Gaelic Games Round-up - Waterford 2-18 Offaly 0-18:Waterford have booked their place in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals, winning out a thrilling qualifier against Offaly in Thurles this evening. In a tense and high-scoring contest, Waterford had full forward Eoin Kelly to thank as he hit a massive 2-13 of their total, including some truly sublime scores.
It was a remarkable display of scoring but Waterford needed it, as outside of John Mullane, their forwards never quite clicked. They'll face Wexford in next weekend's quarter-final and while it wasn't the most convincing display, they may yet have a say in the final destination of the championship.
Offaly came in as underdogs despite their surprise win over Limerick a week, and came close to pulling off another surprise here. Some silly, costly mistakes in the last 10 minutes proved their undoing, but it was a typically brave display nonetheless, and Offaly hurling definitely has a future.
Almost from the start the knock-out element was evident in every stroke, though Offaly were puzzlingly slow to get into the game. The first half proved particularly entertaining. Waterford came out and spilled all over Offaly like a landslide, hitting them with a goal and four points in the first minutes. Offaly, it appeared, were still in the middle of a siesta, and needed to wake up fast or else their game would be over before it even began.
John Mullane and Kelly hit their opening scores, before Tony Browne sent in a high that was beautifully flicked on by Mullane into the path of Kelly, who produced an even sweeter flick - first time - to direct the ball into the Offaly net.
Kelly followed that up with two powerfully hit frees and so Waterford were up 1-4 to 0-0 and Offaly genuinely appeared out of it. Mullane and Kelly were winning ball up from with obvious ease, while Offaly could hardly get the ball out of their own half.
Then, without warning, Offaly stormed back into it - hitting seven points without reply to draw level, and then adding another, so that on 21 minutes they found themselves in front: 0-8 to 1-4. It was a stunning shift in momentum that lit the game up as a contest, and had the crowd basking in both the sunshine and the excitement.
Brian Carroll's free-taking was faultless, and there also were huge, inspiring points from Derek Molloy, midfielders Brendan Murphy and Rory Hanniffy, with Carroll's fifth free of the half putting them in front.
Waterford hadn't scored in some 15 minutes, but made up for it with a second goal from Kelly, this time thanks to a slight defensive mistake from Offaly. A couple more exchange of scores meant Waterford had the minimum advantage at the break, 2-6 to 0-11.
Offaly soared ahead again in the second half, with Carroll and Shane Dooley hitting two fine points from play, but they just couldn't build on that advantage. Kelly continued to hit some incredible scores, including one gem out on the right sideline. Offaly were struggling for scores, but bug forward Joe Bergin getting zero possession, and instead they were soon relying on the free-taking of Carroll.
In contrast, Waterford found another gear, mainly through Kelly, and four points without reply left them three in front heading into the last 15 minutes. Every time Offaly tried to get back at them, Kelly would hit another sublime score. In the end he couldn't miss, and when Waterford pulled four points clear on 65 minutes the writing was on the wall for Offaly.
The goal they needed never materialised, and a couple of wides and short balls didn't help their chances. Waterford hit over the last two points from who else but Kelly to secure the deserved six-point win.
Saturday's Gaelic Games Results round-up
All-Irerland SFC Qualifiers
Monaghan 1-13 Derry 1-12
Tipperary 0-06 Westmeath 0-15
Donegal 3-11 Roscommon 1-09
Limerick 4-12 Meath 4-03
Longford 0-11 Laois 1-10
Kildare 1-16 Cavan 1-15
Offaly 2-10 Down 5-19
Louth 1-09 Tyrone 1-17
All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers
Waterford 2-18 Offaly 0-18
Galway 2-15 Cork 0-23
Tommy Murphy Cup Round One
London 3-14 Sligo 2-12 aet
Antrim 1-10 Carlow 0-11
Clare 1-08 Leitrim 1-12
Wicklow 0-18 Waterford 0-12
Christy Ring Cup
Down 0-18 Derry 1-20
Westmeath 2-22 Kildare 3-13
Wicklow 1-22 Mayo 3-18 aet
Kery 2-04 Carlow 1-14
Nicky Rackard Cup
Monaghan 1-11 Cavan 0-09
Non Ards 2-16 Louth 4-13
Fingal 1-19 Leitrim 0-12
Sligo 2-15 Tyrone 2-11
Sunday Fixtures
Ulster SFC Final
Armagh v Fermanagh 2pm
Leinster SFC Final
Dublin Wexford 4pm