Tipperary earned a deserved victory over Waterford in the Munster intermediate hurling championship final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last evening. The winners led by 1-4 to 1-2 at half-time.

Waterford waited 16 minutes for their opening score from Pat Fitzgerald but a Simon Everard goal in the 25th minute re-established Tipperary's superiority.

Tipperary: F Horgan; B Gaynor, M Peters, G Griffin; K Hogan, C Morrissey, C Everard; S Maher (0-1), J Teehan (1-1); B Hogan (0-3), B Stritch, P Buckley; G Maguire (1-2) D Hackett (1-0) S Everard (1-1). Subs: P Morrissey for B Hogan; M Keeshan for C Everard.

Waterford: P Flynn; N O'Donnell, Alan Kirwan, M O'Sullivan; S Frampton, S Prendergast, V O'Shea; Andrew Kirwin (0-1), C Watt; P Prendergast, M Molumphy (2-0), N Power; B O'Sullivan, D Howard, P Fitzgerald (0-2). Subs: B Phelan (0-3) for O'Shea; S Ryan for Howard; M Walsh (0-1) for Power; D Prendergast for S Prendergast

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).

Tipperary ... 4-8

Waterford ... 2-7