The nerves were jangling at Semple Stadium tonight as Tipperary defeated Waterford by 1-14 to 0-16 in a quarter-final thriller.

A Ruadan Mulrooney goal on the stroke of half time assured the Premier County of the slenderest of interval advantages, 1-7 to 0-9 - and ultimately of victory!

Tipp registered first with a first-minute Darragh Carey free, which was cancelled out by a Jack Prendergast free. After Carey lofted over another Tipp free, Waterford came back with scores from Glenn Waters and Aaron O'Sullivan (2) to lead by 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Further frees from Prendergast and O'Sullivan saw the visitors lead by three with five minutes left in the first half, 0-8 to 0-5, and Brian McGrath and O'Sullivan more further frees before the hosts grabbed 1-1 just before the short whistle, with Mulrooney getting his goal following a goalmouth scramble and substitute Lydon Fairbrother notching his second point.

Waterford had reclaimed the lead within two minutes of the restart thanks to Prendergast (free) and Calum Lyons but Tipp replied with another Carey free.

The second half was every bit as evenly contested as the first had been and twelve shared points in 26 minutes left the hosts still ahead by the minimum with four left, 1-13 to 0-15, Carey and Prendergast having exchanged more frees in the 54th and 55th minutes respectively.

Had Mulrooney's goal effort in 52 minutes not flown wide, the 2,821spectators at Thurles would have been spared such a tense finale! As it was, the tension was almost palpable as McGrath pointed a '65' on the hour to double the difference.

Waterford replied through Eoghan Murray in stoppage time but Tipp held on to book a semi-final date with Clare on July 1st. Waterford are not out of the competition, yet, however, as they will meet Limerick - who lost to Cork in tonight's other quarter-final - in a semi-final play-off on May 6th.

Tipperary - P Hayes; E Moloney, J Quigley, E Heffernan; J Skehan, B McGrath (0-3, 2'65, 1f), D Peters; L McCutcheon (0-1), S Neville; D Carey (0-8f), S Quirke, R Mulrooney (1-0); D Gleeson, A Tynan, R Peters. Subs: L Fairbrother (0-2) for R Peters, K Hassett for S Neville, D Roberts for R Mulrooney, G Dunne for L McCutcheon.

Waterford - B Nolan; D Lynch, C Prunty, D McGrath; J Henley, D Lyons (0-1f), C Dunphy; C Lyons (0-2), A Molumby; G Waters (0-1), JP Lucey, E Meaney (0-1); A O'Sullivan (0-4), J Prendergast (0-6f), P Hogan. Subs: E Murray (0-1) for G Waters, M Roche for JP Lucey.

Referee - J Murphy.

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