By Michael Moynihan
Waterford 0-14
Dublin 0-19
Dublin impressed with a strong second half to come away with the points in this NHL 1A game at Walsh Park.
Waterford were sharp from the start, hitting three points - two from Patrick Curran and a Colin Dunford effort - in as many minutes before Dublin responded.
The game slackened a little then, and by the quarter-hour Dublin were level thanks to two David reacy frees; Eamon Dillon pushed them one ahead with a fine solo effort, and then hit an even better point from the other side of the field - 0-5 to 0-3.
Dillon hit another fine score and a Treacy free lengthened the Dubs' lead, Shane Bennett and Austin Gleeson keeping Waterford in touch; before the half-hour a Curran brace had tied it up, 0-7 apiece, and a Gleeson free from his own 45 had Waterford ahead at half-time.
Treacy's frees had Dublin ahead 0-10 to 0-9 within five minutes of the restart; though Jake Dillon tied the game on 43 minutes Niall McMorrow restored their lead from the puck-out, and John McCaffrey had them two ahead on 45 minutes.
Chris Crummy, Treacy (free) and Darragh O'Connell made it five on the spin, giving Dublin a three-point lead at the three-quarter stage, Waterford taking some poor options. The home side put Maurice Shanahan in at full-forward to kickstart a revival but Dublin were on top; it took a Curran 65 to stop the rot for Waterford.
Entering the final ten minutes Dublin were still three ahead, and yet another Treacy free made it four, though Curran (free) responded. However, Sean and David Treacy (free) gave Dublin a five-point lead with five minutes left; when the latter knocked over his ninth free at that point the game was safe for the visitors.
Scorers for Waterford: P. Curran (0-1 65, 0-5 frees)(0-7); A. Gleeson (0-2 frees)(0-3); J. Barron, S. Bennett, J. Dillon, C. Dunford (0-1 each)
Scorers for Dublin: D. Treacy (0-9 frees); E. Dillon (0-4); D. O'Connell, J. McCaffrey, N. McMorrow, S. McGrath, S. Treacy, C. Crummy (0-1 each).
WATERFORD: S. O'Keeffe, S. Fives, B. Coughlan, N. Connors, P. Mahony, T. de Burca, K. Moran ( c), J. Barron, A. Gleeson, M. Walsh, S. Bennett, J. Dillon, P. Curran, T. Devine, C. Dunford.
Subs: M. Shanahan for Dillon (blood 46-9); M. Shanahan for Devine (50); M. Kearney for Dunford (61); S. O'Sullivan for Bennett and T. Ryan for Gleeson (68).
DUBLIN: C. Dooley, E. O'Donnell, C. O'Callaghan, O. Gough, S. Barrett, L. Rushe ( c), J. McCaffrey, D. O'Connell, D. Plunkett, C. Crummy, N. McMorrow, E. Dillon, D. O'Callaghan, D. Treacy, F. McGibb.
Subs: S. Treacy for F. McGibb (53); S. McGrath for Barrett (60); C. Cronin for O'Connell (68)
Referee: P. O'Dwyer (Carlow).
