Champions Cork soak up early Déise pressure to win comfortably

Cork 1-15 Waterford 2-7

The champions were buckling at the knees in the opening sequences when Waterford raced into a 1-3 lead after 10 minutes.

With the wind to their backs, Waterford held a five-point advantage at half-time, but when Cork applied the pressure after the break, Waterford wilted.

With Cork paying a high price for over-elaboration, it was all Waterford at the start and the visitors’ much more direct approach reaped rich dividends. Full-forward Craig Moloney, a major thorn in Cork’s defensive armour, whipped home a rebound to the net after Cork goalkeeper Richard O’Keeffe had saved from wing-forward Thomas Connors in the third minute. Relishing this tonic, Waterford added three points from frees and with Kevin Moran hurling powerfully at centre-back, they ruffled the champions’ feathers.

At the end of the first quarter, Cork gradually crept back and three points in succession from Patrick Horgan, Cathal Naughton and Peter O’Brien gave them a major lift. But it was the switch of Eoin Murphy to centre-forward that really settled them.

An industrious Murphy curtailed Moran’s massive influence while O’Brien also relished his move to full-forward. Twice, O’Brien was denied by goalkeeper Adrian Power, who made two outstanding saves. But Waterford, who had scorned some point-scoring opportunities, received another boost at the end of the first half when wing-forward Connors raced onto a long ball from mid-fielder Shane Walsh before hitting a cracking a ground shot to the Cork net.

Waterford led 2-4 to 0-5 at the interval, but with Cork rearranging their side for the second half and with the wind now in their favour, a dramatic change emerged. A point from Eoin Murphy 45 seconds after the restart galvanised Cork into action. Less than a minute later, the stylish Patrick Horgan soloed in from the right wing to score a gem of a goal. Now it was Waterford’s turn to soak up the pressure, but they were unable to cope with the purpose and endeavour of a new-look Cork side.

Peter O’Brien hit over the equaliser in the 33rd minute and Glen Rovers ace Horgan edged Cork into the lead with a point two minutes later. In the twinkling of an eye, this game had undergone a dramatic transformation. Now Cork were the kingpins, while Waterford struggled desperately to hold on. But there was no stopping the rampaging Cork forwards, spearheaded by Murphy, Horgan and O’Brien, while substitute John Halbert hit over two beauties on his introduction and team captain Patrick Cronin successfully converted two long-range frees as Cork opened up a seven points lead entering the closing stages.

Waterford, who managed to score just one point from play in the second half, were a well-beaten side before John Gorman and goalkeeper Adrian Power, who had been moved forward in attack, with two points from frees in the dying seconds, put a more respectable look on the score-board from their perspective.

A comprehensive enough victory for Cork, but this performance will give their selectors a lot of food for thought before they finalise their team for the Munster final.

It was another night of disappointment for Waterford, who promised so much early on.

Scorers: Cork: P. Horgan 1-3 (0-1 free), P. O’Brien 0-3, E. Murphy, J. Halbert, P. Cronin (both frees), C. Naughton 0-2 each, P. Finnegan 0-1.

Waterford: C. Moloney 1-2 (0-1 free), T. Connors 1-1, F. Galvin, J. Dooley, A. Power, J. Gorman 0-1 each (all from frees).

CORK: R. O’Keeffe; E. O’Sullivan, E. Dillon, G. O’Driscoll; S. White, R. Cashman, T. Murray; P. O’Driscoll, C. Naughton; P. Cronin, P. O’Brien, P. Horgan; P. O’Sullivan, E. Murphy, P. Finnegan. Subs: D. Lynch for Cashman, J. Halbert for Finnegan.

WATERFORD: A. Power; R. Foley, C. Ryan, J. Kearney; C. Burke, K. Moran, M. Coleman; S. Walsh, F. Galvin; J. Dooley, J. Gorman, T. Connors; P. Kearney, C. Moloney, P. Murray. Subs: B. Bennett for Murray, J. Coady for Bennett.

Referee: D. O’Driscoll (Limerick).