Sport

Improved Wexford display not enough to stop Waterford

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Waterford 1-11 Wexford 0-12: SEAMUS PRENDERGAST provided the crucial eighth-minute goal …

Mon Feb 21 2011 - 00:00

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Waterford 1-11 Wexford 0-12:SEAMUS PRENDERGAST provided the crucial eighth-minute goal as Waterford took two points from a much-improved Wexford side in a teak-tough Division One NHL clash at Wexford Park.

Wexford tore into this game and led at the interval, but their failure to translate possession into more than three points during the second half proved their undoing

Wexford opened the scoring via a free from Jim Berry but Waterford landed a big blow in the eighth minute. Stephen Molumphy picked out Shane Casey whose low shot towards goal was flicked to the net past ’keeper Niall Breen.

By the 15th minute Waterford had stretched into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead, through three points from Richie Foley, two frees, while Stephen Banville replied for Wexford.

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But Wexford hit back for four unanswered points through Berry, Rory Jacob, Gary Sinnott and Harry Kehoe to draw level, 0-6 to 1-3, after 24 minutes. Further points from David Redmond, Rory Jacob and Colm Farrell (a 65) in response to scores from Foley and Thomas Ryan helped Wexford lead 0-9 to 1-5 at the interval.

Defences were generally on top throughout the second half but Pádraig Mahony swung over a great point to bring the sides level.

Waterford eventually broke the second half deadlock with a Foley pointed free, but 30 seconds later Wexford were back level through Rory Jacob. Points from Thomas Ryan and sub Maurice Shanahan edged the Deise into a 1-9 to 0-10 lead with 15 minutes to go, but a PJ Nolan point kept the home side in touch. After Shanahan and Berry had exchanged pointed frees, Shanahan’s pointed 65 secured victory for the visitors.

WATERFORD: S O'Keeffe; D Fives, S Fives, N Connors; W Hutchinson, M Walsh, J Nagle; S O'Sullivan, Philip Mahony; S Casey, R Foley (0-5, four frees), Pádraig Mahony (0-1); T Ryan (0-2), S Prendergast (1-0), S Molumphy. Subs: M Shanahan (0-3, one free, one 65) for Molumphy (55); S Walsh for Ryan (61 mins); S Power for Casey (70 mins).

WEXFORD: N Breen; P Roche, M O'Hanlon, K Rossiter; L Prendergast, D Stamp, C Kenny; C Farrell (0-1, 65), D Redmond (0-1); H Kehoe (0-1), G Sinnott (0-1), S Banville (0-1); R Jacob (0-3), T Waters, J Berry (0-3, frees). Subs: M Jacob for Farrell (50 mins); PJ Nolan (0-1) for Redmond (59 mins); D Kehoe for Rossiter (62 mins); P Atkinson for Kehoe (63 mins).

Referee: J Ryan(Tipperary).