The Munster Senior Hurling Championship was at its brilliant best as, despite trailing by 11 points at the break, Waterford roared back to reel in Tipperary for a share of the spoils when Kevin Mahony found the net with the last puck of the game at Azzuri Walsh Park.
An enthralling encounter was level on eight occasions, as it looked like the Premier had got out of jail but Waterford ultimately struck the final blow.
The All-Ireland champions arrived at the Keanes' Road without a Munster Championship win on this turf since 2June 1996 - a day where their scorer in chief was a certain Liam Cahill.
The Déise on the other hand, despite their round-robin woes, were seeking a home win against the Liam MacCarthy holders for the second year running.
The hosts hit the front after a minute as Darragh and Calum Lyons combined for the latter to fire the opener, but Tipperary's response was an emphatic statement of intent as they reeled off six on the spin.
Jake Morris was dragged down and Darragh McCarthy duly obliged a chance to level before an Andrew Ormond strike sent the Premier ahead.
Sam O’Farrell then shot wide with the goal at his mercy as things could’ve got a lot worse for Waterford, though they soon did as John McGrath, Sam O’Farrell, Willie Connors and Alan Tynan all opened their accounts to establish a 0-06 0-01 cushion after ten minutes.
Stephen Bennett sent over a free before Morris opened his account, before a great pass from Mark Fitzgerald allowed Sean Walsh to reduce arrears to four. The excellent Oisin O’Donoghue then rode two challenges and made no mistake to ignite roars from the visiting supporters, before a Jamie Barron strike eased growing nerves at the other end.
Again, the response from the All-Ireland champions was clinical - as they reeled off 1-03 without response, never allowing Waterford to put together back-to-back scores in the opening period. McCarthy notched a free, before O’Donoghue again found himself on the end of a flowing move - and a beauty from John McGrath reminded everyone why he is the reigning Hurler of the Year.
The opening goal arrived on 23 minutes as Ormond profited from the Deise backline not being able to live with the presence of McGrath, the JK Brackens man rounded Billy Nolan and Tipperary led by ten.
Waterford’s character was lacking but it did momentarily arrive immediately as from the resultant puckout, Dessie Hutchinson and Jack Prendergast combined to set up Jamie Barron and the All-Star rattled the roof of the Premier net to make it 1-11 to 1-04.
A sweet strike from a purring McGrath, a Tynan turn and score and another from the marauding O’Donoghue softened Waterford’s cough. Two more McCarthy frees, a belter from captain Ronan Maher and a Morris effort either side of strikes from Calum Lyons, Jack Fagan and Kevin Mahony meant the Premier lead by 11 at the interval - 1-18 to 1-07.
Waterford had hit ten poor wides and alarm bells were ringing for the hosts’ hopes of ending their round-robin rut.
Whatever Peter Queally said at half time worked the oracle as Waterford finally found rhythm, Hutchinson and two Bennett dead balls clicked them into gear before on 39 minutes, it could’ve been quickly undone as Mark Fitzgerald fouled John McGrath and Chris Mooney pointed to the penalty spot. Up stepped Darragh McCarthy but Billy Nolan smothered his effort and it was firmly game on.
Two more dead balls and a monster strike from Nolan either side of a McGrath effort made it a six-point game, before Sean Mackey, Calum Lyons and Jack Prendergast took advantage of the growing momentum and there was suddenly a goal in it.
Eoghan Connolly and Morris steadied the Premier, but when Waterford needed a hero - who better than Bennett, as the Ballysaggart man won the sliotar, weaved in and out of defenders and found the net on 54 minutes.
Hutchinson reduced arrears to one, Austin Gleeson came on and the atmosphere at Walsh Park was more reminiscent of a packed-out Croke Park, before a Bennett free tied the teams for the first time since the third minute with fifteen left to play.
Substitute Stefan Tobin notched his first before Bennett produced from play, before a Kevin Mahony strike either side of two settlers from Connolly had this firmly in the melting pot.
Waterford finally hit the front on 63 minutes - a free from Bennett was quickly followed by a simply superb score from the Déise talisman, and he then drew a foul to establish a two-point cushion they never could’ve dreamt of at the break.
All-Ireland champions have character however - Darragh Stakelum, Connolly and yet another from the elusive Oisin O’Donoghue tipped the scales back toward the visitors.
Sean Walsh responded but then Tipperary turned on a cruel style of clinical finishing - as just as 4 added minutes were announced over the tannoy, Tobin dispossessed Conor Keane to score, Jason Forde got in on the act seconds later and Ronan Maher had seemingly added the insurance score.
Up went the kitchen sink with the final play of the afternoon - Nolan found Stephen Bennett he picked out Kevin Mahony and with almost 12,000 spectators glued - he picked out the net and Waterford grabbed a deserved point.
A Munster Championship classic at Walsh Park. Both sides live to see another day.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett (1-10; 0-7f; 0-1 '65); Kevin Mahony (1-02); Jamie Barron (1-01); Calum Lyons (0-03); Dessie Hutchinson and Sean Walsh (0-02 each); Billy Nolan (0-01; 0-01f); Jack Fagan, Jack Prendergast and Sean Mackey (0-01 each)
Scorers for Tipperary: Oisin O’Donoghue (0-6); Darragh McCarthy (0-05; 0-05f); Andrew Ormond (1-01); John McGrath (0-04); Eoghan Connolly (0-04; 0-2f; 0-1 '65); Jake Morris, Stefan Tobin and Ronan Maher (0-02 each); Alan Tynan, Willie Connors, Jason Forde and Darragh Stakelum (0-1 each)
WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Mark Fitzgerald, Aaron O’Neill; Jack Fagan, Iarlaith Daly, Shane Bennett; Paddy Leavey, Darragh Lyons; Calum Lyons, Jamie Barron, Jack Prendergast; Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Sean Walsh.
Subs: Kevin Mahony for Shane Bennett (30); Sean Mackey for Darragh Lyons (HT); Conor Keane for Ian Kenny (47); Austin Gleeson for Calum Lyons (56); Tadhg de Burca for Iarlaith Daly (58)
TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Oisin O’Donoghue, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Willie Connors, Seamus Kennedt; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Alan Tynan.
Subs: Craig Morgan for Seamus Kennedy (46); Noel McGrath for Alan Tynan (48); Darragh Stakelum for Sam O’Farrell (49); Stefan Tobin for Andrew Ormond (55); Noel McGrath for Alan Tynan (57); Jason Forde for Darragh McCarthy (59); Peter McGarry for Willie Connors (66)
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
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