Waterford hit four successive points at the end of a thrilling game to seal a 1-19 to 1-16 win over Offaly on Sunday.
Davy Fitzgerald’s men looked to have pulled off the improbable feat of securing a place in the Division 1 final, but Galway’ late win over Dublin means the Tribesmen will now face Cork in next moth’s decider.
Waterford led by 0-4 to 0-2 in the early stages, with Seamus Prendergast amongst the scorers for the Déise and Brian Carroll and Derek Molloy responding for the Faithful men.
However, Offaly came roaring back into the game thanks, once again, to the brilliance of Sane Dooley, who struck five points to give the visitors the lead for the first time just before the half hour mark.
Dooley and Eoin Kelly were having a personal duel from placed balls, with Kelly’s four points helping the Deise, while Maurice Shanahan levelled the game at 0-7 apiece before Dooley sent Offaly into the lead.
A pair of Kelly frees gave Waterford the lead once again, but the lead changed hands no fewer than eight times in the half and the sides were level at 0-10 apiece going into the break before Shane O’Sullivan drilled over a long-range point to give his side a one-point lead at the break.
Daniel Currams and Rory Hannify sent Offaly into the lead just after the restart. Dooley was once again in fine form from placed balls and he sent Joe Dooley’s side into a 0-14 to 0-12 lead.
However, Waterford once again took the leaf when Dan Shanahan scrambled the ball to the back of the net.
Once again, Dooley hit back for Offaly, landing his ninth and tenth points of the match to level the scores
John Mullane came on for Waterford and levelled the game at 1-13 to 0-16 16 minutes into the second half before Molloy sent the Faithful men into the lead when he bundled the ball over the line.
In a harum scarum finish to the game, Waterford took complete control when Maurice Shanahan took over the free-taking duties from Eoin Kelly, who had been taken off.
Shanahan, the younger brother of Dan, scored five points in the final 17 minutes of the game, with three coming in the vital last seven minutes to seal a three-point win.
Scorers: Shane Dooley 1-10, Daniel Currams 0-3, Brian Carroll 0-1, Derek Molloy 0-1, Rory Hanniffy 0-1
