Maurice
Shanahan proved to be the hero for Waterford at Tullamore on Saturday evening
last as he hit thirteen points for his side in a 0-21 to 1-13 win.
The
potential of the big Lismore man is known about to many within the county with
some while, but this is the year that he could make the impact older brother
Dan made a number of years back.
As
a result of this win, Waterford are now through to the first round proper of
the All-Ireland Hurling qualifiers and a meeting against Westmeath in Mullingar
this Saturday evening, after the Midlanders recorded a narrow win over London
at Ruislip at the weekend.
Played
in a strong wind, Waterford had first use of the elements and by half time lead
0-13 to 1-6.
Waterford
good off to a good start in this game hitting two early points from De La Salle’s
Jake Dillon. However, disaster could have struck for Waterford shortly
afterward when Offaly struck the games only goal. Waterford full back attempted
to play the ball out of defence with a hand pass which Shane Dooley interceded and
from close range he made no mistake in firing past Stephen O’Keeffe in the
Waterford goal.
The
home side lost centre forward Derek Molloy in the build up to the goal. The game
was held up for over five minutes as he was treated on the field before he was
stretchered off. The delay possibly killed off the momentum that Offaly would
have gone from the score although they did hit a point shortly afterwards from
full forward Dan Currams.
Man
of the Match Maurice Shanahan put over a brace of points to draw Waterford
level at the end of the first quarter, but Offaly hit back with a score from
Shane Dooley.
Four
points in a row from Waterford eased them into a comfortable lead. Maurice Shanahan
hit the first of the quartet of scores and it was followed by a Kevin Moran
effort and then a brace by Maurice Shanahan to give Waterford a 0-8 to 1-2 lead
after twenty-five minutes.
Offaly
pulled Waterford’s lead in to two before Shane O’Sullivan extended it to three
with seven minutes minus the injury time to be added at the end of the half
still to be played.
The
big Lismore man hit another point for Waterford before Shane Dooley and Paudie
Prendergast landed points to give Waterford a 0-12 to 1-4 advantage with thirty
five minutes on the stop clock.
However
mainly due to the injury sustained by Derek Molloy early in the game, seven
minutes were to be added at the end of the thirty-five.
Conor
Mahon who replaced Derek Molloy hit a point for Offaly two minutes into
stoppage time and seconds later Joe Bergin got his name on the score sheet with
another point.
Waterford
however finished the half slightly the stronger of the two sides with Maurice
Shanahan putting over another point two minutes from the break, a score that
proved to be the last of the half.
Offaly
came out for the second half intent on eating in the lead Waterford held at the
break. Joe Bergin hit a point inside two minutes of the restart and when Brian
Carroll hit a brace for the home side inside a minute of each other, the
Waterford lead was down to one.
Maurice
Shanahan put a little bit of day light between the sides on forty two minutes
when he put over a point from a free but points from a Shane Dooley free and
Kevin Brady had the sides level with eleven minutes of the second period
played.
Brian
Sullivan and Maurice Shanahan landed crucial scores for Waterford in a two
minute spell but Offaly pulled one back through Shane Dooley to leave just one
between the sides with three quarters of the game played.
Derek
Morkan pointed for Offaly with sixteen minutes to play, but from here on to the
end, bye and large it was Waterford all the way.
Maurice
Shanahan landed a brace of scores, the first from a free in a five minute spell
inside the last ten minutes of the game. Dan Currams pointed to leave three
between the sides with four minutes plus a minute of injury time to play, but
before the end, Maurice Shanahan rounded off a good performance on the night by
striking his thirteenth point of the night which gave Waterford a more than
deserved four point lead.
Offaly
to their credit did try and make life very difficult for Waterford in the
closing minutes. Dan Currams had two great chances to raise a second green flag
for Offaly on the night, but Stephen O’Keeffe was at his very best and managed
to keep him at bay.
The
record’s will show in time that Waterford won this game by four points but in
truth the gulf between the sides was greater.
The
Offaly goal came as a result of a mistake in defence. Waterford missed a number
of chances for goals themselves, and shot a high number of wide’s
Waterford
supporters will take the win from this game. They will be expecting another this
coming weekend, but Waterford’s supporters will know that if the summer is to
be extended beyond the middle of July, than there will have to be an
improvement on this game.
The
silly mistakes in front of goal will have to be eradicated. The shooting in
front of goal will have to be improved, and we will have to start to take the
chances given to us for goals. I have no doubt that these wrongs or worries as
some will see them will be put to right, and 2013 will be another year where
Waterford could well end up in Croke Park, despite what some have said about
Waterford hurling so far this year.
Waterford: Stephen O'Keeffe; Shane Fives, Liam Lawlor, Noel
Connors; Jamie Nagle, Michael Walsh, Darragh Fives; Paudie Prendergast, Kevin
Moran; Jake Dillon, Seamus Prendergast, Shane O'Sullivan; Jamie Barron, Maurice
Shanahan, Brian O'Sullivan. Subs: Pauric
Mahony for Jamie Barron (39), Martin O’Neill for Seamus Prendergast (58), Richie
Foley for Darragh Fives (62).
Scorers: Maurice Shanahan 0-13 (0-5f), Brian Sullivan 0-3. Jake
Dillon 0-2, Kevin Moran, Shane O’Sullivan, Paudie Prendergast 0-1 each,
Offaly: James Dempsey; Chris McDonald, David Kenny, Dermot
Mooney; Rory Hanniffy, Ger Healion, Derek Morkan; Brian Carroll, Kevin Brady; Colin
Egan, Derek Molloy, Ciaran Slevin; Shane Dooley, Dan Currams, Joe Bergin. Subs: COnor Mahon for Derek
Molloy (12), Paul Cleary for Dermot Mooney (42), Sean Cleary for Ciaran Slevin
(51), Sean Gardner for Paul Cleary (56), Sean Ryan for Kevin Brady (68).
Scorers: Shane Dooley 1-4 (0-4f), Dan Currams, Kevin Brady, Joe
Bergin, Brian Carroll 0-2 each, Derek Morkan, Conor Mahon 0-1 each.
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).
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