Mother of all battles as Déise dethrone Rebels

THOSE of us privileged to have been in Semple Stadium on Saturday for the replayed Limerick/Tipp Munster SHC semi-final, which ended in yet another draw after yet another epic tussle between two finely-balanced teams, thought we’d seen it all.

Drama at the end of normal time, drama again at the end of extra-time — that game, we felt, wouldn’t be topped this year.

And then, less than 24 hours later, same venue, same competition — Munster senior hurling semi-final — we had this. Eight goals and 33 points they shared, these two fantastic sides, and yet at the end there was just a goal between them.

Even at that, had Shane Murphy’s last-second goal-bound shot not taken a deflection, had it not then met the crossbar square-on and rebounded out the wing, it would have ended in stalemate.

From long before the throw-in the atmosphere was building up. The last few weeks have been overshadowed by events in the corridors of GAA power, the net result of which was that for the first time in 28 championship games, Donal Óg Cusack and Diarmuid O’Sullivan would not be the starting keeper and full-back for Cork. And, for the first time in a magnificent sporting career, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín was also sidelined, all three suspended for their part in the now-infamous tunnel fracas before the win over Clare. The fear then was that the Cork supporters would boycott this game, show the disappointment that is widespread throughout the county at what manager Gerald McCarthy called “an absolute disgrace.” Didn’t happen — the opposite, in fact. Cork supporters turned out in their thousands, joined the ever-loyal hordes from Waterford to create an atmosphere in Thurles that crackled with anticipation.

Electric? You could have fried rashers on it.

Quickly dispelling any notion that this would be a mismatch in the absence of three front-line defenders, it was Cork racing into an early lead, 1-4 to 0-3 after 16 minutes. The goal, the first of the eight, was a beauty, a perfectly-timed leap by the shorter Kieran ‘Fraggie’ Murphy over both Declan Prendergast and Tony Browne to grab a huge free by keeper Anthony Nash (his speciality), giving him a clear shot from close range.

In there as well, two smashing points from the O’Connor twins — a boomer from Jerry in midfield, a sideline cut by Ben from 55m right. Was there to be a shock on the cards? No after minute, the first Waterford goal, and ominously it came as the result of the work of two big-men; Seamus Prendergast under the long Waterford puck-out, takes, goes, draws the cover, parts with perfect timing to the supporting Dan Shanahan — net-buster.

For the remainder of the first-half those two, along with John Mullane (1-3) and Eoin Kelly, would wreak havoc in the Cork defence. Their pace, their running lines and their support play had the Cork defence at sixes and sevens — 4-8 they finished that half with (big Dan got a second major, Paul Flynn hit home a 20m free which had been moved to directly in front of the Cork posts after a bit of dissent) and every single score of that was fully merited.

That should have been it of course, game over, but it wasn’t. For all that they were leaking scores at one end, Cork were making amends at the other, so that they finished the half just five points in arrears, 4-8 to 2-9. Principal reason for that? Nine and eight, Jerry O’Connor and Tom Kenny, the peerless Cork midfield machine.

Two points apiece they finished with, umpteen times in the action, and one piece of brilliance, in particular, from Jerry on the wing led to Fraggy’s goal, after great work from Pa Cronin also (another superb performance from the Bishopstown find).

The break gave everyone a chance to draw breath, and we wondered — it can’t get any better than this, surely? But it could, and it did.

One classic after another, that’s what Waterford and Cork have given us since 2002, but this one surely topped the lot. Playing like men possessed Cork had the game back to a tie by the 54th minute, 3-15 to 4-12, Cronin with the third Cork goal after getting the break from a long John Gardiner free. Cue the fifth Waterford goal, and vital it was. A fine first-time clearance from the impressive Waterford sub Brian Phelan was contested by two Cork defenders, no-one covering the break; into the gap charged Eoin Kelly, picked the ball, bore down on the unfortunate Nash, picked his spot. A big score, it would eventually prove the difference.

Take a quick look, though, at the names of the Waterford scorers below; everyone in there is a big player for this team over the years, a vital player, but never before have they all quite clicked as they did in this one. Kelly, Mullane, Shanahan — masterful up front. Flynn, who else would have notched that goal? And then there’s Ken McGrath and Tony Browne, joined almost at the hip at this stage in the Waterford half-back line, they’ve been there so long. Yesterday again they strutted their stuff, each with two points, Tony with Waterford’s final score.

So, Waterford’s day, but pause — Cork scored their 3-18 against Waterford’s frontline defence, despite losing Niall McCarthy to injury in the 43rd minute, Tom Kenny the same way ten minutes later. But would Waterford have managed 5-15 if Cork hadn’t been shorn of the big three?

Manager Justin McCarthy will know — there is yet work to be done. As for Cork’s Gerald, well, unhappy as he most certainly is with the GAA’s disciplinary system, that must surely be balanced by the heroic performance of this team yesterday. Beaten, yes, but they played a full part in what will go down in the annals as yet another Cork/Waterford classic.

Scorers for Waterford: E. Kelly 1-5 (0-4 frees); J. Mullane 1-4; D. Shanahan 2-1; P. Flynn 1-1 (1-0 free); K. McGrath 0-2 (frees); T. Browne 0-2.

Cork: K. Murphy (Sars 2-0); B. O’Connor 0-6 (0-2 frees, 0-1 S/L, 0-1 65); J. Deane 0-5 (0-2 frees); P. Cronin 1-0; J. O’Connor 0-2; N. McCarthy 0-2; T. Kenny 0-2; C. Naughton 0-1.

WATERFORD: C. Hennessey; E. Murphy, D. Prendergast, A. Kearney; T. Browne, K. McGrath, J. Murray; M. Walsh (c), J. Kennedy; E. Kelly, D. Shanahan, S. Molumphy; J. Mullane, S. Prendergast, P. Flynn.

Subs: B. Phelan (Murray 55); E. McGrath (Molumphy 58); D. Coffey (Murphy); S. Walsh (Flynn 70).

CORK: A. Nash; B. Murphy, C. O’Connor, S. O’Neill; J. Gardiner, R. Curran, K. Hartnett; J. O’Connor, T. Kenny; K. Murphy (Erin’s Own, capt.), N. McCarthy, P. Cronin; B. O’Connor, K. Murphy (Sars), J. Deane.

Subs: S. Murphy (B. Murphy 35); T. McCarthy (N. McCarthy inj. 43); N. Ronan (Kenny inj. 53); P. Kelly (C. O’Connor 61); C. Naughton (T. McCarthy 65).

Referee: B. Kelly (Westmeath) – brilliant.