Waterford's second-half struggles continued as Wexford produced a powerful surge to victory in Sunday's Allianz hurling League Division 1A derby at Walsh Park.
Wexford responded to a patchy first-half showing to charge in front for the first-time after 48 minutes – veteran Matthew O’Hanlon snatching a 1-17 to 0-19 lead on his seasonal bow – before Simon Donohoe touched home a 52nd minute goal to drive Keith Rossiter’s men clear by 2-19 to 0-19.
But Waterford pounced upon a Wexford defensive error when substitute Pádraig Fitzgerald netted to shave the gap to 2-21 to 1-20 after 60 minutes and set up a grandstand finish, only for Davy Fitzgerald’s men to be left counting the cost of a bunch of closing wides.
Indeed, the result condemns the Déise to the second-tier of the league next year as Wexford look forward to top-flight action in the revamped competition.
Wexford also remain in the hunt for the league semi-finals ahead of hosting Cork in the closing round on Saturday, when Waterford are home to table-toppers Kilkenny.
And Waterford are left seeking a remedy to their frustrating third quarter slumps having only mustered 0-3 during that spell on this occasion having totalled a combined 0-5 in that same phase during the opening few rounds.
Waterford opened strongly against Wexford to craft the first five points without reply, a double from Paddy Leavey (frees) being added to by Jack Prendergast, Michael Kiely and Shane Bennett (free).
Wexford, in contrast, were struggling to make any telling impact upfront, and had to wait until the tenth minute for Seamus Casey to peg it back to 0-05 to 0-01 from a dead-ball.
But after an exchange of scores, Wexford cut through for a gilt-edged goal chance when Cian Byrne sent defender Shane Reck cutting in from the right end-line to feed Seamus Casey, who sent his drive into the near side-netting.
Wexford eventually struck gold though in the 21st minute. Having shared the next eight points, Shane Reck produced a turnover before sending midfielder Conor Hearne hurtling through to smash to the net.
That pegged it back to the minimum (0-09 to 1-05), but with Hearne earning a booking for challenge on Mark Fitzgerald after rattling the net.
Waterford responded to translate their underlying superiority into a 0-16 to 1-07 surge between the 23rd and 34th minutes courtesy of Bennett (three), Calum Lyons (two) and Prendergast (two).
Wexford made in-roads before half-time to close to within 0-16 to 1-10 with an inspired brace from Cian Byrne being added to by an injury-time Seamus Casey free.
The purple-and-gold ripped into the second-half as Waterford scores from Calum Lyons, Billy Nolan and Shane Bennett (free) were dwarfed by a cavalcade of points from Seamus Casey, Conor Hearne, Damien Reck, Kevin Foley and Matthew O’Hanlon as they finally hit the front (1-17 to 0-19).
The transformation peaked with Simon Donohoe nicking in to flick a delivery from the left by Seamus Casey to the net for a 2-19 to 0-19 lead after 52 minutes.
Waterford were gifted a route back into contention when sub Pádraig Fitzgerald pounced on a back-pass to net a 60th minute booster for the locals (2-21 to 1-20).
And that arrived shortly after fellow replacement Neil Montgomery had been denied a goal before having to settle for a point.
Ultimately wides cost Waterford as Wexford, after a rousing second-half, nailed their first victory of the league, with Keith Rossiter’s new regime remaining unbeaten after seven games.
Wexford: Mark Fanning; Niall Murphy, Damien Reck (0-01), Conor Foley; Eoin Ryan, Matthew O’Hanlon (0-01), Shane Reck; Conor Hearne (1-01), Simon Donohoe (1-01); Cathal Dunbar, Kevin Foley (0-02), Charlie McGuckin; Cian Byrne (0-05), Seamus Casey (0-09, 6 frees), Richie Lawlor (0-01).
Subs: Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-02, 1 free) for Dunbar (59), Jack Doran for S Reck, temp. (61-63), James Byrne for McGuckin (65), Mikie Dwyer for Casey (70), Doran for Cian Byrne (70+2).
Waterford: Shaun O’Brien; P.J. Fanning, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Ryan; Jack Fagan, Kieran Bennett, Darragh Lyons; Jamie Barron (0-04), Paddy Leavey (0-02 frees); Billy Nolan (0-01), Jack Prendergast (0-03), Calum Lyons (0-03); Michael Kiely (0-01), Shane Bennett (0-06, 5 frees), Peter Hogan.
Subs: Neil Montgomery (0-01) for Ryan (HT), Dessie Hutchinson for Kiely, inj. (41), Patrick Curran for Hogan (52), Pádraig Fitzgerald (1-02) for S. Bennett (59), Patrick Fitzgerald for Prendergast (65).
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
