A storming finish from 14-man Waterford in which they outscored Carlow by 0-7 to 0-2 over the final 15 minutes minutes saw the Déise round off their Division 4 campaign with a fully merited win in biting cold conditions at Dr Cullen Park yesterday.

Both these sides went into the game on four league points but in what was a dead rubber it was Waterford who showed the greater desire in a game of sub-standard football.

Niall Carew’s side were down to 14 men after 30 minutes when midfielder Shane Aherne received a second yellow card. But despite playing with the strong wind, the home county could only muster a single point from play in the half – their first of the game from half forward Ciarán Moran – as they led by a slender 0-5 to 0-4 after a hugely uninspiring half.

It was point for point for much of the second half – after 55 minutes the sides were tied at 0-8 each. But in the closing stages the pace of Waterford centre forward Liam O’Lionáin provided major problems for the home defence as he was the creative force behind the late scoring surge from the visitors.