Waterford 1-20 Tipperary 1-18: This Waterford team's journey seemed certain to end without the experience of September hurling. But 53,635 people were present at Croke Park today to see them progress to an All-Ireland final for the first time since 1963 after finally clearing this hurdle at the sixth attempt in six years. That Davy Fitzgerald only became their manager in June, after a player coup removed Justin McCarthy in the wake of defeat to Clare, adds another dose of romance to their story.
Tipperary went through the whole season unbeaten until this juncture, with Liam Sheedy's young charges picking up the national league and provincial title. Alas, it was a lack of experience and composure that saw them stumble at the crucial moment.
The 57th minute seemed the high water mark in this dramatic encounter. Eoin Kelly had just put Waterford two points clear with a goal, on the second time of asking, after Dan Shanahan's first time delivery. As Waterford fans were still celebrating Brendan Cummins whipped the ball down field for Seamus Callinan to immediately respond with a Tipperary goal. Pat Kerwick added a point with his first touch moments later and Tipp looked to have the winning of the contest.
This is where Waterford usually falter but instead they rattled off four successive points through Michael Walsh, Jack Kennedy (another sub to make an immediate impact) and two Kelly frees.
Tipperary's riposte came up short with the surprisingly anonymous Larry Corbet, Pat Kerwick and their version of Eoin Kelly all missing the target. The otherwise excellent Shane Maher was also guilty of a late wide.
Tipp did put the ball in the net before the finish but referee Diarmuid Kirwan had no hesitation in calling a square ball.
A Benny Dunne point made it a two-point game entering injury time but down the other end Kelly forced Brendan Cummins into a remarkable reflex save that glanced the sliotar over the crossbar.
The opening 35 minutes provided a delicious appetiser for what was to come. Waterford began like a whirlwind, threatening to completely envelope the Munster champions.
Before Tipperary could gage sight of the uprights they were six points adrift as the Waterford half back line, where Ken McGrath was restored with Tony Browne filling the troublesome fullback role, cleaned up the dropping ball while everything John Mullane touched turned into a score. Tipp corner back Eamonn Buckley was having a nightmare coping with Mullane's pace.
Eoin Kelly picked up where he left off through the qualifier campaign, while his namesake down the other end was subdued figure - finishing up with eight points but just two from play.
Eoin McGrath rattled off the sixth Waterford point after just eight minutes before a Waterford lull coincided with a Tipperary response through a Kelly free and long range effort from Conor O'Mahony.
By the time Eoin McGrath ended a ten minute scoreless period for Waterford, Tipp had pulled within four. Matters largely levelled out thereafter with Kelly continuing to punish any indiscretion while Shane McGrath and Seamus Callinan began to find their range.
Corbett even had a half goal chance, as did a lethargic looking Dan Shanahan down the other end, but both men were put under enough pressure and failed to find clean contact. It was that type of game.
The only flash point of the game was a Corbett yellow card after he caught Eoin Murphy with a shoulder to the face. It led to a few minutes of posturing as Murphy received treatment but the booking seemed harsh as Corbett's momentum meant he couldn't check his challenge.
The result sees Waterford progress to the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on September 7th.
WATERFORD: 1. C Hennessy; 4. Murphy; 6. T Browne, 3. K McGrath, 7. K Moran; 8. M Walsh (capt; 0-1), 9. J Nagle (0-1); 10. D Shanahan, 11. S Prendergast, 12. S Molumphy (0-2); 13. E McGrath (0-2), 14. E Kelly (1-10, eight frees), 15. J Mullane (0-3). Subs: 17. J Kennedy (0-1) for S Prendergast (52 mins), 18. P Flynn for Mullane (67 mins), 20. G Hurney for Nagle (69 mins), 19. S O'Sullivan for Shanahan (72 mins).
TIPPERARY: 1. B Cummins; 2. E Buckley, 3. P Curran, 4. C O'Brien; 5. E Corcoran 6. C O'Mahony (0-1, free), 7. S Maher (0-1); 8. J Woodlock, 9. S McGrath (0-3); 10. S Callinan (1-2), 11. H Moloney, 12. J O'Brien; 13. E Kelly (0-8, six frees), 14, S Butler, 15. L Corbett (0-1). Subs: 29. M Webster for Butler (43 mins), 19. B Dunne (0-1) for J O'Brien (49 mins), 24. P Kerwick (0-1) for Maloney (57 mins), 17. P Bourke for Woodlock (64 mins).
WATERFORD: Goals 0/1/1, Points 10/10/20, Wides 4/4/8, 65s 0/1/1 Frees 8/5/13, Yellow 2/1/3, Red 0/0/0
TIPPERARY: Goals 0/1/1, Points 10/8/18, Wides 2/7/9, 65s 0/1/1 Frees 9/4/13, Yellow 2/1/3, Red 0/0/0
Yellow cards: Waterford - Browne (20 mins), Kearney (35 mins), Mullane (36 mins)
Tipperary - C O'Brien (4 mins), Corbett (26 mins), O'Mahony (38 mins).
Red: None
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).
Attendance: 53,635