The Waterford hurlers suffered their second loss in Division 1A at Semple Stadium last night as Tipperary came away with a 1-20 to 1-11 victory.
A new look Deise led by ten points to nine at half time after playing with a strong breeze. Mark O'Brien finished a fine team move to the net on 48 minutes but Tipp responded with a penalty from Jason Forde and Michael Ryan's team ran out comfortable winners.
Austin Gleeson limped off injured twenty minutes from the end and manager Derek McGrath felt that it was a turning point.
He said it was a disappointing final twenty minutes but that were plenty of positives to take from the performance. Derek praised the full back line: "Ian Kenny had a great debut at corner back, Austin was playing very well at centre back until his injury, Mark O'Brien did a very good job on Padraic Maher."
He hopes that Tom Devine will be available for the home game against Kilkenny in two weeks' time.
The @AllianzIreland National Hurling League Division 1A Round 2 @WaterfordGAA 1 -11@TipperaryGAA 1- 20
FULL TIME— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) February 3, 2018
Picture Credit: Noel Browne
