TIPPERARY 2-17
WATERFORD 0-16

An attendance of 26,438 saw Tipperary retain their Munster SHC crown with a seven point final victory over Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh today.

Goals from John O'Brien and substitute Shane Bourke were instrumental in Tipperary's 40th provincial success.

Unlike the corresponding fixture 12 months ago, Waterford produced a battling performance but Tipperary always seemed to have that little bit extra in reserve and were deserving winners.

Both teams lined out as selected and Waterford full-forward Shane Walsh posted the first score on the board with a point in the 2nd minute.

Seamus Prendergast then set John Mullane up for a second point a minute later and the Deise were three points to the good after six minutes thanks to Padraig O'Mahony.

The Premier County registered three wides before Brian O'Meara opened their account in the 7th minute.

Maurice Shanahan restored Waterford's three point lead from a placed ball but the sides were level in the 10th minute when John O'Brien finished a Patrick 'Bonner' Maher pass to the Waterford net.

Shane Walsh and O'Brien traded points before Mullane showed a quick turn of pace to put Waterford into a 0-6 to 1-2 lead after 13 minutes.

Tipp took over in the lead, however, with three points in quick succession from Padraic Maher, Noel McGrath and O'Brien.

A converted long range free by Pa Bourke extended the Premier County's advantage before Mullane pulled one back for Michael Ryan's charges with his third point of the day.

Shane McGrath restored Tipperary's three point cushion in the 24th minute and goalkeeper Brendan Cummins came to their rescue a minute later when denying Maurice Shanahan a goal.

There was some consolation for Shanahan when he converted the resulting 65 and he also sent over a free before Bourke replied at the opposite end with a free in the 33rd minute to leave the scoreboard reading 1-8 to 0-10.

Shanahan's fifth point on the stroke of half-time drew the sides level.

Stephen Molumphy edged Waterford in front with the first point of the second half two minutes after the resumption but Brian O'Meara cancelled that score out a minute later.

Four time All Star Mullane was fouled for a free that Shanahan pointed in the 40th minute. Shortly after, Eoin Kelly - who was introduced as a 34th minute substitute for Bourke - unleashed a shot at goal but Waterford netminder Stephen O'Keeffe was equal to the task.

A Noel McGrath point restored parity before O'Brien put Tipp back into the lead in the 43rd minute, 1-11 to 0-13 and Tipp found themselves two points ahead four minutes later when corner back Michael Cahill roamed forward to point.

Waterford refused to go quietly, however, and Shanahan's seventh score reduced Tipp's lead to a point. Brendan Cummins was again called into action when saving smartly from substitute Paul O'Brien in the 51st minute.

Tipp's Eoin Kelly got on the scoresheet via a free a minute later. Kelly lined up another free in the 54th minute but failed to get the required distance. It worked out well for the Premier County, however, as substitute Shane Bourke was first to react to the loose ball and pulled on it to net his team's second goal and open up a 2-13 to 0-14 lead.

At the other end of the field, Cummins kept a shot from Waterford sub Eoin Kelly at bay in the 58th minute as Tipp began to tighten their grip on the contest.

Noel McGrath extended Tipp's lead to six points before Kelly pulled one back for the Deise in the 62nd minute after taking over the free-taking duties from Shanahan.

Michael 'Brick' Walsh picked up a yellow card for a foul on 'Bonner' Maher as the Tipperary centre-forward was bearing down on goal and Eoin Kelly converted the resulting free.

A point from Shanahan failed to resurrect Waterford's fading hopes and a Eoin Kelly 20m free - after Paul Curran cynically fouled Mullane - was diverted to safety by Cummins in the 68th minute.

Points from Eoin Kelly and Shane Bourke rounded off a good day at the office for Declan Ryan and his team.

Tipperary - B Cummins; C O'Brien, P Curran, M Cahill (0-1); T Stapleton, C O'Mahony, Padraic Maher (0-1); B Maher, S McGrath (0-1); P Bourke (0-2), Patrick Maher, L Corbett; B O'Meara (0-2), J O'Brien (1-3), N McGrath (0-3). Subs: E Kelly (0-3) for Bourke, S Bourke (1-1) for O'Meara, D Maher for Stapleton, S Callanan for N McGrath.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; N Connors, L Lawlor, S Daniels; T Browne, M Walsh, K Moran; S Molumphy (0-1), Philip Mahony; M Shanahan (0-8), S Prendergast, Pauric Mahony (0-1); J Mullane (0-3), S Walsh (0-2), G O'Brien. Subs: E Kelly (0-1) for G O'Brien, P O'Brien for Pauric Mahony, M O'Neill for S Walsh, J Nagle for Browne.

Referee - C McAllister (Cork). Tweet

Most Read Stories