WATERFORD RTC staged a Lazarus like comeback to win a cracking All Ireland Freshers Hurling Final at Ballyduff, Waterford, yesterday.

Trailing by nine points at the end of the first quarter (3-4 to 0-4) WRTC looked dead and buried. When they were just as far behind at the break (4-6 to 1-6), the only question being asked was how much UCC would win by.

Then came WRTC's master stroke of switching Ger Flanagan to full back where he took control over Joe Deane, who had until then caused havoc, scoring two goals for UCC.

Still behind by 11 points after 42 minutes, the dramatic turnaround came. Three goals, two by John Howley and another by Donal Mulcahy, left only two points between the teams (4-11 to 4-9) with five minutes left.

In a thrilling climax, Howley again found the net in the 58th minute, putting WRTC in front by a point for the first time since the opening minutes. An Anthony Kirby point on the stroke of time sealed the victory.