Wexford manager Keith Rossiter described their victory over Waterford as "massive" as the Yellowbellies maintained their unbeaten run in the 2024 Allianz Hurling League.
Making the short trip to Walsh Park with three draws from three, Rossiter's charges seemed to still have their minds on the N25 as their hosts completely dominated the opening 10 minutes and shot into a five point lead.
Wexford were pilling up the wides in the opening quarter of an hour but they eventually hit some form with Conor Hearne's goal on 21 minutes bringing them back into the tie.
Waterford stretched the lead back out to five but critically Wexford hit two points just before the switch around to keep the gap to one score. Cian Byrne hit four scores from play in the opening half, while Séamus Casey would end the afternoon with 0-09, three of which were from open play.
Their real purple patch arrived for Wexford in a 15 minute spell before the hour mark as they outscored the Déise by 1-07 to 0-01 to push seven clear. Waterford had their chances from there but a couple of poor wides dented their hopes as impressive substitute Corey Byrne Dunbar added two critical points at the other end to see Wexford home.
The result moves Wexford to five points, guaranteeing them Division 1A hurling in 2025, and knowing that victory next weekend against Cork would give them an outside chance of making this year's league semi-finals.
Speaking on RTÉ's Sunday Sport, Rossiter acknowledged the importance of the victory.
"It was massive, it keeps us fighting into the last round of the league," he said.
"We've Cork in Wexford Park next week so it was either us or Waterford that was going to be on the back foot after this. Delighted to come out on top.
"In fairness to Waterford they could have put us out of sight after 15 minutes when it was 0-06 to 0-01. But we got to grips with it, we settled... there was a lot at stake today.
"There was that, 'stay in the hunt for Division One status' [idea]. That was there today and both teams knew about that. That was playing on our minds.
"Waterford had home advantage and had to put in a performance as well so I'm delighted the lads came out after half time and put in a massive performance and we got the result."
Davy Fitzgerald, who was facing Wexford for the first time since stepping down as manager on Slaneyside back in 2022, was of the view that the game was one of two halves, with his side on top in the opening 35 and Wexford turning things around after the break.
"I thought we played really well in the first half and deserved to be up a lot more than three points," he began.
"We should have been six or seven up. That's my honest opinion, I thought we were by far the better team. Second half Wexford took over and totally controlled it.
"We lost our shape in a big way and that's disappointing. We have to accept that we've a number of guys coming back that are way off match fitness [and] we have to get games into them.
"Wexford deserved the win, no complaints, and whatever bit of stick we've coming for us that's fine."
Waterford will welcome Kilkenny to Walsh Park knowing they will be in Division 1B next season but Fitzgerald is confident they can raise their game for the impending Munster Championship.
"We've a few weeks to go, it's six weeks away yet," he said.
"Lads have to get a bit more training time and match time; there's a lot of guys to come back into this fold.
"I know we'll be written off and that's fine but never say never, we'll be fighting hard."
