Division 1B glory for the Déise hurlers on Leeside
Waterford’s Dessie Hutchinson lifts the trophy after victory over Offaly in the Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B final. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie
The Waterford hurlers claimed the Division 1B title with a pillar to post victory over Offaly in the curtain raiser at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon. Peter Queally's men led by fifteen points with fifteen minutes left but had to withstand a late onslaught as Oisín Kelly netted twice for the Faithful.
Mark Fitzgerald starred at wing back with three points from play and an assist for Patrick Curran's goal. Stephen Bennett was deadly from placed balls and finished up with twelve points. A grand total of 1-48 for the 2025 NHL. Dessie Hutchinson, Jamie Barron and Curran also looked sharp in front of goal.
Waterford's first piece of silverware in three years. Six straight wins for Peter Queally's men ahead of their Munster championship opener against Clare at Walsh Park on April 27. What a turnaround from the opening day defeat to Carlow.
Patrick Curran was a late replacement on the Waterford team for the injured Déise captain Dessie Hutchinson won the toss and chose to play with the wind in the first half. Sean Walsh and Darragh Lyons were off target before Shane Bennett opened the scoring. Further points from Patrick Curran, Dessie Hutchinson and Mark Fitzgerald made it four nil as Peter Queally's charges pressurised the Offaly puckout. Brian Duignan got Offaly off the mark but Jamie Barron, Stephen Bennett (free) and Hutchinson hit back at the other end.
Fitzgerald had a licence to attack from wing back and landed his second point from the North Stand sideline. On the opposite flank, Gavin Fives opened his shoulders and split the posts. Another Bennett free sent Waterford eight clear (0-11 to 0-3).
On sixteen minutes, Brian Duignan drove past three Déise defenders and went through on one on one but Billy Nolan thwarted him. Not the first time the Roanmore man has made a goal saving block from the Faithful attacker in this year's 1B campaign.
A Bennett free and a Curran point from play maintained that eight point gap. Sean Walsh then bore down on the Offaly goal but Mark Troy deflected his shot away for a 65. Bennett converted. The Faithful squandered three first half frees as Bennett increased his tally to five. Darragh Lyons became the ninth different Déise's scorer. Ciarán Burke was yellow carded for connecting with the helmet of Dessie Hutchinson and Bennett made no mistake to leave Waterford eleven up at the break Within a minute of the restart, Mark Fitzgerald rifled over his third point from play. Bennett sniffed a goal off an Offaly short puckout but blasted left and wide. Two more points from the Ballysaggart ace pushed the gap out to thirteen.
Bennett went for goal from a close range free but Troy flicked it away for a 65. The number fifteen made no mistake as he entered double figures.
On 52 minutes, Brian Duignan's point attempt struck the post and Oisín Kelly tapped the sliotar into the unguarded net (0-23 to 1-9). With seventeen minutes left, Waterford finally got the better of Mark Troy. Fitzgerald found Curran and the Dungarvan man gave the Offaly number one absolutely no chance.
Kelly found the top corner of the net on 56 minutes and it sparked a late rally from the Leinster men. They reeled off 1-8 without response including three Duginan points from play. Late points by Patrick Curran and Hutchinson settled the leaders.
