One-way traffic at Semple Stadium, where Tipperary inflicted a 0-20 to 0-9 defeat on a limited Waterford outfit.

Liam McGrath found the target nine times for the home team, while James Lonergan, Philip Austin, Liam Boland and Josh Keane all tacked on late points as the Waterford challenge wilted.

The result has secured the winners a semi-final date with Cork, which has contentiously been pencilled in for next Saturday night. Following the final whistle in Thurles tonight, Premier County boss Liam Kearns lambasted Munster Council's decision to ask his players to tog out again within seven days, labelling it "a disgrace" and claiming that "the integrity of the competition has been compromised".

He has a point as Tipperary's involvement in that game deserves to be respected. Remember, Cork only squeezed past Tipp in the corresponding fixture last year, while the Premier sent the Rebels packing twelve months earlier.

In front of 1,658 spectators tonight, the visitors adopted a damage limitation approach from the off, with 14 men behind the ball and only JJ Hutchinson as an attacking outlet. They trailed by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break, failing to score until the 28^th minute, through Gavin Crotty.

Tipperary's Liam McGrath with Aidan Trihy of Waterford. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

The home side started without Stephen O'Brien and kept Conor Sweeney in reserve, but they reeled off the first four points via Michael Quinlivan, McGrath (two frees) and Kevin O'Halloran. Crotty and midfielder Tommy Prendergast (2) were Waterford's only first-half scorers.

McGrath (three frees), Quinlivan (two fisted efforts) and O'Halloran all pointed for Tipp in the first ten minutes of the second half and there was no way back for the Suirsiders. The losers did eventually come out of their shells and Jason Curry pointed a brace (one sideline, one free), while Conor Murray and Hutchinson also pointed and Tipp goalkeeper Evan Comerford had to be alert to deny Dylan Guiry.

In the end, howevr, Tipperary comfortably recorded an expected victory but the big talking point emerging from this game is whether or not they will be asked to return here next weekend to take on Cork. Surely common sense will prevail and that game will be moved back a week.

Tipperary - E Comerford; S O'Connell, A Campbell, J Meagher; B Maher, R Kiely, J Feehan (0-1); L Casey, J Kennedy (0-1); J Keane (0-1), K O'Halloran (0-2), B Fox; L Boland (0-1), M Quinlivan (0-3), L McGrath (0-9, 7f). Subs: S O'Brien for J Kennedy, P Austin (0-1) for K O'Halloran, K Fahey for B Maher, J Lonergan (0-1) for M Quinlivan, P Codd for J Meagher, G Hannigan for L Casey.

Waterford - S Enright; B Looby, S Prendergast, J McGrath; C Murray (0-1), A Trihy, M Curry; S Ryan, T Prendergast (0-2); K Power; D Guiry, J Veale; B O'Keeffe, G Crotty (0-2), JJ Hutchinson (0-1). Subs: J Curry (0-3, 2f) for B O'Keeffe, C Guiry for J Veale, J Allen for J McGrath (BC), M Kiely for K Power, M Cummins for A Trihy, E O'Brien for JJ Hutchinson.

Referee - F Kelly.

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