The Waterford footballers went down to Tipperary by eight points in tonight's Munster quarter final at a damp Dungarvan (2-13 to 1-8).
Steven O'Brien netted a stunning solo goal as Tipp recovered from a slow start to progress to the last four. The substitute was only on the field four minutes when he slalomed through the Waterford defence and blasted to the roof of the net. All Star attacker Conor Sweeney scored 1-4 while championship debutants Sean O'Connor and Mikey O'Shea shot seven points between them as David Power's side shrugged off a determined Déise challenge.
Ephie Fitzgerald is still waiting for his first competitive win as Waterford manager. Wing back Dermot Ryan was their top performer with two points off his lethal left boot.
The underdogs got off to a flyer. In the third minute, Ryan swung over a point. On five minutes, James Walsh was brought down for a Waterford penalty. Jason Curry buried it to the bottom corner (1-1 to 0-0).
Jack Kennedy clipped over Tipp's first with the outside of his right in the seventh minute. Captain Conor Sweeney then converted two frees.
Curry curled over a free for the hosts who defended ferociously. The Premier then lost Billy Maher to injury but Sean O'Connor and Kennedy got them back on level terms by the 25th minute (1-2 to 0-5).
O'Connor was fouled by Michael Kiely for a Tipp penalty and Sweeney sent Paudie Hunt the wrong way from the spot. Mikey O'Shea added two points from play and O'Connor tapped over a free as Tipp went to the dressing room 1-8 to 1-2 ahead. Curry dropped an injury time free short for the hosts.
Waterford midfielder Michael Curry didn't return for the second half due to a shoulder injury. Within a minute of the restart, Dermot Ryan kicked his second from play from 40 metres. Their first score for 28 minutes. Jason Curry then nailed a free (1-8 to 1-4). The Waterford free taker missed his next two dead balls however.
O'Connor sent over Tipp's first point of the half on 47 minutes. Conor Murray replied with a point from 40 metres.
On 48 minutes, substitute Steven O'Brien soloed in from the sideline and slammed the ball to the roof of the Waterford net (2-9 to 1-5). Curry responded with two frees but late points from Sweeney, O'Connor and O'Shea closed out a comfortable win. Murray notched his second point six minutes from time. The winners finished with fourteen men as Liam McGrath was black carded.
The Premier men will meet Limerick in the last four while Waterford will enter the Tailteann Cup next month.
Scorers for Tipperary: C Sweeney 1-4 (1-0 pen, 2fs), S O'Connor 0-4 (1f), S O'Brien 1-0, M O'Shea 0-3, J Kennedy 0-2.
Scorers for Waterford: J Curry 1-4 (1-0 pen, 4fs), D Ryan, C Murray 0-2 each.
Tipperary: M O'Reilly; S O'Connell, J Feehan, W Eviston; K Fahey, C O'Shaughnessy, J Harney; C Kennedy, J Kennedy; B Maher, M Kehoe, T Doyle; M O'Shea, C Sweeney, S O'Connor.
Subs: E McBride for Maher (25), S O'Brien for Fahey (44), L McGrath for Kehoe (60), T Maher for O'Shea (66), L Boland for J Kennedy (71).
Waterford: P Hunt; M Kiely, D O Cathasaigh, B Looby; D Ryan, D Hallihan, J O'Sullivan; M Curry, J Curry; C Murray, S Curry, B Lynch; D Corcoran, T O'Connell, J Walsh.
Subs: T Guiry for M Curry (HT), J Keane for S Curry (59), J Flavin for Walsh (67).
Referee: M Deegan (Laois)
