Decies dethrone Tipperary in final shock
Waterford 2-23, Tipperary 2-12 (result)
Underdogs Justin McCarthy and his Waterford charges dethroned All-Ireland and Munster champions Tipperary of their provincial crown in emphatic style at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
The Decies ran out winners by eight points to bring the Munster title back to Waterford for the first time in 39 years, and incredibly held clinical Tipperary scoreless for most of the second half.
The big names in Waterford hurling led by example with captain Fergal Hartley, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn combining to halt the challenge of the best team in the country.
Flynn got the Decies off the mark with a free but Tipperary - playing with the breeze - raced into an early lead with points from dangerman Eoin Kelly (2), Lar Corbett and John Carroll.
John Mullane kept the Decies in touch but the champions worked up a 0-06 to 0-02 lead before Waterford’s own Eoin Kelly cut the deficit to three.
A point and a goal from a free by Paul Flynn then put Waterford into the lead. Tipp battled back and Tommy Dunne stuck over a free from all of 90 yards before Conor Gleeson added another score.
Waterford added three further points before Eoin Kelly beat Stephen Brenner in the Waterford goal, again from a free and added two further points for Tipp to see them take a lead of a point to the dressingroom.
Paul Flynn added two scores at the opening of the second-half before Eoin Kelly sent Benny Dunne through for the first of the Toomevara man’s two goals.
Waterford rallied and clocked up three scores from Ken McGrath, John Mullane and Paul Flynn.
Kelly and McGrath exchanged scores before Dunne chipped in with his second goal to level the sides at 1-16 to 3-10. Conor Gleeson added a point and McGrath and Tommy Dunne swapped points to see Tipp leading in the 16th minute of the half. However, Tipp did not to score again for the remaining 19 minutes.
Waterford went on the rampage for the rest of the half and Tipp, despite ringing the changes, were unable to contain the Waterford challenge.
The McGrath brothers, Eoin and Ken, scored consecutive points before Tony Browne netted Waterford’s second goal. John Mullane, Paul Flynn, Ken McGrath, Seamus Prendergast and Dave Bennett added unanswered scores to their tally as the Decies went on to win with a flourish.
They ran out winners by eight points in the end as Tipperary - normally so efficient in adversity - failed to mount a challenge.
