Tipperary 2-15 Waterford 1-19
Pauric Mahony’s late free sent Waterford through to a first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final since 2007 at Nowlan Park this afternoon.
Mahony lofted over the winning score in the 69th minute as the Déise set up a decider with Cork in a fortnight – a clash that will serve as a dress rehearsal for the Munster SHC showdown between the two counties on 7 June.
Waterford recovered from a poor start to edge out their neighbours in a cracking derby in Kilkenny City, played out in front of 16,445 spectators.
McGrath’s men were seven points down in the first half but with the breeze at their backs in the second period, they went toe to toe with much-vaunted opponents.
Waterford were annoyed by the ‘Donegal of hurling’ accusation that has been levelled at them in recent weeks.
The Division 1B winners had conceded under 15 points per game on average until today but they also posted a fine tally againswt Tipp, with Mahony collecting 0-13.
Mahony’s game average in this year’s League was 11.5 points and he kept up that impressive scoring streak with another fine display.
But Maurice Shanahan was excellent too, particularly in the second half when he picked off two of his three points.
In that second half, Tipp were restricted to just seven points as Waterford put the shackles on.
And having scored 11 points against the breeze in the opening half, Waterford added 1-8 in the second period to bring some neat symettry to their win.
Colin Dunford’s 52nd minute goal was a crucial goal although his vicious strike did appear to find the net via a deflection at first glance.
The goal handed Waterford the lead for the first time in the second half – 1-16 to 2-11 – and after Stephen O’Keeffe denied Niall O’Meara with a smart save at the other end, the winners moved four points clear heading towards the final ten minutes.
Sub Conor Kenny pointed for Tipp before two frees from Seamus Callanan, cleared to play on Thursday evening, left just the bare minimum between the sides.
Pádraic Maher banged over a superb equaliser for Tipp to tie the scores at 2-15 to 1-18 but Waterford didn’t buckle as Mahony converted the lead score after a foul on Kevin Moran.
Waterford did well to recover from the concession of two goals to be in touch at half-time, trailing by 0-11 to 2-08.
Mahony’s prowess from placed balls yielded nine points for the Ballygunner man in that first half, a haul that included seven frees and one 65.
Shanahan and Colin Dunford were also on target with points for Waterford who showed good character to work their way back into contention.
They were rocked by Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher’s goal in the fifth minute, as the Tipp forward streaked onto a breaking ball to lash a shot past Stephen O’Keeffe.
That was a sickening blow for the Déise, who had two points from Mahony to open the scoring.
Tipp struck for a second goal in the 13th minutes as Jason Forde’s wonderful touch was collected by captain Brendan Maher, who fed John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer for a superb one-handed finish.
Tipp’s biggest lead of the half was seven points – 2-4 to 0-3 – but a run of four unanswered points for Waterford brought them back to within three, 0-9 to 2-6.
Points from Niall O’Meara and O’Dwyer put Tipp five clear again but Mahony hit back with his only point of the half from play, before adding a free in the second minute of stoppage time.
In the dying seconds, it appeared that Tipperary had claims for a 65 which would have given Seamus Callanan the opportunity to level the game.
A visibly cramping Shane Fives cleared the sliotar towards the corner and the ball hit the corner flag before drifting out of play over the goalline.
But under rule, referee Barry Kelly was correct in his decision to award Tipperary a sideline cut instead and in the ensuring passage of play, Waterford cleared their lines after winning a free.
Tipperary: D Gleeson; P Stapleton, P Curran, C O’Mahony; S McGrath, Pádraic Maher (0-01), R Maher; J Woodlock (0-01), M Breen; Patrick Maher (1-00), B Maher, J Forde (0-01); S Callanan (0-08, 6f, 1 65), J O’Dwyer (1-01), N O’Meara (0-02).
Subs: J Barry for Stapleton (43), S Bourke for O’Dwyer (45), C Kenny (0-01) for Forde (53), G Ryan for McGrath (58), J Meagher for Curran (66).
Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; A Gleeson, T De Búrca, A Gleeson, Philip Mahony; J Barron (0-01), K Moran; J Dillon (0-01), Pauric Mahony (0-13, 11f, 1 65), M Walsh; C Dunford (1-01), S Bennett, M Shanahan (0-03).
Subs: B O’Halloran for Bennett (51), T Devine for Dillon (56), S O’Sullivan for Walsh (63), E Barrett for Moran (70+1).
Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath)
