Charles Dwyer, Laois, and Paddy Leavey, Waterford, in Allianz Hurling League action. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
Waterford 1-27 Laois 0-20
By Tomás McCarthy at Walsh Park
An early goal from Patrick Fitzgerald helped the Waterford hurlers to their first win of the Division 1B campaign at a breezy and bitterly Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon. The Ballygunner man finished with 1-4 to his credit.
Padraig Fitzgerald nailed 13 placed balls and three-time All Star Jamie Barron shot four points from play as the Déise shrugged off a stubborn Laois challenge and bounced back from a surprise loss to Carlow.
Peter Queally made five changes to the Waterford line-up. Billy Nolan started between the posts while Conor Ryan, Conor Keane, Carthach Daly and Paddy Leavey got the nod in defence. Ballygunner duo Dessie Hutchinson and Peter Hogan were listed among the subs.
Laois All Star nominee Paddy Purcell split the posts after just 19 seconds. Waterford enjoyed wind assistance and Jamie Barron replied straight away. Shane Bennett struck from long distance and fetched the next puckout. His point attempt dropped short, but Enda Rowland miscontrolled the ball and Patrick Fitzgerald pounced. 1-2 to 0-1 inside two minutes.
The next five points belonged to the visitors. Tomás Keyes (free), Purcell, Enda Rowland (free) and Jordan Walshe gave Tommy Fitzgerald's men a 0-6 to 1-2 advantage. Patrick and Padraig Fitzgerald put the home side back in front.
Two Jamie Barron points, one off a quickly taken sideline, pushed the lead out to three. Sean Walsh was denied a goal in the 20th minute but Padraig Fitzgerald converted the subsequent 65. Another Fitzgerald dead ball gave them a five point advantage (1-10 to 0-8).
Jer Quinlan got one back. Rowland then saved from Patrick Fitzgerald but Sean Walsh was fouled in the build-up and Padraig Fitzgerald tapped over the free. The Kilrossanty front man nailed seven out of seven from placed balls. Keyes (free) and Quinlan from play narrowed the gap to four at the break (1-13 to 0-12).
Eanna Lyons, Keyes and Rowland all missed point chances for Laois at the start of the second half. Aidan Corby eventually got the scoreboard moving. Padraig Fitzgerald fired two frees at the other end. Charles Dwyer, Keyes and Aaron Dunpy squandered further opportunities for the away side. Four second half frees went awry.
Points from Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald and Padraig Fitzgerald saw Waterford move into a double digit lead. A loud cheer greeted Dessie Hutchinson's entrance. Jamie Barron popped over his fourth point from play as Peter Queally's men got the job done. Late singles via Mark Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony added a gloss.
Next up for Waterford is a trip to Antrim on February 23.
Scorers for Waterford: Padraig Fitzgerald 0-13 (12fs, 1 65), Patrick Fitzgerald 1-4 (1f), Jamie Barron 0-4, Shane Bennett (1f) Kevin Mahony 0-2 each, Mark Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Laois: Tomás Keyes 0-6 (6fs), Aaron Dunphy 0-3 (3fs), Jordan Walshe, Paddy Purcell, Jer Quinlan, Charles Dwyer 0-2 each, Enda Rowland (1f), Aidan Corby, David Dooley 0-1 each.
Waterford: Billy Nolan; Conor Keane, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Ryan; Carthach Daly, Michael Kiely, Shane Bennett; Conor Sheahan, Jack Prendergast; Paddy Leavey, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh; Padraig Fitzgerald, Patrick Fitzgerald, Kevin Mahony.
Subs: Kieran Bennett for Shane Bennett (HT), Patrick Curran for Walsh (46), Peter Hogan for Leavey (48), Tom Barron for Daly (60), Dessie Hutchinson for Padraig Fitzgerald (62).
Laois: Enda Rowland; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnchadh Hartnett; Fiachra C Fennell, Padraig Delaney, Jordan Walshe; Aidan Corby, David Dooley; Eanna Lyons, Charles Dwyer, Paddy Purcell; Jer Quinlan, Willie Dunphy, Tomás Keyes.
Subs: Colin Byrne for Willie Dunphy (47), Aaron Dunphy for Quinlan (51), Liam O'Connell for Delaney (68), Mark Dowling for Keyes (70).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).
