Substitute Glen Malone pounced for a 58th-minute goal as already promoted Wexford produced a closing charge to secure a sixth win on the spin in Division 4 at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday.
Tipperary, without injured captain Steven O'Brien, needed a first victory in three outings to stay in the hunt to escape the basement division after two years.
And Philly Ryan’s men made a real fist of it against a much-changed Wexford – the home-side showing ten personnel changes from the victory over Wicklow – with Michael Freaney netting to secure a 1-12 to 0-07 lead after 54 minutes.
But Malone’s goal headlined a burst of 1-06 without reply from Wexford for the remainder, with Ben Brosnan landing an injury-time winner as they close in on becoming the first side since Derry in 2019 to win all their games in the basement division.
The outcome, meanwhile, dashes Tipperary hopes, leaving Sunday’s Aughrim duel between Wicklow and Limerick as pivotal in determining who faces Wexford in the decider.
Tipperary centre-back Paudie Feehan made clear the Premier County’s intent when striding clear to boom over a two-pointer after only 57 seconds.
And a mark from midfielder Kieran Costello kept the visitors’ noses in front after eight minutes (0-03 to 0-02) with Wexford wing-back Martin O’Connor having twice replied.
Tipperary 'keeper Shane Ryan intervened with a magnificent point-blank save from Cathal Walsh after a set up by Brosnan in the 15th minute, before imposing Tipp wing-forward Freaney stretched the margin after 19 minutes.
The Munster men swelled their position, 0-09 to 0-05 at the interval, with Darragh Brennan and Cian Smith (2fs) helping spark real concerns amongst the hosts.
And Wexford keeper Darragh Brooks was called into evasive action from a Brennan drive, before Tipperary corner-back Emmet Moloney mined a point off the rebound to double the margin after 37 minutes (0-10 to 0-05).
While O’Connor, with his fourth, and Dylan Furlong pegged back Wexford points, Cian Smith restored the five-point advantage with a two-pointer free on 51 minutes.
Three minutes later, Tipperary burst 1-12 to 0-07 clear after Freaney fisted a diagonal ball to the net.
But substitute Malone gave Wexford a jolt when fisting home after clever work by Mark Rossiter to help peg it back to 1-12 to 1-09 after 59 minutes.
That was the main moment of 1-03 without reply from the home side to have them within a point, 1-12 to 1-11, before the crossbar prevented a fisted goal effort from Tom Byrne after an assist from Malone.
Eoin Porter was unfortunate with a wide from the rebound, but the sub made amends when levelling matters for the first time two minutes into added time.
And the agelessBrosnan nudged John Hegarty’s charges in front as they completed a resurgent closing quarter charge to victory.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Wexford: Colum Feeney; Liam O’Connor, Gavin Sheehan, Seán Barden; Martin O’Connor (0-05), Eoghan Nolan, Dylan Furlong (0-01); Tom Byrne, Cathal Walsh; Liam Coleman, Graeme Cullen, Conor Carty; Mark Rossiter, Cian Hughes, Ben Brosnan (0-04, 2f).
Subs: Seán Ryan for Hughes (temp. 29'-32'), Glen Malone (1-01) for Furlong (47'), Ryan (0-01) for Cullen (51'), Michael Kinsella for Carty (55'), Eoin Porter (0-01) for Hughes (65').
Tipperary: Shane Ryan; Manus McFadden, Jimmy Feehan, Emmet Moloney (0-1); Liam Fahey, Paudie Feehan (0-02, 1tp), Billy O’Connor; Kieran Costello (0-01, 1m), Mark Russell; Ben Comerford, Mark Stokes, Michael Freaney (1-01); Cian Smith (0-04, 2f, 1tpf), Darragh Brennan (0-02, 1f), Mikey O’Shea (0-01).
Subs: Michael Barlow for O’Shea (62'), Jack O’Neill for O’Connor (65'), Tadgh Condon for Fahey (69'), Rory O’Dowd for Russell (70'), Jack Nevin for Brennan (73').
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).
