The introduction of Cait Devane inspired Tipperary to a three point win over Waterford in a terrific All Ireland championship opener at a wet and windy Ragg on Saturday evening (1-19 to 2-13).
On her first appearance of 2024, the All Star attacker won two frees and scored a point from play as the Premier fought back from five down in another ferociously physical encounter between these great rivals. The Déise finished with fourteen players as Keeley Corbett Barry was dismissed on two yellow cards with six minutes left. Two opportunistic goals from Mairead O'Brien saw Jerry Wallace's side lead 2-10 to 1-8 after 37 minutes but a wind assisted Tipp finished strongly.
Waterford made one change from the Munster final loss to Cork as Róisín Kirwan replaced Iona Heffernan. Tipperary won the toss but elected to play against the elements.
The wind assisted visitors led by five points after thirteen minutes. Tara Power, relocated to centre forward, saw her point effort batted away by Tipp goalkeeper Nicole Walsh but Mairead O'Brien whipped home the rebound (1-3 to 0-1).
The Premier clawed their way back. On 18 minutes, the speedy Clodagh McIntyre soloed forward and fired to the bottom corner of the net. In a hard hitting opening half, Clodagh Carroll and Lorraine Bray required treatment. Grace O'Brien levelled the match on the half hour mark with her second point of the evening (1-5 each). Sarah Lacey came on for Rachael Walsh and scored with her first touch. A Beth Carton 45 in the 34th minute, her fifth dead ball, gave Wallace's charges a 1-7 to 1-5 half time advantage.
Points from Niamh Rockett and Róisín Kirwan pushed the gap out to three on the restart. On 37 minutes, Walsh flicked away a Rockett point attempt and O'Brien was on hand again to blast home (2-10 to 1-8).
Tipp replied with five unanswered points. First half sub Eimear Heffernan hit three in the third quarter as Denis Kelly's team got back on level terms.
A brilliant Beth Carton free edged Waterford back in front with ten minutes left. She finished with nine points. Karen Kennedy shadowed her throughout.
Cait Devane's introduction lifted the Tipp crowd and the Tipp team. The blue and gold got five of the last six points. Top scorer Eimear McGrath ended with seven frees while Player of The Match Clodagh McIntyre contributed 1-2 from play.
Waterford play host to Limerick next Saturday in Round 2 of the All Ireland series.
