Tipperary and Waterford had to be content with a share of the spoils after a thrilling draw in Walsh Park on Saturday evening.
Waterford led by four points after 70 minutes but were pegged back by a late Tipperary rally which, after two rounds, effectively blows the Munster championship wide open.
Jack Prendergast had put Waterford four up as the clock struck 70 but a goal from sub Sean Kenneally stunned the home crowd before a free from Gearóid O'Connor levelled the game with the last puck.
An emphatically struck Stephen Bennett penalty on four minutes settled Waterford into the game after a cagey start from both sides.
Mikey Kiely appeared to have been pulled back and referee James Owens had no doubt in his mind about the decision.
Dessie Hutchinson and Mark Kehoe then traded points before a brace from Tipperary’s roving midfielder Eoghan Connolly.
Stephen Bennett responded for Waterford with his first of the day after a clever pass from Hutchinson before Kehoe capitalised on a puck-out malfunction from Waterford to notch his second.
Waterford drew a big cheer from the home crowd moments later when a three-man move involving Jack Fagan and Darragh Lyons led to a Neil Montgomery score.
O’Connor and Kieran Bennett exchanged points before Tipperary hit three-in-a-row to go in front for the first time. Ronan Maher’s from distance was the pick of the bunch.
Prendergast was denied a goal moments later but Stephen Bennett ensured that Waterford got something from that attack, with a simply jaw-dropping effort from the sideline.
Kehoe and Morris hit back for Tipperary before a quick-fire 1-02 from Waterford.
Bennett and the rampaging Calum Lyons raised white flags before, with his second bite of the cherry, Prendergast wasn’t to be denied his goal this time.
Tipperary did complain about an off-the-ball incident in the build-up, which may have explained why the Lismore man was in acres of space when Hutchinson looked up but while Kevin Mahony was booked in the aftermath, the goal was granted.
Waterford were on top at this stage but two uncharacteristic wides in a row from Hutchinson had Davy Fitzgerald holding his head in his hands before a brace of Jason Forde frees left the half-time score at 2-08 to 0-12.
Ronan Maher scored a long range free to kick off the second half before Hutchinson missed a close one. He asked the maor camán for a new stick instantly.
Kehoe scored his fourth of the day before Tipp went in front again, after Darragh Stakelum’s first.
McGrath extended the advantage moments later before, in their moment of need, Waterford found another goal.
Munster SHC table
It came after some quick-thinking from Hutchinson, who tapped a close-range free to Stephen Bennett.
The Ballysaggart man stunned the Tipp defence with a rocket to the bottom corner. Suddenly, the hosts were one up again.
Morris hit back for Tipperary before Tadhg De Búrca displayed incredible composure to set up Dessie for another score.
Dessie tacked on a free won by the industrious Jamie Barron, before Alan Tynan responded after good work from McGrath.
Kiely and McGrath traded points before Waterford kicked for home, with three in a row, from Dessie (two) and Calum Lyons.
Tipp hung in with Tynan and sub Patrick Maher scoring points, but Waterford seemed to have more in the tank.
Despite the ferocious heat, Barron and De Búrca seemed to be getting even stronger and faster and they looked to have done enough, before Tipperary struck back.
A tally of 14 wides will haunt Waterford.
Liam Cahill turned to the crowd and celebrated at the final whistle. While he would have preferred a win, the point at least means that they are still alive in the Munster championship.
Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; Kieran Bennett (0-01), Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Búrca, Calum Lyons (0-3); Jamie Barron, Darragh Lyons (0-01); Neil Montgomery (0-01) Stephen Bennett (2-03, 1-0 pen) Jack Prendergast (1-01), Dessie Hutchinon (0-06, 3f), Michael Kiely (0-01), Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Jack Fagan (0-01) for Prunty (6), Shane Bennett (0-1) for Kevin Mahony (50), Peter Hogan for Neil Montgomery (57), Patrick Curran (0-2) for Bennett (63).
Tipperary: Barry Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher (0-02, 1f), Craig Morgan; Conor Bowe, Bryan O'Mara, Mikey Breen (0-01); Noel McGrath (0-02), Eoghan Connolly (0-02); Alan Tynan (0-02), Gearoid O’Connor (0-04, 3f) Jason Forde (0-03, 2f), Jake Morris (0-03), Mark Kehoe (0-04), Darragh Stakelumn (0-01).
Subs: Patrick Maher (0-01) for Jason Forde (50), Willie Connors for Eoghan Connolly (53), John McGrath (0-01) for Noel McGrath (55), Sean Kenneally (1-1) for Stakelum (63), Dan McCormack for O’Mara (67).
Referee: James Owens.
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