Bennett’s on the double as Déise recover
Waterford wipe out Dublin’s early promise
A STEPHEN BENNETT brace of goals saw Waterford earn their first competitive win at Croke Park since 2008 in this Division 1A clash.
Derek McGrath’s men trailed a determined Dublin outfit by five points during the opening half last night but Bennett’s opportunistic strike on 37 minutes secured a second Allianz League victory for the Déise.
Skipper Kevin Moran showed leadership during a tricky patch while Pauric Mahony stroked over 12 points (ten frees).
Eoghan O’Donnell, Éamon Dillon and Donal Burke were all prominent for the home side before that third-quarter turnabout.
Michael Walsh returned to the Waterford line-up and supplied the opener for Mahony after just 33 seconds.
The Ballygunner forward attempted a free into the Canal End on six minutes but it struck the left-hand upright. Stephen Bennett reacted fastest, however, to whip to the net.
The Dubs rallied with five consecutive points, including a beauty from wing-back Chris Crummey in front of the Hogan Stand. Full-back O’Donnell was also well on top during this spell.
A Mahony free levelled the match for a second time. Dillon’s third point from play put the hosts back in front. On 20 minutes, a long ball from Crummey was fumbled by defender Noel Connors and Burke pounced for a goal to leave his side 1-7 to 1-2 ahead.
A fourth white flag by Dillon consolidated that five-point gap. Waterford captain Moran responded with back-to-back efforts before hurler of the year Gleeson drove over his first. Mahony trimmed the deficit to the minimum before Burke recovered from two misses to nail an injurytime placed-ball score to leave his side trailing 1-10 to 1-8.
The Munster side resumed with intent and two minutes into the second half, Stephen Bennett robbed possession from keeper Conor Dooley before shooting into an empty net. The Ballysaggart man and Mahony (free) subsequently put their side 2-10 to 1-10 to the good.
Burke and Ryan O’Dwyer got Ger Cunningham’s men back to within one point.
However, a stunning over-the-shoulder point by Bennett injected confidence into the visitors and with the ever dependable Mahony reaching double figures, Waterford stretched into the distance.
As Derek McGrath’s side recovered from their defeat to Tipperary last time out, the only blot on their evening’s work was the late dismissal of Stephen Daniels on a second yellow card.