Deise able for Offally challenge

NHL DIVISION 1:

Waterford 1-19 Offaly 1-16, Walsh Park

Waterford overcame Offaly's challenge in a competitive Allianz NHL Division 1 duel at Walsh Park this afternoon.

A Derek Molloy goal helped Offaly lead in the closing stages, but Maurice Shanahan scored three frees in the final seven minutes to decide this tie.

Seven frees from Eoin Kelly helped Waterford claim an 0-11 to 0-10 half-time advantage.

A Shane Dooley-inspired Offaly roared ahead on the resumption, but Dan Shanahan (goal) and John Mullane (point) got Waterford back level and they had the stronger finish.

After drawing with Cork and Tipperary in recent outings, Waterford were eager to get back to winning ways in order to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Division 1 final.

But despite today's success over the Faithfuls, Galway's late win over Dublin means Davy Fitzgerald's side will finish third at best in the final table.

Fitzgerald made one change to the team that drew with Tipperary, Maurice Shanahan coming in at left half-forward.

Offaly had two league debutants in their side in the form of goalkeeper James Dempsey and midfielder Stephen Wynne.

The first half was evenly contested with the lead changing on no less than eight occasions. The Deise made the early running, with Seamus Prendergast and Eoin Kelly (0-3) helping them into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Offaly's opening points came from Brian Carroll and Derek Molloy and free-taker Shane Dooley soon showed his class by hitting four quick-fire points.

Molloy was also on target again as the visitors took the lead, only for Kelly and Maurice Shanahan to get Waterford back level at 0-7 apiece.

Joe Dooley's well-drilled side were certainly putting it up to Waterford. Dooley took his tally to six points and Daniel Currams launched over an excellent score from the sideline.

But Kelly's accuracy from placed balls, allied to a late, long range effort from Shane O'Sullivan, helped Waterford end the opening half in the ascendancy.

Offaly had the better of possession on the restart, with Currams and Rory Hanniffy both scoring from play. Free-takers Kelly and Dooley also chipped in with further points, although frequent stoppages did little for the flow of the second half.

Dan Shanahan's scrambled goal gave Waterford hope that they might break free, but Dooley took his tally to 0-10 and the Deise needed a terrific point from substitute Mullane to level again at 1-13 to 0-16.

Two frees from Shanahan's younger brother, who dominated the closing stages, saw the hosts move ahead again. It was a brief lead, however, as Molloy's shot was bundled over the line despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy.

But Offaly's brave bid for their third win of the league campaign folded as they coughed up a series of late frees and Maurice Shanahan, taking over the free-taking duties from the substituted Kelly, raised white flag after white flag.

The 20-year-old from Lismore held his nerve to land five points in the closing 17 minutes, with Shane Walsh also scoring from play. Offaly could not respond, and Fitzgerald's charges were able to see out a much-needed win.