Déise dig out a vital win to win promotion back to Division 1A
Waterford's Patrick Curran in action against Offaly's Donal Shirley during their Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match at Walsh Park. Photo: Sportsfile/Seb Daly
The weather was miserable, the match was scrappy but Waterford dug out the all important win at a wet and windy Walsh Park on Saturday evening to secure promotion to Division 1A.
Twelve points from Stephen Bennett and a second half penalty save from Billy Nolan saw off fourteen man Offaly before a crowd of 2,294. These two will meet again in the 1B decider next month.
The Faithful saw James Mahon harshly dismissed on a straight red after 24 minutes for a tackle on Gavin Fives. A Brian Duignan goal saw Johnny Kelly's men hit the front early in the second half but Bennett's accuracy and Nolan's stop from Duignan got the job done for Waterford. The hosts sent over the last eight points of the contest. Five straight wins for Peter Queally's men after losing to Carlow on day one.
All Star defender Tadhg De Burca, playing his first inter county match in ten months, slotted straight back in at number six. Like he was never away. The Clashmore/Kinsalebeg man even took home the TG4 Man of the Match award.
Midfielder Killian Sampson and goalkeeper Mark Troy were Offaly's main men. The away team failed to register in the final quarter however.
It took the home side just 12 seconds to raise a white flag via Stephen Bennett. The first of his seven first half singles. Tadhg De Burca then landed a point from his own 65.
Brian Duignan missed a free for Offaly before Killan Sampson sent over their opener. In the ninth minute, Shane Bennett fetched a delivery from his brother Kieran and booted the sliotar over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Two Stephen Bennett frees and a Jack Prendergast point from play made it 6-1 after fourteen minutes.
Duignan replied at the other end before Déise netminder Billy Nolan deflected a close range shot from Charlie Mitchell away for a 65. Duignan was off target. He was guilty of three first half misses from placed balls. Sampson's second from play and one from Ter Guinan cut the gap to two. Offaly number one Mark Troy then pulled off a full length save from Shane Bennett.
On 24 minutes, the visitors were reduced to fourteen men when James Mahon got a straight red card from Johnny Murphy for a high tackle on Gavin Fives. Four Stephen Bennett frees left the home team six up approaching the break. Offaly grabbed the last two points of the half however as Sampson scored his third from play before Duignan nailed an injury time free (0-10 to 0-6).
The game continued in that vein on the resumption as Duignan and Mitchell picked off points. On 37 minutes, Mitchell supplied Duignan and the number fifteen held off Billy Nolan before flicking the ball to the cobwebs. Sampson's fourth point of the evening followed. 1-9 to 0-10 to the fourteen men from the Faithful. The home team regrouped as three Stephen Bennett points (two from play) sent them back in front. Troy also denied Patrick Curran a goal.
Nolan was then penalised for charging out with the ball and leaving Mitchell on the ground. Johnny Murphy awarded a penalty and flashed a yellow to Nolan. After Mitchell left the field, Nolan flicked Duignan's penalty over the bar. The loudest roar of the evening. Off the next play, a Paddy Leavey point edged Waterford ahead.
Dan Bourke equalised for Offaly but the fifteen men got the upper hand in the last quarter. Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron, Gavin Fives, Tom Barron, Charlie Treen, Padraig Fitzgerald and Dessie Hutchinson all split the posts to send the Déise back to the top flight. Troy saved brilliantly from Bennett two minutes into injury time.
