Wexford 3-15
Waterford 2-15

Wexford are through to their first All-Ireland SHC quarter-final in six years after a thrilling victory over Waterford at Nowlan Park.

The Model County's 2014 championship odyssey continues after a terrific local derby clash was decided by goals from man of the match Paul Morris, teenage sensation Conor McDonald and David Redmond. Showing no signs of fatigue after their two games and two periods of extra-time against All-Ireland champions Clare, Liam Dunne's charges were roared on to another huge victory by the vast majority of the 18,964 attendance at the Kilkenny venue.

It all means that Wexford will now meet beaten Munster finalists Limerick at Semple Stadium next Sunday in what will be their fourth game in as many weeks.

The purple and golds led by 2-9 to 0-12 at half-time and looked to be on course for a comfortable win when Redmond's goal seven minutes into the second half put them seven points clear.

But, in a remarkable turnaround, Waterford responded with two Colin Dunford goals to edge in front. However, Wexford finished the stronger to set up a repeat of the 1996 All-Ireland final in eight days' time.

The sides were level three times in the opening eight minutes. Shane Walsh opened the scoring for the Deise, only for Podge Doran and Paul Morris to reply for Liam Dunne's charges. Pauric Mahony levelled from a free before Conor McDonald edged Wexford back in front. But the Munster men regained parity again through Jake Dillon.

McDonald got out in front of his man to restore the Model County's lead before Paul Morris put daylight between the sides for the first time when he collected a David Redmond pass and fired to the right corner of Stephen O'Keeffe's net with 11 minutes on the clock.

Waterford were immediately handed an opportunity to get themselves back into it when a penalty was harshly awarded against goalkeeper Mark Fanning for a challenge on Dunford. But Wexford fans will say justice was done when Eoin Moore saved Austin Gleeson's low drive at the expense of a '65' which Mahony converted to leave three between the teams, 0-4 to 1-4, after 14 minutes.

It was all happening at this stage as Waterford replaced Shane Walsh with U21 Gavin O'Brien. Mahony (free) and Jack Guiney traded scores before Mahony's fourth placed ball left two in it again, 0-6 to 1-5.

Great work by Lee Chin yielded a sixth Wexford point from Liam Og McGovern. By now, however, Waterford were gaining the upper hand around midfield and they shot the next five points to move into a 0-11 to 1-6 lead by the 26th minute.

Mahony started the scoring sequence from a free before points from play by Dunford and Gleeson tied up the scoring. Mahony nailed another free and Jake Dillon was also on target to put Derek McGrath's side in the driving seat for the first time.

Diarmuid O'Keeffe, who had replaced Harry Kehoe moments earlier, responded with a much-needed point for the Slaneysiders, only for Kevin Moran to restore Waterford's two-point advantage.

But the rest of the half belonged to a resurgent Wexford who scored 1-2 without reply. Points from Morris (free) and O'Keeffe restored parity before McGovern stole in behind the Waterford full back line and teed up Conor McDonald for a clinical finish under the advancing Stephen O'Keeffe on the stroke of half-time.

Podge Doran opening the second half scoring before the huge Wexford support were on their feet again when David Redmond came steaming onto a Guiney pass and beat Stephen O'Keeffe with a powerful low drive from 25 metres. Moments earlier, the Waterford 'keeper had denied Paul Morris with a brilliant save.

Now trailing by seven points, 0-12 to 3-10, Waterford reacted by introducing veterans Stephen Molumphy and Seamus Prendergast for Darragh Fives and Jake Dillon. The changes had the desired effect as the Deise came thundering back into the game by reeling off an unanswered 2-2 in the space of six blistering minutes.

Mahony was on target from another free before young corner forward Dunford took centre stage with a brace of quick-fire goals. His first came in the 45th minute after Kevin Moran had picked him out with a cross-field pass. Gleeson's third point narrowed the gap further before Dunford raised his second green flag in the 49th minute after reacting quickest to a breaking ball and beating Mark Fanning with a deft flick.

Amazingly, the men in blue and white now led by 2-14 to 3-10, but Wexford wrested back the momentum with the next four points. Morris levelled it for a sixth time after O'Keeffe had produced another superb save to deny McGovern. Morris split the posts three more times (twice from play) to make it 3-14 to 2-14 after 55 minutes.

Stephen Molumphy got a point back for Waterford before both sides were guilty of shooting some very poor wides. Eventually, Wexford sub Ian Byrne ended a nine-minute scoring drought with a long-range point to restore their three-point lead with five minutes remaining.

And despite Waterford's best efforts, the Model men held on for another famous win.

Wexford - M Fanning; L Ryan, M O'Hanlon, K Rossiter; A Shore, E Moore, C Kenny; D Redmond (1-0), L Chin; P Morris (1-6, 0-3f), P Doran (0-2), H Kehoe; J Guiney (0-1), C McDonald (1-2), L Og McGovern (0-2). Subs: D O'Keeffe (0-1) for H Kehoe, W Devereux for K Rossiter, I Byrne (0-1) for W Devereux, G Sinnott for D Redmond (64); R Jacob for L Og McGovern.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Fives, L Lawlor, N Connors; D Fives, K Moran, T de Burca; M Walsh, P Prendergast; S O'Sullivan, P Mahony (0-7, 6f, 1'65), A Gleeson (0-3); C Dunford (2-1), S Walsh (0-1), J Dillon (0-2). Subs: G O'Brien for S Walsh, S Molumphy (0-1) for D Fives, S Prendergast for J Dillon, M O'Neill for P Mahony, S Bennett for L Lawlor.

Referee - C Lyons. Tweet

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