Déise complete comeback

WATERFORD produced a stunning second-half comeback to claim their first league win of the season.

The Déise trailed by six points at the break after a woeful opening period but were transformed after the restart, outscoring London by 1-9 to 0-1 in a dominant 23-minute spell.

Jason Curry led the way with 1-9, his 45th-minute goal drawing Waterford level, but London will be scratching their heads after throwing away what seemed a certain victory.

The Exiles hit 1-6 without reply midway through the first half to surge into an eight-point lead. The goal arrived on 27 minutes when Killian Butler punished David Whitty’s wayward kickout by finding the net.

Leading 1-10 to 0-7 at the break, London appeared home and hosed but they managed only three points in the second period.

Not even the 54th-minute dismissal of substitute Paul Walsh would derail Waterford as they withstood a late London rally to snap a four-game losing streak.

SCORERS – Waterford: J Curry 1-9 (9f), T Prendergast, J Veale 0-2 each, K Power, J Allen, C Murray 0-1 each. London: K Butler 1-3, F McMahon, L Gavaghan (2f), A Moyles (3f) 0-3 each, P Begley, L Irwin 0-1 each.

WATERFORD – D Whitty 5; C McCarthy 6, T O’Gorman 7, A Walsh 7; M Curry 7, C Murray 7, K Murphy 6; K Power 7, T Prendergast 6; J Curry 9, G Crotty 6, D Guiry 6; J Veale 7, J Allen 7, C Maguire 6.. Subs: E O’Brien 6 for Maguire (38), P Walsh 4 for Prendergast (41, b/c), M Kiely for Murphy (70)..

LONDON – G McEvoy 5; P Butler 8, M Mangan 6, M Walsh 7; D Carrabine 6, Ciaran Dunne 7, P Begley 6; A McDermott 7, J Moran 7; L Gavaghan 8, M Gottsche 8, S McManus 6; R Elliott 7, L Staunton 6, A Moyles 7. Subs: L Staunton 6 for Moran (8, b/c), C Coyne 6 for Carrabine (ht), L Irwin 7 for Elliott (60), R Jones 6 for Walsh (60), G Byrne for McMahon (70).

REF – B Judge (Sligo)