Wexford produce blistering second half to down Déise

Waterford's second-half struggles continued as Wexford produced a powerful surge to victory in Sunday's Allianz hurling League Division 1A derby at Walsh Park.

Wexford responded to a patchy first-half showing to charge in front for the first-time after 48 minutes – veteran Matthew O’Hanlon snatching a 1-17 to 0-19 lead on his seasonal bow – before Simon Donohoe touched home a 52nd minute goal to drive Keith Rossiter’s men clear by 2-19 to 0-19.

But Waterford pounced upon a Wexford defensive error when substitute Pádraig Fitzgerald netted to shave the gap to 2-21 to 1-20 after 60 minutes and set up a grandstand finish, only for Davy Fitzgerald’s men to be left counting the cost of a bunch of closing wides.

Indeed, the result condemns the Déise to the second-tier of the league next year as Wexford look forward to top-flight action in the revamped competition.

Wexford also remain in the hunt for the league semi-finals ahead of hosting Cork in the closing round on Saturday, when Waterford are home to table-toppers Kilkenny.

And Waterford are left seeking a remedy to their frustrating third quarter slumps having only mustered 0-3 during that spell on this occasion having totalled a combined 0-5 in that same phase during the opening few rounds.

Waterford opened strongly against Wexford to craft the first five points without reply, a double from Paddy Leavey (frees) being added to by Jack Prendergast, Michael Kiely and Shane Bennett (free).

Wexford, in contrast, were struggling to make any telling impact upfront, and had to wait until the tenth minute for Seamus Casey to peg it back to 0-05 to 0-01 from a dead-ball.

But after an exchange of scores, Wexford cut through for a gilt-edged goal chance when Cian Byrne sent defender Shane