National Hurling League/Waterford 0-16 Cork 0-12:As Waterford established control during the latest of these two counties' many close tussles of late, the Walsh Park scoreboard operator felt a little generous towards his fellow county men.
For a brief second, much to the amusement of the home crowd, Waterford were accredited the fantastical total of 79 points. But by full-time, the majority of the 6,000 present were happy to see their heroes prevail by a more realistic four-point margin.
From the off, Waterford enjoyed the better of affairs, with James Murray and Ken McGrath dictating matters excellently in defence. By the 12th minute they led thanks to three unanswered Eoin Kelly points and another brace of minutes would pass before Niall Ronan opened Cork's account.
Kelly proved clinical in his free-taking duties. Ably assisted by two successful 65s from Ken McGrath, Waterford retained their first-half lead without truly controlling affairs.
By half-time, Cork still trailed by three points, yet were ruing a magnificent injury-time intervention from Declan Prendergast, who swept the ball away from a goal-bound Joe Deane.
With Ken McGrath and Niall McCarthy enjoying a ding-dong battle, Waterford gained a strengthening foothold as the second half progressed.
A terrific catch and strike from Séamus Prendergast on 43 minutes set the tone for a Waterford side who visibly grew in stature and confidence.
Five minutes later, that confidence could have been dented had Niall Ronan's goalbound effort escaped Clinton Hennessy's attention, but the Ardmore goalkeeper saved well.
Patrick Cronin narrowed the margin to three points again on 54 minutes, but that was to prove as close as Cork would get to a resilient Waterford.
During an otherwise low-key display, centre forward Kevin Moran shrugged off John Gardiner's close attentions to fire over a point from the left flank to extend Waterford's advantage.
The next score was again registered by the eventual winners, with Eoin Kelly landing a point, his eighth, to put the final result beyond any doubt.
While Cork rallied with late points from Paudie O'Sullivan and Ronan Curran, Waterford's second win from two league outings was never in any doubt.
WATERFORD: C Hennessy; D Prendergast, J Murray, A Kearney; E Murphy, K McGrath (0-4, two frees, two 65s), J Kennedy; M Walsh (0-1), E Kelly (0-8, six frees); D Shanahan, K Moran (0-1), B Mullane; C Carey, S Prendergast (0-2), E McGrath. Subs: J Nagle for B Mullane (31 mins), J Nagle for C Carey (62 mins).
CORK: D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, K Cronin, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran (0-1), C O'Connor; K Murphy, T Kenny; P Cronin (0-3), N McCarthy (0-3), K Canty; N Ronan (0-1), D O'Sullivan (0-1), J Deane (0-2, two frees). Subs: M O'Connell for T Kenny (45 mins), P O'Sullivan (0-1) for J Deane (51 mins), T McCarthy for K Canty (59 mins), J O'Callaghan for P O'Sullivan (68 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
