Allianz Hurling League Division 1A – Waterford 0-17 Dublin 0-13

Waterford 0-17 Dublin 0-13

Report from RTE.ie

Waterford will enjoy Division 1A hurling next season following a 0-17 to 0-13 win over league champions Dublin, who face a relegation play-off in two weeks’ time against Galway. The home side, playing in front of a good home crowd at Fraher Field, built up a fine 0-12 to 0-04 half-time lead, with last season’s minor player Gavin O’Brien landing four points from play. Dublin, with David Treacy hitting four points, and sub Rory O’Carroll and Eamon Dillon getting on the scoresheet, fought back. But the experienced John Mullane scored twice, and sub Eoin Kelly pointed from play as Maurice Shanahan ended with four points to help their county to survive in top-flight hurling next season.

The win now means that Michael Ryan’s team can now prepare for their championship meeting with Clare and look forward to top flight hurling next season. Before throw in, Dublin knew that they were facing a relegation play-off, whatever the result. The only matter to resolve was would it be Waterford again in two weeks time or Galway? As for Michael Ryan’s Waterford side, a win against Dublin and a defeat for Galway in Kilkenny, would see the Munster side avoid the drop.

Both sides came into the match on the back of good results with Waterford having won in Galway for their first league win of the campaign. Dublin had scored a late goal in Croke Park to earn a draw with Tipperary. In the opening half the home side started very well, showing greater urgency and with young Gavin O’Brien putting over the points from play and with Pauric Mahony adding three points from frees before the break, it helped Waterford into an eight-point half-time advantage.

Dublin were more determined in the second half and they reduced the deficit to four points, mainly thanks to scores from David Treacy, who finished with four points, Eammon Dillon, three from play, and a couple from sub Ross O’Carroll. The visitors were reduced to 14 men when Dean Curran was given a second yellow card by Cork referee Diarmuid Kirwin in the 55th minute. But in the end the experience and guile of John Mullane, who is the highest scorer in senior hurling from play over the last eight years, with a total after today of 147 in that period, helped by 37-year-old Tony Browne, still outstanding at half-back and the introduction of late substitute Eoin Kelly, saw Waterford keep their place in top flight hurling next season.

Waterford: A Power; A Kearney, L Lawlor,P Mahony; T Browne(0-1), M Walsh, S O’Sullivan; K Moran(0-1), D Twomey; E McGrath, M Shanahan(0-4,0-2f), P Mahony(0-3f); J Mullane(0-2), S Walsh(0-1), G O’Brien(0-4).

Subs: S Daniels for Lawlor (inj 38),S Mulumphy for Pauric Mahony(43), E Kelly(0-1) for Walsh(63), D O’Sullivan for Twomey(69).

Dublin: Gary Maguire; R Trainor, N Corcoran, O Gough; D Curran, M Quity, J McCaffery(0-1f); D Curtin, S Lambert; D Tracey(0-4,0-3f), M O’Brien, R O’Dwyer(0-1); D O’Callaghan, E Dillon(0-3), N McMorrow(0-1).

Subs: P Carton and C Clinton for Lambert and O’Brien (both h/t), R O’Carroll(0-2) for O’Callaghan(44), D Sutcliff(0-1) for Curtin(59).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)