Alan Nolan’s 78th-minute penalty save ensured Dublin of a wonderful 1-26 to 4-15 victory over previously-unbeaten Waterford.

Time and time again, Dublin’s excellent play was undone by the concession of soft goals and it looked like history would repeat itself for the fifth time deep into added time when Darragh O’Connell hauled down Tommy Ryan.

O’Connell was dismissed (second yellow) and Stephen Bennett – on a hat-trick - stepped forward to try to hand his side a fourth successive victory. Instead, having previously been beaten four times, Nolan executed a vital save as the battling hosts prevailed and moved level with their opponents on the 1B table.

But for the concession of three first-half goals, the Dubs could have been out the gate at half time as they scored 14 times and restricted the Barrowsiders to just six scores – 0-14 to 3-3 at the break.

Na Deise got an early gift when Nolan fumbled Stephen Bennett’s third-minute free to the Dublin net, but the hosts were still level a minute later as the outstanding Oisin O’Rorke’s free tied the scores up, Shane Barrett and Danny Sutcliffe having slotted the first two points of the game.

Eamonn Dillon had the Dubs ahead but Bennett equalised from a free. O’Rorke’s second converted free edged the Dubs briefly back in front but a soft Ryan major ensured that the visitors led by 2-1 to 0-5 at the midway stage in the first half.

Dillon reduced the arrears and Liam Rushe brought Mattie Kenny’s men back on terms again but lightning struck for the third time when Shane Bennett plundered a third Waterford three-pointer on 25 minutes. The Dubs continued to boss proceedings and they were back in front within two minutes thanks to efforts from Chris Crummey, Sutcliffe and John Hetherton – 0-11 to 3-1.

Shane Bennett equalised on 30 minutes and Stephen Bennett’s free cancelled out a lovely Sutcliffe point before O’Rorke’s free and another Crummey score ensured the Metropolitans of a two-point interval cushion.

Rushe’s goal fired the Dubs five clear within eight minutes of the restart, after the first four points of the second half had been traded, 1-16 to 3-5. But the visitors notched six of the next seven points – Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett (two), Ryan, Kevin Moran and Jamie Barron on target – to tie the scores up once more with 51 minutes elapsed.

O’Rorke’s free nudged the hosts back ahead and Dillon doubled the difference off his left, 1-19 to 3-11. O’Rorke combined with Sutcliffe to point from play but, wouldn’t you know it, in the 60th minute Na Deise drew level again as Stephen Bennett landed their fourth goal of the day. Bennett’s free gave them the lead but Fergal Whitely levelled it up with nine minutes to go.

Shane Bennett replied to O’Rorke’s free as the scores remained deadlocked but Moran gave Waterford the lead again on 68 minutes, only for O’Rorke to sweep over three more frees.

Stephen Bennett (free) and O’Rorke  swapped injury-time scores and the game had a dramatic finale as Nolan brilliantly redeemed himself with the sort of save every young – and old – boy dreams of.

Dublin - A Nolan; D O'Connell, E O'Donnell, P Smyth; C Crummey (0-2), S Moran, S Barrett (0-1); D Gray, R McBride; C Conway, D Sutcliffe (0-4), E Dillon (0-4); J Hetherton (0-2), L Rushe (1-1), O O'Rorke (0-11, 8f, 1'65). Subs: T Connolly for S Barrett, S Treacy for D Gray, J Malone for R McBride, F Whitely (0-1) for S Treacy, D Burke for C Conway.

Waterford - B Nolan; S McNulty, C Prunty, N Connors; C Lyons, A Gleeson, K Moran (0-2); J Barron (0-2), M O'Brien; J Prendergast (0-1), S Roche, DJ Foran; Shane Bennett (1-2), Stephen Bennett (2-7, 1-7f), T Ryan (1-1). Subs: M Walsh for DJ Foran, M Kearney for M O'Brien, Philip Mahony for C Lyons, J Henley for C Prunty, Pauric Mahony for J Prendergast.

Referee - F Horgan.

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