More misery for Waterford as Cork run riot

Cork 1-16 Waterford 1-0

Two weeks ago Tipperary hammered them 7-21 to 1-1 in Fermoy. Last night they were back at the same venue and while the scoreline wasn't anything as big, Cork won in a canter to earn a quarter-final tie against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds next Wednesday night.

Had Cork converted possession into scores and taken at least three gilt edged goal chances this would have been a complete annihilation. As it was, there was never a hint of a Waterford victory as the home side, superbly led by midfielders Fiachra Lynch and Alan Barry, took Waterford apart.

Waterford played with the strong wind in the opening half and got the perfect start with a deflected goal after a minute. It was something of a shock to the system for Cork but they responded superbly. Fiachra Lynch and Alan Barry got a grip at midfield and with Eric Hegarty sparkling on the 40, they were level after 10 minutes, Hegarty scoring two excellent points and Ricky Kenny the equaliser.

From there to the break, Cork took complete control and a completely out of touch Waterford side offered little resistance as the Leesiders went on a scoring spree scoring some splendid points and at half time led 0-12 to 1-0.

Cork should have had a goal in that opening half but Waterford 'keeper Conor Hayes denied Fiachra Lynch with a superb save.

There was no improvement in Waterford on the change over and while the scores didn't come with the same frequency, Cork remained firmly in control. Excellent free taking by David Kearney stretched the Cork lead scoring some splendid points and at half time led 0-12 to 1-0.

Cork should have had a goal in that opening half but Waterford 'keeper Conor Hayes denied Fiachra Lynch with a superb save.

There was no improvement in Waterford on the change over and while the scores didn't come with the same frequency, Cork remained firmly in control. Excellent free taking by David Kearney stretched the Cork lead further before Shane Drummy spurned another goal chance, blazing wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Waterford's play became very ragged as the half wore on and there wasn't a hint of a score as a resolute Cork defence, in which Colin O'Brien and Eoin Cotter were particularly prominent, conceded little.

The incessant pressure on the Waterford defence was relentless and after Fiachra Lynch was inches away from a goal that Cork's outfield play deserved, it finally came when David Scannell found the Waterford net late in the game to put the seal on a workmanlike performance.

Tougher times lie ahead for Cork but the team can only get better with more games. For Waterford it's very much a case of back to the drawing board and it's difficult to know where to go from here after two such crushing defeats in a row.

Scorers: Cork: D. Kearney 0-5 (0-4 frees); D. Scannell 1-1; R. Kenny (0-1 free), A. Barry (45s), E. Hegarty 0-2 each; C. O'Driscoll, D. Goold, M. O'Brien. S. Drummy 0-1 each.

Waterford: T. O'Connor 1-0 (og).

CORK: T. O'Connor; J. O'Callaghan, E. Cotter, C. O'Brien; S. Kelly, A. Fenton, U. O'Brien; F. Lynch, A. Barry; C. O'Driscoll, E. Hegarty, D. Goold; R. Kenny, D. Scannell, D. Kearney. Subs. KJ O'Sullivan for O'Driscoll; S. Drummy for Kenny; M. O'Connor for Fenton.

WATERFORD: J. McGrath; B. Hallahan, C. Hayes, E. Brackett; G. Dunphy, S. Lannon, S. O'Connell; B. Phelan, J. Gorman; A. Murphy, M. Casey, C. McGrath; F. Walsh, C. Casey, M. Scanlon. Subs. F. Walsh for Scanlon; M. Dowdall for Murphy; L. Casey for Brackett; M. Walsh for G. Dunphy.

Referee: P Lynch (Kerry)