Waterford 1-9
UCC 0-11

Davy Fitzgerald's Waterford captured some early silverware for 2010 with the narrowest of victories over UCC yesterday at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, where Kevin Moran proved the Deise hero.

The centre-forward fired over a magnificent point in injury-time which proved the winning score for Waterford and handed Fitzgerald his first trophy as Deise boss.

In a lacklustre opening half, UCC had been marginally better than their opponents and went in at the break with a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage, with both sides only registering three points from play between them in the first 35 minutes.

Within two minutes of the restart, Waterford narrowed the difference to just one points as Maurice Shanahan sent over a quick brace of frees and four minutes later they were in front after Martin O'Neill blasted to the UCC net.

That score - orchestrated by Tomas Ryan and Gary Hurney and brilliantly tucked away by O'Neill - put Fitzgerald's team into a two-point lead, but they would be under pressure for the remaining quarter after midfielder Eoin Kelly picked up a straight red card.

The Cork students piled on the pressure and eventually drew level by the 58th minute through a Stephen Moylan free, despite some resolute defending from Michael Walsh and Jamie Nagle.

With extra-time looming, the outstanding Moran popped up to have one last say with a magnificent points 30 second into the added time which proved enough for victory in the end.

Waterford - C Hennessy; J Meagher, L Lawlor, M O'Brien; D Prendergast, M Walsh, J Nagle; E Kelly, J Murray; M O'Neill (1-0), K Moran (0-3), M Shanahan (0-6, 6f); S Walsh, G Hurney, T Ryan. Subs: O Whelan for Ryan (55 mins), B Phelan for Murray (55), A Kearney for Prendergast (55), M Doherty for O'Brien (56, inj)

UCC - A Nash; D Kearney, R Foley, W Kearney; J Joran, K Harnett, S Corry; E Martin (0-1), B O'Sullivan; S Burke (0-1), R White (0-1), T Og Murphy (0-1); D Honan, E Murphy (0-5, 4f, 1 '65), S Moylan (0-1). Subs: L O'Farrell (0-1) for E Murphy (41, inj). J Halbert for Burke (55), S O'Farrell for Martin (55), M Grace for T Og Murphy (58), S O'Sullivan for D Kearney (59).

Ref: D Richardson (Limerick). Tweet

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