What the hell happened there?
Waterford went into this Munster Championship round-robin clash as 6/1 underdogs with the bookmakers. They played like they a team motivated by the disrespect of that.
The Déise got off to a flying start down in the Gaelic Grounds with Jamie Barron, Patrick Curran and Pauric Mahony rattling off early points.
Tipperary were quick to strike back with Seamus Callanan and Ronan Maher pointing for them. But then, and just like that, Tipperary’s world was turned upside down and much of it was by their own doing.
First it was Tom Devine striking for a goal and that was quickly followed up by another green flag, this time, courtesy of Pauric Mahony. It only came after a miscommunication between Paudie Maher and Tipp keeper Brian Hogan, with the Thurles Sarsfields club man batting the ball back into play when it was about to drift harmlessly wide.
Tipperary were in a dangerous place then, but fast forward a couple of minutes and it was about to get even worse for them. Right on the stroke of half-time, Michael Cahill was issued with his second yellow card of the day after a highly debatable decision from Galway referee Alan Kelly.
Exciting first half of hurling in the Munster Championship with Waterford leading Tipperary, 2-12 to 0-12. Check out the Half-Time highlights! pic.twitter.com/0eEZ0Eq55z
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 3, 2018
Cahill merely tapped DJ Foran’s hand with his hurl, and the Waterford attacker progressed to score his point. The Premier County would go into the interval trailling by six, and down a man.
Waterford grabbed the game by the scruff upon the resumption, and they progressed into a ten point lead with Tipperary looking dead and buried.
But from nowhere, Tipperary came back. The introduction of ‘Bonner’ Maher from the bench seemed to change things. The Lorrha club man scored a brilliant goal to kick start the revival, and then points followed from Seamus Callanan, Cathal Barrett and Jason Forde.
Bonner Maher hits the back of the net for Tipperary! pic.twitter.com/CIan7pqqVG
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 3, 2018
But then, then this game turned upside down. After a dropping Jason Forde free from 70 yards out, Austin Gleeson jumped highest to claim the ball. One of the umpired adjudicated that he had carried the ball over his line, when he clearly hadn’t, and that put Tipperary one behind.
Waterford looked to have won it after Pauric Mahony struck for a late one, but then Ronan Maher pointed to level it all up.
For that point, the umpires waved it wide. Referee Alan Kelly overturned their decision to award the point. The final score was 2-22 apiece and the referee was soon escorted off the pitch.
'The Waterford players and supporters not at all happy' – Controversy at the Gaelic Grounds as Waterford v Tipp ends in a draw #rtegaa #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/ptZ4SfOPYE
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 3, 2018
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