By Michael Moynihan, Thurles
Tipperary 1-17 Waterford 1-18
Waterford came out on top in Semple Stadium today with 6,540 in the ground despite the wetness of the day.
Tipp needed a 68th minute goal from John McGrath to stay in touch, but Austin Gleeson's late, long-range point won the day for the Deise.
Tipperary began brightly, jumping out to a three-point lead on 12 minutes, 0-6 to 0-3, John McGrath and Brendan Maher catching the eye.
Waterford started Austin Gleeson at full-forward but after the game's first point he wasn't involved.
Patrick Curran's frees cut the deficit to the minimum before the 20th minute, at which time John O'Dwyer could count himself lucky not to see red for a wild pull on Jake Dillon.
The sides were level on 25 minutes thanks to a towering Shane Bennett effort from the sideline, two more O'Dwyer frees answered by a Curran free as the clock wound down.
Tipp had a scoring spurt before the break, though - Bonner Maher drew a brilliant save from Stephen O'Keeffe but three late points from O'Dwyer (two) and Breen made it 0-12 to 0-8 at the break.
Two O'Dwyer points on the resumption pushed Tipp further ahead, a Barron point the only Waterford answer in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Curran led the Deise fightback with three points, one a free, and then Kevin Moran stormed upfield for another - 0-14 to 0-13 on 50 minutes.
Sub Niall O'Meara came close to a goal with 14 minutes left, and Waterford swept downfield for a fine Tom Devine solo goal.
Bennett (two) and Curran (free) hit points and Waterford were rampant - O'Dwyer kept them in contention until John McGrath's late intervention, and Gleeson's long-range winner.
Scorers for Tipperary: J. O'Dwyer (0-11)(0-9 frees); J. McGrath (1-2); M. Breen (0-2); B. Maher, N. McGrath (0-1 each).
Scorers for Waterford: P. Curran (0-8)(0-6 frees); T. Devine (1-0), S. Bennett (0-3); K. Moran, A. Gleeson (0-2 each); J. Barron, C. Dunford (0-1 each).
TIPPERARY: D. Gleeson, C. Barrett, T. Hamill, M. Cahill, B. Heffernan, R. Maher, P. Maher, M. Breen, B. Maher, N. McGrath, D. McCormack, P. Maher, J. O'Dwyer, L. McGrath, J. McGrath.
Subs: N. O'Meara for L. Mcgrath (50); K. Bergin for McCormack (57).
WATERFORD: S. O'Keeffe, S. Fives, B. Coughlan, N. Connors, P. Mahony, D. Fives, K. Moran, J. Barron, M. Kearney,S. Bennett, M. Walsh, J. Dillon, P. Curran, A. Gleeson, C. Dunford.
Subs: T. Devine for Kearney (47); T. Ryan for Walsh (54); S. O'Sullivan for Dunford (64).
Referee: C. Lyons (Cork).
