TWELVE Stephen Bennett points and a Billy Nolan penalty save saw Waterford shrug off fourteen man Offaly on a miserable Saturday evening.
The win secured promotion to Division 1A, now they will face off again in the 1B final.
Speaking after the game, a rain soaked Déise manager Peter Queally admitted they were overjoyed with the result.
He said: “We’re delighted. It was a tough campaign.
“We got off to a shaky start in Dr Cullen Park. We’re thrilled to turn it around, win our five games and get back up to Division 1.”
Offaly boss Johnny Kelly was frustrated with the straight red card for James Mahon after 24 minutes for a challenge on Gavin Fives.
He stated: “It wasn’t a red card for us but that’s what happened. This is the way they’re clamping down.
“It’s just unfortunate for such a good young man and a good player that he has to see red for that.” Will they look to appeal? “We’ll have to talk to other people about that and see.”
Kelly’s men hit the front early in the second half, with a goal from Brian Duignan, but Bennett’s accuracy and Nolan’s stop from Duignan got the job done for the Déise in front of 2,294 spectators.
The hosts hit the last eight points of a scrappy contest.
All Star defender Tadhg De Burca, playing his first inter county match in ten months, took home the TG4 Man of the Match award. He slotted back in seamlessly at number six.
It took the home side just 12 seconds to raise a white flag via Stephen Bennett. The first of his seven first half singles. Tadhg De Burca then pointed from his own 65.
Shane Bennett had two goal chances. He booted one over the bar and saw another brilliantly saved by Offaly goalkeeper Mark Troy.
After James Mahon’s red, four Stephen Bennett frees left the home team six up approaching the break.
Offaly grabbed the last two points of the half however as impressive midfielder Killian Sampson scored his third from play and Brian Duignan nailed an injury time free (0-10 to 0-6).
Two minutes into the second half, Charlie Mitchell supplied Duignan and the number fifteen held off Billy Nolan before flicking to the net. Sampson’s fourth point followed (1-9 to 0-10).
The Déise recovered with three Stephen Bennett points. Nolan was then penalised for charging into Mitchell.
The Waterford number one got a yellow but flicked Duignan’s penalty over the bar. The loudest roar of the evening.
The fifteen men sealed the deal with eight unanswered points. Stephen Bennett, Jamie Barron, Gavin Fives, Tom Barron, Charlie Treen, Padraig Fitzgerald and Dessie Hutchinson all obliged to fire the Déise back to the top flight
Waterford 0-22
Offaly 1-11
Waterford: B Nolan; C Ryan, M Fitzgerald, G Fives 0-1; P Leavey 0-1, T De Burca 0-1, K Bennett; C Sheahan, D Lyons; Stephen Bennett 0-12 8fs, J Barron 0-1, J Prendergast 0-1; P Curran, D Hutchinson 0-1, Shane Bennett 0-1.
Subs: P Hogan for Sheahan (40), T Barron 0-1 for Lyons (51), S Walsh for Curran (57), C Treen 0-1 for Shane Bennett (62), P Fitzgerald 0-1 for K Bennett (65).
Offaly: M Troy; B Conneely, C Burke, J Mahon; R Ravenhill, D Shirley, J Sampson; C Spain, K Sampson 0-4; D Nally, D Bourke 0-1, O Kelly; T Guinan 0-1, C Mitchell 0-1, B Duignan 1-4 (2fs, 0-1 penalty).
Subs: L Watkins for Mitchell (48), D King for Kelly (51), E Cahill for Guinan (62), P Taaffe for Conneely (67), E Burke for Spain (72).
Referee: J Murphy (Limerick)
