Dubs prevail as champions Waterford fail to defend

Dublin 2-13

Dublin's victorious visit to Fraher Field in Dungarvan yesterday made it two defeats in three games for the Deise, placing enormous pressure on their position in Division 1A.

Dublin displayed a determination that will have greatly pleased manager Marty Morris, and indeed showed that definite progress has been made during his short tenure at the helm.

They had first use of the howling wind, and were off the mark within forty seconds when Kevin Flynn pointed, with inspirational midfielder Conal Keaney quickly adding a second.

A good start became a dream one for the Dubs when Tomás McGrane capitalised on a woeful defensive mix-up in the 6th minute to finish to the Waterford net.

With just over a quarter of an hour gone they had a goal and seven points on the board, without a solitary Deise response.

That eventually came on seventeen minutes, when Dave Bennett pointed a free, but within sixty seconds a bad situation worsened considerably for the home side as Liam Ryan got the final touch to a superb Carl Meehan sideline delivery to score Dublin's second goal, stretching their advantage to a whopping twelve points.

By the interval the scoreboard had a lopsided look of 2-12 to 0-3, but things would have been even worse for the home outfit had it not been for the marvellous play of Eoin McGrath

Even with the their new-found wind, Waterford required twelve minutes before they registered a second-half score through a Ken McGrath point. Liam Ryan replied in the 50th minute, leaving a fifteen-point gap between the sides.

The McGraths, Eoin and Ken, then began to dictate affairs, as it was virtually all one-way towards the Dubs' goal for the final twenty minutes.

Keith Wilson was superb in defence, however, while goalkeeper Gerard Ryan denied Andy Moloney a goal with a stunning save in the 56th minute.

The McGraths then landed swift Waterford points and Dave Bennett crashed the free to the net when Moloney was fouled.

That narrowed the deficit to seven points, 2-13 to 1-9, and there was just a glimmer of hope for Waterford.

More points followed until there were just two dividing the sides, and Waterford had one last chance when Ken McGrath was fouled, but Bennett's match winning goal attempt from 35 metres was blocked by the defensive wall, and seconds later the final whistle confirmed the Dubs as narrow but deserving winners.

Scorers for Dublin; T. McGrane(1-6, 0-5 frees); L. Ryan(1-2); C. Keaney(0-2); K. Flynn, T. Moore, S. McDonnell(0-1) each. Waterford; D. Bennett(1-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 "65"); K. McGrath(1-2); E. McGrath(0-3); T. Browne(0-1).

DUBLIN: G.Ryan; C. Wilson. L. O'Donoghue. C. Meehan; K. Wilson. S. Perkins. S. Hiney; C. Keaney. T. Holden; T. Moore. L. Ryan. S. McDonnell; M. Carton. K.Flynn. T. McGrane.

Subs; J. McGuirk for Holden; D. Sweeney for Carton; S. Martin for McDonnell; B. McLoughlin for McGrane.

WATERFORD: N. Kelly; T. Feeney. D. Prendergast. J. Murray; E. Murphy. F. Hartley. P. Queally; T. Browne. E. McGrath; D. Bennett. K. McGrath. P. Fitzgerald; J. Kennedy. A. Moloney. M. Walsh.

Subs; P. O'Brien for Fitzgerald; D. Shanahan for Kennedy.

Referee: D. Kirwan, Cork.