Déise still in the hunt after surviving Offaly test
The Déise led 1-14 to 0-10 at the interval, but, aided by the elements, Offaly rallied and kept pushing the visitors. Five points separated the sides, 1-18 to 1-13, when O’Sullivan dived and his outstretched hurley sent the deftest of flicks to the net.
As Offaly piled on pressure, Waterford were outscored by 0-1 to 0-6 over the remaining 14 minutes but clung on for a victory that keeps them in the frame for a league final.
“Any team can beat anybody in this league,” said Waterford selector Pat Bennett.
“I’m surprised Tipp won so easily especially when Galway were at home. But it sets it up for us as well. I mean we’ve got to beat Galway at home and we’re still in with a shout and that’s what we wanted because at one stage it was looking that the last three rounds would be irrelevant which would have been a pity.”
He felt Waterford’s second-half goal was crucial and was thrilled with the work rate of the attack whose 1-14 first-half return was a point more than they managed the previous week against Kilkenny.
“Our forwards were moving very well, but in fairness to Offaly they never gave up and it was anyone’s game there near the end. We probably got a lucky second goal. But we’ll take it.”
The Waterford full forward trio, led brilliantly by Shane Walsh, accumulated 2-7 from play and the only negative from the Déise’s point of view was that they lost midfielder Richie Foley through injury late on.
Offaly boss Joe Dooley felt his side let it slip.
“It is a game we should have won really. We had two good goal chances and probably conceded a soft goal as well,” he said.
“The wind was strong and any time we got near Waterford they seemed to pull away again. Their second-half goal was a bit of a killer. It was against the run of play and it gave Waterford that bit of breathing space.”
Wind-assisted Waterford, with manager Davy Fitzgerald still banished to the stand, began very impressively and were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead with Walsh clipping over two points, Foley (two frees) and Brian O’Sullivan delivering the other scores.
Offaly reduced the deficit thanks to the accuracy of Shane Dooley and Joe Bergin.
Gavin Crotty became the second of Waterford’s debut boys to get on the scoresheet and further points by Walsh and the imposing Seamus Prendergast made it 0-8 to 0-5. Brian Carroll popped over Offaly’s sixth point and the Déise responded with four.
Against the elements, Offaly were feeling the pressure. Colin Egan and Dooley (free) bisected the uprights before Waterford chalked up 1-2 in quick succession.
Midfield duo Kevin Moran and Foley rifled over the points and sandwiched in between Shane Walsh dispossessed Hayden as he attempted to rise the sliotar and the Ardmore predator blasted home a goal.
This provided the Déise with a nine-point advantage and Offaly ended the half with a brace of points from Dooley (free) and Carroll to keep up their challenge.
The Faithful were provided with a fillip of confidence after Bergin got on the end of a long delivery and slammed to the net. Cathal Parlon’s superb point from an acute angle raised Offaly’sspirits again but seconds later Waterford struck for the decisive score.
Foley’s probing free broke kindly off Walsh and Brian O’Sullivan flicked home an opportunistic goal.
Dooley replied with four converted frees as Offaly kept battling away but to their dismay 1998 hurler of the year Tony Browne came up with a brilliant block on Bergin’s goal-bound strike.
Although Carroll and Dooley (free) nicked injury-time Offaly points, the visitors, without inspirational forward John Mullane who is getting married on Friday, clung on for a win.
Scorers for Waterford: R Foley 0-9 (8f, 1 65), S Walsh 1-4, B O’Sullivan 1-2, G Crotty, S Prendergast, S O’Sullivan, K Moran 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 0-12 (10f, 1 65), J Bergin 1-2, B Carroll 0-3, C Egan, C Parlon 0-1 each.
Subs for Offaly: M Cordial for Hayden (inj. ht), C Parlon for Healion (45), J Mulrooney for Molloy (50).
Subs for Waterford: P Mahony for Prendergast (53), E McGrath for Molumphy (60), E Kelly for Foley (inj. 61), D O’Sullivan for Nagle (68).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
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