GAA review: Tipperary produced a strong second half display to overcome Waterford and claim a second successive Munster senior hurling title at Pairc Uí Chaoimh today. Tipperary's second goal, scored by substitute Shane Bourke on 53 minutes, put the defending champions into a five-point lead which Waterford were unable to close in the latter stages.
Waterford began the brighter with Maurice Shanahan helping to establish an early lead for the Deise, but on 11 minutes John O'Brien found the net for Tipperary from a tight angle to draw the sides level.
Tipperary were guilty of squandering chances in the first half, while Shanahan continued to punish Tipperary for their mistakes from the dead ball. It meant the sides were level at half-time on a scoreline of 0-11 to 1-8.
Waterford struck early in the second half through Stephen Molumphy but Tipperary manager Declan Ryan was able to spring experienced players such as Eoin Kelly, Shane Bourke and Seamus Callanan from the bench to turn the game. Lar Corbett's influence grew and Waterford then began to contribute to their own downfall by missing relatively straightforward chances.
Tipperary looked more comfortable in the closing stages and Waterford were forced to shoot for goal but they were unable to breach the last line of the impressive Tipperary defence.
Earlier, Mayo won their second successive Connacht senior football championship with an underwhelming victory over Sligo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon.
For much of the first half Sligo were the better team and captain Ross Donovan helped to marshal a resolute Sligo defence.
Adrian Marren and David Kelly produced some fine points for Sligo, while Mayo became reliant on Andy Moran for their first half scores. Moran did find the net on 10 minutes but it was harshly ruled out by referee Cormac Reilly after he judged Cillian O'Connor's handpass to be palmed and therefore illegal.
It meant that at half-time Sligo held a two point lead and had restricted Mayo to just three first-half points.
Mayo did improve in the second half and became more direct and O'Connor and Moran reaped the rewards. Aidan O'Shea was introduced at midfield for Mayo and his influence gave Mayo the momentum so that when Colm Boyle and Lee Keegan pointed late on Sligo had no response.
In the qualifiers, only a late comeback spared Kerry's blushes as they overcame Westmeath in Mullingar by a solitary point. Darran O'Sullivan was introduced at half-time and proved to be the difference between the sides.
Westmeath had led 0-8 to 1-3 at the break and a David Glennon penalty only helped to put Westmeath into a more commanding position. Bryan Sheehan had scored a first-half penalty for Kerry but it was only when O'Sullivan netted in the second half that Kerry really began to threaten their hosts.
Colm Cooper eventually put the Kingdom in front and points from Sheehan and Paul Galvin meant that they were able to hold on for victory despite a late John Heslin score.
Eamonn McEnaney stepped down as Monaghan manager after his side were beaten by Laois at O'Moore Park on a score-line of 2-12 to 0-12.
Two first half goals from Colm Kelly and Brendan Quigley were the difference throughout and a 16 minute barren spell for Monaghan in the second-half meant a comeback became increasingly unlikely.
In Breffni Park, Kildare crushed Cavan in front of a crowd of 14,558 spectators, many of whom had come to see Seánie Johnston make his debut for the Lilywhites against his former county. The game was never competitive with Mikey Conway and Emmet Bolton finding the net for Kildare during an explosive scoring spree in the first half.
Eugene Keating netted for Cavan but when Alan Smith scored Kildare's third goal it underlined the Lilywhites supremacy.
It allowed Kieran McGeeney to introduce Johnston for Eoghan O'Flaherty on 61 minutes. In a hostile atmosphere, Johnston scored the final point of the game to put the summer's longest running saga to bed.
Connacht senior football championship final
Sligo 0-10 Mayo0-12 2pm
All-Ireland senior football championship qualifiers - Round 2
Westmeath 1-12 Kerry 2-10
Laois 2-12 Monaghan 0-12
Cavan 1-9 Kildare 3-20
Munster senior hurling championship final
Waterford 0-16 Tipperary 2-17