Whyte and Ahearne deliver

Waterford 2-8 Tipperary 0-9:Goals from Paul Whyte and Robert Ahearne delivered a second win for Waterford at Fraher Field on Saturday night.

In treacherous conditions, those two green flags put a halt to Tipperary’s challenge and sent the home side top of the table. Whyte struck 1-2 in the opening half as the hosts led by the minimum at the break. He converted a sixth minute penalty, which was earned by Darren Guiry, to establish an early four point advantage.

A fortuitous goal from Robert Ahearne on 43 minutes turned the tide in favour of Niall Carew’s charges however.

Ahearne’s lofted delivery into the goalmouth bounced over Tipperary goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald and into the empty net. Waterford added three late points to seal the win.

WATERFORD: S Enright; C Phelan, S Prendergast, M OGorman; T Grey (0-1), S Briggs, J Hurney; S Ahearne, T Prendergast; L Ó Lonáin, C McGrath, P Hurney (0-1); D Guiry (0-1), R Ahearne (1-1, 1f), P Whyte (1-4, 4f, pen). Subs: G Nugent for McGrath (30 mins); S OHare for T Prendergast (65 mins); J Veale for P Hurney (67 mins); S Dempsey for Guiry (70 mins).

TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; J Coughlan, P Codd, A Morrissey; A Campbell, C McDonald, B Fox (0-1); G Hannigan (0-1), H Coughlan; P Acheson (0-1), L McGrath, D Leahy; A Moloney, B Grogan (0-4, 4f), M Quinlivan (0-1). Subs: B Jones for H Coughlan (23 mins); C Sweeney (0-1, 1f) for Moloney (half-time); R Kiely for Morrissey (41 mins); B OBrien for Leahy, A Matassa for McGrath (both 50 mins).

Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow).