No Premier double for the Decies

Tipperary 2-14 Waterford 1-11

Corbett, having a quiet game by his standards, exploded into action in the closing five minutes when this very unspectacular game, watched by an attendance of 5,772, still hung in the balance.

Corbett soloed through to hit a smashing goal and then set up midfield player, Eoin Brislane, for another, as Tipperary finally saw off the challenge of a Waterford side that tried gallantly but rarely looked like winning.

If Waterford had taken a leaf out of their heroic and inspirational senior side's book a different story might have unfolded, but following a very tame start they always found themselves playing catch-up.

The signs were ominous for Waterford when Eoin Kelly failed to convert a close in free in the opening seconds.

In fairness to the Mount Sion right winger, however, he atoned in a grand manner by emerging as the top scorer of the game with an impressive tally of nine points seven from frees.

But with Eoin Brislane most prominent at midfield and Eoin Kelly sparkling in the right corner, Tipperary powered their way into a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after the opening quarter.

Disconcertingly for Tipperary, however, they failed to press home their early advantage and allowed Waterford to stay in the hunt.

Kelly, Waterford's only scorer early on, hit a further two points, followed by another from right corner forward John Mullane, as Waterford began to come more into the game in the second quarter.

However, Tipperary, who led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half time, always looked to hold the initiative.

However, over-elaboration almost proved to be Tipperary's ultimate downfall.

With Kelly, successfully converting a number of frees, Waterford doggedly hung on and Tipperary were never able to draw away.

At times it looked as if Tipp would win at a canter, but a high number of wides shattered their confidence and even their most outstanding player, Eoin Kelly, was guilty of a lot of misses.

Kelly did hit a spectacular point to stretch Tipperary's lead to four points early on in the second half, but it took some superb saves from goalkeeper Damien Young to thwart the Waterford attack in their bid for a goal.

If they had been successful, then it might have given them that extra incentive to go on and cause a shock result.

Young was magnificent as Tipperary lost their momentum and when Waterford reduced the deficit to three points with nine minutes remaining it was anybody's game.

But then Corbett proved to be the main difference between the sides with his all important goal in the 55th minute.

And when he laid on the second for Brislane two minutes later the game as a contest was all over.

Waterford came back for John Mullane to score a fine individual goal a minute from the end but that only put a better complexion on things for a side that fought well but lacked the necessary conviction to triumph.

Scorers

Tipperary: L. Corbett 1-1, E. Brislane 1-1, E. Kelly 0-6 (0-4 frees), E. Ryan 0-3, M. Butler 0-2, D. Shelley 0-1.

Waterford: J. Mullane 1-1, E. Kelly 0-9 (0-7 frees), S. Barron 0-1.

TIPPERARY: D. Young; M. Maher, P. Curran, D. Gleeson; T. King, J. Devane, D. Fitzgerald; E. Brislane, S. Mason; D. Shelley, P. Buckley, L. Corbett; E. Kelly, M. Butler, E. Ryan. Subs. S. Maher for Mason, C. Houlihane for Butler, D. McGrath for Ryan, G. Byrne for Buckley.

WATERFORD: D. O'Rourke; D. Coffey, D. O'Brien, S. Kearney; I. Power, D. Prendergast, J. O'Leary; S. Barron, M. Walsh; E. Kelly, J. Hartley, M. Frisby; J. Mullane, S. Ryan, J. Wall. Subs. R. Connery for Frisby, E. Galvin for Wall, R. Hennessy for Hartley.

Referee: D. Richardson (Limerick).

Attendance: 5,772.