Tipperary 0-17 Waterford 1-8 Declan Browne gave a 12-point scoring display while steering Tipperary to a hard-earned victory over a battling Waterford side at Clonmel yesterday.The Moyle Rovers star, with three points from play and two frees, paved the way for Tipp's one-point half-time lead.

Tipperary's whirlwind start to the second half saw them land six points to go 0-12 to 0-6 ahead.

Waterford got back on track when Liam Ó Lonáin scored a goal on 54 minutes. Waterford points from Andy Hubbard and John Coffey then left a single score separating the sides.

James Williams lifted the siege for Tipperary with in the 61st minute and Browne struck a hat trick of unanswered points before Damien O'Brien sealed Tipperary's victory.

TIPPERARY: P Ryan; B Hahessy, S Collum, Liam Cronin; R Costigan, D Byrne (0-1), N Sheehan; N Fitzgerald (0-1), A Fitzgerald; M Webster, F O'Callaghan, J Williams (0-1); G Burke, D Browne (0-12, four frees), D O'Brien (0-2). Subs: M Tarrant for Fitzgerald, L England for Webster.

WATERFORD: P Houlihan; T Dunphy, E Rockett, M Crotty; N Hennessy, J Hearne, P Fitzgerald; K O'Keeffe, A Hubbard (0-1); L Ó Lonáin (1-2), C Watt, J Coffey (0-1), N Curran (0-3, one free), S Walsh (0-1), G Power. Subs: P Ogle for O'Keeffe, S Barron for Power, P Queally for Walsh, S Kavanagh for Hubbard.

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).