DUBLIN manager Michael O'Grady said he was delighted to hear the referee blow the whistle to end this absorbing Division Two clash at Walsh Park, and one could understand his feelings. Waterford were in the process of dramatically wiping out the nine point interval deficit, 3-5 to 0-5, despite being a man short.
Tony Browne, the Waterford right wing back, had been sent to the line after Brian McMahon had fallen to the ground during a nasty incident six minutes into the second half. Tipperary referee John McDonnell did not allow any time at the end for this stoppage and other delays for bookings.
Dublin seemed content to rely on two first half opportunist goals by newcomer Colin Featherstone and a brilliant goal by Brian. McMahon.
Featherstone put Dublin into the lead with the first goal, scored with an overhead flick off a Jamesie Brennan lob after nine minutes. The 22 year old St Vincent's man, playing in his first competitive game for Dublin, goaled again nine minutes later.
Dublin's confidence grew as a result and McMahon whipped a great volley to the net from 14 yards three minutes later to leave the league toppers ahead by 3-2 to 0-3. Waterford's second quarter contribution to the scoreboard was meagre, a point from play by Liam O Connor and a pointed free from Paul Flynn.
Those goals were hammer blows for us. It is difficult to come back in a situation like that. Yes, I am really disappointed with our first half showing, said Gerald McCarthy, the Waterford manager.
The Dublin defence had looked extremely vulnerable, not least when goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin and John Finnegan got their signals confused and Paul Flynn was left with the easiest of chances only for him to produce an ineffective shot from close range.
Waterford patched up their midfield weaknesses by introducing Pat Queally for Tom Fives and, after Browne's sending off, Queally moved back to watch McMahon and Ken McGrath dropped back to midfield. The fiveman Waterford attack worked superbly, and McGrath's five star performance proved the defining feature of the match.
Billy O Sullivan decided to go for a point in the opening seconds of the second half after he had torn the Dublin cover apart with a dazzling run, but Paul Flynn blasted a close free to the net 16 minutes later to leave four points between the teams.
Dublin could manage only two second hall points off frees, by Jamesie Brennan.
Waterford reduced the deficit to three points. A close in free from Flynn whizzed over the bar instead of into its intended target, the roof of the net.
