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Moran goal vital as 14-man Waterford advance past Wexford in quarter-final tie

Tadhg de Búrca saw red late on for Waterford.

Shane Fives with Jack Guiney Shane Fives and Jack Guiney battle for possession. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Waterford 1-23
Wexford 1-19

Fintan O’Toole reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh

FOR THE THIRD successive year Waterford will feature on the last four All-Ireland senior hurling stage at Croke Park.

Just like 2016 they negotiated the quarter-final challenge posed by Wexford with Kevin Moran’s goal in the dying seconds of the first half proving the critical score.

That propelled Waterford into a 1-12 to 0-10 interval advantage and they were always able to protect that position with Jack O’Connor’s injury time goal for Wexford proving a consolation score.

Waterford’s joy was tempered by the late sending-off of Tadhg de Búrca. He was shown a red card in the 66th minute for an off the ball offence and his loss would be keenly felt in the semi-final.

Austin Gleeson and Matthew O'Hanlon Austin Gleeson and Matthew O'Hanlon battle for possession. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Pauric Mahony top scored for Waterford with 0-9 but it was Michael Brick Walsh who made a major impact in the first half in winning frees and causing difficulties for the Wexford defence.

Waterford were in a dominant mood as they went 0-5 to 0-2 in front in the 8th minute and were 0-8 to 0-4 clear by the 16th minute. Gradually Wexford steadied themselves with Liam Ryan and teenager Rory O’Connor impressing.

A superbly worked score by Diarmuid O’Keeffe in the 25th cut the gap to the minimum, 0-9 to 0-8, and even after Waterford pushed clear once more, Wexford reeled them in to trail 0-12 to 0-10 in injury-time.

Then came that Moran goal and it was a major setback for Wexford as they trailed by five at the break.

Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath after today's game. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Wexford responded well from that setback to fire over the opening three points of the second half but two points was as close as they could get to their opponents. The match slipped away from them as Waterford pushed into an unassailable position and the late goal that O’Connor cracked home after Jack Guiney’s free had been blocked, was merely a consolation score.

Scorers for Waterford: Pauric Mahony 0-9 (0-9f), Kevin Moran 1-3, Austin Gleeson 0-3 (0-1f), Brian O’Halloran, Maurice Shanahan 0-2 each, Conor Gleeson, Jake Dillon, Michael Walsh, Darragh Fives 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wexford: Jack Guiney 0-6 (0-6f), Jack O’Connor 1-2, Lee Chin 0-3 (0-2f), Diarmuid O’Keeffe 0-2, Liam Ryan, Aidan Nolan, Conor McDonald, Paul Morris, Eoin Moore, Rory O’Connor 0-1 each.

Waterford

1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)

2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)

5. Tadhg de Burca (Clashmore / Kinsalebeg)

15. Darragh Fives (Tourin)
9. Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
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)

12. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
13. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)

Subs

21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore) for Dillon (44)
20. Brian O’Halloran (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg) for Bennett (46)
24. Stephen Bennett (Ballysaggart) for Walsh (54)
23. Colin Dunford (Colligan) for Barron (62)
19. Tommy Ryan (Tallow) for Mahony (71)

Wexford

1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)

2. Willie Devereux (St Martins)
3. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
4. James Breen (Adamstown)

8. Shaun Murphy (Oulart-the-Ballagh)

17. Eoin Moore (Oulart-the-Ballagh)
6. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James)
7. Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Annes)

11. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
19. David Redmond (Oulart-the-Ballagh)

22. Rory O’Connor (St Martins)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidans)

20. Podge Doran (Oylegate- Glenbrien)
12. Jack Guiney (Rathnure)

Subs

9. Aidan Nolan (Half Way House /Bunclody) for Redmond (28)
10. Jack O’Connor (St Martin’s) for Morris (41)
13. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn) for McDonald (58)
21. Shane Tomkins (Askamore) for Doran (63)

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

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