A roller-coaster ride for Rebels

Cork 2-17 Waterford 2-15

With a hitherto restrained Brian Corcoran showing the way with a vital goal immediately after the resumption, the All-Ireland champions steadily came to grips with the challenge confronting them and availed of a significant wind advantage to guarantee their place in the Guinness Munster hurling final.

While failing to reach the standard of last season’s epic decider, the game will be remembered for a virtuoso display of point-scoring from Kelly in the first half. And, in the context of the way the game was to develop, that was all the more significant in helping the holders to overcome a difficult start after Joe Deane’s first-minute goal.

As expected, the holders included Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn from the start and, not the first time, both made huge contributions. But the Waterford revival was sparked by Kelly’s wonderful play and ignited by an opportunist goal from Flynn in the 29th minute.

Opting to play against the wind after Seán Óg Ó hAilpín won the toss, Cork made all the early running, greatly encouraged by Deane’s goal, which came after full-back Fergal Hartley was dispossessed after making a high catch.

After 14 minutes Cork were six in front, 1-5 to 0-2, which included a point from a Diarmuid O’Sullivan penalty which he hit too high.

Interestingly, while Kelly had been beaten in his early duels with Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, he began to win good possession when he roamed out from the wing, and later when he alternated between there and midfield. He scored the first of five magical points in the fifth minute and each of his scores encouraged the Waterford support.

Predictably, it also roused his team-mates, among whom Ken McGrath contributed hugely once he settled.

McGrath’s mastery reaped a double benefit, in the sense that he provided invaluable support for the forwards and limited the flow of possession to Cork’s inside players.

Deane saw a lot of ball and posed serious problems for Tom Feeney, but Corcoran hardly saw the ball. Ben O’Connor found it difficult to penetrate against James Murray, and Tony Browne did a lot of good work for the champions on the other wing.

Waterford needed every score that Kelly and Flynn could conjure up, because John Mullane was not in the game. Likewise, Dan Shanahan was making no impact and fighting a losing battle with O’Sullivan after moving to full-forward.

Ironically, O’Sullivan was caught for Flynn’s goal, which came after he failed to gather a long ball from Browne. Flynn was quick to react, hitting it powerfully off the ground from close range and giving Donal Óg Cusack absolutely no chance. Remarkably, Waterford were a point in front and, during the period of Ken McGrath’s greatest influence and Kelly’s inspirational play, they made further progress.

Shanahan was rewarded with a 33rd -minute goal which brought Waterford’s challenge to another level and stunned Cork. And Justin McCarthy’s confident side almost produced another goal when Eoin McGrath attempted to pass to the unmarked Mullane, only to have John Gardiner make a vital interception. At the interval, it was 2-9 to 1-9.

Waterford maintained their sparkling form into the second half, increasing their lead to five points after quick scores from Seamus Prendergast and Kelly. Then, however, Brian Corcoran had the ball in the net after he won possession out near the right sideline and scored with a sweetly-struck angled shot.

The second half was a mere six minutes in motion when Kelly hit his first wide. That was a minor event in itself, indicating that he would find it much more difficult to hit into a freshening wind. Indeed, he wasn’t to gain another score.

Apart from Corcoran, who hit a terrific point from the left sideline, Niall McCarthy was to fight his way back into the game at centre-forward and hit three vital scores from play. The first of those, in the 45th minute brought Cork level and after Flynn restored Waterford’s lead six minutes later, Cork were quickly level.

An improved Ben O’Connor had them back in front with 14 minutes of normal time remaining and it heralded the beginning of the end for Waterford.

By no means did Cork have it easy for the remaining time, because Waterford tightened up in their full-back line, with Tom Feeney putting in a great effort after moving to the left corner. Murray, too, hit a lot of ball and Hartley made a few clearances.

McGrath finished the game at centre-forward but didn’t get any real chance of a score. Indeed, apart from three Flynn frees, their scoring power dried up under pressure from a revitalised Cork defence in which Pat Mulcahy was very consistent, Gardiner finished strongly and Ronan Curran was at his best over the last half-hour.

Defeat marks the end of the road for Waterford in Munster in their first outing, but, nobody could doubt that they will still be a major force in the championship.

Referee Seamus Roche kept errors to the absolute minimum.

Scorers: Cork: J Deane 1-3 (0-1 free); B Corcoran 1-2; N McCarthy 0-4; B O’Connor 0-4 (0-1 free, 0-1 ‘65); J O’Connor 0-2; D O’Sullivan (pen) and K Murphy (Sarsfields) 0-1 each. Waterford: P Flynn 1-6 (0-6 frees); E Kelly 0-6; D Shanahan 1-0; S Prendergast 0-2; T Browne 0-1.

CORK: D Óg Cusack; P Mulcahy, D O’Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín (capt.); T Kenny, J O’Connor; B O’Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, B Corcoran, J Deane. Subs: K Murphy (Erin’s Own) for Ronan (second half).

WATERFORD: S Brenner; T Feeney, F Hartley, E Murphy; T Browne, K McGrath, J Murray; D Bennett, M Walsh; E Kelly (capt.); D Shanahan, P Flynn; J Mullane, S Prendergast, E McGrath. Subs: P O’Brien for Bennett (injured, 25th minute); B Phelan for Shanahan (65th).

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).