Fitzgeralds on fire as Waterford bounce back

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Allianz National League Division 1B:

Waterford 1-27
Laois 0-20

Waterford made a return to winning ways against Laois in their Allianz National League Division 1B clash at Walsh Park, securing a first win in charge for Peter Queally.

The Déise were caught cold by Carlow last time out, but 0-13 from Padráig Fitzgerald and 1-4 from Patrick Fitzgerald proved crucial this time as they got their promotion push up and
running.

Aiming for a first win against the Déise in 41 years, Laois got out in front with a point from Paddy Purcell but Jamie Barron was quick to respond for the home side. Shane Bennett then sent over a superb effort from a tight angle as Peter Queally’s side made a bright beginning, and it got even better when the game’s opening goal arrived with just two minutes played. A long searching ball was fumbled by Laois goalkeeper Enda Rowland, and Patrick Fitzgerald was on hand to pounce on the mistake.

Laois made the perfect response to going four points behind, scoring the next five as Tomas Keyes fired over two frees either side of a point from play when capitalising on a loose pass from the Déise defence, while Rowland also pointed from a long range dead ball and Jordan Walshe found the radar from space.

Patrick Fitzgerald looked sharp throughout and brought the teams level again with a well taken score, but Laois were dominant in the air as Waterford struggled to take advantage of
their assistance from the elements. A free from Padraig Fitzgerald and a Jamie Barron effort moved Waterford two to the good before Charles ‘Cha’ Dwyer responded.

Barron exemplified why he is a three-time All Star with a fantastic third point from well out the field, before frees from Keyes, Shane Bennett and Padraig Fitzgerald saw Waterford
move five points ahead (1-10 to 0-8) on 25 minutes. Michael Kiely played in the back line for Waterford and fielded a lot of ball out of danger, as two more dead balls from Kilrossanty man Fitzgerald kept the Déise ticking over, although efforts from Jer Quinlan and Tomas Keyes kept Laois within touching distance.

A pair of frees from Fitzgerald brought his personal tally to 0-7 on the cusp of half time, many of which were far from straightforward but Keyes brought his tally to 0-6 and Jer Quinlan’s
second of the day meant it was 1-13 to 0-12 at the break - far from game over.

9 February 2025; Jer Quinlan of Laois in action against Michael Kiely of Waterford during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B match between Waterford and Laois at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Laois fired three frustrating wides at the beginning of the second period but did reduce arrears to a solitary goal when Aidan Corby opened his account, before Fitzgerald was again on song for the Déise in a lacklustre opening to the second period. His ninth of the afternoon restored Waterford’s five point cushion but a well-worked score from David Dooley provided timely inspiration for the visitors. Seven wides for Laois was proving detrimental as they could’ve been much closer, a tenth point from Fitzgerald wasn’t helping their cause either as Waterford showed far more heart and hunger than was the case in their trip to Cullen Park a week prior.

Camross man Keyes led the charge for Laois with another well taken free, which was again cancelled out by Fitzgerald, before Kevin Mahony opened his account on 53 minutes. Barron’s effort looked to be going wide but Patrick Fitzgerald rescued the sliotar and turned to slot on a sixpence - Waterford now seven points ahead going into the final 15 minutes. His namesake Padraig Fitzgerald made the gap eight points from another placed ball, as Waterford looked all but certain to secure the points on offer - growing into the game as the clock ticked on, resulting in a thirteenth point of the afternoon for the Kilrossanty man.

Jordan Walshe grabbed his second but Laois looked a beaten docket by then as Patrick Fitzgerald blazed over when going for goal to bring his contribution to 1-3, before a point from substitute Aaron Dunphy and the excellent Jamie Barron’s fourth of the afternoon. Thomas ‘Mossy’ Keyes and Charles ‘Cha’ Dwyer attempted to rally the troops, as Waterford welcomed the return of captain Dessie Hutchinson. Captain of the day Mark Fitzgerald fired a fine individual effort to cap off a good day’s work.

Aaron Dunphy and Patrick Fitzgerald traded late scores before two late points from Peter Hogan and Kevin Mahony secured a ten point victory for the Déise.

Next up for Waterford is a trip to Corrigan Park to face Antrim in the ‘Davy Derby’ - and they will be far more confident for that clash given today’s results.

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Conor Ryan, Mark Fitzgerald, Conor Keane; Cathrach Daly, Michael Kiely, Paddy Leavy; Conor Sheahan, Jack Prendergast; Shane Bennett, Jamie Barron, Sean Walsh; Kevin Mahony, Patrick Fitzgerald, Padraig Fitzgerald

Subs: Kieran Bennett for Shane Bennett (HT); Patrick Curran for Sean Walsh (45); Peter Hogan for Paddy Leavy (47); Tom Barron for Cathrach Daly (60); Dessie Hutchinson for Padraig Fitzgerald (62)

Scorers: Padraig Fitzgerald (0-13; 0-12f; 0-01 ‘65); Patrick Fitzgerald (1-04; 0-01f); Jamie Barron (0-04); Shane Bennett (0-02; 0-01f); Kevin Mahony (0-02); Peter Hogan and Mark Fitzgerald (0-01 each)

Laois: Enda Rowland; Padraic Dunne, Lee Cleere, Donnchadh Hartnett; Podge Delaney, Fiachra Fennell, Jordan Walshe; Aidan Corby, Paddy Purcell; David Dooley, Jer Quinlan, Eanna Lyons, Charles Dwyer, Willie Dunphy, Tomas Keyes

Subs: Colin Byrne for Willie Dunphy (47); Aaron Dunphy for Jer Quinlan (51); Mark Dowling for Tomas Keyes (69)

Scorers: Tomas Keyes (0-08; 0-07f); Aaron Dunphy (0-02; 0-02f); Charles Dwyer, Jordan Walshe and Jer Quinlan (0-02 each); Paddy Purcell, Aidan Corby, David Dooley and Enda Rowland (0-01 each)

Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)

The Big Match is brought to you thanks to George Corbett Cupra.