Sheedy sets Tipp tone with high work-rate

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy was hugely proud of his players after they overcame Waterford by 3-19 to 1-18 at Croke Park yesterday to qualify for their second successive All-Ireland SHC final.

"I'm delighted, in fairness, the lads worked very hard out there today," he enthused, in the aftermath of a typically well-contested Munster derby.

"We knew the intensity that the opposition would bring. They were Munster champions and we were under no illusions as to what they would bring."

Tipperary built a 1-11 to 0-8 half-time lead and exposed Waterford's defensive frailties with a two-goal blast from team captain Eoin Kelly, around the hour mark.

There were key scoring contributions from Kelly (2-3), Lar Corbett (1-2) and John O'Brien and Noel McGrath, who scored 0-13 between them.

But Sheedy had match winners all over the pitch, and it was an infectious work-rate and eagerness to secure a rematch with Kilkenny on September 5 which saw them through.

"In fairness to my lads, they really upped their game today. We wanted to get back into an All-Ireland final so we're just delighted to have got over the line," he added.

"We got goals at the vital stages of the game that gave us that bit of breathing space and by God did we need it. By the finish, Waterford had us back to six or seven.

"We went 10 (points) up and you think you can start relaxing but you can't do that in this game.

"They had us back to six and they were pushing and pressing hard and we lost our shape a little bit. (So) loads to work on but, overall, delighted for the lads."

Man-of-the-match Noel McGrath was happy his side notched up a tally of 3-19, converting a high number of their scoring chances.

"It's a big tally to be scoring in an All-Ireland semi-final and we came up here hoping to put in a good performance and thankfully we did," he said.

"We got the scores, and we got the goals at the right times which just pushed us ahead and kept us ahead. Thankfully we got enough scores to beat Waterford on the day."

McGrath says that it was extremely vital for Tipp to get up to the tempo of the game early on.

"A goal always gives a good boost to a team. No better man than Lar (Corbett) to pop up.

"He popped up and got a point the last day, and the goal in the first half that got us on the road.

"We are back in an All-Ireland (final) again. We will enjoy the next few days and we'll get ready for an All-Ireland final in three weeks' time."