A third win of 2023 for Tipperary, all coming against Waterford, but it's highly unlikely Saturday's 0-17 to 1-13 result will be enough to see them into the Tailteann Cup knockout stages.
This pair entered as the two teams with the worst scoring differences (Waterford -20, Tipperary -29) which was always likely to mitigate against either progressing among the top three third-placed teams to join New York in Sunday’s draw.
With such a deficit to claw back, Tipp committed numbers to attack. While both sides created an equal number of chances, the Premier had Jack Kennedy kicking most of theirs and that helped them build a 0-09 to 0-02 lead by the half-hour.
The Clonmel Commercials dangerman kicked five (0-03 from play) plus another spectacular effort from his brother Conall.
While it took Waterford 21 minutes to score, through a Darragh Corcoran free, they were carving out goal chances. Corcoran forced Michael O’Reilly into a fine low save and Jason Gleeson flicked over after they failed to make the best of another opening.
Gleeson created their 31st-minute breakthrough, with Conor Murray latching on to rifle low to the net.
That sparked a 1-02 run, a heavy blow to any hopes of Tipp clawing back their score difference disadvantage, although they steadied with one last Jack Kennedy free to leave the scores at 0-10 to 1-04 at half-time.
The Déise kicked on with four of the first five points to level for the first time within seven minutes of the restart. Jordan O’Sullivan could have goaled but fired over, added to by scores from Corcoran, Michael Curry, and Murray.
But huge scores from Conall Kennedy and Teddy Doyle plus two more from Darragh Brennan, one of two full debutants alongside U20 hurler James Morris, pushed Tipp back three ahead.
Murray took his total to 1-03 but Jack Kennedy was perfect from eight shots at the posts to maintain Tipp’s lead.
It would come under pressure when Conall Kennedy was black-carded in the 63rd minute followed by points from Jason Curry (free) and Donal Fitzgerald.
But Kevin Fahey added the insurance score for Tipp to hold out despite a late Corcoran free.
Tipperary: M O’Reilly; S O’Connell (0-01), J Feehan, C O’Shaughnessy; K Fahey (0-01), Colman Kennedy, J Morris; M Russell (0-01), Conall Kennedy (0-02); E Moloney, J Kennedy (0-08, 5f), L Boland; T Doyle (0-02), S Quirke, D Brennan (0-02).
Subs: P Feehan for Colman Kennedy (43), D Leahy for Quirke (51), M O’Shea for Doyle (58), K Ryan for Boland (63), W Eviston for Moloney (68).
Waterford: P Hunt; L Fennell, D Ó Cathasaigh, E McGrath-Butler; D Ryan, B Looby, J O’Sullivan (0-01); M Curry (0-01), B Lynch; C Murray (1-03), D Corcoran (0-04, 3f), J Curry (0-02f); M Kiely, J Gleeson (0-01), S Whelan-Barrett.
Subs: T O’Connell for Whelan-Barrett (48), D Fitzgerald (0-01) for O’Sullivan (54), J Devine for Gleeson (58), C Walsh for Ó Cathasaigh (70+2).
Referee: S Mulhare (Laois).
