Tailteann Cup Group Two

Wicklow 3-29 Waterford 0-21

While they ended up with 17 points to spare and booked a place in the Tailteann Cup quarter finals after Laois’s surprise win over Offaly, you’d be wrong to think this was an entirely comfortable night for the Garden County.

They were, indeed, 10 points down at one stage in the opening half as Waterford threatened to pull off a major surprise in Wexford.

Wicklow might have considered themselves lucky to go in at the break only five behind after putting in a really lethargic first half. Waterford were dominating possession in the middle of the field and were able to turn that dominance into scoring chances. After falling 0-1 to 0-3 behind within minutes, they were by far the better team for most of the 35 minutes, and Jason Curry was immaculate from frees.

Curry's scores coupled with Conor Murray and James Walsh doubles had Waterford 0-16 to 0-6 up, and they deserved that cushion. Wicklow looked really open at the back and were punished accordingly.

But things fell apart from there for the Déise boys. They only led by 0-16 to 1-8 at half-time, and Eoin Darcy’s goal in injury time looked like it could be a crucial one with Wicklow having the advantage of a strong breeze to come.

That very much proved to be the case in the second half as Wicklow totally overran their opponents. Waterford could only score five further points – four more from Curry frees – while Wicklow scored a gargantuan 2-21.

Among those scores were three two-pointers from play – two from the increasingly prominent Dean Healy and another spectacular double from Oisín McGraynor – and two goals. Joe Prendergast knocked one in on the rebound midway through the second half, while Dean Healy did likewise in injury time.

The result between Laois and Offaly left three teams tied at the top of the table on four points each, and Wicklow’s massive 17-point winning margin had given them the boost they needed to top the group – which had looked a remote possibility at the start of the day.

Scorers for Wicklow: Oisín McGraynor 0-6 (1tp, 3fs), Dean Healy 1-4 (2tp), Eoin Darcy 1-2, Mark Jackson 0-5 (2tpf, 1f), Mark Kenny 0-4, Joe Prendergast 1-3, Cathal Baker 0-1, Pádraig O’Toole 0-1, Conor Fee 0-1, Darragh Fee 0-1, Tom Moran 0-1

Scorers for Waterford: Jason Curry 0-15 (3tpfs, 8fs, 1 ‘45’), Conor Murray 0-2 (1tp), James Walsh 0-2 (1t), Stephen Curry 0-1, Donie Fitzgerald 0-1

Wicklow: M Jackson, Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone, Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane, Darragh Fee, Dean Healy, Pádraig O’Toole, Christopher O’Brien, Eoin Darcy, Cathal Baker, Oisín McGraynor, Craig Maguire, Mark Kenny.

Subs: Jack Kirwan for O’Brien (57), Andy Maher for Prendergast (61), Conor Fee for Kenny (70), Ryan Harrison for Darcy (70+2), Liam O’Neill for Baker (70+3).

Waterford: Aaron Beresford, Tommy Martin, Caoimhín Walsh, Billy Hynes, Donie Fitzgerald, Adam Crawford, James Power, Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong, Michael O’Brien, Conor Murray, Jason Curry, Stephen Curry, Ciarán Walsh, James Walsh.

Subs: Alan Dunwoody for O’Brien (52), Caolán Mac Cathmhaoil for Crawford (55), Ciarán Looney for J Walsh (68), Loughlan Walsh for Fitzgerald (68).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).