Seán O'Connor bagged 3-04 as Tipperary ran out 13-point victors over Waterford in front of 141 fans at FBD Semple Stadium.
The Premier had entered as the joint lowest goalscorers in the league, alongside Armagh on three. They put that stat right with three first-half goals before O’Connor completed his hat-trick towards the end.
Cian Smith also had a strong showing with five from play in a 0-07 tally.
Both sides were looking to bounce back from respective double-digit defeats against Wicklow and Antrim. Each made two changes to their published teams.
Recent Tipp hurling panellist Paddy Creedon replaced Steven O’Brien, while Micheál Freaney swapped in for Mark Stokes.
After serving a one-game suspension, Waterford captain Conor Murray was named to start for Darragh Walsh, while Simon Burns took over from Paudie Hunt in goals. That duo finished as the Déise’s top scorers on 0-04 apiece.
The hosts opened with an unanswered 1-04 streak. Two Manus McFadden turnovers led to Daithí Hogan and Smith points. Paudie Feehan had a goal chance blocked by Dermot Ryan, but when Liam Mulligan picked the ball off the ground, David Murnane awarded a penalty. O’Connor’s emphatic finish sent Burns the wrong way.
Waterford’s late call-ups kicked 0-04 in response. Murray scored off right and left before Burns landed an orange-flag free.
Feehan and Hogan probed for goals, but settled for points. O’Connor slotted a two-pointer when playing with advantage for a 1-09 to 0-07 lead. Burns trotted upfield to slot a two-point reply from a free.
Billy Hynes saved his side by taking Hogan’s palmed effort off the line and Alan Dunwoody cut the gap to two approaching half-time.
However, Tipp would score the final 2-02 before the break. Midfielder Joe Higgins notched his first senior inter-county score by lashing an instinctive 14-yard dart to the net.
Waterford appeared to have an instant response when Mulligan turned in Adam Crawford’s low shot, but Murnane ruled it out for a square ball.
Tipp countered for a Smith point and added a goal from the kick-out with Feehan releasing O’Connor, who survived a jersey pull to finish low. Charlie King’s point made it double scores, 3-11 to 0-10, at half-time.
Waterford’s half-time protests saw Murnane restart the second half with a 14-yard free, tapped over by O’Connor. Tipp blocked down the next three Waterford attacks via Jack Harney, McFadden, and Feehan.
Otherwise, the second half was played at a pedestrian pace as both sides went through the motions. Tipp outpointed Waterford 0-06 to 0-04 until O’Connor completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute after a slick interchange with Emmet Moloney.
Murray responded with a huge two-pointer, while Premier sub Mark Russell slotted two stylish points.
Tipperary: S Garland; J Harney, E O’Connell, M McFadden; K Costello, J Morris (0-01), C King (0-01); J Higgins (1-00), P Feehan (0-02); E Craddock, P Creedon, M Freaney; C Smith (0-07, 2f), S O’Connor (3-04, 1-00 pen, 1tp, 2f), D Hogan (0-02).
Subs: K Butler for Freaney (50), E Moloney for Craddock (50), M Russell (0-02) for Creedon (50), R McGrath for Garland (57), P O’Keeffe for O’Connor (65).
Waterford: S Burns (0-04, 2tpf); T Martin, B Hynes, C Ó Cuirrín; G Power, C Walsh, A Crawford; M Curry, M O’Brien (0-01f); C Murray (0-04, 1tp), D Ryan (0-02), L Mulligan (0-01); A Dunwoody (0-01), S Curry (0-03, 1f), A Murray (0-02).
Subs: A Ryan for Dunwoody (41), D Butler for Walsh (61), C Kiely for Crawford (65), C Keating for S Curry (67).
Referee: D Murnane (Cork).
