The two old heavyweights from the south east squared up in Walsh Park yesterday and what might have been a muddy old barnyard scrap took on a meaning of its own. The home team righted a bit of worrisome winter history; this was the first time they had beaten their border adversaries on home turf in a League encounter since 1963.
For the most part of yesterday's match it appeared as if the visitors would manage to extend that record without too much exertion, but Waterford rose a head of steam in the last quarter and substitute Billy O'Sullivan scrambled home an injury-time goal.
For too long, however, Waterford's attack bore a stilted look. Dave Bennett, on song a week ago, was bottled for much of this game and yet again, Paul Flynn emerged as the marksman in chief, lethal in open space and unflinching when presented with dead-ball opportunities. Six of his 11 points came from placed-ball shots.
Ken McGrath and Dan Shanahan continue to win invaluable possession - McGrath cracked the long ball goalward for O'Sullivan's goal - but with Anthony Kirwan drifting along anonymously, the attack lacked an overall fluidity.
Newcomer Brian "Basher" Henley got stuck in gamely on the wing and, in the second half particularly, Peter Queally warmed up and gradually eclipsed the efforts of Adrian Fenlon and Robert Hassey.
Down 0-10 to 0-13 with under 20 minutes to go, Waterford responded with the kind of spirit that sustained them two summers ago and unsurprisingly, the cast of heroes was familiar.
Fergal Hartley and Stephen Frampton were, as ever, directing matters at the coalface and Shanahan made a tremendous impact when he came in with 43 minutes gone.
Ten minutes after his arrival, he broke loose and whipped the score which left the home team trailing 010 to 0-13. This seemed to stir Waterford. Flynn rifled a point after James Murray flicked a pass, then he hit a 65 and with eight minutes remaining he angled another free to leave the scores at 0-13 apiece.
Wexford, ahead since the outset, now found themselves in a sprint. While craftiness and the graft of Donal Berry, Liam Dunne and Chris McGrath had carried them into a promising position, they wilted under the home team's force of will. Chris McGrath, who made light of Paul Codd's absence by cracking over frees all afternoon, missed his simplest chance with six minutes to go after Ken McGrath had rattled home a marvellous point to give Waterford the lead.
The Wexford forward did restore the balance on the stroke of time when the hard-working Tom Feeney was called for charging but Waterford stormed back with an urgency. McGrath's long ball half-deceived Damien Fitzhenry - who had been wonderfully solid - and O'Sullivan scooped it home. A minute later, Flynn iced the game with a late free.
Ironically it was Waterford who had been caught out right at the beginning of the game: Wexford stung for them three points in as many minutes.
Tom Demspey flicked on for Chris McGrath who duly hit the target, Jason Lawlor grabbed a handpass from Darragh Ryan and fired Wexford's second and then Dempsey angled another sweet point from the left wing, the source of the home side's troubles.
On the 20th minute, Dempsey struck again, this time hooking a delightful overhead score which left the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 ahead.
Gerald McCarthy had seen enough, calling Stephen Curley ashore and dispatching the more wizened Brian Flannery to silence Dempsey.
While Waterford never looked out of it, they then had a miserable sequence of wides which might have yielded at least two goals. Paul Flynn, twice, and Ken McGrath failed to convert chances after doing the donkey work. But while Wexford eased into a five-point lead, Waterford rallied and trailed by only two at half-time.
Waterford: B Landers; S Curley, J O'Connor, T Feeney; S Frampton, F Hartley, J Murray; J Brenner, P Queally; B Henley, K McGrath (0-2), B Walsh; D Bennett (0-1), A Kirwan, P Flynn (0-11, five frees, 65). Subs: B Flannery for S Curley (30 mins); D Shanahan (0-1) for B Walsh (43 mins); B O'Sullivan (1-0) for A Kirwan (57 mins); E Bennett for B Henley (63 mins).
Wexford: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Berry, S Flood; L Dunne (0-1, 65), D Ryan, D Ruth; A Fenlon, R Hassey; J Lawlor (0-1), M Byrne (0-1), M Jordan (0-1); C McGrath (0-6, 5 frees), M Storey (0-1) T Dempsey (0-3). Subs: L Murphy for M Byrne (46 mins); K Kenny for L Lawlor (50 mins); R Quigley for M Storey (62 mins).
Referee: P O hEathirn (Carlow).
