WATERFORD AND WEXFORD will go head to head next Sunday in Wexford Park a game that will determine the outcome of this year’s Allianz Division 1B hurling league race after both counties triumphed in today’s games.
Limerick’s loss to Offaly last night dented their promotion hopes and today Waterford destroyed Antrim by 32 points at Walsh Park while Wexford fired home five goals en route to a success over Laois in O’Moore Park.
The results leave Waterford on top with 7 points ahead of next Sunday’s final round games with Wexford second on 6 points while Limerick are back in third on 5 points. A draw will suffice for Waterford next Sunday as they seek to book a Division 1A place while Wexford must win.
Waterford 4-30
Antrim 0-10
WATERFORD TROUNCED ANTRIM by 32 points at Walsh Park to remain top of Division 1B. Pauric Mahony (0-11), Maurice Shanahan (2-5) and Stephen Bennett (1-4) all tormented the away side who were out of their depth from an early stage. 10 different players contributed scores for Derek McGrath’s rampant side ahead of a crucial trip to Wexford Park next Sunday.
Stephen Bennett was handed his first league start by McGrath in a starting fifteen that showed three changes from the win over Offaly. Bennett was denied a goal in the seventh minute as Chris O’Connell saved well with his feet.
On 18 minutes, the door opened for the Ballysaggart full forward. Colin Dunford made a dashing run down the right wing and he sent a handpass across for Bennett to finish low under Chris O’Connell (1-5 to 0-3).
Bennett added two more superb singles to finish a productive half with 1-3. It took the Saffrons 27 minutes to register from play through Conor Johnson. Pauric Mahony grabbed seven points as the hosts strolled 11 points ahead at halfway (1-13 to 0-5).
Bennett added another point before he departed on 42 minutes. Second half substitute Maurice Shanahan delivered 2-5 during an eye catching 28 minute cameo role. He collected a pass from Michael Walsh to raise a second green flag on 59 minutes. Another substitute Tom Devine shook the roof of the rigging with five minutes left before Shanahan drilled home his second.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-11 (0-6f); Maurice Shanahan 2-5; Stephen Bennett 1-4; Tom Devine 1-0; Michael Walsh 0-3; Paudie Prendergast, Jake Dillon 0-2 each; Colin Dunford, Kevin Moran, Shane O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Antrim: Paul Shiels 0-5 (0-4f); Conor Johnson, Ciaran Johnson (f) 0-2 each; Shane McNaughton (f) 0-1.
Waterford
16. Ian O’Regan
2. Shane Fives
3. Barry Coughlan
4. Noel Connors
7. Philip Mahony
5. Tadhg De Burca
10. Kevin Moran
8. Jamie Barron
20. Martin O’Neill
12. Jake Dillon
14. Michael Walsh
11. Pauric Mahony
13. Brian O’Halloran
22. Stephen Bennett
23. Colin Dunford
Subs
Maurice Shanahan for Bennett (42)
Tom Devine for O’Halloran (42)
Shane O’Sullivan for O’Neill (45)
Shane McNulty for Connors (56)
Paudie Prendergast for Pauric Mahony (60)
Antrim
1. Chris O’Connell
2. Ryan McCambridge
3. Neal McAuley
4. Aaron Graffin
5. Simon McCrory
6. Conor McKinley
7. Michael Bradley
8. Neil McManus
9. Ciaran Johnson
10. Niall McKenna
11. Tomás McCann
12. Paul Shiels
13. PJ O’Connell
14. Shane McNaughton
15. Ciaran Clarke
Subs
Matthew Donnelly for Clarke (23)
Conor Johnson for McKenna (23)
Eoghan Campbell for T McCann (H-T)
Conor McCann for McManus (H-T)
T O Ciarain for McNaughton (47)
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)
Wexford 5-22
Laois 0-25
WEXFORD’S GOALSCORING ABILITY proved crucial in helping them see off Laois this afternoon in O’Moore Park.
The victory was a major boost to Wexford after the disappointment of suffering a narrow defeat in a seven-goal thriller against Limerick last Sunday. Coupled with Limerick’s loss to Offaly last night, Liam Dunne’s side are now right back in the Division 1B promotion race.
Conor McDonald bagged two goals today while Liam Óg McGovern, Podge Doran and David Redmond all raised a green flag as well.
Scorers for Wexford: Ian Byrne 0-15 (0-11f, 0-1 ’65), Conor McDonald 2-2, David Redmond 1-1, Liam Óg McGovern, Podge Doran 1-0 each, Liam Ryan, Lee Chin, Diarmuid O’Keeffe, Harry Kehoe 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: Zane Keenan 0-7 (0-4f), Willie Hyland 0-6, PJ Scully (0-1 sideline), Cha Dwyer, Paddy Whelan 0-3 each, Paddy Purcell 0-2, Ross King 0-1.
Davy Fitz: ‘In Clare we do things properly, there’s a code of discipline and that’s it’
Cork hurlers go top of the table as Paudie Sull bags two goals against Galway