Waterford 2-19 Wexford 3-15: ON THE final whistle, Davy Fitzgerald fell to his knees, put his head in his hands, and said a quick prayer. If he's having a hard time believing Waterford are back in an All-Ireland hurling semi-final, he's probably not the only one.
Within an instant, he was on his feet against, raising his right fist in the air. That was more like it. There can be no doubting Fitzgerald has at least brought the passion back into Waterford hurling - and who really knows how far that can take them now.
They have three weeks to prepare for their semi-final. Against Tipperary. No prizes for guessing who will start as favourites. The fact is Waterford are there and have a chance. They have a one-in-four chance of going all the way.
Fitzgerald ran on the field to congratulate his adopted team, and it was no coincidence the first men he ran into were John Mullane and Dan Shanahan. Mullane looked so fired-up in the second half he must have been mainlining adrenaline. Big Dan made one trademark move in the second half too, that not only turned his season, but may have turned all of Waterford's.
Eoin Kelly wasn't quite as prolific as against Offaly a week ago, yet still hit 1-8, and more importantly, all six Waterford forwards scored - including four points from Eoin McGrath. Given they trailed Wexford by four points early in the second half they needed everyone fired-up, and with Tony Browne giving a performance at centre back that defied his 36 years, it almost qualifies as vintage Waterford.
They still have problems - and leaking three goals, and hitting a dozen wides, is something they won't get away with against Tipp. Ken McGrath still looks shaky at full back, but as a team they are edging back into form. They also have a certain score to settle with Croke Park.
On another blissful afternoon for hurling - the championship now at full throttle - the margin of victory was minimal, mainly because Wexford, for the first time this year, produced a 70-minute performance. But in bringing the best out of themselves they also brought the best out in Waterford, and, in the end, the better team won.
It took a while for both teams to get rolling, and when they did, they rolled in with a goal-fest. All three of Wexford's goals came at a good time, but their fourth goal chance - a penalty by goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry - went over the crossbar instead of under it, and possibly proved the defining moment. It would have put them back in front going into the final 10 minutes and, while they did draw level again before the end, Waterford maintained the winning momentum over the finish line.
The double-bill crowd of 37,812 were still filing in at that stage, but those in witnessed a wonderfully tense climax. Diarmuid Lyng's free drew Wexford level with four minutes to play, only for Mullane to respond within seconds, hitting a beautiful point over his left shoulder. That was the edge, the experience, the composure Waterford had and Wexford needed.
A minute later, Kelly hit an even better point from further out near the sideline - his first and only from play - and so Wexford were dangling over a championship exit. Lyng pulled them back to one with another free, before the clock ran out - including a surprisingly brief 77 seconds of injury time - and Fitzgerald fell to his knees.
There could be no regrets for Wexford, however, only disappointment. The question of how they'd lift themselves from the latest trouncing of the Leinster final was quickly answered as they went three points clear after 20 minutes. Stephen Doyle claimed the first of his two goals on six minutes when collecting a superb pass from Rory Jacob, he calmly picked his spot in the Waterford net.
Wexford looked composed and unhurried - and that suited them. The problem was Waterford kept coming at them, and when Shanahan made his first big catch on 25 minutes, setting up Eoin McGrath for a point, there were level again. The hint that the second half would liven up came just before the break when Kelly, standing over a dubious free some 20 metres out, went for goal - and shot straight into the top right corner. Wexford were now down by four. The game was about to come alive.
Wexford hit three quick points, before we had three quick goals in succession. The first, for Wexford, saw Jacob send a high ball in towards the Waterford goal, which got the slightest flick off the grip of Willie Doran's hurl, as Bryan Phelan went up with him to try clear it. Two minutes later Doyle casually wrong-footed Ken McGrath, and with acres of room, he fired in his second. Now Wexford were up by four, and the spirit of Semple Stadium was roaring.
The Waterford response was as swift as it was devastating. Shanahan's instincts had finally returned, and positioned directly in front of goal, he collected a pass from Mullane, and didn't need to think twice about what to do next. The man who scored eight goals last summer netted his first of this summer, and it couldn't have come at a better time.
When Mullane scored the equalising point moments later, he turned to the Waterford supporters and grabbed his jersey in an unmistakable gesture of determination. Fitzhenry's penalty on 64 minutes, after Kevin Moran pulled down Eoin Quigley, was the chance to turn the momentum again, but instead it remained in Waterford's favour, and this time they wouldn't surrender it.
WATERFORD: 1 C Hennessy; 2 E Murphy, 3 K McGrath, 4 D Prendergast; 5 S O'Sullivan, 6 T Browne, 7 B Phelan; 8 M Walsh, 9 J Nagle (0-1); 10 D Shanahan (1-1), 11 S Prendergast (0-1), 12 S Molumphy (0-1); 13 E McGrath (0-4), 14 E Kelly (1-8, six frees, one 65), 15 J Mullane (0-3). Subs: 22 K Moran for Phelan (44 mins), 17 J Kennedy for O'Sullivan (46 mins).
Yellow cards: E Kelly (28 mins), K Moran (58 mins), J Nagle (60 mins), K McGrath (66 mins).
WEXFORD: 1 D Fitzhenry (0-1, a penalty); 2 M Travers, 4 P Roche, 23 B O'Leary; 5 M Jacob, 3 D O'Connor, 7 C Farrell; 8 E Quigley (0-1), 9 D Redmond (0-2); 10 PJ Nolan, 11 W Doran (1-1), 12 D Lyng (0-6, all frees) ; 15 R Jacob (0-2), 14 S Banville, 13 S Doyle (2-1). Subs: 17 S Nolan (0-1) for PJ Nolan (27 mins), 6 D Stamp for Farrell (41 mins), 19 B Lambert for Banville (43 mins), 21 K Rossiter for S Nolan (56 mins).
Yellow cards: P Roche (28 mins), B Lambert (51 mins), B O'Leary (58 mins).
Referee: John Sexton (Cork).
Attendance: 37,812 (double-bill).
