Waterford 1-19

Tipperary 2-15

A LATE FREE from Pauric Mahony helped Waterford into their first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final in eight years this afternoon.

In the second of a double header at Nowlan Park, the Déise marksman scored with a minute remaining to set up a final with Munster championship opponents Cork.

As with the Rebels’ in the day’s first semi-final, Waterford recovered from a poor start as both Tipperary goals came in the opening 15 minutes.

Patrick Maher found the back of the net in the fifth minute with John O’Dwyer adding a second on 14 to give Tipperary a seven point lead.

However, Waterford finished the half the stronger to reduce the gap to three points — 2-8 to 0-11 — at the break.

Colin Dunford’s maximum in the 54th minute put Waterford into the lead but Tipp battled back and the sides were level again on 67 minutes thanks to Seamus Callanan, Conor Kenny and Padraic Maher.

Mahony nailed his 13th score of the game in the final minute and though Tipperary thought they had won a 65 in stoppage time, the decision rightly went against the Premier County and so it’s Waterford who’ll meet Cork in the NHL decider for the first time since 1998.

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahoney 0-13 (11f, 1 65), Colin Dunford 1-1, Maurice Shanahan 0-3, Jamie Barron, Jake Dillon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Seamus Callanan 0-8 (3f, 1 65), John O’Dwyer 1-1, Patrick Maher 1-0, Niall O’Meara 0-2, James Woodlock, Jason Forde, Conor Kenny, Padraic Maher 0-1 each.

Waterford

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Tadhg De Burca (Clashmore Kinsalebeg)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
22. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
12. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
14. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)

Substitutes:
13. Brian O’Halloran for Bennett (50)
9. Tom Devine for Dillon (56)
20. Shane O’Sullivan for Walsh (63)
23. Eddie Barrett for Moran (70+1)

Tipperary

1. Darren Gleeson (Portroe)
2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris Ileigh)
3. Conor O’Mahony (Newport)
20. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)
5. Michael Breen (Ballina)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
10. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
11. Brendan Maher (Borris Ileigh)
12. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
19. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
14. Patrick Maher (Lorrha Dorrha)
15. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane McDonaghs)

Substitutes:

17. James Barry for Stapleton (43)
13. Shane Bourke for O’Dwyer (45)
21. Conor Kenny for Forde (53)
25. Gearóid Ryan for McGrath (58)
23. John Meagher for Curran (66)

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath)

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