Decies through to NHL decider

Tipperary 3-16 Waterford 1-22

Waterford earned an unlikely draw that sees them into the 2004 Allianz NHL decider. Having been eight points down after 36 minutes, they rallied at Semple Stadium through corner forward Paul Flynn (1-12) to see out a 1-22 to 3-16 stalemate against Tipperary.

Flynn, the Déise’s outstanding forward through the league campaign with 4-42 in all games, was on hand to angle a low 20-metre free past Brendan Cummins on 48 minutes to draw back within two points, and a 30-metre injury time effort from the Ballygunner attacker gave Waterford the league point that sees them final-bound.

Tipp, with a win and a draw in their previous games and little to play for, edged in front 0-04 to 0-02 in the opening skirmishes through John Carroll, Eoin Kelly (free), and two sterling efforts from Benny Dunne and Paul Kelly on 12 and 14 minutes.

Waterford had opened the scoring with a free from wing forward Eoin Kelly, and Dan Shanahan continued his impressive scoring form of late with a point on the run in the seventh minute.

The lively Dunne was to prove pivotal as his 25-metre run allowed Carroll the space to hammer into the Waterford net on 23 minutes.

Paddy O’Brien had tagged on a point from play before the goal, with Waterford making a quick riposte through Paul Flynn (2 frees) and full back Declan Prendergast.

Tipp’s Eoin Kelly ended the half with five classy points, but his penultimate effort on 27 minutes would have found the Waterford net only for a point-blank stop by goalkeeper Stephen Brenner.

The rebound flashed over the bar but, with Dunne adding two late efforts, the home side were comfortably 1-12 to 0-10 in front at the interval.

A fifty-yard switch of play from Tommy Dunne saw Eoin Kelly pull and score a goal just seconds after the restart to push the Premier men further in front.

A succession of Flynn frees and his goal twelve minutes later pushed Waterford back into contention. But Tipp substitute Seamus Butler’s goal after 57 minutes, set up by Eddie Enright, looked to have swung the tie again.

With five minutes remaining, Eoin Kelly pushed his tally to 1-08 (six frees) with another free at 3-16 to 1-20, but Shanahan and Flynn both clipped over late efforts to earn Waterford a draw.