Waterford 4-7 Wicklow 1-12:WATERFORD KEPT their hopes of making a quick-return to Division Three alive with this four-point away win over Wicklow at Aughrim yesterday.

Wicklow were struggling and in big trouble after just 15 minutes after being hit by a brilliant hat-trick from Waterford’s corner-forward Mark Ferncombe.

Before being substituted, Wicklow’s corner-back Jason Bolger had a nightmare opening 20 minutes trying to police Ferncombe. First he applied the clinical finish to a move involving Shane Ahearne and Gary Hurney in the seventh minute, four minutes later he fisted to the net after a cross from Patrick Hurley, and he finished well to complete his hat-trick on 15 minutes.

Waterford’s 10-point lead at the break was added to further when Shane Ahearne goaled and while Wicklow produced a late rally the Déise always had some breathing space.

WATERFORD: K Cotter; K Connery, M O’Gorman, C Phelan; T Grey, E Walsh, W Hennessy; S O’Hare, S Ahearne (1-0); C O’Keeffe, C McGrath (0-1), P Hurney (0-3); S Fleming (0-2), G Hurney (0-1, f), M Ferncombe (3-0). Subs: T O’Gorman for O’Keeffe, J Veale for McGrath, JJ Hutchinson for Ahearne, A Brophy for Fleming, T Ó hUallacháin for P Hurney.

WICKLOW: M Travers; C Hyland, A McLoughlin, J Bolger; P Cunningham, R Finn, A Byrne; J Stafford (0-1), A Merriman; J Kelly, A O’Malley (0-2), D Hayden; D O’Sullivan, S Furlong (0-5, 3f),L Glynn (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-1f).Subs: N Gaffney for Bolger, N Mernagh for Hayden, M McLoughlin for Cunningham, P Burke (0-1) for Kelly, T Hannon for O’Malley.

Referee: D O’Mahoney (Tipperary).