Dublin Fall Short After Late Waterford Comeback

Picture Courtesy Sportsfile

DUBLIN 2-18

WATERFORD 1-23

It proved another narrow defeat for Dublin as they succumbed to Waterford by two points in their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B clash at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon.

After the disappointment of their narrow loss to Offaly eight days previously, the Dubs were once again crucially reduced to fourteen for the closing stages, and Waterford took full advantage as they finished strongly to secure the vital win.

On this occasion it was Cian O’Sullivan that saw red following an injudicious high challenge on Mark Fitzgerald in the 65th minute and the dismissal of the St Brigid’s player was keenly felt given his contribution prior to that juncture.

He scored 2-2 in total, including a late goal in the first-half that edged the visitors into a 1-11 to 0-12 lead, and his wonderful goal in the 59th minute looked set to revive Dublin’s promotion ambitions but the hosts struck back via Patrick Curran’s goal to shift the momentum in their favour.

Early scores by Brendan Kenny and Conor Donohoe saw Dublin take the early initiative but there was rarely anything between the sides as the hosts struck back through Pádraig Fitzgerald and Stephen Bennett.

The tone was set as Dublin restored their lead when Donohoe doubled his tally and two Donal Burke frees regained Dublin’s advantage only for Bennett to reply with a brace of his own.

Another Burke free and an excellent Fergal Whitely score moved Dublin three points clear by the start of the second quarter but a Dessie Hutchinson brace at the opposite end ensured that parity was restored once again.

It was left to O’Sullivan to separate the teams at the break as he pounced home from a goalmouth scramble following fine play by Ronan Hayes, pushing his side two points to the good.

That lead was eroded in the early stages of the second-half courtesy of two Bennett frees but it wasn’t long before the visitors regained their two-point buffer thanks to a Burke free and another Whitely score.

A last-ditch block from substitute Kevin Burke denied Kevin Mahony a goal and that stop seemed all the more vital as Brian Hayes left a trail of defenders in his wake in the 59th minute before transferring to O’Sullivan, who delivered an impeccable finish into the top corner.

This score helped build a healthy five-point lead but O’Sullivan’s dismissal and Curran’s goal swung the tie back in Waterford’s favour as they completed the come back thanks to late points from Jamie Barron, Bennett and Curran.

Scorers – Dublin:C O’Sullivan 2-2; D Burke 0-8 (7f, 1 ’65); C Donohoe, F Whitely 0-3 each; B Kenny, D Ó Dúlaing 0-1 apiece.Waterford:S Bennett 0-11 (8f, 1 ‘65); P Curran 1-2; D Hutchinson 0-3; K Bennett 0-2; M Fitzgerald, P Hogan, J Barron, P Fitzgerald, G Fives 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Gibbons; J Bellew, D Lucey, P Smyth; D Gray, C Crummey, P Doyle; C Donohoe, B Hayes; F Whitely, D Burke, C Ó Riain; B Kenny, C O’Sullivan, R Hayes. Subs: S Currie for Ó Riain (42), C Currie for Kenny (46), K Burke for Doyle (49), D Ó Dúlaing for R Hayes (55), J Hetherton for B Hayes (73).

Waterford: S O’Brien; C Ryan, C Prunty, I Kenny; M Kiely, M Fitzgerald, P Leavey; C Sheahan, K Bennett; P Hogan, J Barron, S Bennett; K Mahony, D Hutchinson, P Fitzgerald. Subs: G Fives for Kiely (25), J Prendergast for P Fitzgerald (half-time), D Lyons for Sheahan (52), P Curran for Mahony (55).

Referee: Shane Hynes (Galway).