Waterford hit four goals past Dubs

Waterford 4-13 Dublin 0-12

The versatile Kevin Moran impressed in attack as Waterford gave Dublin a sound beating in their NHL Division 1 opener at Walsh Park.

Moran scored three first half points, helping the Deise to a 1-10 to 0-6 half-time lead, and cracked home his side’s fourth goal as they ran out comfortable winners against a disappointing Dublin side.

Moran (1-5), free-taker Maurice Shanahan (0-6) and team captain Stephen Molumphy (1-1) led the scoring for Davy Fitzgerald's men.

Dublin lost All-Star Alan McCrabbe, who top-scored with 0-5, to a serious leg injury and there was a lengthy stoppage as he was placed onto a stretcher and brought off in an ambulance.

A second half that lasted 46 minutes had little joy for the Dubs as goals from Shane Walsh, Molumphy and Moran saw Waterford stretch the winning margin to 13 points.

When these sides met in the league last year, Anthony Daly's Dubs scored a shock one-point win but Waterford were not going to let that happen again.

With good stick work, a strong work ethic in defence and attack and some accurate shooting, the Deise pulled clear in the opening half.

Their first goal arrived in the seventh minute when Moran, who was listed at centre-forward but featured mostly on the wing, cut through the Dublin defence.

The ball was worked through to big Gary Hurney who sent a terrific finish past Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire from 20 yards out.

McCrabbe, who shuttled back and forth to midfield, helped the visitors claw the deficit back to 1-6 to 0-3 by the midpoint of the half.

The Dubs, with nine students in their starting line-up, engineered a decent goal-scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute but Peter Kelly's kicked effort went the wrong side of of the left-hand post.

Full-back Liam Lawlor, making his league debut, steadied the Waterford defence and Shanahan and Moran increased their side's tally as the paced dropped before the break.

Fitzgerald's charges pushed further clear, five minutes into the second half, when Moran and Molumphy combined to set up Walsh's goal, after Shanahan's initial shot had been saved by Maguire.

Daly reacted by introducing David Curtin, former footballer Shane Ryan and John Kelly into the fray but they had little influence as the Dubs continued to struggle in front of goal.

A point from David Treacy closed the gap to 2-11 to 0-10, with the long stoppage for McCrabbe, who suffered a suspected broken shin bone, taking the sting out of the game.

Late goals from Molumphy and Moran finished out an easier-than-expected outing for a Waterford side missing a number of experienced players, including suspended duo Eoin Kelly and Eoin McGrath.