Wasteful Waterford in control
They were always in control against a spirited Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh, though their second-half performance will hardly suffice come quarter-final time.
Leading 1-8 to 0-2 at the break, and in total charge, Waterford Colleges experimented a little with their formation. And with Spioraid Naoimh upping the tempo when playing with the breeze, the combined side got a little more than they bargained for, though they did finish in style - substitutes J. J. Coffey firing in 1-1 and Dave Hennessey a point in the final five minutes to put a truer reflection on the scoreboard.
Star of the show for wasteful Waterford was impressive Ringcorner-forward Pádraig Ó Murchú. He looked real sharp, scoring a handy 1-5, and with centre-back Paul urray, midfielders Kieran McCarthy an Mark Landers as well as Dave Phelan and Sean O’Hare up front real handfuls, Spioraid Naoimh were always on the back pedal.
The physically stronger Waterford side took control from the off. Solid down the middle, they were 0-4 to 0-2 clear after the opening quarter with points from Ger Dunphy, brothers Brian and Dave Phelan and Ó Murchú, with the nippy Ian Jones keeping Spioraid Naoimh in the contest with two points.
Ó Murchú got his goal in the 22nd minute, after good work by O’Hare and Dunphy, and by the end of the half they led by that nine point margin. And al the forwards had found the target despite some good work by Michael Power and Conor Luttrell for Spioraid Naoimh.
Points from Michael Power and Rory Fitzgibbon just after the restart put a bit of pep into Spioraid Naoimh and with Dermot O’Connor now beginning to show a bit of cut atcentre-forward, the Cork side looked menacing. However, Ó Murchú and Landers kept Waterford in the driving seat, although they were jolted in the 44th minute when Ian Jones found the net as Waterford Colleges led 1-11 to 1-6 entering the final quarter.
Waterford always held the edge though and the introduction of the substitutes gave them fresh momentum. Coffey got his goal in the 59th minute, but Spioraid Naoimh never gave in and were rewarded with an injury-time goal from Colin Jones after good work by the excellent Michael Power.
: Waterford: P. Ó Murchú 1-5 (0-2 frees), J.J.Coffey 1-1, P. Murray 0-2 (frees), G. Dunphy, B. Phelan, D. Phelan, S. O’Hare, C. McGrath, M. Landers, D. Hennessey 0-1 each. CSN: I. Jones 1-3, C. Jones 1-0, M. Power, R. Fitzgibbon, D. O’Connor, B. O’Callaghan 0-1 each.
: S. Enright; B. Walsh, S. Fives, J. Maher; P. Horkan, P. Murray, D. Leahy; K, McCarthy, M. Landers; D. Phelan, S. O’Hare, B. Phelan; P. Ó Murchú, G. Dunphy, C. McGrath. Subs: JJ Coffey for Leahy, S. Leahy for Landers, D. Hennessey for McGrath, O. Brackett for Horkan.
: M. Collins; S. Hayes, K. Bowen, S. Power; C. Luttrell, R. Mawe, S. Cremin; M. Power, J. Neville; B. O’Callaghan, D. O’Connor, R. Fitzgibbon; C. Jones, I. Jones, E. McCarthy. Sub: E. McSweeney for McCarthy.
: N. Barrett (Carrigtwohill).
