Waterford V Tipperary – Munster Hurling League Report

Delayed Start but Fast Opening for Déise

Peter Queally’s charges began the 2026 season on the road against Tipperary, but freezing conditions caused early disruption. A frozen pitch in Clonmel forced officials to move the fixture to Fethard GAA, before a further delay of one hour and 15 minutes.

Once the sliotar was finally thrown in, Waterford wasted no time settling. The Déise burst into life with three early points. Billy Nolan opened the scoring inside the first minute with an excellent long-range effort. Joe Booth and Sean Walsh quickly followed to give Waterford early momentum.

Tipp Responds as Champions Show Their Class

Tipperary responded with three points of their own inside five minutes, leaving just a point between the sides. Charlie Treen landed the first of his three points in the 10th minute as the All-Ireland champions began to assert control.

On 21 minutes, Tipp struck the game’s first major. Paudie Creedon broke through the Waterford defence before rifling the ball to the net. Jack Fagan, operating at full-back in an unfamiliar role, competed well despite the setback.

Tipp Lead at the Break

Tipperary carried their momentum into the closing stages of the half and went in leading 1-11 to 0-07. Temperatures hovered around three degrees in Fethard, but a strong crowd turned out despite the bitter conditions.

Halloran and Lyons Lift Waterford

The second half saw Darragh Lyons return for Waterford after injuries limited his involvement throughout 2025. His introduction added energy to the Déise effort.

Ruben Halloran registered his third point from a placed ball seven minutes after the restart. Waterford and Tipperary then traded scores for the next eight minutes, with the Déise outscoring Tipp by four points to two.

Late Surge Seals Dramatic Finish

Waterford finished strongly, firing over five unanswered points, all from the accuracy of Halloran’s frees. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Charlie Treen broke through the Tipp defence to finish a flowing team move to the net and bring Waterford level.

Treen followed up with another point to edge the Déise ahead, but Tipp substitute Jack Leamy had the final say. The impressive forward struck a long-range free, his fourth point of the second half, to ensure honours ended even.

Encouraging Signs for Queally

Peter Queally will take plenty of positives from the performance. Waterford showed spirit, resilience, and sharpness against the reigning All-Ireland champions in what proved a valuable workout for an experimental side. The Déise also debuted their new jersey, a design that nods back to classic Waterford strips.

Waterford will now turn their attention to their next Munster Hurling League outing against Kerry next week.

Waterford vs Kerry — Wednesday 7th January 2026 @ 7:00 pm — Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Dungarvan