Dublin v Waterford
Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B
DUBLIN 0-21 WATERFORD 2-15
By Dermot Keyes at Parnell Park
Despite being down to 14 men for 20 minutes, Dublin maintained their unbeaten run for 2022 following a dramatic, card-littered National League opener with Waterford at Parnell Park.
Donal Burke, who proved unerring from the dead ball, appeared to have secured a famous win for Mattie Kenny’s men with a free in the third additional minute. But his opposing free-taking number, Stephen Bennett, who proved equally reliable from set play, converted a point-saving free in the fourth of five frantic added minutes.
Following a scrappy first half that certainly didn’t lack for niggle, Dublin led by 0-11 to 1-4 come Colum Cunning’s interval whistle.
Playing with the wind, Dublin opened the scoring through Riain McBride after 30 seconds, with Conor Burke adding a second barely a minute later, bisecting the posts from the halfway line.
Donal Burke landed his first free of the afternoon after four minutes to send the hosts three clear before Stephen Bennett’s free opened Waterford’s account from their next attack following a foul on debutant Carthach Daly.
Come the eighth minute, Waterford’s Colin Dunford was bearing down on goal only to be pulled down by Cian O’Callaghan, whose intervention led to his sin binning and a Déise penalty. Stephen Bennett drilled his shot low and decisively to Seán Brennan’s right to send the visitors ahead for the first time.
Jack Prendergast of Waterford is tackled by Dublin goalkeeper Seán Brennan, resulting in a black card for the Dublin player, during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Dublin and Waterford at Parnell Park in Dublin.
Donal Burke converted his second free in the 14th minute only for DJ Foran, off his trusted left side, to immediately respond for Liam Cahill’s charges.
Austin Gleeson steered a fine point between the uprights in the 17th minute and it appeared that Waterford were seizing control of the fixture. However, they would point only once more in the remaining 21 minutes, as Dublin, primarily through Donal Burke’s free-taking, regained their early primacy. Burke would end the half with five successful conversions, while Dublin full-back Eoghan O’Donnell picked off the score of the half three minutes from the end of regulation time.
In a half which featured one black card and four yellows, Mattie Kenny’s men were good value for their advantage while Waterford were surely rueing a few passes which hadn’t stuck inside the Dublin 21-metre-line.
Waterford hit the second half ground running thanks to further points by Bennett (a free) and DJ Foran. Donal Burke remained laser-guided with his free-taking in both the 38th and 39th minutes and tagged on a fine score from play after 41 before Bennett converted a 44th minute free. Five minutes of scuffles and officiating checks followed before Colin Dunford steered a fine point over to leave Waterford three points in arrears. DJ Foran fired over an impressive 50th minute point before the marauding Tom Barron was denied a goal due to Seán Brennan’s brilliant full-stretch save. Stephen Bennett turned over the resulting 65 to leave just a point between the sides only for Ronan Hayes to extend Dublin’s advantage barely a minute later.
A sweeping 53rd minute Waterford attack involving Barron and Austin Gleeson released Jack Prendergast who found himself one on one with Brennan. With a goal appearing all but certain, Brennan took Prendergast down, leading to the netminder’s sin binning. Stephen Bennett, now facing 36-year-old Alan Nolan, did the needful to send the visitors a point clear.
But the drama was far from at an end. Burke and Bennett traded further frees before Chris Crummy and David Burke pointed again to leave Dublin a point clear with seven minutes remaining.
But the cards had not yet been finalised as Cian O’Callaghan was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 65th minute, with Bennett’s free levelling the game again. Stephen Bennett’s 67th minute free sent Waterford ahead before Burke’s 65 restored parity. Into stoppage time, Eamon Dillon steered Dublin in front yet again only for Bennett to land another free. Waterford’s Conor Prunty was dismissed for a second yellow card in the second additional minute by which time the contest remained well and truly up for grabs.
Burke and Bennett, fittingly, landed the final two points. A league point well and truly earned by both counties.
Scorers for Dublin: Donal Burke (0-12; 0-10f, 0-1 65), Conor Burke (0-2), Eoghan O’Donnell (0-1), Chris Crummey (0-1), Riain McBride (0-1), Danny Sutcliffe (0-1), Fergal Whitely (0-1), Ronan Hayes (0-1), Eamon Dillon (0-1)
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett (2-10; 2-0 pens, 0-8f, 0-1 65), DJ Foran (0-3), Austin Gleeson (0-1), Colin Dunford (0-10.
DUBLIN: Seán Brennan; Andrew Dunphy, Eoghan O’Donnell, Cian O’Callaghan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, James Madden; Conor Burke, Chris Crummey; Dónal Burke, Rian McBride, Danny Sutcliffe; Fergal Whitley, Ronan Hayes, Colin Currie. Subs: Eamon Dillon for Colin Currie (48), Alan Nolan for Ronan Hayes (54), Davy Keogh for Seán Brennan (65).
Waterford: Billy Nolan; Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Kieran Bennett; Jack Fagan, Iarlaith Daly, Tom Barron; Carthach Daly, Jack Prendergast; Patrick Curran, Austin Gleeson, DJ Foran; Shane Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Colin Dunford. Subs: Michael Kiely for Shane Bennett (49), Billy Power for Colin Dunford (61), Ciaran Kirwan for Austin Gleeson (68),
Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)
