Waterford 2-22 Cork 3-15: NEW CORK hurling manager Denis Walsh is still waiting for his first victory in charge after Waterford collected their third Division One league win in a dead rubber at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
Many in the 4,144 crowd were counting down the clock as Waterford seemed to be strolling to victory, leading by 2-18 to 1-8 entering the closing quarter. But Cork produced a stirring finish to outscore their rivals by 2-7 to 0-4 before Waterford steadied the ship in four minutes’ injury time to run out worthy winners.
Substitute Paudie O’Sullivan sparked the Cork comeback by kicking his side’s second goal and three minutes later corner back Shane O’Neill crashed in a third from Pat Horgan’s pass. A succession of points whittled the lead down to three, 2-18 to 3-12, before Jamie Nagle struck his fourth point with seven minutes’ normal time remaining. A couple of well-taken points from full forward Gerry Hurney, who finished with 2-2, put an end to Cork’s hopes.
Waterford deserved their 1-13 to 1-4 interval lead, all six forwards scoring following Eoin McGrath’s 22nd-minute effort. Cork actually led briefly after Barry Johnson’s sixth-minute goal but Waterford cancelled it out moments later, Hurney shrugging aside the efforts of full back Killian Cronin to plant the ball beyond Donal Óg Cusack for a 1-3 to 1-0 advantage.
The decisive period came with McGrath’s point as the visitors added three more without reply, Stephen Molumphy, Eoin Kelly, now at full forward, and Séamus Prendergast sending Waterford 1-11 to 1-3 clear. Cork’s desperation was reflected in Horgan’s decision to try for a goal from a 20-metre free approaching the interval but goalkeeper Ian O’Regan, who replaced Clinton Hennessy before the start, deflected his shot for a 65, which Johnson hit wide, his side’s seventh of the half.
The second half began disastrously for Cork as Waterford pounced for their second goal. Kevin Moran floated in a ball and Hurney flashed it to the net to stretch the lead to 12 points.
The sides traded points as the game never rose above challenge match pace with Cork’s attack never threatening the visitors’ rearguard, marshalled superbly by Michael Walsh and Aidan Kearney through the middle, while Molumphy was another major force at midfield. O’Sullivan’s introduction sparked Cork’s most productive spell, something that will give confidence following a nightmare league campaign.
WATERFORD: I O'Regan; E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors; R Foley, M Walsh, K Moran; S O'Sullivan, S Molumphy (0-2); J Nagle (0-4), S Prendergast (0-3), E Kelly (0-7, three frees, one '65); E McGrath (0-1), G Hurney (2-2), J Mullane (0-3). Subs:J Murray for Foley, (61 mins), J Kennedy for Mullane (62 mins), D Shanahan for Kelly (67 mins), S Walsh for McGrath (69 mins).
CORK: D Óg Cusack; S O'Neill (1-0), K Cronin, C Murphy; T Kenny (0-2), R Curran, K McGann; K Murphy (Erin's Own), J O'Connor (0-3); G Callanan, P Horgan (0-3), P Cronin (0-2); B Johnson (1-1, one free), F O'Leary (0-1), C Naughton (0-2). Subs:C O'Sullivan for C Murphy inj (28 mins), J Gardiner (0-1, free) for K Murphy (half-time), N McCarthy for Callanan (45 mins), P O'Sullivan (1-0) for Johnson (50 mins), T Óg Murphy for O'Leary (65 mins).
Referee: J Owens (Wexford).
