Rebels finish with a flourish

CORK started well and finished strongly to see their way past Waterford and into the Munster JFC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

After 21 minutes, the home side led by 0-11 to 0-2 and outscored their opponents 3-3 to 0-1 in the final quarter, but in between those two purple patches, Waterford put it up to the Rebels.

Edmund Hogan’s goal for the Déise in the 45th minute left just three points in it, Cork leading by 0-13 to 1-7, but no other chances to eat into that gap presented themselves and the home team rediscovered their rhythm to set up a final meeting with Kerry on July 6.

Cork know the value of this competition — 11 of the 30 players to tog out for last year’s All-Ireland senior final previously won medals in the lower grade — and some of those on show showed that they can make the step up.

Marauding wing-back Sean Kiely got forward well and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, Kevin O’Driscoll dictated matters at centre-forward and inside Mark Cronin, Andrew O’Brien and Cathrach Keane all scored fine points.

In addition, Seamus and Andrew O’Sullivan combined well at midfield, and with this strong basis, Cork raced into an early lead as Waterford struggled to find their feet, but over-elaboration cost the Rebels at times.

O’Brien’s huge point after Kiely’s clever handpass opened up that nine-point lead with nine minutes left until half-time, but between there and the break, Waterford reeled off four in a row, John Wall with two frees, though in the midst of that burst Kiely was denied a Cork goal by a fine Glen Kelly save after a good move.

The visitors continued to hold the momentum early in the second half despite Seamus O’Sullivan’s fisted point, and five minutes in they got a great chance to cut the lead when Cork corner-back Kevin Harrington was deemed to have foot-blocked a Hogan shot in the small rectangle.

Wall’s tame penalty was saved by Tom O’Connor, however, with the goalkeeper also keeping out the corner-forward’s rebound and then holding Craig Guiry’s follow-up effort.

With sub Sean Aherne making an impact, though, Waterford were still not out of it, Darren Guiry just wide with a goal effort before they did raise a green flag, Guiry with a good run before feeding Tony Kirwan, who showed good composure to handpass across goal for Hogan to palm home.

It was as good as it got for them, however. Cork responded well with points from Brian Coughlan and Cronin to move 0-16 to 1-8 ahead before O’Driscoll’s goal, capping a flowing move involving him, O’Brien and Keane.

With time running out, sub Tom Clancy scored two goals to put the gloss on it for Cork, the first a fine finish and the second a rebound after Kevin Harrington’s point attempt came off the post.

Scorers for Cork: T Clancy 2-0, K O’Driscoll 1-1, B Coughlan, M Cronin (1f), A O’Brien, C Keane 0-3 each, D O’Donovan (1f), K Harrington, S O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: E Walsh 0-4 (3f), E Hogan 1-1, J Wall 0-2f, C Guiry 0-1.

CORK: T O’Connor; R Buckley, O O’Mahony, K Harrington; S Kiely, R O’Sullivan, AJ O’Connor; S O’Sullivan, A O’Sullivan; D O’Donovan, K O’Driscoll, B Coughlan; M Cronin, A O’Brien, C Keane.

Subs: E Wiseman for Buckley (36), T Clancy for O’Donovan (47), M Dilworth for Coughlan (60).

WATERFORD: G Kelly; M Crotty, M Supple, M Prendergast; A O’Loughlin, E Rockett, T Costello; P Lynch, D Kirwan; D Guiry, E Hogan, C Guiry; J Wall, E Walsh, M Moore.

Subs: S Aherne for Kirwan (ht), T Kirwan for Wall (39), L Hayes for Crotty (43), S Lannon for (44), T Ó hUallacháín for O’Loughlin (58).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick).