Tipperary edge past Waterford in Munster minor hurling quarter-final

Tipperary 1-14 Waterford 0-16

The prowess of Daragh Carey and Brian McGrath from placed balls edged Tipperary past Waterford in last night's Electric Ireland Munster minor hurling championship quarter-final in Thurles.

The pair contributed 11 points between them on a night when Tipp managed just 1-3 from play and, in truth, were fortunate to beat the visiting Déise.

Tipp set up a semi-final clash with Clare on July 1st but vast improvement is needed as the hosts flattered to deceive in front of 2,821 spectators at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Of course, finding fluency in a first championship outing of the season isn't always a given, and particularly in a grade as notoriously unpredictable as minor, but Tipp were poor nonetheless. They didn't score from play until the 26th minute, when substitute Lyndon Fairbrother registered the first of his two points, and could scarcely believe their luck to be 1-7 to 0-9 ahead at the break.

Aaron O’Sullivan’s four points from play for Waterford helped to open up a 0-9 to 0-6 lead for last year’s provincial runners-up but Fairbrother’s second point was followed by the only goal of the game, scored by Ruadhan Mulrooney.

The sides were level five times in the second half but two late 65s from McGrath, younger brother of Tipp senior stars John and Noel, were crucial for Liam Cahill’s young guns.

Waterford will play Limerick in a playoff for the right to remain in the championship.

TIPPERARY: P Hayes; E Moloney, J Quigley, E Heffernan; J Skehan, B McGrath (0-3, 2 65s, 1f), D Peters; L McCutcheon (0-1), S Neville; D Carey (0-8f), S Quirke, R Mulrooney (1-0); D Gleeson, A Tynan, R Peters. Subs: L Fairbrother (0-2) for R Peters (23), K Hassett for Neville (40), D Roberts for Mulrooney (55), G Dunne for McCutcheon (60+2).
WATERFORD: B Nolan; D Lynch, C Prunty, D McGrath; J Henley, D Lyons (0-1f), C Dunphy; C Lyons (0-2), A Molumby; G Waters (0-1), JP Lucey, E Meaney (0-1); A O'Sullivan (0-4), J Prendergast (0-6f), P Hogan. Subs: E Murray (0-1) for Waters (45), M Roche for Lucey (55). Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)