Waterford were crowned ESB Munster MHC winners for the first time since 1992 following a two-point victory over Tipperary at Semple Stadium. Waterford..0-18 Tipperary...1-13 Star of the show was Mount Sion midfielder Martin O'Neill, who scored 0-10, including 0-6 in the first half to help the Deise to a 0-11 to 0-8 interval lead. Tipperary came into the final as favourites following their impressive semi-final replay triumph over Cork, but they were always playing second fiddle to a determined Waterford team, and must now regroup for the All-Ireland quarter-final in a fortnight's time. Waterford raced into an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead before Mark O'Leary's Tipp side rallied to draw level on 0-7 each after 23 minutes. But the visitors finished the half strongly to take a three-point lead into the break. After Tipp missed two goal-scoring opportunities early in the second half, Waterford took control to surge into a 0-17 to 0-11 lead with 10 minutes remaining. John O'Dwyer pulled back a goal for Tipp late on, but Waterford deservedly held on for victory. Waterford - S O'Keeffe; L Egan, T Costello, M Wyse; J Dee, P Mahoney, D Fives; F Murray (0-1), M O'Neill (0-10, 6f, 1 '65); P Mahoney (0-2, 1f), B O'Halloran (0-1), R Cahill (0-1); P Prendergast (0-2), J Dillon, I Galgey (0-1). Subs: K Moore for Cahill (59). Tipperary - P Ryan; A Ryan, L Butler, J Meagher; W Ryan, B Stapleton, A Hogan (0-1); A Cleere (0-1), D Maher; R Gleeson, P Heffernan, S Curran (0-1); D Collins, J O'Dwyer (1-6, 1-5f), E Murray (0-1). Subs: T Butler (0-1) for D Maher (40), M O'Brien for Collins (43), S Maher for A Ryan (50), P Heffernan for D Butler (56). Ref - C Lyons (Cork) Tweet

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