Jake Morris the hat-trick hero as Tipperary claim league semi-final spot

Jake Morris became the first player to strike a hat-trick of goals for Tipperary against Waterford since 1965 as his side sealed top spot in Division 1B and a place in the league semi-finals after a ten-point win at FBD Semple Stadium.

The Nenagh star completed his first inter-county hat-trick as Tipp outscored the Déise by 3-8 to 0-06 in the final 15 minutes plus stoppages in which time Waterford had Jamie Barron sent off.

Liam Cahill, who led Waterford to four league and championship wins in a row against Tipperary, will be happy to have overseen his countymen in ending that streak in a game played with plenty of bite.

Austin Gleeson had more than earned his starting place with 15 points off the bench in three games but he didn't get many more minutes from the start. He was closely tagged by Dan McCormack and hauled off after 30 minutes with one wide and no score to his name.

McCormack also advanced forward to set up Morris's first goal in the eighth minute to bring the sides level at 1-1 to 0-4

Back-to-back Calum Lyons points edged Waterford ahead but they went without a score between the 14th and 34th minutes.

The Tipp half-back line was dominant under the puck-out while Johnny Ryan and Michael Breen kept Dessie Hutchinson and Stephen Bennett under close surveillance. Breen may count himself lucky to have stayed on the field, though, after a sideline incident with Bennett which saw the full-back yellow-carded.

Tipp strung eight points together in that spell, seven from Gearóid O’Connor who was having a flawless day on placed balls, to make it 1-11 to 0-7.

Tipp had no wide until O’Connor missed from play in the 35th minute and their other misses all came when eyeing goal. Séamus Callanan, who came off injured midway through