Two excellent saves by Offaly goalkeeper Alan Mulhall in the second half ensured that Offaly left Fraher Field with a victory yesterday.
Waterford had the better of most of the first half despite going behind to a Brian Connor point with just 17 seconds on the clock.
A Patrick Hurney goal from a Kieran Cotter ’45’ saw them take a 1-7 to 0-4 lead 10 minutes before half time.
However, points from Niall McManus and Niall McNamee steadied the ship for the visitors and when Sean Pender hit a goal with half an hour played Offaly were in control.
A further brace of points from Thomas Deehan before the break saw the visitors head to the dressing-rooms at the interval with a 1-8 to 1-7 lead.
In an evenly contested second half it was the Faithful County that just about shaded it.
Two scores apiece from Ciaran McManus and Brian Connor coupled with Mulhall’s heroics — denying Mark Ferncombe and Eamonn Walsh — made sure that the visitors took all the points.
Man of the Match: A Mulhall (Offaly)
Scorers — Offaly: C McManus 0-5 (4f, 1 ’45’), T Deehan 0-4 (3f), S Pender 1-0, B Connor 0-2, G Guilfoyle, N McNamee, J Reynolds 0-1 each. Waterford: P Hurney 1-2, B Wall 0-4 (4f), S Fleming 0-3, B Phelan, W Hennessy, T Prendergast 0-1 each.
OFFALY — A Mulhall 8; B Darby 6, S Brady 6 , S Pender 7; S Sullivan 6, K Slattery 6, J Keane 6; R Dalton 6, B Connor 7; G Guilfoyle 7, N McNamee 6, C McManus 7; T Deehan 6, J Reynolds 6, K Casey 5. Subs: J Coughlan 6 for Casey (55), B Allen 6 for Deehan (63), N Dunne for McNamee (69), R Brady for Reynolds (71), P Bracken for Guilfoyle (73).
WATERFORD — K Cotter 6; Maurice O’Gorman 7, T O’Gorman 7, K Connery 7; W Hennessy 6, S Briggs 5, J Hurney 6; E Walsh 6, B Phelan 6; P Hurney 6, B Wall 7, T Connors 5; S Fleming 8, T Prendergast7, M Ferncombe 5. Subs: C O’Keeffe 6 for Connors (h-t), T Grey 6 for Briggs (58) K Power 6 for Walsh (58), Michael O’Gorman 6 for Phelan (67).
Ref — C Lane (Cork).
