Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Waterford 2-19 Dublin 1-17

Waterford defeated Dublin by 2-19 to 1-17 in round 3 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A on Saturday March 4th at Croke Park.

MATCH REPORT: @WaterfordGAA came good in the second-half to eventually overpower @DubGAAOfficial in the AHL https://t.co/fzECDLXtiw

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 4, 2017

Allianz HL D1: Waterford overcome plucky Dubs

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

WATERFORD 2-19 DUBLIN 1-17

Report By Paul Keane for GAA.ie

Waterford’s Croke Park losing streak is finally over after a Stephen Bennett inspired Allianz hurling league win at the venue, their first in competitive fare since 2008.

Full-forward Bennett helped himself to 2-2, including goals at the start of both halves, as Derek McGrath’s men finally came good at the Jones Road venue.

Free-taker Pauric Mahony, with 0-12, was excellent for the 2015 league champions too who hadn’t won at the venue since beating Tipperary in the 2008 All-Ireland semi-finals.

Derek McGrath’s side are in a strong position now for a knock-out place with two games to go in the group though were disappointed to lose wing-back Stephen Daniels to a red card late on for two bookable offences.

Donal Burke, a minor last year, scored 1-7 for Dublin but their young side slipped to a second loss in three games and are battling relegation.

Waterford got the best possible start with 1-1 inside the opening six minutes to open up a four-point advantage. It was all going to plan for the favourites with Mahony pointing and Bennett shooting a clever goal.

Bennett was first to react for the goal when he swept the ball home after Mahony’s point attempt cannoned down off the post. Dublin have turned Parnell Park into a fortress of late and it looked as if they might once again come unstuck at nearby GAA headquarters.

But five points on the trot was a sign of their resolve with Burke and Dillon contributing a brace of scores each. Eamonn Dillon, wearing number 14 but starting at centre-forward, used his pace to trouble Waterford while Burke, with 0-11 from his two previous games, started brightly.

The Na Fianna teenager poked a 20th minute goal home among a group of players following a long ball in from Chris Crummey and Dublin suddenly led by five, 1-07 to 1-02. The remainder of the half was all Waterford’s though and Derek McGrath’s men outscored Dublin by six points to three in the run up to half-time.

Kevin Moran displayed his captain’s credentials with back to back long range points and Hurler of the Year Austin Gleeson intercepted a puck-out before splitting the posts. Dillon did win a free after a trademark solo run which Burke converted on the stroke of half-time, taking his tally to 1-4, but Dublin led narrowly now, 1-10 to 1-8.

Bennett’s second goal after the restart, when he beat Dublin ‘keeper Conor Dooley to a loose ball, put Waterford into the lead and they held onto it from there.

In truth, it was a much improved Waterford in the second-half and they powered past Dublin with some excellent play. Bennett added two points to his goals and Mahony continued to convert from placed balls as Dublin slipped further behind. Maurice Shanahan was introduced for the back to back league finalists and nailed a fine point too.

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

Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke 1-7 (0-7f), Eamonn Dillon 0-4, Ryan O’Dwyer 0-2, Rian McBride 0-2, Chris Crummey 0-1, Niall McMorrow 0-1.

WATERFORD: Ian O’Regan; Noel Connors, Barry Coughlan, Shane Fives; Conor Gleeson, Tadhg de Burca, Stephen Daniels; Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran; Michael Walsh, Shane Bennett, Pauric Mahony; Austin Gleeson, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran
Subs: Maurice Shanahan for Curran (49), Mikey Kearney for Barron (50), Brian O’Halloran for Shane Bennett (61), Jake Dillon for Stephen Bennett (67), Darragh Lyons for C Gleeson (68).

DUBLIN: Conor Dooley; James Madden, Eoghan O’Donnell, Shane Barrett; Ben Quinn, Liam Rushe, Chris Crummey; Niall McMorrow, Caolan Conway; Rian McBride, Eamonn Dillon, Eoghan Conroy; Donal Burke, Ryan O’Dwyer, Fionntan MacGib
Subs: Cian Boland for Conway (47), Cian MacGabhann for Madden (55), Chris Bennett for Conroy (61), Cian O’Sullivan for Quinn (69), Fionn O Riain Broin for Barrett (72).

Ref: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).

COMHGHAIRDEAS le Stephen Bennett ó @WaterfordGAA; the #AllianzLeagues Division 1A Hurling Man of the Match from #DUBvWAT earlier tonight! pic.twitter.com/Q5inq4s3Bq

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 4, 2017

GAA.ie previews Saturday's @CrokePark #AllianzLeagues Division 1A Hurling game @DubGAAOfficial v @WaterfordGAAhttps://t.co/uyuYNWex4L

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 3, 2017

Team News

Waterford Senior Hurling Team v @DubGAAOfficial on Saturday named!! Best of luck to all the lads! #Support #DeiseAbú https://t.co/WkYcMbQsXa pic.twitter.com/YzDY3rWhvj

— Waterford GAA (@WaterfordGAA) March 3, 2017

The Waterford Senior Hurling Team to face Dublin in the Allianz NHL tomorrow in Croke Park at 5pm has just been named!

1. Ian O’Regan (Mount Sion)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore / Kinsalebeg)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
7. Stephen Daniels (De La Salle)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
9. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
14. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)