Waterford 1-26 Offaly 1-15: This was just about the scale of result most hurling followers envisaged from this All-Ireland qualifier at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, on Saturday, Waterford's winning margin of 11 points over Offaly providing the losers with a fair measure of hurling redemption after the 31-point hammering by Kilkenny six days earlier.
This level of defeat is just about tolerable for John McIntyre's side but with Clare next up there is little comfort to be taken by the men from the Midlands.
Waterford led by 11 points at half-time after the sides had raised a plethora of first-half white flags. Manager Justin McCarthy will have been particularly pleased to see John Mullane back to his devastating best in attack.
Mullane, operating at right corner forward, really caught fire in a four-minute spell before half-time shooting four splendid points from play in as many minutes. These were scores which helped in large measure to put the game conclusively out of Offaly's reach by the interval at which stage they trailed 0-17 to 0-6.
Offaly did not leak goals as they did against Kilkenny and while they were always competitive they lacked the skills and leadership qualities of men like Ken McGrath, who scored 0-5 from centre back, Mullane, and Paul Flynn, who finished top scorer with 1-8, 1-6 from placed balls. Flynn, with the final puck of the game, drilled a close-range free to the Offaly net.
No doubt Waterford felt they had the game won at half-time but there were a few anxious minutes for them midway through the second half. With Waterford enjoying a double-score lead on 18 minutes - 0-22 to 0-11 - two Offaly substitutes Cathal Parlon and Aidan Hanrahan combined for the later to shoot a good goal.
For a few minutes there was hope among the Offaly supporters of a comeback when the impressive Brian Carroll and midfielder Brendan Murphy tacked on points from play.
But Mullane restored order for Waterford when he glided in from the left wing to land his seventh point of the game. From there on it was very much point for point until Flynn raised that late green flag for the winners.
This game marked the return to the Offaly defence of the great Brian Whelahan in what could be his last championship season.
WATERFORD: S Brenner; T Feeney, F Hartley, J Murray; T Browne, K McGrath (0-5, two frees, one 65), E Murphy; B Phelan, E Kelly; D Shanahan, M Walsh (0-3), P Flynn (1-8, 1-6 frees); J Mullane (0-8), S Prendergast (0-1), E McGrath (0-1).
OFFALY: B Mullins; P Molloy, G Oakley, D Franks; Brian Whelehan, K Brady, Barry Whelehan; M Cordial (0-2, one line ball), B Murphy (0-2); G Hanniffy (0-2), R Hanniffy, D Hayden (0-1); B Carroll (0-5, one free), J Brady, D Murray (0-3, frees). Subs: A Hanrahan (1-0) for J Brady; M O'Hara for Barry Whelehan; C Parlon for Hayden.
Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).
