All Ireland SHC Round 1 Qualifier
Waterford 1-35
Offaly 0-14
Tomás McCarthy reports from Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park
WATERFORD MAINTAINED THEIR 100% championship record against Offaly with a facile victory at a misty Tullamore this afternoon.
After a shaky start, the favourites sprinted clear in the latter part of the first half to get their Liam McCarthy aspirations back on course. 13 players chipped in for Derek McGrath’s men. Pauric Mahony led the rout on 11 points, while hurler of the year Austin Gleeson hit six from play. The only concern for the Déise ahead of next Saturday’s second round was an ankle injury suffered by captain Kevin Moran.
Wind assisted Waterford shot 1-13 in the second quarter to lead by 13 at the break. Offaly wing forwards Emmett Nolan and Paddy Murphy acted as sweepers initially. James Dempsey picked out his targets from short puckouts. Five Shane Dooley frees left it six points all after 21 minutes. The sides were level on five occasions by that juncture.
The away team came to terms with the Faithful system and eight unanswered points put them in a commanding position. Mahony was responsible for three and finished the half on six. Gleeson started at centre forward and struck three first-half efforts.
Two minutes before the interval, Shane Bennett latched onto a long Stephen O’Keeffe puckout and sent it low past Dempsey (1-14 to 0-7). Darragh Fives marked his return with a point as nine Déise players got on the scoresheet.
Dooley retired with a thumb injury at half-time. Waterford emptied the bench throughout the second period as Jake Dillon, Colin Dunford, Patrick Curran and Thomas Ryan all raised white flags. Skipper Moran came off the field 18 minutes from the end.
The winners completed the 70 with 1-24 from play as they put their name in the hat on Monday morning. A stunning James Dempsey save thwarted Gleeson in added time.
Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-11 (8fs), Austin Gleeson 0-6, Patrick Curran 0-4 (2fs, 1 65’), Shane Bennett 1-0, Darragh Fives, Colin Dunford, Maurice Shanahan, Jamie Barron, Kevin Moran 0-2 each, Michael Walsh, Tadhg De Burca, Jake Dillon, Thomas Ryan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: Shane Dooley 0-5 (5fs), Joe Bergin 0-3 (2fs), Shane Kinsella, Emmett Nolan, James Mulrooney, Oisin Kelly, Ben Conneely, Padraic Guinan 0-1 each.
Waterford
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
9. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
5. Tadhg De Burca (Clashmore)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle)
14. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
6. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
11. Pauric Mahony (Ballygunner)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
13. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
15. Darragh Fives (Tourin)
Subs
23. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for Shanahan (49)
12. Jake Dillon (De La Salle) for Walsh (49)
17. Stephen Daniels (De La Salle) for Moran (52)
19. Thomas Ryan (Tallow) for Bennett (55)
22. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan) for Pauric Mahony (60)
Offaly
1. James Dempsey (Kinnity)
2. Ben Conneely (St Rynaghs)
3. Dermot Shortt (St Rynaghs)
4. Pat Camon (St Rynaghs)
5. Sean Gardiner (Lusmagh)
6. Aiden Treacy (St Rynaghs)
7. David King (Coolderry)
8. Sean Ryan (Birr)
9. Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)
10. Paddy Murphy (Ballinamore)
11. Shane Kinsella (Kinitty)
12. Emmett Nolan (Birr)
13. James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)
14. Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
15. Oisin Kelly (Belmont)
Subs
26. Sean Cleary (Shinrone) for Dooley (H-T)
19. Enda Grogan (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Treacy (H-T)
17. Michael Cleary (Shinrone) for Nolan (54)
22. Peter Geraghty (Kilcormac/Killoughey) for Kinsella (54)
18. Padraic Guinan (Drumcullen) for Murphy (58)
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway)
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