Cork finally up and running despite nervy finish against Waterford

This timely victory puts the Cork hurlers in a decent position to secure a top-three spot and their place in next spring’s new seven-team elite.

Sun, 25 Feb, 2024 - 19:05

Eoghan Cormican

Allianz HL Division 1: Cork 1-21 Waterford 1-19.

All the Cork buses have come at once. Two hours after the footballers secured a first league win of the season, at the fourth attempt, it was a case of third time right for the hurlers.

This timely victory, with Offaly and Wexford yet to come, puts the Cork hurlers in a strong position to secure a top-three spot and their place in next spring’s new seven-team elite.

Result aside, there were other positives to be gleaned. Goalkeeper Brion Saunderson, save for one second half puckout hit straight to Jamie Barron for a Waterford point, and corner-back Cathal McCarthy delivered assured league debuts.

Further up, Seamus Harnedy got his first minutes of 2024. He also got two points. Alan Connolly was another on the scoresheet in what was his first appearance since the 2022 All-Ireland quarter-final.

The outstanding negative was the nervy finish Cork forced themselves to endure after allowing a 10-point lead on 56 minutes be whittled down to two.

Waterford, who had to wait until the 56th minute for their first second-half point from play, stumbled upon a spell of unerring accuracy.

After second consecutive misses during the third quarter, they reeled off seven in-a-row through Calum Lyons, Mikey Kiely, Jack Prendergast, Jamie Barron, and Conor Sheehan.

From 1-19 to 1-9 behind to 1-19 to 1-16 behind. Touching distance.

Cork’s half-back pair of Ciarán Joyce and Ger Millerick were central in halting the Déise comeback and making sure two valuable points were not tossed into the Lee.

It was a finish unthinkable in light of Cork’s mightily impressive third quarter. There were two separate bursts. The first yielded four white flags, the second 1-3.

Jack O’Connor was the constructor and finisher of the Cork green flags on 49 minutes. It complimented the scattering of points that had come before from Brian Hayes, Patrick Horgan, Harnedy, and O’Connor himself.

The seesawing second period provided entertainment. The first half had been flat, stop-start. Five yellow cards - three to Waterford, two to Cork - spoke of aggression that simply wasn’t there. James Owens’ busy bookkeeping had more to do with postering than physicality.

Waterford won’t have minded their 0-11 to 1-7 trailing interval position. They had trailed by four after 15 minutes. Their passing wasn’t sticking, not helped by some curious decision-making.

Case in point was a crossfield ball to Padraig Fitzgerald on 15 minutes that was never on. Ger Millerick read it from a mile away, got their first, with Fitzgerald picking up a yellow for his clumsy late arrival.

That play ended with Brian Hayes clipping over the first of his opening half pair. It was the fourth of a four-in-a-row Cork charge to move the hosts 0-6 to 0-2 in front.

Waterford settled a touch thereafter. Patrick Curran and Calum Lyons struck fine scores from out the field. This approach of taking aim from the middle third, instead of an unwarranted extra pass, served them well. Paddy Leavey’s effort later in the half came from the same category.

Sean Walsh’s whipped goal on 26 minutes had Waterford level at 1-5 to 0-8. Jack Prendergast’s third free on 34 minutes after a foul on Leavey put them in front for the first time.

It was a position shortly held. Two Patrick Horgan frees, the first of which Conor Lehane did really well to regain possession and then draw the foul, returned Pat Ryan’s charges in front at the turnaround.

As mentioned, they were sharper at the off. Lehane, Shane Barrett, O’Connor, and Hayes announced themselves through hard work.

It was similar further back. Joyce telegraphed a Patrick Curran pass meant for Tom Barron and pointed. Damien Cahalane and early point-scorer Tommy O’Connell combined to force Neil Montgomery to overcarry.

It is from this perspective that they will have been disappointed to cede ground on the scoreboard to the visitors. They wrested back the advantage just in time for the much-welcomed warming mug of tea at the break.

From there, they never had to glance back until the closing act.

Scorers for Cork: P Horgan (0-7, 6 frees); J O’Connor (1-3); B Hayes (0-3); S Harnedy (0-2); C Joyce, G Millerick, T O’Connell, R Downey, A Connolly (0-1 free), E Downey (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: J Prendergast (0-5, 0-4 frees); C Lyons (0-4, 0-2 frees); P Leavey (0-3); S Walsh (1-0); C Sheehan (0-2); T Barron, B Nolan, P Curran, M Kiely, J Barron (0-1 each).

CORK: B Saunderson; C McCarthy, D Cahalane, S O’Donoghue; G Millerick, C Joyce, M Coleman; E Twomey, T O’Connell; S Barrett, C Lehane, S Harnedy; J O’Connor, P Horgan, B Hayes.

Subs: B Roche for Twomey (8 mins, inj); R Downey for Joyce (temporary, 10-18 mins); E Downey for O’Donoghue (29); S Kingston for Lehane (49); A Connolly for Horgan (58); L Meade for Harnedy (69).

WATERFORD: S O’Brien; PJ Fanning, M Fitzgerald, C Ryan; C Lyons, T Barron, D Lyons; P Leavey, P Curran; Padraig Fitzgerald, J Prendergast, N Montgomery; K Mahony, S Walsh, B Nolan.

Subs: P Hogan for Walsh (temporary, 34-36); J Barron for Curran, P Hogan for P Fitzgerald (both 46); M Kiely for Mahony (57); C Sheehan for Montgomery, M Power for D Lyons (both 60).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).