NHL Division One A/Dublin ... 2-13 Waterford ... 2-11: At half-time yesterday if Dublin manager Marty Morris was leafing through his stock of speeches he was unlikely to have been able to find one suitable for the occasion. Dublin were 15 points up, away from home in a competitive game against the Munster champions. From Tom Humphries in Dungarvan
In the end it was white knuckle stuff as Waterford came at Dublin with belated vigour but for Dublin thieving points on days like this is the stuff of progress. Development will come with a prolonged stay in Division One rather than shuttling up and down. They learned a lot yesterday.
As for Waterford, they looked a little out of sorts. Paul Flynn is out of favour and sat on the bench as things got worse and then better. In other places around the field they were creaky. Peter Queally looked off form, Declan Prendergast was uneasy at full back and until Eoin McGrath took a dose of smelling salts they were in trouble at midfield.
Through the first half Dublin played with a fresh gale at their backs. Fraher Field is always a little windswept and one would have expected Waterford to cope better if only for reasons of familiarity. The visitors tore away gleefully and during their best moments Morris must have had glimpses of the line-up he wants to field in this summer's championship.
Yesterday Morris offered what was a welcome and useful return to the county colours for Mossy McGrane, whose free-taking has been badly missed during his brief sabbatical from the game. McGrane has had to carry weak Dublin forward lines on his shoulders for several years and seeing him blossom under a steady supply of possession answered any lingering questions. By the break he had a goal and a point from play as well as a flawless record from frees. He adds much to Dublin's cutting edge.
McGrane's goal came after just six minutes and told much about the sort of day it was. A puck-out from goalkeeper Ger Ryan flew the length of the pitch, deceived Declan Prendergast and McGrane latched on to put Dublin five points ahead. Dublin scored another five points before a reply was forthcoming.
In general Dublin's forwards ran riot when the wind was at their backs. Morris smartly moved Conal Keaney up to the full-forward line while the elements were assisting and Dublin hailed the balls in merrily, picking scores off most of the chances they created as Waterford flailed around looking for an answer.
After 19 minutes Dublin were 1-7 to 0-1 ahead when Carl Meehan lofted a sideline cut into the Waterford square. Liam Ryan was on hand to finish it to the net. Dublin in dreamland
After the break Waterford came out looking a little cranky. As they were entitled to be. The mood wasn't helped by a string of early wides and the decision to get involved in a few bouts of niggling and bickering. Dublin for their part defended snappily.
It took 12 minutes before Ken McGrath swept a point over the Dublin bar to begin reducing the massive deficit. Two minutes later Ryan, the Dublin centre forward negated it. That's the sort of day Waterford were having.
Signs of quiet desperation everywhere.
On 54 minutes Dave Bennet opted to drive a 21-metre free at the goal. Cleared. A couple of minutes later Andy Moloney swiped a golden opportunity wide.
Like pushing water uphill.
Slowly though things were coming together. Dublin had brought Kevin Flynn out from the full-forward line in the hope of flooding the midfield but Tony Browne and Eoin McGrath were beginning to assert themselves and Fergal Hartley behind them was hurling a good deal more ball.
The main frustration for Waterford as they got on top was their shooting. Ten wides with the wind at their back was an unacceptable total.
The goals they needed were late in coming too. Bennet from a free at last raising a green flag with eight minutes left and then Ken McGrath sweeping a stray ball to the net for the last score of the game.
Waterford will take consolation from the fact that Dublin beat them in Parnell Park last spring and after that the fortunes of the two sides went in different directions.
Dublin need all the encouragement they can get and yesterday was an event to add to an increasing number of good days.
DUBLIN: G Ryan; C Wilson, L O Donoghue, C Meehan; K Wilson, S Perkins, S Hiney; C Keaney (0-2), T Holden; T Moore (0-1), L Ryan (1-2), S McDonell (0-1); M Carton, K Flynn (0-1), T McGrane (1-6, 5f). Subs: J McGurk for Holden (48 mins), D Sweeney for M Carton (55 mins), S Martin for McDonell (63 mins) B McLoughlin for McGrane (64 mins).
WATERFORD: N Kelly; T Feeney, D Prendergast, J Murray; E Murphy, F Hartley, P Queally; T Browne (0-1), E McGrath (0-2); D Bennet (1-5 all frees), K McGrath (1-2), P Fitzgerald; J Kennedy, A Moloney (0-1), M Walsh. Subs: P O Brien for P Fitzgerald (41 mins), D Shanahan for J Kennedy (51 mins), B Green for M Walsh (56 mins), B Flannery for Queally (68 mins).
Referee: D O Ciarabhuian (Cork).
