Tipp back on track but wasteful Waterford on discovery mission

On a bitterly cold Saturday night in Semple Stadium, there wasn’t a huge amount to warm the 6,363 in the stands, so little wonder that the swing in momentum halfway through the second half was the main topic of conversation afterwards.

Waterford had just scored the game’s first goal in this NHL Division 1A clash, a fine strike from a narrow angle by Mark O’Brien, to level matters at 1-10 to 0-13. From the puck-out Austin Gleeson surged upfield for Waterford and was challenged on the wing near the whitewash: Tipperary sideline cut.

From Ronan Maher’s sideline, the ball eventually got to Michael Breen, who was grounded for a penalty. Jason Forde converted expertly, and Tipp’s restored three-point advantage helped them kick on to record what was, eventually, a facile win.