A day to remember for the Waterford footballers in Fraher Field.
Two late goals from full forward Tom O'Connell fired the Déise to their first Munster championship win since 2010 in front of 1,071 spectators on a bright and blustery Sunday afternoon.
Family and friends invaded the pitch at full time as the bottom team in Division 4 finally got their day in the sun. Paul Shankey's side fought back from five points down to topple Tipperary for the first time in 36 years (2-7 to 1-5).
Playing against a strong breeze, the hosts outscored their opponents 2-6 to 0-3 in the second period. Full forward O'Connell accounted for 2-3. Stephen Curry struck three points from play while captain Jason Curry converted a late free. Michael Curry, making his 97th appearance in white and blue, put in a mighty shift at midfield while Willie Beresford also worked his socks off. A first championship win of any description since 2018. The introduction of All Star attacker Conor Sweeney in the second half couldn't inspire Tipperary to victory.
Waterford centre back Dermot Ryan was ruled out before the throw in with a hamstring injury. Ross Browne, Robbie McGrath, Caolan Mac Craith, Willie Beresford and James Power all made their championship debuts for the Déise. Tipperary took the field without top scorer Sean O'Connor due to injury.
Tipp won the toss and elected to play against the elements in the opening half. In the third minute, Premier full forward Mark Stokes fetched a high ball and drove a low shot under Paudie Hunt. Waterford kept fourteen men inside the 45 as the visitors owned the ball. Midfielder Stephen Grogan floated over a point after fifteen minutes.
Jason Curry, Ross Browne and Donie Fitzgerald kicked Waterford wides and Tom O'Connell saw a goal chance snuffed out by the Tipp defence. Riain Quigley extended the Premier lead on 25 minutes off a turnover ball (1-2 to 0-0). With 31 minutes on the clock, Waterford finally troubled the umpires when Michael Curry set up Stephen Curry for a white flag (1-2 to 0-1).
James Power shot off target for the hosts on the restart before Stephen Curry slotted his second point. Tipp introduced All Star attacker Conor Sweeney on 42 minutes. Waterford carried the ball strongly into the wind. Stephen Curry spun and scored his third point off his left before a Tom O'Connell free levelled the contest for the first time (1-2 to 0-5).
Peter McGarry and O'Connell (free) then traded points. Déise defender Conor McCarthy hobbled off with an ankle injury fourteen minutes from time. Sub Teddy Doyle snuck Tipp ahead with his first touch of the game. Tom O'Connell smacked a shot off the crossbar after a Jason Curry free came back off the post.
With three minutes left, Willie Beresford and Jason Curry worked the ball into Alan Dunwoody who crossed for O'Connell and the Brickey Rangers man punched to the Tipperary net (1-6 to 1-4). The home crowd sensed an upset and Shankey's charges drove for the finish line. Jason Curry converted a free after a foul on Donie Fitzgerald. Two minutes into injury time, a Stephen Curry point attempt struck the post but O'Connell rammed home the rebound.
Two weeks on from a 25 points loss to Laois in Division 4, the Déise had a rare championship success to celebrate. Waterford welcome Clare to Fraher Field in the provincial semi final on April 20.
