Unbeaten Wexford relegate Waterford from league top flight
Shane Reck of Wexford in action against Calum Lyons of Waterford during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Waterford and Wexford at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Wexford remain unbeaten. Waterford remain without a league win since the opening weekend of action.
The Déise’s latest third-quarter malfunction means they cannot now finish in one of the three automatic qualifying spots for next season’s seven-team elite.
Ahead by 0-16 to 1-10 at the break, they were hit for 1-5 without reply between the 46th and 51st minute. That game-deciding burst pushed the visitors 2-19 to 0-19 in front. A swing of nine points.
Again without experienced figures such as Conor McDonald, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Connal Flood, Liam Óg McGovern, and Conor Devitt, this result represented Wexford’s first victory of the League. Equally pertinent was that it extended their unbeaten league start to four games.
Top-scorer Séamus Casey, Kevin Foley, returning full-back Matthew O’Hanlon, and Cian Byrne were the point-scorers in their third-quarter drive. Casey looked to make it six on the spin on 51 minutes, but when his effort dropped short, midfielder Simon Donohoe ghosted in to flick the sliotar to the net.
Waterford almost immediately replied with a green flag of their own. Mark Fanning produced a superb save to deny Neil Montgomery. Montgomery flicked over the rebound.
Wexford would gift Waterford a goal and a road back into proceedings on the hour mark. Niall Murphy overcooked his pass to Damien Reck. Sub Padraig Fitzgerald stole in and smashed to the net. The gap was cut to four 2-21 to 1-20.
A Fitzgerald brace and Jamie Barron’s fourth had them within two heading for injury-time. They will be furious they did not at least get on level terms. Fitzgerald was wide, Calum Lyons was twice off target, while a Paddy Leavey free fell shy. They had their chances.
This result means Waterford can't finish in the top four and so won't be part of the new top flight in 2025.
The hosts had started as they meant to continue on. They had opened a five-point advantage as early as the ninth minute.
Barron, in his first start of the season, picked up where he left off at Páirc Uí Chaoimh a fortnight ago. Jack Prendergast pointed and then won a converted free. Mikey Kiely was another inside Waterford forward causing trouble and throwing over white flags.
Séamus Casey provided Wexford’s opener, from the dead ball, on 10 minutes. Their challenge did not get going until Conor Hearne got going 10 minutes later. Fed by Shane Reck, the midfielder showed a blistering turn of pace to take him away from all nearby white shirts. His batted finish bettered his searing burst.
The game’s opening goal had arrived directly after one of Cian Byrne’s four first half points. From five behind, the visitors now stood within the minimum of their hosts. And Keith Rossiter’s men were probably saying to themselves we could be in front here given their tally of six wides inside 19 minutes.
Waterford’s response to the green flag was borne out of the creativity and running of their Jamie Barron-led half-forward line.
Peter Hogan - a member of that half-forward line - was fouled for a converted free. Barron then assisted the third member of that line, Calum Lyons, before Lyons assisted Jack Prendergast.
A later three-in-a-row from Shane Bennett (0-2, one free) and Calum Lyons had Waterford 0-16 to 1-7 in front.
Wexford matched it with their own three on the trot through the lively Byrne and Casey (free) to leave them only a score behind - 0-16 to 1-10 - at the break.
Wexford roared thereafter. They arrived across the southeast border unbeaten and they'll go back across it unbeaten.
S Casey (0-9, 0-6 frees); C Byrne (0-5); C Hearne, S Donohoe (1-1 each); C Byrne Dunbar (0-1 free), K Foley (0-2); D Reck, M O’Hanlon, R Lawlor (0-1 each).
S Bennett (0-6, 0-5 frees); Padraig Fitzgerald (1-2, 0-1 free); J Barron (0-4); J Prendergast, C Lyons (0-3 each); P Leavey (0-2 frees); N Montgomery, B Nolan, M Kiely (0-1 each).
M Fanning; N Murphy, M O’Hanlon, C Foley; E Ryan, D Reck, S Reck; C Hearne, S Donohoe; C Dunbar, K Foley, C McGuckin; C Byrne, S Casey, R Lawlor.
C Byrne Dunbar for C Dunbar (58); J Byrne for McGuckin (64); M Dwyer for Casey (70); J Doran for C Byrne (73).
S O’Brien; C Ryan, M Fitzgerald, PJ Fanning; J Fagan, B Nolan, D Lyons; P Leavey, K Bennett; P Hogan, J Barron, C Lyons; M Kiely, J Prendergast, S Bennett.
N Montgomery for C Ryan (HT); D Hutchinson for Kiely (40, inj); P Curran for Hogan (52); Padraig Fitzgerald for S Bennett (58); Patrick Fitzgerald for Prendergast (64).
C Lyons (Cork)
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