Waterford and Tipperary played out a pulsating draw in Walsh Park, with a dramatic late goal from Kevin Mahony rescuing a point for the Déise in a game that truly lived up to the “game of two halves” cliché.

Tipperary looked in complete control for long stretches of the first half, building a commanding lead through sharp shooting and relentless pressure. Points from John McGrath, Jake Morris, and Darragh McCarthy kept the scoreboard ticking, while Andrew Ormond’s goal midway through the half gave them a firm grip on proceedings.

Waterford did find a response through a well-taken Jamie Barron goal, but they struggled to match Tipp’s intensity and accuracy. By half-time, Tipperary had surged into a 1-18 to 1-07 lead, leaving Waterford with a mountain to climb.

The home side emerged for the second half with renewed energy and purpose. Early points from Dessie Hutchinson and Stephen Bennett hinted at a shift in momentum, and Waterford gradually began to chip away at the deficit.

A crucial moment came when Billy Nolan saved a Tipperary penalty from Darragh McCarthy, a stop that proved to be a turning point in the contest. From there, Waterford’s belief grew, with Bennett leading the charge from placed balls and open play.

The Déise’s comeback truly ignited in the final quarter. Bennett rifled a low shot to the net to bring Waterford right back into contention, while points from Calum Lyons, Jack Prendergast, and Hutchinson reduced the gap to the minimum.

What followed was a frantic closing period, with the sides trading scores and the lead changing hands multiple times. Tipperary looked to have done enough when late points from Stefan Tobin and Jason Forde edged them ahead, and Ronan Maher stretched the advantage to three deep into stoppage time.

But Waterford had one final say.

With the clock ticking into the final seconds, Billy Nolan launched a long delivery into the square. Kevin Mahony reacted quickest, gathering possession and firing to the net to spark wild celebrations and secure a dramatic draw.

On a final scoreline of Waterford 3-24 to Tipperary 1-30, Tipp will be left ruing a missed opportunity after their dominant first-half display. At the same time, Waterford will take huge encouragement from a remarkable second-half resurgence that salvaged a result in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.

Our Big Match was brought to you by  George Corbett Motors SKODA.

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