WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Waterford 1-12 Cork IT 0-11:WATERFORD GOT the defence of their crown off to a successful start at Walsh Park yesterday.
The students were on top during the first half and corner forward Ryan Clifford scored three frees in the opening quarter which helped his side open up a 0-6 to 0-1 lead.
CIT were full value for their lead during the first half, and Tony Murphy and Patrick O’Connor worked well together on the right, creating three points between them which helped Pat Mulcahy’s side to a 0-9 to 0-3 lead at the break.
Whatever instructions Davy Fitzgerald issued to his troops at half-time seemed to do the trick and there was a lot more urgency to their play thereafter.
On a sticky pitch, there wasn’t much free-flowing hurling and as the pitch cut up, both sides relied largely on frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In that regard, Waterford’s Richie Foley proved ultra-reliable and his overall tally of 1-8 proved to be a match-winning total.
Waterford finished the game with fourteen men after Maurice Shanahan was sent off for a wild pull with 16 minutes remaining.
WATERFORD:C Hennessy: J Maher, L Lawlor, C Ryan; D Fives, M Walsh, J Nagle; S Molumphy, B O'Halloran (0-1); S Prendergast (0-1), R Foley (1-8, 1-7, frees), M Shanahan (0-1); G Crotty (0-1), S Walsh, S Casey. Subs:F McGrath for C Ryan, P Mahony for G Crotty, E Murphy for S Casey.
CIT:T Quaid; S Kearney, J O'Callaghan, J Herlihy; S McDonald, R Cashman, C Leahy; L McLoughlin (0-1), S White; P O'Connor (0-3), C Casey, M Bowles; T Murphy (0-2), M O'Sullivan, R Clifford (0-5, frees); Subs:S O'Brien for M Bowles, N Kelly for L McLoughlin, S Corcoran for C Casey.
Referee:T Ryan (Tipperary).
Next Up . . .The Waterford IT versus UL tie abandoned due to fog will be played on Friday in Waterford. The winners face Cork in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday. The same day, Clare and Waterford will meet in Sixmilebridge.
