Twelve point loss for Déise footballers against Wexford
Waterford manager Paul Shankey saw his side lose again in the National Football League. Photo: Maurice Hennebry
Despite a spirited second half display, the Waterford footballers recorded their fifth straight loss under the Saturday night lights in Dungarvan.
Goals in either half from Mark Rossiter and Sean Ryan saw Wexford stay top of the Division 4 table. Rossiter finished with 1-3 from play. Conor Murray (0-4) and James Power (0-2) were Waterford's best performers.
Wexford fired over four points inside the opening three minutes. Tom Byrne split the posts at the road goal after just 10 seconds. Eoghan Nolan, Eoin Porter and Mark Rossiter followed suit. Jason Curry converted a two point free for the home side in the fifth minute after Wexford were penalised 50 metres. Déise netminder Aaron Beresford then dived full length to deny Sean Ryan a goal.
Points from Glen Malone and Ben Brosnan (free) made it 6-2 to the visitors. In the twelfth minute, a Kevin O'Grady solo run ripped open the Waterford defence and Rossiter rifled the ball to the roof of the net. Another two point attempt from Curry dropped short before Brosnan got his first from play at the other end. Shane Petit and Eoghan Nolan added to Waterford's misery before Brosnan curled a beauty off his right (1-10 to 0-2).
James Power ended a 19 minute wait for a Waterford score after a patient move. Alan Dunwoody then set up a goal chance for Curry but his shot skewed off his left boot and flew wide. Rossiter fisted over for the purple and gold to bring his first half tally to 1-2. Alan Dunwoody replied at the country end. A Curry free in injury time reduced the arrears to nine at the break (1-11 to 0-5).
Waterford boss Paul Shankey made a double switch during the interval as Willie Beresford and James Walsh came on. James Power put over his second of the night on 42 minutes. Two Conor Murray points brought Waterford within six (1-11 to 0-8) Kevin Grady ended that purple patch with Wexford's first score in 20 minutes. A Murray two pointer cut the gap to five (1-13 to 0-11). That was as good as it got for Shankey's side. With eight minutes left, Sean Ryan collected a high ball from Eoghan Nolan and smashed home
