Bennett Goals Help Beat Dublin

Waterford claimed a second win in this year National Hurling League on Saturday evening when they overcame the challenge of Dublin in the opening game of a double header played at G.A.A. Head Quarters in Croke Park.

Stephen Bennett scored a brace of goals for the winners, netting the first on five minutes and the second two minutes into the second half.

With a number of years Waterford are lacking a major goal scoring treat in around the opposition goal and going on what we saw in this game, the Ballysaggart man could well prove to be the man that Waterford needs to raise green flags in the big games.

Over the course of the game the Ballysaggart man hit an impressive 2-2 for the winners, but he was not to finish the games top scorer as Pauric Mahony hit a dozen points, all but two of which came from placed balls while Donal Burke finished with an impressive 1-7 for the home side, while Eamon Dillon again impressed hitting four points all from play.

Waterford had a good start to this game as Pauric Mahony opened the scoring in the first minute and four minutes later the visitors added a goal when Stephen Bennett reacted quickest to a Pauric Mahony free which hit the upright.

The impressive Donal Burke got his sides first score on eight minutes when he put over a free, and they followed it up with points from Eamon Dillon and Chris Crummey to leave just the minimum between the sides with eleven minutes played.

Dublin levelled matters on fourteen minutes when Donal Burke put over another free and they took the lead seconds later when Eamon Dillon raced through the Waterford defence and shot over the head of Ian O’Regan.

Pauric Mahony levelled matters on fifteen minutes when he put over a free which was followed with a purple patch for Dublin as Rian McBride and Eamon Dillon hit points to open up a 0-7 to 1-2 lead and when Chris Crummey found Donal Burke the Na Fianna Club man made no mistake in beating Ian O’Regan.

With Dublin now five points up and Eamon Dillon causing plenty of problems for the Waterford defence, it was important that Waterford forwards began to find the range or the home side might start to pull away, playing on a ground that has not been too kind to the Waterford senior hurlers in the last decade.

Pauric Mahony made it a four point game when he put over a free on twenty three minutes, but Donal Burke made it five point game once more a minute later when he put over a free.

It was Waterford’s turn to have a bit of a purple patch in the following minutes. Pauric Mahony put over another Waterford free following a foul on Patrick Curran, which was followed with a Dillon point for the home side but Waterford followed up with a brace of points from Kevin Moran and one from Austin Gleeson to move within two of the home side and when Pauric Mahony put over a fifth point and a third from a free with two minutes to play plus stoppage time things were looking good for Waterford but a point from Donal Burke shortly before the half time whistle ensured that the sides would turn around with the home side having a two point advantage on the score board.  

Waterford however would not be behind for long in the second half as with the first meaningful attack of the half Conor Dooley rushed out of his goal only to lose control of the Sliotar and Stephen Bennett drilled to an unguarded net from 20 metres to give Waterford a 2-8 to 1-10 lead.

The same player followed up with a point for the winners, after which Pauric Mahony and Donal Burke swapped scores from frees.

Ryan O’Dwyer and Austin Gleeson swapped scores, to keep Waterford two in front with eight minutes of the second half played.

Burke and Mahony again traded scores keeping the game close, before Mahony again pointed to give Waterford a three point lead on fifty four minutes.

A wonderful score from Stephen Bennett made thinks a little more comfortable for Waterford, and things would get even better when Pauric Mahony put over yet another free, but Niall McMorrow pulled one back for Dublin with thirteen minutes remaining.

Points from Pauric Mahony and Maurice Shanahan made it a six point game for Waterford with seven minutes remaining.

Rian McBride pulled a point back for Dublin after which Stephen Daniels was sent off by referee Johnny Ryan after he collected a second yellow card.

Respective free takers Donal Burke and Pauric Mahony swapped late scores for their sides which gave Waterford a deserved five point victory.

Waterford: Ian O’Regan; Shane Fives, Barry Coughlan, Noel Connors; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Búrca, Stephen Daniels; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Austin Gleeson, Pauric Mahony, Michael Walsh; Patrick Curran, Stephen Bennett, Shane Bennett. Subs; Maurice Shanahan for Patrick Curran (49), Mikey Kearney for Jamie Barron (50), Brian O’Halloran for Shane Bennett (61), Jake Dillon for Stephen Bennett (66), Darragh Lyons for Conor Gleeson (67).

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-12 (0-10f), Stephen Bennett 2-2, Austin Gleeson, Kevin Moran 0-2 each, Maurice Shanahan 0-1.

Dublin: Conor Dooley; James Madden, Eoghan O’Donnell, Shane Barrett; Ben Quinn, Liam Rushe, Chris Crummey; Niall McMorrow, Caolán Conway; Rian McBride, Eamon Dillon, Eoghan Conroy; Fiontán Mac Gib, Ryan O’Dwyer, Donal Burke. Subs: Cian Boland for Caolán Conway (46), Cian MacGabhann for James Madden (55), Chris Bennett for Caolán Conroy (61), Cian O’Sullivan for Ben Quinn (68), Fionn Ó Riain-Broin for Shane Barrett (72).

Scorers: Donal Burke 1-7 (1-7 frees), Eamon Dillon 0-4, Ryan O’Dwyer, Rian McBride 0-2 each, Chris Crummey, Niall McMorrow 0-1 each.

Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)