GAA: ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Waterford 2-19 Offaly 1-19A LUCKY second-half goal from Brian O'Sullivan saw Waterford edge out an improving Offaly side at O'Connor Park yesterday and in the process set up a nail-biting, potential league final decider with Galway in two weeks.
Waterford will be sweating over the fitness of Richie Foley who had to come off in the second half with a thigh injury. Waterford had led throughout the game but Offaly proved wasteful in the second half and in the end were punished for not been more clinical.
Waterford just about did enough to hang on in the end and secure a three-point victory in the Tullamore sunshine. Speaking after the game Waterford selector Pat Bennett was more than happy to come away with the win.
“We were dreading coming to Offaly because they were buoyant after their win last week. It was a tough, hard, physical game of hurling and we are delighted to be coming away with two points. We are still in with a shout. The spread of scores was decent and the movement in the forward line was decent.”
With Davy Fitzgerald serving his final game of his ban, Offaly battled hard and can feel disappointed not to have come away with the spoils. With Wexford beating Cork, the relegation dog-fight will come down to the last round of games with both sides away from home.
Offaly manager Joe Dooley was upbeat after the game but knows his side must go to Kilkenny on the hunt of a victory to guarantee Division One survival. “They have to go to Thurles and get a win and we have to go to Nowlan Park to get a win to keep it in our own hands. That won’t be easy because Kilkenny need a win to make the league final so it’s basically a league semi-final for Kilkenny. It’s going to be very interesting.”
OFFALY: J Dempsey; D Franks, D Kenny, S Egan; M Verney, R Hanniffy, D Morkan; C Mahon, D Hayden; D Molloy, G Healion, C Egan (0-1); S Dooley (0-12, 0-10 frees, 0-1 65), J Bergin (1-2), B Carroll (0-3). Subs: M Cordial for Hayden (blood 17-27 mins), M Cordial for Hayden (half-time), C Parlon (0-1) for Healion (45 mins), James Mulrooney for Molloy (50 mins).
WATERFORD: C Hennessy; E Murphy, W Hutchinson, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, J Nagle; K Moran (0-1), R Foley (0-9, 0-8 frees, 0-1 65); S Prendergast (0-1), S OSullivan (0-1), S Molumphy; B OSullivan (1-2), S Walsh (1-4), G Crotty (0-1). Subs: P Mahoney for Prendergast (53 mins), E McGrath for Molumphy (60 mins), E Kelly for Foley (inj, 60 mins), D OSullivan for Nagle, 67 mins).
Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).
