Ó Ceallacháin concedes defeat as Déise edge promotion battle

Waterford's Mark Fitzgerald is tackled by Cian O'Siullivan of Dublin. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Division 1B: Waterford 1-23 Dublin 2-18 

A promotion boost for Waterford, a promotion blow for Dublin. The roar that greeted the final whistle underlined the importance of this result to the Déise.

A late, late show from Peter Queally's charges, in front of 5,481 spectators, turned a five-point deficit into a two-point win and lifted them up to second in the Division 1B table. 

Stephen Bennett slotted eleven points and created the equalising goal for Patrick Curran with a wonderful crossfield pass. The super sub scored 1-2 in a brilliant cameo.

Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin conceded defeat afterwards in the race for the top two. 

"We're realistically not in the mix for promotion I think. In the context of going up, it was do or die. That's how we approached it after last weekend. It just killed that as far as we're concerned."

Cian O'Sullivan went from hero to zero for the Dubs as his straight red card on 66 minutes, for a high tackle on Mark Fitzgerald, proved a game changer. His 2-2 from play had left the visitors five points up with ten to go.

Ó Ceallacháin refused to be drawn on the dismissal afterwards. 

"There's no point in me saying anything. There was more than that incident in this game today. It's hard to understand certain things you know."

This was the third league game in a row that his team finished with a player less. 

"We have to look at ourselves to be honest. At this level, down a man, it's extremely difficult to stay competitive. The reality is we've spent too much time on the pitch over the last few weeks with fourteen men."

The Walsh Park faithful erupted when Patrick Curran collected a Stephen Bennett cross and rattled the bottom corner. A helter skelter finish ensued. 

Dónal Burke caught the puckout and won a free. He put the visitors back in front and let out a roar. Jamie Barron levelled just as four additional flashed up. 

Managers Queally and Ó Ceallacháin were both given yellow cards by referee Shane Hynes as the tension rose. Gavin Fives then earned a free which Bennett nailed from his own 65. Curran clipped over the insurance score.

Queally was thrilled to come out on top. 

“I have to admit, it’s a big relief to us to get the result and still be in the league with two more rounds to go. The facts of it are, if we hadn’t won today, we were mathematically out of the promotion race. We then have an eight week run-in to the championship with a couple of dead rubbers to play. I think I saw a Dublin interview during the week where they said it feels like a championship match leading up to it. The stakes were so high, the prize was so high."

He praised the impact of Curran. 

“He has been positioned around the middle of the field the last couple of years and out around half forward. We’ve put him back inside and he’s reliving his earlier days of playing in there. He really enjoys it. He showed his predatory instincts today."

Injuries continue to concern Queally as Michael Kiely limped off in the first half.

"He carried a bit of a knock coming into it, a calf injury, maybe it was a recurrence of that."

Iarlaith Daly cried off just before the throw in with a groin injury. His brother Carthach is set for a long lay-off. 

"Carthach pulled his hamstring two days after the Laois game in a training session. It's looking like an eight week injury."

Tadhg De Burca and Austin Gleeson are due to return on March 22 for the home tie with Offaly. 

“They’re getting closer. They had a good session this morning. I’d say in the next two weeks, hopefully both of them will see action – without any setbacks."

Two more wins against Westmeath and the Faithful will fire the Déise back to the top flight.

Scorers for Waterford: S Bennett 0-11 (8fs, 1 65), P Curran 1-2, D Hutchinson 0-3, K Bennett 0-2, J Barron, G Fives, P Hogan, M Fitzgerald, P Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dublin: C O'Sullivan 2-2, D Burke 0-8 (8fs), F Whitely, C Donohue 0-3 each, D Ó Dúlaing, B Kenny 0-1 each.

Waterford: S O'Brien; C Ryan, C Prunty, I Kenny; P Leavey, M Fitzgerald, M Kiely; C Sheahan, K Bennett; S Bennett, J Barron, P Hogan; D Hutchinson, P Fitzgerald, K Mahony.

Subs: G Fives for Kiely (25), J Prendergast for Padraig Fitzgerald (HT), D Lyons for Sheahan (52), P Curran for Mahony (55).

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, D Lucey, P Smyth; D Gray, C Crummey, P Doyle; C Donohue, B Hayes; C Ó Ríain, D Burke, F Whitely; R Hayes, B Kenny, C O'Sullivan.

Subs: S Currie for Ó Ríain (43), C Currie for Kenny (47), K Burke for Doyle (49), D Ó Dúlaing for R Hayes (55), J Hetherton for B Hayes (74) 

Referee: S Hynes (Galway)