A brilliant second-half performance by Tipperary which saw them turn a one-point half-time deficit into an 11-point winning margin insured that they collected two valuable league points at Stradbally yesterday.

An outstanding individual display by corner forward Declan Brown, who contributed 1-6, was a joy to watch as he teased and tormented the Waterford defence every time he gained possession.

The woodwork denied Tipperary's Brian Burke a certain goal midway through the first half. But Brown struck for Tipperary's first goal 11 minutes into the second half when, after a Brendan Cummins shot was saved, he finished a rebound to the net to give his side a 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

Cummins, who along with Derry Foley, also starred for the visitors, shot the second goal at the end of the third quarter to give the winners an unassailable 2-10 to 0-6 advantage. Waterford's only score of the second period came in the 49th minute when their best player Niall Curran pointed a free.

Tipperary: P Ryan; N Kelly, C O'Dwyer, L Cronin; B Hahessey, M Leonard, S Collum; D Foley (0-1), S Maher; M Spillane, B Cummins (1- 2), B Burke; C O'Shea, D Lyons (0-1), D Brown (1-6). Subs: P Lambert (0-2) for Spillane; T Anglim for Collum.

Waterford: T Brennan; O Costello (0-1), G Walsh, M Fenton; M Byrne, I Walsh (0-1), M Kiely; D McMahon, M Radley; C Keane, R Power, L Dalton; N Curran (0-5), L Daniels, K Walsh. Subs: K Whelan for Radley; R Hennessy for Keane; J Crotty for for I Walsh.

Referee: G Hough (Limerick).