Déise rejoice at second Munster win in five days

Waterford 1-7 Cork 0-9

Cork went in as red hot favourites, but from an early stage Waterford’s intent was evident as they contested every exchange all over the field.

In atrocious conditions, both sides put on a game that had the 1,500 spectators on their toes right to the nail-biting finale.

Both sides will reflect on missed chances at critical stages, and it was sheer backs to the wall stuff in the tense final minutes as Cork launched wave after wave of attacks.

Twice they came perilously close to snatching victory, but Waterford’s massed defence held firm and they were that priceless point in front when the final whistle sparked off unrestrained Deise celebrations.

Early on Cork looked the more purposeful side and raced into a two- point lead inside six minutes with unerring frees by William Morgan and John Hayes. Kieran Whelan got the winners off the mark with a well-taken point on 10 minutes and it was nip and tuck from there to the interval.

The towering Paul Foley proved to be a hugely influential target man at full-forward where he caused the Cork defence endless problems, and it was his point in the 27th minute that levelled the sides for the first time.

Enjoying the better of the exchanges as the half drew to a close, Whelan’s superb point gave the home side a deserved 0-5 to 0-4 interval lead and set the scene for the fare that followed.

And what a second-half. Players threw themselves unsparingly into the fray and it was all square by the three- quarter hour with substitute Pat O’Connell getting on the scoreboard for Cork within minutes of his introduction.

John Power brilliantly pointed Waterford back into the lead from a 50th minute ‘45’ and then two minutes later came the score that ultimately decided the destination of the title.

Power was the goalscorer, brilliantly finishing after super work by sub Tony Kirwan and Emmet Doherty. That gave Waterford a vital four-point cushion, and try as they might, Cork fell short in their efforts to wipe it out.

Their most effective forward, Carbery Rangers clubman John Hayes, pointed a 57th minute free and on the hour repeated the performance with a great score from play. Substitute Brian O’Sullivan’s point 90 seconds into added time narrowed the deficit to the minimum, but despite continuing pressure they failed to penetrate against what by now had become literally a 15-man Waterford defensive phalanx.

The final whistle sparked off mighty scenes of celebration for Waterford’s second championship victory over Cork in five gloriously triumphant days for the Decies.

Scorers: Waterford; J. Power (1-1); K. Whelan, P. Foley (0-2 each); E. Doherty, R. Hennessy (0-1 each). Cork; J. Hayes (0-5); W. Morgan, C. Brosnan, P. O’Connell, B. O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

CORK; J. Honohan; M. Prout, A. Quirke, D. Wiseman; G. Spillane, G. Wiseman, J. Sheehy; F. Collins, A. O’Shea; M. Kearney, W. Morgan, J. Hayes; C. Brosnan, K. Daly, P. Dunlea. Subs: P. O’Connell for Kearney; N. O’Riordan for O’Shea; B. O’Sullivan for Morgan; F. Murphy for Daly.

WATERFORD; A. Kirwan; N. Barry, R. Power, M. Byrne; D. Ryan, L. Hurney, M. Kiely; M. O’Brien, S. Dempsey; K. Whelan, D. Kirwan, R. Hennessy; E. Doherty, P. Foley, J. Power. Subs: A. Aherne for Kirwan; T. Kirwan for Whelan; S. McGrath for Doherty.

Referee: P Sheehy (Kerry).