Senior hurlers topple the Déise in Walsh Park

Sun, 13th March 2016

DUBLIN 0-19 WATERFORD 0-14

Ger Cunningham's Dublin hurlers added fuel to their fire when they toppled Waterford on their home patch in Sunday's NHL Division 1A clash at Walsh Park.

The Dubs were the last county to emerge for Fortress Walsh Park in league action with two points under their oxter, two seasons ago (2014 relegation play-off), and they repeated the feat on Sunday to book their berth in the quarter-finals.

"It was great to come here to Walsh Park and put two wins back to back. It's 23 months since Waterford were beaten in a league game, funnily enough that was by Dublin as well. It was a great challenge for us but our players showed great composure and intelligence to win here," said Dublin manager Ger Cunningham.

The Déise opened better with points from Patrick Curran (two) and Colin Dunford to lead 0-3 to 0-0 after only three minutes.

However, Dublin began to establish themselves and hit six points without rely, including two excellent efforts from the impressive Eamonn Dillon to lead by double scores 0-6 to 0-3 after the first quarter.

Shane Bennett with a point on the run after a slick Jake Dillon pass broke the Dubs momentum before Eamonn Dillon with a replica point from the touchline, his third from play in the opening half restored Dublin’s three-point advantage.

The league champions responded with two monster point’s from Austin Gleeson, one from play and one from a free, both from inside his own half. Patrick Curran was also successful with two points from placed balls to leave Waterford leading by the minimum, 0-8 to 0-7 at the break.

The in-form Nh Fionnbarra clubman Eamon Dillon brought the sides level inside a minute of the restart. The sides were again deadlocked at the end of the third quarter 0-11 apiece. At this stage Dublin began stamping their authority on the game.

Cian O’Callaghan and Liam Rushe anchored their defence superbly, Johnny McCaffrey and Darragh O’Connell were in control at centrefield while David O’Callaghan and David Treacy were attacking with menace.

Going down the home straight a vibrant Dublin got on top with points from Niall McMorrow, Johnny McCaffrey, Chris Crummey and Darragh O’Connell and a long-range David Treacy free from 75 metres saw Dublin home.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Treacy 0-9 (0-9f), E Dillon 0-4, D O’Callaghan, N McMorrow, J McCaffrey, C Crummey, D O’Connell, S Treacy 0-1 each. Waterford: P Curran 0-7 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’), A Gleeson 0-3 (0-2f), C Dunford, S Bennett, J Barron, J Dillon 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: C Dooley; E O’Donnell, C O’Callaghan, O Gough; C Crummey, L Rushe, S Barrett; D O’Connell, J McCaffrey; D Plunkett, N McMorrow, D Treacy; D O’Callaghan, E Dillon, F Mac Gib. Subs: S Treacy for Mac Gib (54), S McGrath for Barrett (inj 61), C Cronin for O’Connell (70).

WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; N Connors, B Coughlan, S Fives; P Mahony, T de Búrca, K Moran; J Barron, C Dunford; M Walsh, P Curran, J Dillon; S Bennett, T Devine, A Gleeson. Subs: M Shanahan for Devine (51), M Kearney for Dunford (63), T Ryan for Gleeson (70), S O’Sullivan for Bennett (70).

REF: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)