Waterford back in the mix as Davy delivers Cork scalp
As Davy Fitzgerald fell to the turf in celebration and the public address roared ‘up the Déise’, there was no doubting that Waterford are a live force in Championship 2024.
Walsh Park hasn’t seen a moment like this for two years and hurling in the county needed it, too, given their underage struggles in recent years.
While Fitzgerald was grounded in how he spoke, cognisant of challenges ahead, Waterford fans can at least dream of a run into the summer months.
The points weren’t secure until the end but the hosts were never led from Jamie Barron’s second-minute goal.
Stephen Bennett’s 58th-minute penalty, which saw Ciarán Joyce black-carded, gave them a cushion and Cork were down to 13 for a spell when Damien Cahalane was sent off for a second yellow.
Alan Connolly’s late goal brought the Rebels back into contention but down three and with little more than 30 seconds left, their sideline signalled for the Blackrock man to point a late free. They wouldn’t get another chance for a goal as Patrick Curran slotted the clincher.
For these two teams who missed out on qualification last year, Waterford have the oxygen of a winning start while Cork face into a home clash with Clare which has a strong sense of do-or-die about it.
On a glorious day in the Sunny South East, Walsh Park was packed with 11,973 fans, including more than a fair share from across the county bounds.
Waterford entered with precious little game-time in the legs of Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly, Tadhg de Búrca, and Bennett but when it mattered, they kept going until the very end. Dessie Hutchinson was a surprise choice of free-taker but after missing a routine opener, he nailed nine from nine.
Coming off a four-game losing streak, they had the greater need for a fast start. They got it in the second minute when Shaun O’Brien’s puck-out ran on for Barron, stationed at wing-forward, to race away and blast to the net.
The Cork half-back line were too porous and lacking cover on those long puck-outs as Jack Prendergast, Mikey Kiely, and Barron all had goal chances. Neil Montgomery was bottled up from a Barron pass and Mikey Kiely had a shot deflected off Mark Coleman and out for a 65. The pattern would reoccur later in the second half.
That half-forward trio also combined to extend that early momentum into a 1-4 scoring streak, with Prendergast arrowing over a pair.
Darragh Fitzgibbon was a rare spark for the Rebels. He would end the half with 0-3, while Patrick Horgan slotted four frees. Three of those were won by the hard-working Shane Barrett, who later added three of his own.
Waterford were 1-8 to 0-4 clear by the 21st minute, in which time Cork had blazed seven wides to the hosts’ two.
Tommy O’Connell moved back a line as Coleman was pushed into midfield and he was involved in scores for Fitzgibbon and Horgan (free) before the misfiring Conor Lehane raised his first white flag.
But Coleman gave one back when his misplaced pass allowed Calum Lyons to register from distance. 1-11 to 0-10 at midway as debutant Seán Twomey was called ashore for Robbie O’Flynn.
Coleman was centrally involved in Cork’s three-point volley to open the second half, scoring direct from the throw-in, laying on another for Barrett, and turning defence to attack for Fitzgibbon’s fourth.
Bennett had a dribbler at goal flicked away by Patrick Collins as Cork levelled with a pair of Horgan frees. Their uplift owed to better efficiency, converting their first eight shots of the half until an uncharacteristic Horgan miss.
Waterford’s response was impressive. Montgomery and a Hutchinson free sandwiched a fist-pumping Lyons score under the stand.
They had another goal chance direct from a long puck-out as Kiely rampaged through but Rob Downey got back to block.
From another high catch, this time Prendergast under a long free, Waterford were awarded their penalty. The Lismore man was brought crashing down outside the box but Michael Kennedy signalled for a penalty and Joyce was black-carded. Bennett wrongfooted Collins to put them five clear.
Séamus Harnedy and Ger Millerick brought it back to three, 2-18 to 0-21, but Cork’s plight went from bad to worse with a second yellow card for Cahalane in the 62nd minute for a flick on Patrick Fitzgerald. Pat Ryan was forced to react by sacrificing Horgan for defender Eoin Downey.
Down to 13, Cork held the gap at three but Joyce’s return was followed by a Hutchinson free and Lyons point.
Cork fans heading for the exits were given some pause for thought when Connolly billowed the net. 2-22 to 1-23.
In the frantic three added minutes, Curran and Hutchinson had points cancelled out by Connolly’s frees but Curran would make it safe.
A Connolly (1-4, 0-2 frees); P Horgan (0-7 frees); D Fitzgibbon (0-4); S Barrett (0-3); S Harnedy (0-2); G Millerick, M Coleman, C Lehane, R O’Flynn, B Hayes (0-1 each).
D Hutchinson (0-10, 9 frees); J Barron, Stephen Bennett (1-0 pen, 0-1f) (1-3 each); C Lyons (0-3); J Prendergast, P Curran (0-2 each); N Montgomery, M Kiely (0-1 each).
P Collins; G Millerick, D Cahalane, S O’Donoghue; M Coleman, C Joyce, R Downey; T O’Connell, D Fitzgibbon; S Harnedy, C Lehane, S Twomey; S Barrett, A Connolly, P Horgan.
L Meade for Fitzgibbon (33-34, blood), R O’Flynn for Twomey (h-t), B Hayes for Lehane (52), Meade for Harnedy (60), E Downey for Horgan (64), J O’Connor for Coleman (70+1).
S O’Brien; I Daly, C Prunty, K Bennett; C Lyons, T de Búrca, M Fitzgerald; N Montgomery, D Lyons; J Prendergast, M Kiely, J Barron; D Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, K Mahony.
Patrick Fitzgerald for Mahony (58), P Curran for Montgomery (63), Pádraig Fitzgerald for Kiely (70+3, inj).
M Kennedy (Tipperary).
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