Win over Dublin sees Déise secure Division 1A status

Waterford 0-17 Dublin 0-13

Waterford secured their Division 1A status for another year with a deserved four-point triumph over Dublin in Dungarvan.

The hosts led by nine points a minute into the second half after midfielder Kevin Moran became the seventh Waterford player to claim a score.

However, Dublin fought back to cut the deficit to four points with 11 minutes remaining thanks to a third Eamon Dillon point.

But the 55th minute dismissal of defender Dean Curran hampered the Dubs as Waterford, who had led for long stretches, held firm for their second league win.

Last year's minor star Gavin O'Brien was in sensational form for Michael Ryan's side with four excellent points in the opening 35 minutes.

Maurice Shanahan and David Treacy swapped early scores, but once Pauric Mahony fired over the first of his three first half points from frees Waterford never trailed.

Niall McMorrow and Maurice O'Brien had efforts in quick succession crowded out by the Waterford defence, while at the opposite end the Deise forwards were razor sharp.

All five of Waterford's opening points came from different sources as O'Brien and Shane Walsh along with veteran defender Tony Browne helped them take a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes.

That gap was quickly extended to six points as Shanahan and O'Brien both landed their second points.

Dillon registered Dublin's first score for 15 minutes as the game entered the second quarter, but his effort was quickly cancelled out by Mahony's second free.

Dillon continued to prove dangerous as he cut the deficit to five points once again with a 20th minute strike.

O'Brien and Treacy exchanged scores, but Waterford edged eight points clear at the break with late scores from Mahony and O'Brien ensuring a 0-12 to 0-4 interval scoreline.

Dublin, who struck nine wides in the opening half, made a couple of changes for the second period with Anthony Daly calling ashore O'Brien and Simon Lambert, and Peadar Carton and Conor Clinton both introduced.

After an early miss at the other end, Kevin Moran hit his only score of the game from an acute angle to push Waterford nine points clear.

Waterford lost full-back Liam Lawlor through injury in the 39th minute, with Stephen Daniels introduced. He moved into the corner, with Philip Mahony switching to the centre, and Dublin capitalised by putting the reshuffled defence under increased pressure.

Scores from McMorrow, Ross O'Carroll, Treacy and John McCaffrey inside a nine-minute spell cut the deficit to five points. A minute later Shanahan brought his tally to three points, with what was a rare score at this stage for Waterford.

Dublin continued to dominate in terms of scoring chances created, but poor accuracy came back to haunt them. O'Dwyer and Treacy hit some bad wides, while Dublin were also reduced to 14 men after a second yellow card for Curran.

Points from Treacy and Dillon reduced the margin to 0-14 to 0-10 with 11 minutes remaining, but Waterford upped their game and issued a strong response.

Veteran players John Mullane and Eoin Kelly, along with Shanahan, strung together a series of impressive points to open up a 0-17 to 0-10 advantage by the 66th minute.

To their credit Dublin never gave up as points from Danny Sutcliffe, Ross O'Carroll and O'Dwyer made it a four-point game once again.

But there was no denying the Deise as aided by their defeat of fellow strugglers Galway last weekend, they managed to finish fourth in the final table and avoid the relegation play-off.

Next up for Ryan's charges is a Munster Championship date with Clare, while for Daly's Dubs they face a relegation play-off against Galway in a fortnight's time.

Scorers - Waterford: M Shanahan (0-2f), G O'Brien 0-4 each, Pauric Mahony 0-3 (0-3f), J Mullane 0-2, T Browne, E Kelly, K Moran, S Walsh 0-1 each

Dublin: D Treacy 0-4 (0-3f), E Dillon 0-3, J McCaffrey (0-1f), D Sutcliffe, N McMorrow, R O'Dwyer 0-1 each

WATERFORD: A Power, A Kearney, L Lawlor, Philip Mahony; T Browne, M Walsh, S O'Sullivan; K Moran, D Twomey; M Shanahan, Pauric Mahony, E McGrath; J Mullane, S Walsh, G O'Brien.

Subs used: S Daniels for Lawlor (39 mins), S Molumphy for Pauric Mahony (44), M O'Neill for McGrath (62), E Kelly for S Walsh (63), D O'Sullivan for Twomey (72).

DUBLIN: G Maguire; R Trainor, N Corcoran, O Gough; D Curran, M Quilty, J McCaffrey; D Curtin, S Lambert; D Treacy, M O'Brien. R O'Dwyer; E Dillon, D O'Callaghan, N McMorrow.

Subs used: P Carton for O'Brien, C Clinton for Lambert (both half-time), R O'Carroll for O'Callaghan (44 mins), D Plunkett for McMorrow (52), D Sutcliffe for Curtin (59).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)