Waterford and Wexford shared the NHL points at Walsh Park yesterday at the end of a highly entertaining game which was always close and climaxed in a welter of excitement.

The opening exchanges were lively and skilful and the first 10 minutes produced nine points, all but one of them from play. It was 0-5 to 0-4 at that stage in favour of Wexford.

Paul Codd as ever was reliable from Wexford frees but with Waterford's Ken McGrath equally accurate from some long-range placed balls, the home side led by eight points to seven after 30 minutes. Then in injury time Wexford scored two marvellous points to edge ahead at half-time. Mid-fielder Adrian Fenlon scored from a line ball from all of 65 metres out, and Martin Storey following up with a lovely effort from 80 metres.

Wexford shot three points to Waterford's two in the third quarter but Paul Flynn from a 65 and Ken McGrath put Waterford level.

The tie remained deadlocked until the 60th minute when Codd pointed a Wexford free from 55 metres. Dave Bennett equalised in injury time.

Waterford - B Landers, B Flannery, S Cullinane, M O'Sullivan, S Frampton, F Hartley, B Greene, T Browne, (0-1), G Gater , D Shanahan (0-2), K McGrath (0-5, 4 frees), B O'Sullivan, D Bennett (0-3), A Kirwan, P Flynn (0-2, free, 65). Subs: M White for Kirwan, J Meaney for Gater

Wexford - D Fitzhenry, C Kehoe, G Cushe, D Berry, D Ruth, L O'Gorman, J Purcell, A Fenlon, (0-1), R McCarthy, M Storey (0-3), S Hughes, P Codd (0-4, 2 frees, 65), T Dempsey (0-3), L Murphy (0-1), M Jordan (0-1). Subs: S Flood for Berry, B Byrne for McCarthy.

Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).