh Éire Óg); C Lanigan (Thurles Sarsfields), M Russell (Lattin Cullen), J Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle).
Subs: R Teehan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole) for Ryan (HT); P Ryan (Newport) for Lanigan (52); M McCarthy (Toomevara) for Coffey (57); T Nolan (Drom & Inch) for B McCarthy (60).
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).
