A superb first half display by John Mullane powered Waterford to their first Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A points at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise as they came from behind to win by eight points – 1-19 to 0-14.
Mullane was in devastating form in that opening half and after he had hit three points to haul back the home sides early lead he struck for a magnificent goal to put his side into a lead that they never lost.
Mullane failed to score in the second half, but with Eoin Kelly and Dave Bennett in fine scoring form, the Deise were always in control and ran out easy winners, despite the fact that three of their side - Bennett, Brian Phelan and blood sub Eoin McGrath - were all sent off for yellow card offences.
Laois got off to a great start and against the wind dominated the opening 15 minutes and with three points from James Young and another by Philip Russell led 0-4 to no score before John Mullane opened the visitors account with a super point and followed within a minute with an even better one.
Dave Bennett narrowed the gap to the minimum and midfielder Brian Phelan had the sides level after 24 minutes.
Then, suddenly, Waterford, and in particular John Mullane, swung into action and shot 1-5 in six minutes. Mullane started with his third point and then shot a magnificent goal to give his side the lead.
Waterford finished the half with a flourish and points from wing-back Brian Wall, Dan Shanahan and two from Eoin Kelly from play gave them a six-point cushion at the break 1-10 to 0-7.
That first half saw Waterford’s Eoin McGrath come on as a blood sub and be sent off for a yellow card off offence before Brian Phelan could come back on.
The second half failed to live up to the standard set in the opening period but Bennett and Kelly continued to punish all indiscretions by the Laois defense.
Laois: P Mullaney, B Campion, P Cuddy, L Tynan, J Fitzpatrick, S O’Dwyer, M McEvoy, J Young 0-7, J Walsh 0-1, C Coonan 0-1, J Rowney 0-1, M Rooney, D Culleton, R Jones, P Russell 0-2. Subs: C Brophy 0-1 for Rooney. E Jackman for Rowney, D Walsh for Tynan (Y), C Cleere 0-1 for J Walsh.
Waterford: C Hennessy, T Feeney, F Hartley, J Murray, B Wall 0-1, D Prendergast, E Murphy, B Phelan 0-2, M Walsh, E. Kelly 0-7, D Shanahan 0-2, D Bennett 0-3, J Mullane 1-3, S Prendergast 0-1, J Kennedy. Subs: P Foley for Phelan (Y), A Moloney for Bennett (Y), D Coffey for Murray.
