Summer hurling. What a spectacle it makes for, if not for relaxing watching.
Going into this All-Ireland Qualifier, Waterford were understandably the nailed on favorites ahead of throw-in, the bookies had it at 1/150 for the Deise and 40/1 for the O' Moore County; the full-time scoreline proves the bookies to be full of hot air.
Laois earned their place in this tie beating Antrim in the preliminaries and they again showed their quality this afternoon.
An expected goal for Waterford came through unexpected channels when veteran Kevin Moran's deflected shot hit the back of the net on 13 minutes, improving Waterfords already sizeable advantage to six points. Earlier scores had come through Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran and Jack Prendergast, but Moran's strike seemed to tell the story of what was to come - this was going to be a slaughter, surely?
Dessie Hutchinson, PJ Scully were busy swapping scores after the water break while both Callum Lyons and Stephen Bennett were adding to Waterford's scoreboard.
By half time, Liam Cahill's team could have been well out of sight, but some errant shooting left them short on what they could have notched.
In last year's Championship, Waterford struggled coming out of the halftime and water breaks - it happened again today.
Paddy Purcell popped up in the 43rd minute, hitting the back of Shaun O' Brien's net and reduced the deficit to just 4 points (1-17 to 1-13).
With their goal in the locker, Laois were buoyed with new confidence and began to attack the Suirsiders diligently. Stephen Bennett pointed for Waterford in the 55th, but then sweat began rolling down the necks of every Waterford fan. It wasn't thanks to the 26 degrees sunshine, but the two unanswered scores from Laois.
A point followed by a goal meant that Laois were in the driving seat. Ciaran Comerford hit the back of the Waterford net, bringing a deafening silence from the attending Waterfords supporters; fifteen minutes left to play, advantage Laois (2-17 to 1-19)
From that moment, it was tit for tat until the end. Laois score through PJ Scully, Waterford respond through Hutchinson. Austin Gleeson shoots wide, but then sets up Patick Curran who slots it to the back of the Laois net. Breath. It's nearly over.
If it wasn't for the 18 wides from Waterford, this game would not have been such a nervy affair. The late Curran goal provided the respite that Waterford needed, but it was Stephen Bennett who put the much-needed nail in the Laois coffin with his goal in the dying minutes.
Waterford will be in the draw for round two on Monday morning, where they can draw Cork or Galway, but a much improved performance will be needed if they are to progress to an All-Ireland quarter final.
Full Time Score from Nowlan Park Waterford 3-23 Laois 2-21
