Clinical Rebels power past Déise
The 3,504 supporters – many from Cork – who were in Dungarvan enjoyed the summer sun but a strong breeze blew towards the scoreboard end of the ground, helping Cork in the first half, and Waterford opted to withdraw players when they faced the wind. It didn’t work as a tactic – Déise scoring forward Liam O Lionnain and his marker Ray Carey tussled behind the Waterford 45-metre line more than once, and Cork had time and space in which to build attacks, enjoying the luxury of several short kick-outs to unmarked defenders.
After an initial burst from Waterford in which they notched a point from a Brian Wall free and two wides, Cork settled down to dominate the middle third of the field with Nicholas Murphy very prominent. They were on the scoreboard through Paul O’Flynn and Donncha O’Connor (free) before the critical event of the first half.
