Waterford recorded back-to-back wins at Azzurri Walsh Park with a strong second-half performance against Offaly.
Reuben Halloran led the way with 1-12, while goalkeeper Billy Nolan made two crucial saves. The teams were level three times in a tight first half.
Halloran opened the scoring on four minutes after Brecon Kavanagh fouled him, and he converted the free. Adam Screeney replied quickly for Offaly.
Nolan then took a quick short free, surged upfield, and fired over a superb point from the left flank. Brian Lynch and Jamie Barron combined well, allowing Barron to double the lead. Screeney and Halloran then exchanged two frees each.
Calum Lyons scored Waterford’s second point from play on 18 minutes after excellent work from Patrick Curran. Luke Watkins responded immediately for Offaly. Screeney followed with a brilliant over-the-shoulder point, and Oisín Kelly added another to cut the deficit to one.
Halloran kept Waterford moving with another free. Moments later, Screeney broke through, but Nolan made a superb save and tipped the ball over.
Offaly drew level near the half-hour when Conor Keane was penalised for holding. Screeney converted to make it 0-8 each. Waterford nearly found a goal when Nolan’s long free was caught by Curran, but Brecon Kavanagh blocked Tom O’Connell’s effort.
Halloran pointed the 65 for his sixth of the half. Brian Duignan then rose highest in a crowd and sent a goal chance just over the bar to level the game again.
Michael Kiely drifted outfield to score a fine point, giving Waterford a 0-10 to 0-9 lead at the break.
Halloran and Screeney traded frees early in the second half. Waterford then struck 1-05 without reply to take control.
Stephen Bennett returned and pointed superbly to get things moving. Eoghan Cahill later caught a sideline cut and found Duignan, but Nolan blocked his effort brilliantly on 45 minutes.
Halloran added another free before Barron picked out Curran to extend the lead to four. Iarlaith Daly and Conor Keane began to dominate in the air. That shift proved decisive. Halloran added another 65 and then struck the game’s only goal on 54 minutes.
Barron found Calum Lyons in space, who spotted Halloran to his left. The De La Salle forward finished to the bottom right corner to seal the contest.
Offaly responded as Dan Bourke cancelled out another Halloran 65, their first score in 24 minutes. David Nally, two Screeney frees and a Sean Walsh point restored some pride. Two late Halloran points brought Waterford’s total to 1-19 as they claimed a deserved six-point win.
Waterford: Billy Nolan (0-01); Aaron O’Neill, Daniel Lalor, Conor Keane; Brian Lynch, Iarlaith Daly, Shane Bennett; Cathrach Daly, Darragh Lyons; Tom O’Connell, Jamie Barron (0-01), Calum Lyons (0-01); Reuben Halloran (1-12; 0-9f; 0-3 ‘65), Michael Kiely (0-01), Patrick Curran (0-01).
Subs: Mark Fitzgerald for Cathrach Daly (HT); Stephen Bennett (0-01) for Tom O’Connell (HT); Charlie Treen for Patrick Curran (57); Sean Mackey for Daniel Lalor (60); Sean Walsh (0-01) for Michael Kiely (63); Mairtín Power for Conor Keane (68).
Offaly: Mark Troy; Ben Miller, Ben Conneely, Sam Bourke; Dan Ravenhill (0-01; 0-01f), Brecon Kavanagh, Ross Ravenhill; Luke Watkins (0-01), Cathal King; Ter Guinan, Dan Bourke (0-01), Oisín Kelly; Eoghan Cahill (0-01), Brian Duignan (0-01), Adam Screeney (0-10; 0-08f).
Subs: Jack Clancy for Ross Ravenhill (35); Colin Spain for Ter Guinan (55); Ciarán Clancy for Luke Watkins (57); David Nally (0-01) for Eoghan Cahill (61); Luke Nolan for Adam Screeney (70).
