Waterford signed off their league campaign in fine style, as last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists saw off Munster rivals Tipperary with five points to spare at Walsh Park.
Stephen Bennett (0-15) and Dessie Hutchinson (2-02) starred, as a great second half display saw the home team pull away from the challengers.
The visitors grabbed the first score of the game when a good run from Michael Breen led to him splitting the posts on 45 seconds, before Peter Hogan responded with a fine effort from midfield.
Iarlaith Daly and Kevin Moran then combined to play in Stephen Bennett, and his strike was deflected over the crossbar by Brian Hogan as the Déise took an early advantage. A Jason Forde free and a Séamus Kennedy strike from distance gave Tipp advantage once more, before Shane Bennett availed of a nice pass from Dessie Hutchinson to level again.
The first goal of the game came on seven minutes, Jason Forde latching onto a loose ball and the Silvermines man prolifically drove the ball past Billy Nolan and into the net. Brendan Maher added another from way out, before Jack Fagan settled Déise nerves with a well-taken effort of his own.
Alan Flynn got on the scoreboard with a point from the left flank, before Bennett sent over another free. Darragh Lyons soon bore down on the Tipperary goal but was denied by a superb hook from Kennedy, and two points from Séamus Callanan and Jake Morris saw the Premier really seize the initiative as they moved ahead.
Bennett (f) and a point from Fagan following good work by Lyons, were again cancelled out by a superb free from Forde and a fine point from Callanan, before Shane Bennett reduced the gap between the sides to four points at the first water break.
Hutchinson grabbed his first of the day with a trademark effort off his left, before a catch and score from Forde. Ronan Maher punished a loose pass from Darragh Lyons with a great score, before Jake Morris also split the posts from the 45-metre mark.
Superb fielding from Fagan yielded a free from which Bennett was again accurate, and two minutes later, Waterford would be right back in it with one of the goals of the campaign.
An outstanding driving run from Jack Prendergast saw him offload to Hutchinson, who struck on the volley to the net from the tightest of angles, drawing gasps from those lucky to be present. A '65 from Bennett made it a one point affair, but another quick fire green flag from Liam Cahill’s side gave them the lead.
Austin Gleeson played a fine ball up field and Hutchison took it down on his stick before turning and driving at the goal, the Ballygunner star lashing an effort into the bottom right corner past a despairing Hogan.
There was concern for Waterford as Gleeson was soon replaced owing to injury, and Forde and Bennett traded dead balls, before a fourth goal of the game saw the Premier take the lead at the interval.
Jason Forde played in Noel McGrath who drove home at the near post into the top right corner to make it Tipperary 2-13 Waterford 2-12 in a finely poised affair.
Hutchinson continued his magic by burning his man to score the first of the second period, before two great points from play from Stephen Bennett pushed the Déise three ahead. The home side could have moved out of sight in a spell where they had Tipperary on the ropes, substitute Michael Kiely striking the post with the goal at his mercy and Shane Bennett seeing his effort cleared from the line.
Stephen Bennett pointed a free to add to the home side’s advantage, before Forde and Billy Power also got on the board. Three points in a row really gave the Déise momentum as Bennett, his brother Kieran and Ciaran Kirwan were all on target.
Ronan Maher and Jake Morris kept the Tipperary challenge alive, before a fine save from Billy Nolan denied Mark Kehoe. Noel McGrath traded scores with Peter Hogan, before Jack Prendergast grabbed the score of the match - making a bursting run as defenders tried to put him out over the sideline, before pointing a sweet strike between the uprights.
Willie Connors and Stephen Bennett were on song once more, before John McGrath’s effort was saved but Callanan was on hand to bury the rebound. McGrath grabbed the next score and it was suddenly a one-point affair.
Calum Lyons delivered an inspirational effort when the Déise needed it most, before two Bennett frees and a Michael Kiely point pushed the boat out for Liam Cahill’s men. Noel McGrath and Ronan Maher did their best to dent the advantage, but the home side held out for a deserved five point win.
Waterford: Billy Nolan, Shane Fives, Conor Prunty, Ian Kenny, Calum Lyons (0-1), Iarlaith Daly, Kevin Moran, Austin Gleeson, Darragh Lyons, Peter Hogan (0-2), Jack Fagan (0-2), Stephen Bennett (0-15, 9f, 2 '65), Dessie Hutchinson, Shane Bennett (0-2), Jack Prendergast (0-1).
Subs: Conor Gleeson for Shane Fives (25); Kieran Bennett (0-1) for Austin Gleeson (31); Michael Kiely (0-1) for Jack Fagan (HT); Darragh Lynch for Conor Prunty (HT); Billy Power (0-1) for Peter Hogan (blood); Ciaran Kirwan (0-1) for Dessie Hutchinson (2-02) (48); Billy Power for Iarlaith Daly (55)
Tipperary: Brian Hogan, Cathal Barrett, Pádraic Maher, Barry Heffernan, Brendan Maher (0-1), Séamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher (0-02, 1 '65), Alan Flynn (0-1), Paddy Cadell, Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath (1-02), Michael Breen (0-1), Jason Forde (1-06, 5f), Séamus Callanan (1-02), Jake Morris (0-3)
Subs: Craig Morgan for Cathal Barrett (blood); Willie Connors (0-1) for Paddy Cadell (HT); Craig Morgan for Séamus Kennedy (0-1) (44); Mark Kehoe for Alan Flynn (49); John McGrath (0-1) for Dan McCormack (49); Eoghan Connolly for Barry Heffernan (64); Paul Flynn for Jason Forde (67)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
