Maurice is the hero as Waterford march on.

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).