Decies delight but Offaly restore some pride

Offaly 1-15 Waterford 1-26

Waterford chalked up win number one of the qualifier series at Dr Cullen Park as the twin-powered forwards engines of John Mullane and Paul Flynn saw them run out 1-26 to 1-15 winners over Offaly.

Still shellshocked by last weekend's 31-point Leinster hammering at the hands of rampant Kilkenny, John McIntyre's Offaly side restored their pride with an encouraing display.

Whether they will be good enough to come out of a qualifier group that contains Clare and Dublin too is still in doubt, but there were good noises to be heard from scorers-in-chief Brian Carroll (0-5) and Damien Murray (0-3).

At the other end, Mullane was majestic and bagged eight points from play despite being hampered by a facial injury, which needed treatment from the Deise doctors twice in quick succession.

From the off, Offaly were at least competitive. Carroll (0-3) and Brendan Murphy kept the Faithfuls in contention at 0-4 to 0-6 down in the first quarter.

Gradually though, the Waterford machine got moving and it was soon party time in the Offaly defence. Paul Flynn, who struck 1-8 in all, tagged on two neat points to the Deise tally and Mullane began to meander - hitting four points without reply for a 0-17 to 0-6 interval lead for Justin McCarthy's men.

That lead was soon built on after the break as Ken McGrath banged over three points - two from play and a '65 - and Flynn maintained his free-scoring prowess for a 0-22 to 0-11 buffer, with little over 20 minutes remaining.

On 54 minutes, Offaly managed a goal as a crafty Carroll centre saw substitute Aidan Hanrahan kick to net despite the attention of a number of the Munster side's defenders.

Waterford kept their noses in front and sewed up the win in the first minute of injury-time when Flynn sent a 21-metre free searing into the Offaly net.