Late comeback gives Déise promotion boost
Waterford's Gavin Fives and .Darragh Lyons celebrate at the final whistle. Photos: INPHO/Bryan Keane
The Waterford fans roared their approval at the final whistle as injury time points from Jamie Barron, Stephen Bennett and Patrick Curran gave Peter Queally's men a dramatic victory over fourteen man Dublin in front of 5,481 at Walsh Park.
2-2 from full forward Cian O'Sullivan sent the visitors five clear with ten minutes left. The game turned on its head however when O'Sullivan received a straight red on 66 minutes for a high tackle on Mark Fitzgerald. A Patrick Curran goal, from a Stephen Bennett cross, levelled the contest. Donal Burke recovered the lead for the Dubs but late, late efforts from Jamie Barron, Bennett and Curran sent the Déise fans home happy. A promotion boost for Waterford. A promotion blow for Dublin.
An injury time strike from O'Sullivan snuck the wind assisted Dubs 1-11 to 0-12 ahead at the break. Late inclusion in the away attack Brendan Kenny got the scoreboard moving after just 25 seconds. Conor Donohue intercepted the Waterford puckout and banged the ball back over the bar. A Stephen Bennett catch set up a Padraig Fitzgerald point at the other end. Bennett then fetched a free from Dublin goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons and smashed it over from 70 metres.
The visitors hit back with the next three points. Donal Burke converted two frees while Donohue landed his second from play. Kieran Bennett interrupted that sequence before Donohue delivered point number three from his own 65 (0-6 to 0-3).
Stephen Bennett slotted two frees and then found Dessie Hutchinson inside on 16 minutes. A close range bullet from the new Waterford skipper was saved by Eddie Gibbons. Burke and Fergal Whitely restored the Dubs' three point advantage (0-8 to 0-5).
The Déise lost defender Michael Kiely to injury after 25 minutes. Peter Queally's men got back on level terms via Kieran Bennett, Stephen Bennett (free) and a fabulous Mark Fitzgerald effort.
A Dessie Hutchinson double edged the hosts ahead for the very first time approaching the half hour mark. Hutchinson won another ball out in front and Kevin Mahony was fouled for a free which Bennett tapped over for 11-9. Whitely and Burke tied it up for the fourth time. Peter Hogan nudged the home side back in front.
Burke then landed a free around the goalmouth which Ronan Hayes collected. He flicked the ball dangerously across and Cian O'Sullivan scrambled the sliotar home to send the Sky Blues two up at the break.
Two Stephen Bennett frees at the start of the second period made it all square once again. Mark Fitzgerald was then yellow carded in what appeared a case of mistaken identity as Gavin Fives caught Brian Hayes high along the sideline. The Waterford management and crowd were incensed but Burke nailed the subsequent free. Fergal Whitely's third from play made it 1-13 to 0-14. Stephen Bennett hit back with a screamer in front of the uncovered stand.
On 50 minutes, Bennett worked a quick free to the unmarked Kevin Mahony. The shot beat Gibbons but substitute Kevin Burke stopped it on the line. His first involvement in the game. A Cian O'Sullivan point kept the Dubs two clear entering the last quarter (1-15 to 0-16). With thirteen minutes remaining, Brian Hayes burned the Waterford defence for pace and offloaded to O'Sullivan who blasted to the top corner.
The number fourteen saw red four minutes from the end for a high challenge on Mark Fitzgerald. On 69 minutes, a superb Stephen Bennett pass picked out Patrick Curran who buried the equalising goal to delight of the home support. Donal Burke caught the puckout and won a free. He sent it through the posts and let out a roar. Jamie Barron levelled as four minutes were flashed up on the board. In a rip roaring finale, both managers Peter Queally and Niall Ó Ceallacháin were given yellow cards. Bennett slammed over a free from his own 65 before Curran got the insurance score.
