A LAST-SECOND equaliser from Kate Sullivan salvaged a draw for Dublin in a cracking TG4 All-Ireland SFC opener with Waterford in Dungarvan.
Despite the absence of top scorer Kellyann Hogan, the Déise led 1-13 to 1-11 with two minutes left.
Hannah Power put in a player-of-the-match performance at midfield, captain Emma Murray was magnificent in defence and attack while Bríd McMaugh kicked four points.
But the home side could not hang on for their first ever senior Championship win over the Dubs as a Hannah Tyrrell free and that buzzer-beater from Sullivan levelled the contest.
And Dublin joint-boss Paul Casey was just glad to salvage a point.
He said: “We’re extremely relieved. One thing we always ask this group is to fight to the end and they did that.”
A bizarre own goal from Sinéad Goldrick saw Waterford enjoy a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage at half-time.
The experienced defender bungled a back-pass to Abby Shiel and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
On the restart, Déise skipper Emma Murray won a turnover at one end and slotted a point at the other.
Tyrrell brought the sides level on 32 minutes at 1-7 apiece when she finished low under home keeper Katelyn Gardner.
Emma Murray added her second point from play before Tyrrell dummied and pointed.
The teams were level six times in the second half. Katie Murray and Lauren McGregor edged the hosts 1-13 to 1-11 ahead with time almost up.
But Dublin did not panic.
Tyrrell converted a late free and while Power won a huge kickout for the hosts, the Sky Blues retrieved possession and Sullivan got her kick away just before the full-time hooter.
Deise chief Tomás Mac An t’Saoir moaned: “I’m disappointed we didn’t see it out.
“We squeaked ahead towards the latter stages. We were two points up, we just didn’t get over the line.
“A couple of decisions didn’t go our way but that’s football.”
WATERFORD: K Gardner; A Murray, R Casey, C Murray; Á O’Neill, K McGrath, L Ní Arta; E Power, H Power; K Murray 0-1, E Murray 0-2, B McMaugh 0-4; L McGregor 0-2, 1f, C Walsh 0-1, C Fennell 0-3f.
Subs: L O’Shea for Fennell 52mins, Á Power for Ní Arta 52, M Dunford for McMaugh 55, C McCarthy for Walsh 55, L Mulcahy for A Murray 60.
DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Crowley; H McGinnis, M Byrne, S Goldrick 1-1 OG; N Hetherton, É O’Dowd; A Timothy 0-1, A Curran, S McIntyre 0-1; C Rowe 0-1, H Tyrrell 1-5, 4f, K Sullivan 0-4.
Subs: R McDonnell for Timothy h-t, N Owens for Rowe 42, C Darby for Curran 43, C Fox for McIntyre 55.
REFEREE: B Redmond (Wexford).
