1A Relegation play-off: Dubs survive
March 30, 2014
Dublin's Danny Sutcliffe
Dublin saw off 14-man Waterford to retain their top flight status following this 4-13 to 1-17 win at Walsh Park.
Two second half goals by Danny Sutcliffe helped Dublin to victory against a Waterford side that was reduced to 14 men after Shane O'Sullivan was red carded in the 27th minute.
First half goals by Paul Ryan (free) and Colm Cronin had helped Dublin to a one-point lead at the break, 2-06 to 1-08.
Then Sutcliffe's strikes in the second half broke Waterford's resistance, despite the best efforts of Pauric Mahony who finished the game with eleven points to his name.
The sending off was potentially a huge turning point and in fairness it seemed a harsh decision on O'Sullivan who was deemed to have deliberately struck Michael Carton with his hurl under a high ball.
Despite missing a few regulars, Waterford started well as Ray Barry and Brian O'Sullivan raised white flags in the first minute of the game. Three more points from the hurl on Mahony saw the home side go five points clear and there was just eight minutes played.
Waterford were well on top during this period, but when Sutcliffe was fouled, Ryan stood up and buried the 20 metre free into the back of the net.
Alan McCrabbe then scored two points either side of a Mahony free. Substitute Darragh Fives received a pass from Seamus Prendergast shortly after his introduction and he fired a low shot into the net to make it 1-06 to 1-03.
A Mahony free sailed over and then there was four points between, but all was about change when O'Sullivan was given his marching orders.
Moments later Dublin had 1-01 on the scoreboard as McCrabbe (free) and then a Cronin goal changed the complexion of the scoreline.
Mahony from another placed ball, then Schutte and Ryan O'Dwyer for Dublin saw Dublin go in at the break leading by the minimum.
The Deise were level just after the restart as Mahony continued to prove clinical from frees, but being a man down seemed to take its toll on the home side.
Sutcliffe's goals came within the space of two minutes when Ryan laid off a pass to the wing forward and the youngster scored his first before he collected a high ball from Michael Carton and buried the sliotar past Ian O'Regan.
This ended the match as a contest as Dublin lead by seven points even though there was still over 20 minutes to play. Waterford kept plugging away and points from Mahony, Shane Walsh were duly cancelled out by minors from Conor McCormack, Ryan and McCrabbe.
Waterford substitute Ryan Donnelly notched two points late on, but it was fitting that Mahony would get the last score of the match, although it wasn't enough as the Munster side plan for Division 1B hurling next year.
Waterford: S O'Keeffe; T Bourke, S Fives, N Connors; J Nagle (0-01), M Walsh, K Moran; K Moran, S Molumphy; J Barron, Pauric Mahony (0-11, 0-07f), A Gleeson; R Barry (0-01), S Prendergast, B O'Sullivan (0-01). Substitutes: D Fives (1-00) for Molumphy (20 mins), S Walsh (0-01) for Prendergast (43), E Barrett for D Fives (47), R Donnelly (0-02) for Gleeson (58), S Roche for Barry (65).
Dublin: G Maguire; S Durkin, P Kelly, P Schutte; J Boland, L Rushe, M Carton; C Cronin (1-00), J McCaffrey; R O'Dwyer (0-02), A McCrabbe (0-06, 0-03f), C Keaney (0-01); P Ryan (1-02, 1-00f), D Sutcliffe (2-00), M Schutte (0-01). Substitutes: D O'Callaghan (0-01) for Cronin (49 mins), C McCormack for McCaffrey (53), N McMorrow for Keaney (59), C O'Callaghan for P Schutte (66).
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
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