TIPP CRUISE TO VICTORY

Munster GAA Hurling Championship Final

Tipperary 7-19 Waterford 0-19 

What can be said about the performance of Tipperary, who defeated a demoralised Waterford time by 21 points in the Munster Senior Hurling final to send out a message to all other teams remaining in the Championship.

A total of 7-13 was scored from play by the Premier County and Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly were untouchable. All the damage was done in the first half when four goals were scored in as many minutes to leave the gap at 17 points at the break.

Corbett capped off a fine display of quality forward play when he clocked up an impressive 4-4 over the 70 minutes.

The writing looked to be on the wall for Waterford with just five minutes gone. A long ball Pádraic Maher was fired into the direction of Corbett. Young full-back Jerome Maher was caught ball watching and Player of the Year Corbett did not need a second invitation to blast home the first goal of the game.

Pauric Mahony responded quickly for the Déise from a free but there was a lack of decent ball going into the Waterford forward line for them to build on.

Tipp’s John O’Brien was causing all sorts of problems by drifting from the full forward line and bringing other forwards into the play. Noel McGrath opened his account and it looked like Delcan Ryan’s men were pulling away at this early stage.

Mahony scored another two frees for Waterford but it still looked like one-way traffic. Two points each from Corbett and Kelly extended their lead before Tony Browne and Mahony pegged back a score each to make it 1-9 to 0-5.

Waterford’s defence was all over the place while their forwards were not much better. John Mullane, who only managed 0-1 for the day, scuffled an easy chance just before the half hour mark as he was caught in two minds whether or not to go for the goal or the simple point.

Then the madness unfolded. Four goals in as many minutes killed Davy Fitzgerald’s chance of retaining the Munster title and this was all before half-time.

Captain Eoin Kelly was the first to opened the flood gates on 31 minutes as he got his first goal and Tipp’s second. A great ball from 'Bonnar' Maher was placed into the path of Kelly and he did the rest.

Corbett was next up. A long ball up the pitch was not dealt with by the Waterford defence and Corbett was there to pick up the pieces and finished in ease.

Things got worse when Seamus Callanan got off the mark on 35 minutes. With no score to his name so far, the Déise's defence just fell apart and Patrick Maher fisted a simple hand pass to wing-forward Callanan who finished easily.

But the devastation was not complete until Corbett came in to finish off the riot in front of goal and collected his hat-trick as well. Mahony managed to get a free before the break but the sides went in 5-10 to 0-8.

Kelly and Corbett opened the second half with a point each but the game was already over at that stage. Fitzgerald made three changes at the break but no miracle was going to happen. One bright spark for the day was the free taking of Mahony.

It looked like it would have got worse for the Déise when Callanan was clean through for his second of the day but a great save from Clinton Hennessy was a plus on the Waterford review of the game.

It was 20 minutes after the restart when Kelly got his second goal of the game and showed that the Tipp forwards did not want to ease up even though they were home and dry. Noel McGrath got a great sideline ball to add to his earlier point and they started to rub salt into the wounds of a dejected Waterford side.

Brendan Cummins was taken off to a huge roar from the Tipperary supports after he levelled the all time record for most appearances in the Championship, which was held by the Cork hurling great Christy Ring.

Five minutes remaining and the goal scoring was complete. Lar Corbett, still as bright as ever, popped up to take his total to 4-4 for the day and show that he is one of the best in the business at what he does.

A massive 21 points separated the sides come the final whistle and a lot of soul searching will need to be done in the Waterford camp but Tipperary are Munster champions and look hot favourites to be crowned All-Ireland Champions for the second year running.

Tipperary: Lar Corbett 4-04, Eoin Kelly 2-06 (0-03f), Seamus Callanan 1-00, John O'Brien 0-03, Noel McGrath (0-01sl), Pa Bourke 0-02 each, Gearoid Ryan, Shane Bourke 0-01 each.

Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-13 (0-12f), Tony Browne, Shane O'Sullivan, John Mullane , Shane Walsh, Stephen Molumphy, Maurice Shanahan 0-01 each.