Egan on hand with late scores

Tipperary 0-14 Waterford 1-9:DARRAGH EGAN saved Tipperary with two late scores as the holders advanced to the semi-finals of the Waterford Crystal Cup at Carrickbeg last night.

The Kildangan forward converted a late free and followed up with a 65 as Tipperary set up a last-four meeting with University Limerick at the weekend. Tipperary will have home advantage.

Tipperary looked well on course for victory in desperate conditions at St Molleran’s as they led by 0-10 to 0-5 at half-time, having opened up a 0-8 to 0-1 advantage by the 21st minute.

But an experimental Waterford outfit produced their best hurling approaching half-time and remarkably they were two points ahead and looking primed for victory midway through the second half.

Jack Kennedy’s goal eight minutes after half-time breathed fresh life into Waterford’s challenge and with Shane Casey and Jamie Nagle in good form from placed balls, Davy Fitzgerald’s charges led by 1-9 to 0-10 with 14 minutes remaining.

However, Nagle’s 46th-minute point proved to be Waterford’s last score of a rain-sodden night and Tipperary hit back with four unanswered points to clinch victory.

Limerick referee Declan O’Driscoll only gave this game the go-ahead after consulting with both teams beforehand with teeming rain making ground conditions extremely difficult.

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy will be pleased that Paul Kelly, who has barely featured for the past two seasons, was particularly impressive in attack and finished with three points from play while Willie Ryan and the recalled John Devane also showed up well.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; D O’Brien, M O’Brien, N Connors; J Hurney, S O’Sullivan, P Murray; J Nagle (0-3, 2 65s, 1f), S Walsh; P Hurney (0-1), J Kennedy (1-0), T Connors; T Ryan (0-2f), G Hurney (0-1), S Casey (0-2f). Subs: M Walsh for Ryan (36 min), S Prendergast for S Walsh (55 min), E Murphy for Casey (yellow card, 59 min).

TIPPERARY: G Kennedy; C O’Brien, D Fanning, B Maher; B Dunne, P Curran, D Fitzgerald; J Woodlock (0-1), H Maloney (0-1); S Hennessy (0-3, 1 65, 1 sl), J Devane, P Maher; W Ryan (0-2), D Egan (0-4, 3f, 1 65), P Kelly (0-3). Subs: S Maher for Fanning (inj, h-t), J O’Brien for Devane (51 min).

Referee: D O’Driscoll (Limerick).