The Waterford hurlers have beaten Tipperary for the first time at Semple Stadium in the Munster championship.
Dessie Hutchinson netted a 53rd minute goal as Davy Fitzgerald's men defeated the Premier 1-24 to 0-21 in the Thurles sunshine. The Ballygunner ace shot 1-3 from play while Stephen Bennett finished up with nine points.
Billy Nolan, Paddy Leavey and Patrick Fitzgerald started for Waterford instead of injured trio Conor Prunty, Jamie Barron and Austin Gleeson. Brian McGrath and Seamus Callanan replaced Cathal Barrett and Jake Morris on the Tipp side.
Jack Fagan pointed after just 17 seconds for Davy Fitzgerald's side. Three points from the De La Salle man and two from Patrick Fitzgerald left Waterford 7-1 up by the 12th minute.
Seamus Callanan then struck Tipp's first from play but singles from Stephen Bennett (free), Dessie Hutchinson and Neil Montgomery moved the visitors seven ahead.
Ballygunner duo Hutchinson and Fitzgerald finished the half with three each from play. A long range point from Billy Nolan and Bennett's fourth free opened up a ten point gap approaching the break. A Noel McGrath free on the stroke of half time saw Tipp trail by nine at the interval (0-17 to 0-8). Waterford could have been further ahead as they hit eight wides and one short.
Montgomery restored their ten point lead off the restart. Shaun O'Brien saved from Conor Bowe at the other end and McGrath pointed the subsequent 65. Two more McGrath dead balls and one from Bowe narrowed the margin to five (0-18 to 0-13). Mark Kehoe was penalised for steps when he advanced on the Waterford goal, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Bennett got the Déise's first point in fourteen minutes from a free. On 53 minutes, Dessie Hutchinson dispossessed Bryan O'Mara and fired home Waterford's first goal of the championship (1-19 to 0-13). Bennett added a superb solo effort. Tipp got back within six but a late Bennett point wrapped the win. Patrick Curran sent an injury time goal chance right and wide. Shaun O'Brien saved from John McGrath at the death.
