Waterford IT 0-14 Cork 0-9: CORK'S THIRD string lost their opening competitive game of the season, when Waterford IT proved too good in the Waterford Crystal Cup at a sparsely-attended Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

Only some 300 spectators braved driving wind and rain to watch Gerald McCarthy's development team go through their paces against opponents who were dominant in all areas.

Indeed, but for some brilliant goalkeeping by Alan Kennedy and impressive corner-back play by fellow Sarsfields man Conor O'Sullivan, the students' margin of victory would have been even greater.

The new-look Cork team could only muster three scorers in the hour and all bar three of their nine points came from the impressive free-taking of Barry Johnson, who opened the scoring to give Cork the lead.

While Cork's attack struggled there were no such problems for the visitors, especially Richard McCarthy and Timmy Hammersley in the full-forward line, with full back Conor Cooney and centre back Stephen Lillis also impressing.

WIT led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval and increased that by scoring three unanswered points on the resumption before Cork reduced the deficit to two points entering the closing quarter, when Hammersley and O'Leary tacked on further scores to ensure the students' progression to the semi-finals.

CORK: A Kennedy; E Clancy, A Kearney, C O'Sullivan; E Keane, A Ryan, G O'Connor; B Johnson (0-7, 0-6 frees), T Og Murphy; W O'Brien, C O'Leary, C McCarthy; R O'Driscoll (0-1), P Honohan, D Crowley (0-1). Subs: C Brosnan for O'Leary (half-time), P Lynch for McCarthy (40 min), B O'Sullivan for O'Brien (48 min).

WIT: M Walsh; B Moroney, C Cooney, M Phelan; M Dunne, S Lillis (0-1 free), PJ Rowe; J Ryan, J Gahan; K Grehan (0-3), F O'Leary (0-2), R Good; R McLoughney (0-1 free), R McCarthy (0-3), T Hammersley (0-4). Subs: D Staunton for Ryan (22 min), R Horan for Gahan (55 min)

Referee: G Hoey (Clare).