It’s only three years since Tipperary last won a championship trophy of note before today. That’s not exactly a famine yet their supporters will have felt starved of success all the same.
Before this season Tipperary packed into their 2013 and 2014 campaigns – two league final losses, two Munster semi-final exits and a pair of high profile championship defeats to Kilkenny.
That losing streak shows why today was a significant triumph. Getting a trophy back to their dressing-room is a feel-good moment for Eamonn O’Shea and his players, and they’ll bound into the All-Ireland series in a buoyant mood.
The pre-match atmosphere around Thurles this morning pointed to large numbers flocking to Semple Stadium in the afternoon. By the time of throw-in there was 43,084 present and that created a great sense of expectation.
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It was no classic that materialised though. Tight and tense combat, engaging at times as Waterford stifled Tipperary’s attacking threat yet it lacked the rich passages of play to ignite proceedings. The better team won in the finish as Tipperary’s experience wore down Waterford’s youth.
3. Tipperary show the required patience
Tipperary settled well to this game as they eased into a four-point advantage but it was no stroll to success thereafter. A goalscoring spree saw them push Limerick off in the Munster semi-final yet Waterford were a different nut to crack.
Consider that the twin Tipperary threat of Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer struck 2-8 from play between them against Limerick while today from play Callanan was held scoreless with O’Dwyer bagging 0-3.
It was a difficult task for Tipperary to break down a Waterford rearguard where Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors and Tadhg De Búrca were composed, disciplined and resolute throughout. However Tipperary showed the patience required to not let their focus waver. They strung together a necklace of late points that gave them breathing space.
Seamus Callanan with Austin Gleeson Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
4. Second-half wides kill off Waterford hopes
Waterford’s start to this game mirrored their performance in the early exchanges against Cork in the Munster semi-final. They opened tentatively but warmed to the task to be in the hunt for honours at the interval.
What Waterford needed though was a scoring burst to hit the front and truly test Tipperary’s credentials. They got just that with Maurice Shanahan’s two-goal blast against Cork but didn’t raise a green flag today with Stephen Bennett booting narrowly wide in the opening period and Colin Dunford flashing a shot straight at Darren Gleeson in the second-half.
The seven wides they struck between the 35th and 55th minutes also damaged their aspirations, a succession of misses at a stage when the game was up for grabs.
Waterford manager Derek McGrath Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
5. Waterford can still have a say before 2015 is out
Derek McGrath was not visibly downheartened after today’s defeat and that was an understandable post-match mood. His bright and emerging team lost little standing today.
They pushed Tipperary hard on what was a brand new experience for their team trying to hurl on a Munster senior final stage. They defended stoutly and adding a greater attacking edge will enhance their prospects.
A chunk of their squad will head to Ennis for U21 action on Wednesday night and Dublin beckon in a fortnight’s time in the All-Ireland quarter-final. They have plenty to look forward to and have the capability to impact on the All-Ireland series.
5 talking points after Tipperary's Munster glory and Waterford head the backdoor route
1. Tipperary and O’Shea finally grab silverware
It’s only three years since Tipperary last won a championship trophy of note before today. That’s not exactly a famine yet their supporters will have felt starved of success all the same.
Before this season Tipperary packed into their 2013 and 2014 campaigns – two league final losses, two Munster semi-final exits and a pair of high profile championship defeats to Kilkenny.
That losing streak shows why today was a significant triumph. Getting a trophy back to their dressing-room is a feel-good moment for Eamonn O’Shea and his players, and they’ll bound into the All-Ireland series in a buoyant mood.
2. Tight and tense but no classic Munster final
The pre-match atmosphere around Thurles this morning pointed to large numbers flocking to Semple Stadium in the afternoon. By the time of throw-in there was 43,084 present and that created a great sense of expectation.
It was no classic that materialised though. Tight and tense combat, engaging at times as Waterford stifled Tipperary’s attacking threat yet it lacked the rich passages of play to ignite proceedings. The better team won in the finish as Tipperary’s experience wore down Waterford’s youth.
3. Tipperary show the required patience
Tipperary settled well to this game as they eased into a four-point advantage but it was no stroll to success thereafter. A goalscoring spree saw them push Limerick off in the Munster semi-final yet Waterford were a different nut to crack.
Consider that the twin Tipperary threat of Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer struck 2-8 from play between them against Limerick while today from play Callanan was held scoreless with O’Dwyer bagging 0-3.
It was a difficult task for Tipperary to break down a Waterford rearguard where Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors and Tadhg De Búrca were composed, disciplined and resolute throughout. However Tipperary showed the patience required to not let their focus waver. They strung together a necklace of late points that gave them breathing space.
4. Second-half wides kill off Waterford hopes
Waterford’s start to this game mirrored their performance in the early exchanges against Cork in the Munster semi-final. They opened tentatively but warmed to the task to be in the hunt for honours at the interval.
What Waterford needed though was a scoring burst to hit the front and truly test Tipperary’s credentials. They got just that with Maurice Shanahan’s two-goal blast against Cork but didn’t raise a green flag today with Stephen Bennett booting narrowly wide in the opening period and Colin Dunford flashing a shot straight at Darren Gleeson in the second-half.
The seven wides they struck between the 35th and 55th minutes also damaged their aspirations, a succession of misses at a stage when the game was up for grabs.
5. Waterford can still have a say before 2015 is out
Derek McGrath was not visibly downheartened after today’s defeat and that was an understandable post-match mood. His bright and emerging team lost little standing today.
They pushed Tipperary hard on what was a brand new experience for their team trying to hurl on a Munster senior final stage. They defended stoutly and adding a greater attacking edge will enhance their prospects.
A chunk of their squad will head to Ennis for U21 action on Wednesday night and Dublin beckon in a fortnight’s time in the All-Ireland quarter-final. They have plenty to look forward to and have the capability to impact on the All-Ireland series.
The path to Liam MacCarthy is now clear as the quarter-finals are settled
Tipperary claim Munster minor hurling title to deny Limerick three-in-a-row
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Comment Munster SHC Deise Premier Tipperary Waterford