Maguire goal denies Decies

Waterford 1-10 Leitrim 1-10

But gallant Leitrim came storming back to grab an unexpected draw in controversial circumstances. The controversy surrounds a goal from full-forward Ollie Maguire minutes from the final whistle.

Waterford argued that goalkeeper Alfie Kirwan was impeded as he attempted to field a high ball. The referee felt otherwise and the ball eventually found its way to Maguire who rammed to the net.

That narrowed the deficit to the minimum and seconds later the goalscorer turned provider for Damien O’Donnell to land the equaliser.

The final five minutes aside, Waterford were the stronger force. They dominated territorially for lengthy spells in both halves, but failed to translate that possession onto the scoreboard.

The sides were level at 0-3 each at the end of the first quarter before full forward Paul Foley, who was a menacing target man for Waterford throughout, pointed to give his side the lead.

Jacko Kiely squandered a great goal chance on 26 minutes and the Munster men were a little disheartened at holding a one point lead at the interval, (0-7 to 0-6).

Kiely made amends within 20 seconds of the restart scoring a tremendous goal from 15 yards to extend their advantage to four points.

Leitrim responded with a brace of points from Sean Munnelly and James Holohan, before responses from Waterford’s man of the match Matty Kiely and David Kirwan.

Crucially, Kiely missed another great goal chance 12 minutes from time but Emmet Doherty’s point a minute later put five between them, and there seemed no way back for Leitrim. However, the Connacht men dug deep. Sub Gavin McSweeney pointed a free but that highly dubious 56th minute goal by Maguire really hauled them back into the game.

There was almost an inevitability about O’Donnell’s 58th minute equaliser.

Scorers: Waterford; J. Kiely(1-1); P. Foley(0-3); M. Kiely(0-2); D. Kirwan(0-2); K. Whelan, E. Doherty(0-1) each. Leitrim; O. Maguire(1-2); J. Cullen(0-2); J. Holohan(0-2); G. McWeeney, J. Gilbane, S. Munnelly, D. O’Donnell(0-1) each.

WATERFORD: A.Kirwan; N. Barry. R. Power. M. Byrne; D. Ryan. L. Hurney. M. Kiely; M. O’Brien. S. Dempsey; R. Hennessy. D. Kirwan. K. Whelan; E. Doherty. P. Foley. J. Kiely; Subs; A. Aherne for Dempsey; J. Power for Hennessy.

LEITRIM: K. Ludlow; K. Kennedy. O, McBride. B. Butler; F. Holohan. D. McHugh. D. Duignan; K. Scollan. J. Gilbane; J. Cullen. D. O’Donnell. S. Munnelly; S. MaGuire. O. Maguire. J. Holohan; Subs; B. McWeeney for Kennedy; S. Foley for Munnelly; P. McGarry for Scollan; G. McWeeney for S. Maguire.

Referee; E. Whelan, Laois.