An injury-time goal from substitute Willie Doran dramatically secured Wexford’s Division 1 status in the Allianz Hurling League for another year.
Doran’s strike put Wexford ahead for the first time at Semple Stadium and although Pa Bourke levelled for Tipperary, a draw was enough to keep Colm Bonnar’s men in the top flight.
Wexford had lost their first five games in this season’s league and looked destined for relegation, but a vital win over Cork last time out gave them one final shot at it.
Bonnar’s side duly obliged, and the former Tipperary player was quick to praise the efforts of his players after the final whistle.
‘As the game went on, our lads wanted it more because they knew that the prize was staying in Division 1 and they had two horrible years in Division 2, so they really worked their socked off for it,’ he said.
‘All credit to the players, they got a lot of criticism over the first five games, but they stood up strong, especially when it counted and our backs were to the wall.’
Tipperary had an outside chance at making the final, needing other results to go their way. The All-Ireland champions crushed Galway last time out and were fancied to do similar to lowly Wexford.
However, this was a much tighter affair than many predicted and Tipp were only 0-11 to 0-06 ahead by half-time, with midfielder James Woodlock contributing three points.
Noel McGrath opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by a pointed free from Michael Heffernan and further scores from Pa Bourke and John O’Brien.
It was a statement of Tipperary’s intent and that lead grew to five – 0-08 to 0-03 – as the half wore on. O’Brien and Woodlock (0-02) added the other points.
Wexford took their time to settle with Garrett Sinnott, who started at full-forward, Jim Berry and Harry Kehoe getting them off the mark.
They had further scores from Rory Jacob, PJ Nolan and Berry in the closing stages of the half, although the latter missed a straightforward free in injury-time.
The industrious Woodlock, Pa Bourke and wing forward Sean Carey claimed Tipp’s final points before the break, keeping the gap at five.
Woodlock’s midfield partner Shane McGrath had to be carried off early in the second period, with Gearoid Ryan coming on in his place.
Two early points from Berry, one a free, set the tone for a Wexford side that showed great perseverance to stay in the hunt and force Tipperary into mistakes.
Jacob and O’Brien swapped points before the Premier County side reasserted themselves with a brace from full-forward Bourke. However, there was no sign of them pulling away.
Wexford’s determination and ability to hurl well under pressure came to the fore as Jacob and Berry, who scored 0-09 between them, and substitute Colm Farrell and Stephen Banville strung together points.
That set it up for a grandstand finish and Doran took his chance brilliantly to beat experienced Tipp stopper Brendan Cummins from close range. Bourke brought his side level with a free, and that was the final score of a closely-fought encounter.
