WATERFORD 4-13 DUBLIN 0-12
Dublin made a disappointing start to the NHL Division 1 campaign as the Decies won in pillar to post fashion at Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon. Aside from the 13-point defeat the second half leg injury suffered by Alan McCrabbe, which held the game up for ten minutes.
Waterford hurled with greater conviction and penetration in Kevin Moran had the most influential player on the park as his four first half points had the home side 1-10 to 0-6 to the good by half-time.
The goal arrived in the seventh minute when Gary Hurney cracked the sliotar to the net from almost 30 metres after Moran made the original incision in the Dublin defence.
Dublin had a goal chance in the 22nd minute but the kicked effort by Peter Kelly flew wide of post.
Five minutes into the second half Waterford put clear daylight between the sides when he was on hand to sweep the sliotar to the net after Gary Maguire had denied Maurice Shanahan from close range.
Despite a lot of second half possession Dublin could not carve out the goal-scoring opportunites required to get back into the contest. Following the long delay for the injury to McCrabbe goals from Stephen Molumphy and Moran in the 72nd and 73rd minutes put Waterford totally out of sight as they exploited some lapses of concentration in the Dublin rearguard.
SCORERS – Waterford: K Moran 1-5, M Shanahan 0-6 (0-3f, 0-2 65), S Molumphy 1-1, G Hurney, S Walsh 1-0 each, J Nagle 0-1. Dublin: A McCrabbe 0-5 (0-4f), D Treacy 0-3, L Rushe, S Durkin, K Flynn, P Ryan (0-1f) 0-1 each.
WATERFORD – C Hennessy; J Maher, L Lawlor, N Connors; D Prendergast, M Walsh; R Foley; J Nagle, J Murray; K Moran, S Molumphy, M Shanahan; S Walsh, G Hurney, T Connors. Subs: S Fives for Murray (43), T Ryan for S Walsh (56), M ONeill for Hurney (76).
DUBLIN – G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney, R Fallon, M OBrien; J McCaffrey, J Boland; P Kelly, L Rushe, S Durkin; D Treacy, K Flynn, A McCrabbe. Subs: M Carton for OBrien (21), J Kelly for Flynn (43), D Curtin for Boland (43), S Ryan for P Kelly (43), P Ryan for McCrabe (57, inj).
REF – D Kirwan (Cork).
