Déise boys end Colman's three-year Harty Cup reign
The Cork side were leading 0-8 to 0-5 at the interval, but started the second-half with 14 men after goalkeeper Colm O'Keeffe received a red card following an incident with Waterford's Keith Landers during the break.
Noel Cahill was introduced in O'Keeffe's place to the exclusion of wing-back Brian Hogan and Waterford quickly made use of their numerical advantage with Brian Bannon goaling from Jamie Nagle's delivery within two minutes of the restart.
Thereafter, St Colman's were playing catch up, through Eamonn Condon at midfield and Padraig Lynch at corner forward. In the first half Condon's accurate long-distance shooting and Lynch's unerring free-taking brought them level by the 22nd minute, and they ended the half well on top with further minors from Condon (2) and Lynch to leave them 0-8 to 0-5 in front at the break.
But the dismissal changed the course of affairs as Waterford hero Mark Gorman exploded into the action kicking 2-5 in a devastating second spell.
His first goal within four minutes of the restart levelled matters and his pointed free on forty two minutes edged them in front. Keith Landers quickly stretched the advantage with a great point.
But Colman's were back in front on the three quarter hour after a neat goal by Richard O'Connell.
It was a lead however that lasted a mere two minutes, as Gorman clinically finished a fine move that also involved Nagle and Paul Murray.
Landers and Gorman added further points but they still had to withstand a frenetic late Colman's surge before dethroning the champions.
Colaistí Na nDeise: M. Gorman(2-5, 0-4 frees); B. Bannon(1- 0); K. Landers(0-2); T. O'Brien, P. Murray(0-1) each. St Colman's: P. Lynch(0-7, 0-6 frees); E. Condon(0-5, 0-1 "65', 0-1 free); R. O'Connell(1-0).
B. Scanlon; J. Morrissey. J. Kindregan. M. O'Brien; M. Flynn. J. Mullen. M. Prendergast; J. Nagle. K. Landers; J. Gorman. N. O'Murchu. T. O'Brien; B. Bannon. M. Gorman. P. Murray; Sub; P. Phelan for M. O'Brien.
C. O'Keeffe; M. Hegarty. S. Russell. J. O'Connor; B. Hogan. P. Cotter. K. Kearney; E. Condon. M. O'Connor; K. Dineen. R. O'Connell. J. Kearney; P. Lynch. A. Mannix. R. Coakley; Subs; N. Cahill(sub goalie) for Hogan; J. O'Sullivan for K. Kearney; A. O'Connor for Coakley; S. Murphy for Mannix.
Willie Barrett, Tipperary.
