Barron stars as Waterford bounce back
Waterford’s Jamie Barron takes on Laois' Donnchadh Hartnett during their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B clash at Walsh Park. Photo: INPHO/Ken Sutton
Three-time All Star Jamie Barron shone with four points from play as Waterford got off the mark in Division 1B with a ten point win against Laois at a perishing cold Walsh Park this afternoon.
Padraig and Patrick Fitzgerald hit 1-17 between them. Padraig put over thirteen placed balls from fourteen attempts while Patrick fired 1-4 (1-3 from play) as the home side pulled away in the second half and recovered from last week's surprise loss to Carlow. Not a resounding victory but a fierier performance and a more satisfactory result than seven days previous.
Peter Queally made five changes to the Waterford line-up. Billy Nolan started between the posts while Conor Ryan, Conor Keane, Carthach Daly and Paddy Leavey got the nod in defence. Ballygunner duo Dessie Hutchinson and Peter Hogan were listed among the subs.
Laois All Star nominee Paddy Purcell split the posts after just 19 seconds. Jamie Barron replied straight away. Shane Bennett struck from long distance and fetched the next puckout. His point attempt dropped short but Enda Rowland miscontrolled the ball and Patrick Fitzgerald pounced. 1-2 to 0-1 inside two minutes.
The next five points belonged to the visitors. Tomás Keyes (free), Purcell, Enda Rowland (free) and Jordan Walshe gave Tommy Fitzgerald's men a 0-6 to 1-2 advantage. Patrick and Padraig Fitzgerald put the home side back in front. Two Jamie Barron points, one off a quickly taken sideline, pushed the lead out to three. Sean Walsh was denied a goal in the 20th minute but Padraig Fitzgerald converted the subsequent 65. Another Fitzgerald dead ball gave them a five point advantage (1-10 to 0-8).
Jer Quinlan got one back. Rowland then saved from Patrick Fitzgerald but Sean Walsh was fouled in the build-up and Padraig Fitzgerald tapped over the free. The Kilrossanty front man nailed seven out of seven from placed balls. Keyes (free) and Quinlan from play narrowed the gap to four at the break (1-13 to 0-12). The leaders sent six balls short and conceded ten frees.
Eanna Lyons, Keyes and Rowland all missed point chances for Laois at the start of the second half. Aidan Corby eventually got the scoreboard moving. Padraig Fitzgerald fired two frees at the other end. Charles Dwyer, Keyes and Aaron Dunpy squandered further opportunities for the away side. Four second half frees went awry.
Points from Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald and Padraig Fitzgerald saw Waterford move into a double digit lead. A loud cheer greeted Dessie Hutchinson's entrance. Jamie Barron popped over his fourth point from play as Peter Queally's men got the job done. Late singles via Mark Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony added a gloss.
