Waterford’s Munster Senior Football Championship campaign came to an end after a 0-15 to 1-07 defeat to Tipperary at Fraher Field.

The Déise produced a strong first-half performance and went in at the break leading by a point, with Michael O’Brien’s goal proving the crucial score in a tight opening period.

In what was a low-scoring and hard-fought contest early on, Waterford showed plenty of intent and energy, refusing to allow Tipperary to settle into any rhythm.

Scores were at a premium, but O’Brien’s major helped push Waterford ahead, and they carried that momentum into half-time with a 1-03 to 0-05 advantage.

However, the second half told a different story.

Tipperary emerged the stronger side after the restart and began to take control, finding their scoring range and putting together a run of unanswered points to turn the game around.

As the half wore on, Waterford struggled to create scoring opportunities, with the Tipperary defence tightening up and limiting their chances in attack.

A decisive spell saw the Premier County hit five points without reply, stretching their lead and putting daylight between the sides heading into the closing stages.

Despite their best efforts, Waterford were unable to claw their way back into contention, with Tipperary managing the game effectively in the final minutes.

While there were positives to take from a competitive first-half showing, it was ultimately a game of two halves, as Tipperary’s dominance after the break secured their place in the Munster semi-final.

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