London left Waterford stunned with five goals at Fraher Field, as four in the first half gave them a runaway success in the Tailteann Cup first round.
The Exiles had five different goalscorers and ten scorers in total as they led from flag fall to finish.
Waterford were dealt a blow before throw-in as news broke of the absence of their talisman and captain Conor Murray, and they were hit with another setback just as fast as action commenced as the visitors scored the opening goal in the first minute.
A Joe McGill attempt dropped short and was fumbled by Deise goalkeeper Paudie Hunt, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line and the umpires reached for the green flag. A Michael O'Brien free got Waterford off the mark soon after. Kristian Healy found the target for London, they soon smelt blood and the Deise were picking the ball out of the net again on eight minutes.
A swift counter-attack from the Exiles saw a loose ball run fortuitously into the path of the onrushing Shay Rafter, and the Tara forward blasted past Hunt as London established a six-point cushion.
A fine effort from the left boot of Alan Dunwoody kept Waterford in touch before the hosts wasted a golden goal opportunity of their own on 15 minutes - O’Brien was sent racing through and fired straight at goalkeeper Andrew Walsh.
O’Brien’s second free reduced arrears but London were in an unforgiving mood at the other end, striking for their third goal on 17 minutes. A kickout went awry and found McGill, he played in Daniel Clarke who offloaded to James Davis and the Round Towers forward emphatically slammed to the roof of the net.
Waterford’s misery was compounded as Dunwoody was given a black card for an off-the-ball incident with Conor O’Donohue, and after another O’Brien dead ball - the visitors’ response was again ruthless. On 32 minutes, Sean O’Donoghue broke down the right flank and squared across and this time David Gouldson was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
Another great goal opportunity presented itself to Waterford right before the break, as Michael Curry played in Caoimhin Walsh - he rounded Andrew Walsh, but blazed right and wide with the goal at his mercy. London led 4-01 to 0-04 at the interval.
Gouldson had to settle for a point on the resumption as goal number five seemed inevitable, before a beauty from Davis emphasised their dominance.
Stephen Curry curled over for Waterford, but that was quickly cancelled out by Ciaran Diver as the London lead remained eleven points. Aaron Ryan kept the scoreboard working, before Daire Rooney was black carded for a foul on Donal Fitzgerald and Dunwoody fired over the requisite free.
A Shay Rafter strike gave London even less reason to worry, before Liam Gallagher broke free and tapped over another. Rafter’s second made it 4-07 to 0-07 with ten minutes left, before a Liam Murphy effort flashed left and wide in the search for goal number five.
Four more scores - three in a bright cameo from Henry Walsh and one from McGill consolidated their complete comfort as the clock wound down, and there was even time for goal number five to arrive on 70 minutes - an effort from a point coming back off the post and Finbarr Crowley was on hand to find the net and complete the rout.
Late points from Dunwoody (2), Ryan and O’Donohue mattered little, as London were full value for their 17-point success at the finish.
A landmark day for London, a sobering one for Waterford - as the Déise are now 14 months and 14 competitive games without a win.
Scorers for Waterford: Alan Dunwoody (0-04; 0-01f); Michael O’Brien (0-03; 0-03f); Aaron Ryan (0-02); Stephen Curry (0-01)
Scorers for London: Shay Rafter (1-02); Joe McGill, James Davis and David Gouldson (1-01 each); Finbarr Crowley (1-00); Henry Walsh (0-03; 0-02f); Kristian Healy, Liam Gallagher, Conor O’Donohue and Ciaran Diver (0-01 each)
Waterford: Paudie Hunt; Tommy Martin, Billy Hynes, Conor Ó Cuirrín; Glen Power, Adam Crawford, Liam Mulligan; Michael Curry, Dermot Ryan; Michael O’Brien, Caoimhin Walsh, Darragh Walsh; Stephen Curry, Alan Dunwoody, Adam Murray.
Subs: Aaron Ryan for Caoimhin Walsh (HT); Donal Fitzgerald for Glen Power (46); Paddy McCarthy for Michael O’Brien (60); Joe Brennan for Adam Murray (60); Kyle Flynn for Darragh Walsh (65)
London: Andy Walsh; Ciaran Diver, Daire Rooney, Sean O’Donoghue; Finbarr Crowley, Conor O’Donohue, David Gouldson; Liam Gallagher, Conal Gallagher; Jim Davis, Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy; Michael O’Reilly, Shay Rafter, Joe McGill.
Subs: Tighe Barry for Daniel Clarke (33); Ciaran McKeon for David Gouldson (56); Liam Murphy for Tighe Barry (59); Henry Walsh for Michael O’Reilly (59); George Durrant for Ciaran Diver (65)
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
