Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Waterford 1-14 Galway 0-16

Galway 0-16 Waterford 1-14

Report from the GAA.ie web site

Waterford finally secured the first points of their 2012 Allianz League campaign with a dramatic last gasp victory over Galway at Pearse Stadium. Shane Walsh was the Déise hero, landing a superb point four minutes into added time to snatch a win that gives Michael Ryan’s side hope – provided they beat Dublin in their final game and other results go their way – of avoiding a relegation play-off with the Dubs to save their top flight status.

Walsh, who had scored Waterford’s goal in the 41st minute, dramatically changed the course of a game that was flowing very much in Galway’s favour, as the home side had hit six points without reply in the closing stages to level the game at 0-16 to 1-13. But if Waterford were going to stop the rot on any day, it was with John Mullane, who provided the pass for Walsh’s goal, back in the forward line, new selector Ken McGrath prowling the sidelines and Eoin Kelly coming on late on to round off a perfect day for manager Ryan and his Déise team.

It all started promisingly, too, as they raced into an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead, before Galway hit back and closed the gap with three points in a row. Waterford’s hopes took a turn for the worse when Shane O’Sullivan was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Barry Daly, but Galway were also reduced to 14 men as Declan Connolly was shown the line for a second cautionable offence. Waterford had hit seven first half wides but they still managed to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time, with Pauric Mahony leading the way with five points. Mahony continued in that vein after the break and, thanks to Walsh’s goal six minutes into the second half, Waterford were comfortably in control, leading by 1-13 to 0-10 with 12 minutes to go.

However, Galway were far from finished, and points from Barry Daly, Niall Burke (0-2) and David Burke left a point between the sides, before substitute Brian Flaherty looked to have secured a draw for his side when landing a fine score after a Fergal Moore pass. That was far from the end of the drama, though, as just when the sands of time looked to have run out, Walsh drove over a monster point in the 74th minute.