Waterford 3-16
Dublin 2-19

Waterford and Dublin played out a thrilling draw in the first round of the Allianz National Hurling League at Walsh Park.

The Dubs started impressively to lead by 1-6 to 0-4 after 13 minutes. Conal Keaney, in his biggest game since pledging his allegiance to the hurlders, hit two early points and Liam Rushe struck a third before Richie Foley and Shane Casey registered for the hosts.

A Keaney free added to the Dublin tally and Declan O'Dwyer fired a goal high and hard inside the near post of goalkeeper Adrian Power - promoted to the team before the throw-in after Clinton Hennessy's wife gave birth - to put the visitors in control.

Conor McCormack and Keaney, this time from play, stretched the gap but the deadly accurate Foley and Padraig Mahony scored for the Decies to keep them in touch.

A 27th-minute goal from Foley kept the Decies in the equation but Anthony Daly's men had done some magnificent groundwork in the early stages and they still led by 1-11 to 1-6.

Dublin continued to rain over the points to lead by eight at one stage shortly before half-time, but Seamus Prendergast claimed a second goal for Waterford as the interval approached to close the gap to just four at the break (1-14 to 2-7).

The home side totally dominated the third quarter and it took the Dubs 23 minutes to register their first score of the second half, courtesy of David O'Callaghan.

Waterford had notched the opening three points of the second half and their ability to find the net looked like it was going to prove decisive as a third three-pointer from Foley, a powerfully struck penalty, saw them go 3-10 to 1-14 in front, and the gap soon stretched to five points with the dominant Decies slotting over three more successive points.

But rejuvenated Dublin bagged a second goal courtesy of O'Callaghan to set up a riveting climax and they deservedly took a share of the spoils with an injury-time levelling point from the excellent Keaney, who shrugged off his pursuer, steadied himself 40 yards from goal and fired high and true to secure a point for the visitors.

Keaney finished the game with ten points to his credit, but even those heroics were outshone by Waterford's Richie Foley who racked up an amazing 2-10 on the day.

Waterford: A Power; D Fives, J Maher, N Connors; S Fives, M Walsh, J Nagle (0-1); S O'Sullivan, Philip Mahony; S Molumphy (0-1), R Foley (2-10, 0-7 from frees, 1-0 penalty), Padraig Mahony (0-2); S Casey (0-1), S Prendergast (1-1), T Ryan. Subs: W Hutchinson for Maher (h-t), E Murphy for Ryan (60), K McGrath for Casey (65).

Dublin: G Maguire; S Hiney (Capt), T Brady, S Lambert; N Corcoran, P Kelly (0-1), S Durkan; S Ryan, J McCaffrey; C Keaney (0-10, 0-8 from frees), D O'Dwyer (1-1), C McCormack (0-1); D O'Callaghan (1-3), L Rushe (0-2), P Carton (0-1). Subs: P Ryan for S Ryan (49), L Ryan for O'Dwyer (65).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork). Tweet

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