Offaly 1-14 Waterford 2-18
Waterford kept their push for promotion to Allianz Hurling League Division 1A alive when they overcame a dismal start to easily beat Offaly by 2-18 to 1-14 in O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
The Faithful County made a blistering start and racked up a seven-point lead without the concession of a single score after 15 minutes, but Waterford finally got off the mark through Pauric Mahony and thanks to a goal from Stephen Bennett, led by 1-07 to 0-09 at half-time.
Offaly levelled at 1-11 apiece early in the second half when Shane Dooley hit the back of the net from close range, but they fell away after that and Waterford easily cruised home, despite racking up 22 wides during the tie.
After turning in two completely contrasting performances in the first two rounds of the competition, Faithful County supporters wouldn’t have known what to expect as they travelled to O’Connor Park for what may turn out to be their last home game of this campaign.
Despite playing with the wind, the early exchanges suggested that they were in for an encouraging performance from their heroes as Shane Dooley and Brian Carroll caused Waterford plenty of problems in the early stages.
Seven scores in succession rained over Stephen O’Keeffe’s crossbar, while at the other end of the field, a shocking array of mishits and errant strikes kept the Waterford men scoreless.
Pauric Mahony finally got them off the mark in the 16th minute with a close-range free and within five minutes he and Austin Gleeson added further points to reduce the gap.
Gleeson started the game at centre-back but moved to midfield alongside Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh early on and the presence of the two stars at either end of their careers completely changed Waterford’s fortunes in that sector.
Both sides played with an extra man in their full-back line, but Waterford started to mop up nearly every delivery that was sent into their scoring zone, while at the other end Offaly were left exposed when Colin Dunford, making his return from injury, turned Dermot Shortt and set up Stephen Bennett for the game’s first goal.
Seán Ryan earned a free for Offaly which Dooley converted, but that was to be the briefest of respites for the home side as Waterford continued to pile on the pressure and eventually went into the dressing rooms leading by 1-7 to 0-9.
Scores from Dunford, Brian O’Halloran and a brace of points from Mahony edged Waterford four points in front early in the second half but Offaly finally showed signs of life when Shane Dooley hit the back of the net after some good approach play by Joe Bergin and James Mulrooney in the 43rd minute.
Cathal Parlon sent a haymaker of a strike over the bar for the equaliser, but it was all downhill from there for Brian Whelahan’s side as Waterford restored their lead through Mahony, then went four in front again after Michael Walsh forced the ball over the line from close range.
Waterford’s first-half tally of 13 wides was added to by a further nine in the second half but despite this incredible display of poor shooting, the complete stranglehold they enjoyed over Offaly at their own end of the field meant that they didn’t concede a score for nearly 20 minutes in succession, by which time they accumulated a 2-16 to 1-12 lead.
Shane Dooley tacked on a couple of late frees to bring his tally to 1-10 for the afternoon and 2-32 for the league in total, but that was a rare silver lining on another dark day for Offaly hurling.
Waterford will feel encouraged by this display in advance of their critical local derby meeting with Wexford next week, not least because of the appearance of Maurice Shanahan late on, giving Derek McGrath another dangerous attacking weapon to call upon in the coming weeks.
Offaly: J Dempsey; D King, D Shortt, S Wynne; C Parlon (0-01), E Murphy, D Mooney; S Ryan, E Nolan; J Bergin, D Currams, S Cleary; J Mulrooney (0-01), S Dooley (1-10, 0-08 frees), B Carroll (0-02).
Subs: S Quirke for Bergin (52), C McDonald for Murphy (62), Colm Mulrooney for Cleary (68)
Waterford: S O’Keeffe; S Fives (0-01), B Coughlan, N Connors; Philip Mahony, T De Búrca, A Gleeson (0-01); J Barron, K Moran; C Dunford (0-02), Pauric Mahony (0-07, 0-06 frees), M Walsh (1-01); B O’Halloran (0-01), J Dillon (0-03), Shane Bennett (1-01).
Subs: M O’Neill (0-01) for Gleeson (31), G O’Brien for O’Halloran (51), S O’Sullivan for Barron (57), Stephen Bennett for Dunford (61), M Shanahan for Pauric Mahony (68)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
