Waterford 0-17

Wexford 1-13

Waterford remain on course to retain their Allianz League Division 1 title after receiving a huge scare from Wexford at Innovate Wexford Park.

The holders needed a late winner from top-scorer Maurice Shanahan to secure their semi-final ticket after Liam Dunne's 5/1 outsiders had regained parity thanks to a Conor McDonald goal and a long-range point from substitute Harry Kehoe. Shanahan posted a dozen points for the Deise who will meet Dublin for a place in the final on April 17.

The home side made light of their underdog status to storm into a 0-8 to 0-2 lead inside the opening 20 minutes thanks to a trio of Ian Byrne frees and two Lee Chin efforts from play. Waterford replied with six unanswered points, including five from Shanahan and one from Philip Mahony, to regain parity before Harry Kehoe gave Wexford a slender 0-9 to 0-8 interval lead.

Austin Gleeson equalised on the restart and the sides were deadlocked three more times before Derek McGrath's charges surged four points ahead, 0-16 to 0-12. But McDonald - who had a quiet game by his standards - brought the wasteful Slaneysiders back into it when he fielded Cathal Dunbar's high ball and finished past Stephen O'Keeffe for the game's only goal.

The Wexford supporters were on their feet again moments later when Kehoe sent over the equaliser, but Waterford and Shanahan had the final say.

Waterford - S O'Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T de Burca, A Gleeson (0-2), P Mahony (0-1); J Barron, J Dillon; K Moran, S Bennett, M Walsh (0-1); P Curran (0-1), M Shanahan (0-12, 9f, 1'65), C Dunford. Subs: T Devine for P Curran, B O'Halloran for J Dillon, M Kearney for S Bennett, S McNulty for N Connors.

Wexford - C O'Leary; D O'Keeffe, L Ryan, J Breen; E Moore, P Foley, M O'Hanlon; J O'Connor, L Chin (0-2); I Byrne (0-4f), S Tomkins (0-1), A Nolan (0-2); P Morris (0-1), C McDonald (1-0), L Og McGovern. Subs: H Kehoe (0-3) for J O'Connor, A Shore for I Byrne, A Kenny for A Nolan, C Dunbar for S Tomkins, D Dunne for L Og McGovern.

Referee - J Ryan.

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